Best Case Fans · head-to-head

Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM vs Thermalright TL-C12W-S V3

A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Thermalright TL-C12W-S V3 is cheaper at $6.99. Every spec and price links to its source.

Which is better: the Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM or Thermalright TL-C12W-S V3?

The Thermalright TL-C12W-S V3 wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0.

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Key specs, head to head

The numbers that decide it, drawn to scale — longer bar wins, the accent bar is the stronger figure.

Max airflow (CFM)
Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM 63.2
Thermalright TL-C12W-S V3 66.17

Full spec sheet

marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.

Spec Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM Thermalright TL-C12W-S V3
US price $6.99
BrandNoctuaThermalright
Released2025
Fan size (mm) 120 120
Thickness (mm) 25 25.6
Max airflow (CFM) 63.2 66.17
Max static pressure mm h2 o 3.14 1.53
Max speed (rpm) 1800 1500
Min speed (rpm)
Max noise dba 22.5 25.6
Bearing type sso2 fluid-dynamic
Connector type 4-pin-pwm 4-pin-pwm
Lighting none argb
Mtbf hours 150000
Weight grams 135

Sources — Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM: techpowerup.com (verified 2026-07-11). Thermalright TL-C12W-S V3: thermalright.com (verified 2026-07-11).

What's the difference between the Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM and Thermalright TL-C12W-S V3?

Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (7 of 12). Matching specs are omitted.

  • Thickness (mm): Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM 25 vs Thermalright TL-C12W-S V3 25.6
  • Max airflow (CFM): Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM 63.2 vs Thermalright TL-C12W-S V3 66.17
  • Max static pressure mm h2 o: Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM 3.14 vs Thermalright TL-C12W-S V3 1.53
  • Max speed (rpm): Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM 1800 vs Thermalright TL-C12W-S V3 1500
  • Max noise dba: Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM 22.5 vs Thermalright TL-C12W-S V3 25.6
  • Bearing type: Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM sso2 vs Thermalright TL-C12W-S V3 fluid-dynamic
  • Lighting: Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM none vs Thermalright TL-C12W-S V3 argb

What reviewers say

Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.

Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM

Two whitelisted outlets ran hands-on, measured tests of this exact 120 mm fan: TechPowerUp (a dedicated multi-page review) and Tom's Hardware (a head-to-head against Arctic's P12 Pro). Both rank it among the best-performing and quietest 120 mm fans available, with the only recurring criticism being its roughly $35-per-fan price. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)

Praised: Class-leading airflow and overall performance among 120 mm fans; Very quiet with a refined, low-pitched acoustic profile; inaudible at minimum speed; Extremely linear, consistent RPM range with near-zero sample variation plus a zero-RPM mode.

Flagged: Expensive at roughly $35 per single fan; No daisy-chaining support; Divisive brown/beige color scheme.

Thermalright TL-C12W-S V3

No sourced tester review yet.

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