Just because a brand does one thing well, doesn’t mean they can jump into another space and do it just as well, right? Noctua may be one of the rare exceptions, as the Austrian fan maker has adapted one of their legendary high-performance PC fans into a truly decent desktop fan after years of teases and rumors.
The humble desk fan was first mentioned six years ago at Computex, and it attracted a lot of attention at the show for being such an out-of-the-box product. A proposed late 2021 release date has come and gone, so people have started 3D printing their own versions of the concept, integrating Noctua fans into desk-friendly chassis to get an idea of what the concept might look like if it ever gets released. After all, if Noctua fans are known for being quiet yet powerful, surely the human face could benefit from them as much as power-hungry PC components?
Fast forward to May 2024 and Noctua has finally unveiled its Home series, which includes all sorts of cooling options, including hubs, adapters, and two types of fans. One is designed to cool everything from game consoles to AV receivers, while the other is designed to cool people, which is the one we have for review.
So, after all that time, is the finished product any good? Well, yes, but it depends on what you want to do with it. Despite its small size, Noctua claims the fan can cool an entire room, and that’s not in line with what it can actually do. Instead, it’s best thought of as a personal desk fan that you can run even at high speeds without disturbing those around you. It’s definitely one of the quietest desk fans I’ve ever used, which is in keeping with Noctua’s reputation for building virtually silent case fans and CPU coolers.
At its core, though, a PC case fan is exactly what the NV-FS1 is: a Noctua NF-A12-x25 120mm fan bolted into a metal chassis, with fins at the front to direct airflow. Elsewhere, it packs the typical industrial charm that Noctua has become known for, offering a chassis that’s a mixture of plastic at the front and a metal stand at the rear to keep the fan level. The metal stand feels seriously sturdy, while the thick plastics used have a nice texture to them. The stand allows the fan to swivel and rotate almost 180 degrees, hindered only by the cable protruding from the rear.
The cable layout offered is interesting. Originally intended as a USB fan, the finished product is powered by the mains to allow for faster RPMs and thus more airflow. You get a full assortment of regional power adapters, a power supply, fan cables, and a PWM controller with a dial to adjust the fan speed. This complete kit is convenient, although having the controller so far down the cable can be a problem in some setups. Funnily enough, the wiring is exactly what you’d typically get in a PC, so they’re thinner connectors than you might expect on a conventional desktop fan.
Since the NV-FS1 is a complete kit and comes pre-assembled, there’s nothing stopping you from dropping in a larger fan for even more airflow. Noctua says the kit supports both 120mm and 140mm fans, so you could theoretically drop in the beefy 140mm fan found in the veteran NH-D15 cooler to push out even more air. You can also buy the components separately to build more desktop fans, make repairs, or convert it to 5V USB power. Aside from the novelty of its existence, it’s nice to see the Austrian company moving towards the customization and versatility you’d expect from its PC heritage.
Unfortunately, the NV-FS1 is far from the cheapest desk fan of its size on the market. It retails for £86/$99, which is hilariously expensive for a modest desk fan. That’s considering you can 3D print your own official enclosure for a fraction of the price if you have access to a 3D printer, while Meaco offers more powerful and even wireless options for around £35. The Meaco 260c is one of my favourites, offering the benefits of a small pedestal fan, complete with a small nightlight and selectable fan speeds. However, it doesn’t have half the charm of the NV-FS1.
There is something about the idea and execution of a Noctua desktop fan that I can't help but admire. It's something the community wanted to happen, and Noctua made it happen. When brands are receptive to the community's outlandish needs and demands, it erodes some of the typical corporate greed and facelessness. Noctua is a wonderful case study in understanding a brand that not only makes excellent products, but is receptive to the very people that make the company what it is, the people who actually buy and use their products. Without that, a brand is nothing more than a name. The NV-FS1 isn't a perfect product by any means, but the fact that it exists makes me happy nonetheless.