Product Overview
The Noctua NF-A14 PWM chromax.Black.swap is a premium 140 mm cooling fan designed for use in PC cases, CPU coolers, or liquid cooling radiators. It’s part of Noctua’s chromax.Black.swap series — an all-black variant of the highly acclaimed NF-A14 fan with swappable anti-vibration pads for color customization. Noctua’s fans are widely known for quiet operation, durability, and strong airflow performance suited to enthusiast builds.
Key Features
Quiet Yet Powerful Operation
- Size: 140 × 140 × 25 mm, ideal for mid-tower and larger PC builds.
- PWM Control: 4-pin PWM allows automatic speed adjustment via motherboard fan headers.
- Speed & Noise: Up to 1500 RPM with a maximum noise level of 24.6 dB(A) — extremely quiet for the amount of airflow it delivers.
- Airflow & Static Pressure: Delivers around 140.2 m³/h of airflow with a static pressure of about 2.08 mm H₂O, making it suitable for both case intake/exhaust and radiator duties.
Premium Build Quality
- SSO2 Bearing: Uses Noctua’s Self-Stabilising Oil-pressure bearing (SSO2) for smooth, long-lasting operation and excellent lifespan — over 150,000 hours MTTF (mean time to failure).
- Advanced Aerodynamics: The fan blades and frame design incorporate flow acceleration channels and Advanced Acoustic Optimisation (AAO) for efficient cooling with reduced noise.
Customizable Black Aesthetics
- All-Black Design: Matte black finish for a stealthy, minimalist look in modern builds.
- Swappable Pads: Includes chromax.black.swap anti-vibration pads in multiple colors (black, red, white, blue, green, yellow) so you can personalize the fan to match your system’s color scheme.
PWM & Silence Features
- The fan uses Noctua’s custom PWM IC with Smooth Commutation Drive (SCD) for smoother PWM control and lower PWM noise. At low PWM duty cycles, it can stop fully for silent idling when thermals allow.
- Silent Operation: It’s engineered to keep noise minimal even at higher speeds, ideal for quiet PC builds.
Performance & Use Cases
Case Cooling
The NF-A14 PWM chromax.Black.swap delivers strong airflow while remaining quiet, suitable for front, top, or rear case mounting in gaming rigs, workstations, or silent PCs. Its balanced airflow and static pressure make it versatile for general airflow or as part of push/pull configurations.
Radiator Compatibility
With solid static pressure and efficient blade design, this fan performs well on air coolers or radiators for liquid cooling systems — helping dissipate heat without excessive noise.
Quiet Builds
Noctua fans are legendary in the enthusiast community for silent operation without sacrificing performance. Users report that the fan remains inaudible at moderate speeds and only becomes more noticeable near maximum RPM, which is typical for high-performance fans.
Pros & Cons
Pros
✔ Premium quiet performance with good airflow and pressure for a 140 mm fan.
✔ Excellent build quality with a long lifespan and reliable SSO2 bearing.
✔ Fully blacked-out design integrates well with modern PC aesthetics.
✔ Customizable anti-vibration pads let you match your system’s color theme.
✔ PWM control offers automatic and efficient speed regulation.
Cons
✘ Premium price for a case fan when compared with budget alternatives — I cannot confirm exact current price.
✘ Some users note that airflow/performance may be modest compared to very high static-pressure fans tailored specifically for dense radiators.
✘ A few community reviewers mention that the older NF-A14 design can generate some noise around certain RPM ranges compared with newer designs.
Who This Fan Is For
🔧 PC builders and enthusiasts seeking a balance of quiet operation and strong airflow.
💻 Users building silent or aesthetic systems who want customizable color accents without RGB.
❄️ Gamers and overclockers who need reliable case or radiator cooling without high noise levels.
📦 Anyone who appreciates long-lasting premium components backed by Noctua’s reputation.
Final Verdict
The Noctua NF-A14 PWM chromax.Black.swap is a premium, quiet 140 mm PC fan that blends excellent cooling performance with low noise and stylish customization options. Its combination of advanced aerodynamics, durable construction, and customizable anti-vibration pads makes it a top choice for high-quality case or radiator cooling, especially in systems where silence and aesthetics matter