Years ago, we checked out the Noiseblocker NB-eLoop cooling fan in a comparison article, against the Noctua NF-F12 industrialPPC. In late 2019, the company released the newer NB-eLoop X fans with addressable-RGB lighting and different colored frame options.
Specifications
| Noiseblocker NB-eLoop X B12X-P | NB-eLoop X B14X-P | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimension (mm) | 120x120x25 | 140x140x29 |
| Weight (g) | 120 | 202 |
| Bearing | NB-NanoSLI 2 Magnetic Bearing | NB-NanoSLI 2 Magnetic Bearing |
| Fan Speed (RPM) | 0 – 2000 | 0 – 1500 |
| Airflow (CFM) | 77.9 | 110 |
| Static Pressure (mmH2O) | 3.02 | 2.31 |
| Fan Connector | 4-pin PWM | 4-pin PWM |
| LED Connector | 3-Pin 5V | 3-Pin 5V |
| MTBF (Hours) | 120,000 | 120,000 |
| Warranty Period | 2 Years | 2 Years |
The latest eLoop X fans have incorporated major performance-wise improvements over the original eLoop series, despite having a mostly-identical exterior design. The integrated control electronics are revised to provide better static pressure, and allow for lower PWM-based fan speeds.
All eLoop X fans are equipped with the NB-NanoSLI 2 magnetic bearing. The 120 mm B12X-P spins from 0 to 2000 RPM, which can generate up to 77.9 CFM of airflow and 3.02 mmH2O of static pressure. The 140 mm B14X-P runs slower at 1500 RPM, while pushing 110 CFM of airflow and 2.31 mmH2O of airflow. The two models are rated to run for at least 120,000 hours (MTBF) with a 2-year warranty.
Unboxing
We are mainly using the 120 mm model as a example throughout the article. The NB-eLoop X B12X-P fan is housed in a black cardboard box. An image of the fan is proudly printed at the front with a colorful lightning-like arc running across.
Most technical specifications of the B12X-P fan are usefully listed at the back, such as the rated RPM ranges, airflow and static pressure. Some features are highlighted on the sides.
Inside the packaging are two 4-pin PWM extension cables and two 3-pin ARGB extension cables at different lengths. There are also some anti-vibration mounting hardware for the fan.
Noiseblocker NB-eLoop X B12X-P & B14X-P Fans
The B12X-P is a standard 120 mm fan with a thickness of 25 mm. The either black or white frame is made from glass fiber reinforced PBT plastic. The six fan blades are interconnected, forming the iconic single-piece bionic loop “propeller”. According to the company, this design can reduce unwanted air vortexes aerodynamically, which can result in quieter operation. Seven RGB LEDs are located around the motor hub, that will shine light through the transparent fan blades.
All corners on both sides are fitted with shock absorbing rubber pads to limit the noise between the fan frame and the case.
The B12X-P comes with two sets of removable 20 cm and 50 cm braided cables for power and lighting control. You can choose to plug in shorter cables to minimize clutter inside the PC case. Fan speed is adjusted via the 4-pin PWM connector.
The addressable-RGB lighting on the eLoop X series fans are controlled directly via the 3-pin 5V connector, which is compatible with most motherboard manufacturers’ software, such as ASUS Aura Sync, MSI Mystic Light and GIGABYTE RGB Fusion.
The features for the 140 mm B14X-P are largely identical to the B12X-P, except for the bigger frame, greater number of blades (9 vs 6) and one more RGB LED (8 vs 7).
Review
Testing Methodology
To determine the performance of the fan, we will measure both the airflow and CPU temperatures when using in heatsink, as well as its sound levels.
An anemometer is used to record the fan’s airflow in various RPM ranges, including 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. The results are measured in CFM (cubic feet per minute). The distance between the anemometer and the fan is kept at around 5 cm and 30 cm.
A decibel/sound level meter is also used to measure the fan’s operating noise at 1000 RPM, 50% and 100% fan speeds. Results are shown as dbA. Distance between the decibel meter and the fan is maintained at around 10 cm. Ambient sound level is at around 35 dbA.
The fan is then installed on the air cooler. The CPU, FPU and system cache are stressed using AIDA64. Ambient temperature is around 25°C. The temperature of the CPU package is recorded at full load when the fan is running at full speed.
- CPU: Intel Core i7-9700K @ 4.80 GHz @ 1.30 V (~150W TDP)
- Motherboard: ASRock Z370 Killer SLI
- Air Cooler: Noctua NH-U12S (its review here)
- Thermal Compound: Noctua NT-H1
Performance
At a distance of 5 cm, the B12X-P could push up to about 64.7 CFM of air at 100% fan speed (~2000 RPM). Despite spinning at a slower speed (~1500 RPM), the B14X-P generated a little more airflow at 67.1 CFM, benefited from the larger 140 mm diameter. According to our motherboard, the B12X-P has a lower operational PWM percentage at 20%, instead of the 29% of the B14X-P.
Extending the testing distance to 30 cm can evaluate how the fans excel as a case intake/exhaust. The B14X-P maintained a reasonably amount of airflow at 50.33 CFM, while the B12X-P decreased to 59.2% of its full potential at 38.34 CFM.
Only the B12X-P was tested in the heatsink benchmark, as we are using a Noctua NH-U12S. It performed really well, having a temperature delta of about 48.1°C. It trailed behind the Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM by 0.4°C, but ran cooler than the NF-F12 PWM by 2.9°C.
The B12X-P and B14X-P were decently quiet when spinning at full speed, measured at around 58.1 dbA and 57.3 dbA respectively. They dropped to 40.1 dbA and 46.6 dbA, when normalizing to 1000 RPM. The B12X-P was able to control the noise really well at most RPM ranges, which is slightly better than the non-RGB NB-eLoop B12-P. The ambient noise floor was at about 33.8 dbA.
The numbers and modes of the eLoop X fans’ lighting effects will depend on your connected motherboard/controller software. The light is diffused nicely from the motor hub through the fan blades. Brightness is adequate with fluid transition animation.
Conclusion
The Noiseblocker NB-eLoop X B12X-P and B14X-P fans are well-suited to use for cooling heatsink or radiator, according to our benchmarks. The high static pressure help push air through the densely-installed fin stacks, especially for the smaller 120 mm version. It did an acceptable job to generate enough airflow for case ventilation. The RGB lighting effects look great with the transparent fan blades.
The NB-eLoop X B12X-P and B14X-P are priced at £22.99 GBP and £26.99 GBP (MSRP) respectively with a 2-year warranty. Although they are on the expensive side of the market, the prices are similar to other premium fans, considering their performance and features. At the time of this review, we can find them on sale for around $34.95 USD and $39.95 USD online. For comparison, the Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM and be quiet! Silent Wing 3 costs $29.90 USD and $25.90 USD (MSRP), without any RGB lighting.
[Closed] We are also hosting a giveaway for some Noiseblocker NB-eLoop X fans. Read more details here.
You can purchase the fans from your local/online resellers or the links below from Amazon and Newegg.
- Amazon US: Noiseblocker NB-eLoop X B12X-P Fan (120 mm)
- Newegg US: Noiseblocker NB-eLoop X B12X-P Fan (120 mm)
- Amazon US: Noiseblocker NB-eLoop X B14X-P Fan (140 mm)
- Newegg US: Noiseblocker NB-eLoop X B14X-P Fan (140 mm)
Thanks Noiseblocker for providing us the fans for review. (Review Sample)
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