Conclusion:

With the addition of these two new product lines, Noctua now offers a much more comprehensive line up of cooling fans. They have something more like a budget-friendly / entry-level option with the redux line, they still offer their "standard" fans which are considered some of the best fans on the market, and they have the industrialPPC line which offers high end features for energy-efficient / low noise operation even in harsher conditions.

While a trivial matter when it comes to the true purpose of a cooling fan, many people may be excited that Noctua offers fans in colors other than beige with chocolate accents. While enthusiasts may be drawn to Noctua fans for their performance and reliability, those same people may want something that matches their color scheme - especially if they have a heavily modified rig, perhaps with a side panel window. If you have everything done up in say black, silver, red, etc - beige fans just aren't going to fit the look.



Noctua indicates that the MSRP of the redux line is close to 40% less than the standard line of fans (when comparing 140mm units). On the other side, the industrialPPC line is indicated as being around 35% higher in price than the standard line. Considering a standard fan typically sells for over $20, this is quite a price difference, and the redux line could really be appealing to fans of Noctua fans who happen to be on a budget. Heading over to Amazon.com shows that the difference in price between redux and standard fans may not be so great as comparably spec'ed 140mm fans are separated by less than $1 in price (@$21 vs @$22). The industrialPPC fan does fit the MSRP data provided, as a comparably spec'ed 140mm unit sells for over $29 over there. None of these are cheap, but it would be nice if the difference between the redux and standard units was greater.

In the end, all of these fans are worthy of the "Recommended" award because they work well and you can count on them to do so for years to come. They also earn the "Whisper Quiet" award because they can all operate in near silence while still providing excellent cooling. And finally, they earn the "Great Idea" award, because it is great to see the Noctua line expanding to incorporate different options - and colors.



Pros:

» Excellent cooling power
» Low noise operation
» New color palettes for those opposed to beige / chocolate
» Possibility of IP67 protection on some models

Cons:

» Premium price on all of these fans

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