Earlier, I tested Spartacus 360 from DeepCool, and the cooler got my praise for excellent cooling performance and brilliant looks. Now, DeepCool has released its 420mm version using the same pump and 30mm thick 140mm size fans.

This cooler features DeepCool’s sixth-generation pump, which uses a 3-phase, 6-slot, 4-pole motor with FOC control, delivering smoother and more efficient operation across a PWM-adjustable range of 2,500 to 3,400 RPM. DeepCool has also addressed the cold plate design with fine-tuned micro-fin geometry to maximize the heat transfer.

This cooler also features the same 3.4” IPS LCD screen with 480×480 resolution to display your media, along with key statistics of the PC. Not only that, but DeepCool has been creative as they have used tubes and tube clips to route a single cable from the pump top towards the radiator and out, hence providing a neat and clean outlook. They have also included a Linker controller device, which sits between the AIO and the motherboard.

DeepCool seems to be focused more on Intel, as they have included a regular as well as offset mounting bracket for Intel LGA1851, with back mounting for which a specialized backplate is provided. AMD mounting is similar to what I have seen on its recent coolers.

DeepCreative software provided a simplified and user-friendly interface with customization and control options, including the ARGB lighting. This cooler is compatible with Intel LGA1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5 sockets. It has an MSRP of USD 214.99. It comes with a 5-year warranty.

Specifications

Packaging and Unboxing

The cooler is shipped inside a cardboard box with a leaflet or cover around the box. This is the standard DeepCool design or theme. The cooler and accessories are placed inside the main container.

The following are provided:

• 1x Cooler
• 1x Intel Backplate
• 2x Intel Mounting Brackets
• 2xAMD Mounting Brackets
• 4x AMD Standoff Screws
• 4x Nuts
• 1x Nut Locker
• 4x Intel Washers/Spacers
• 4x Screws for Mounting Brackets
• 12x Radiator Screws
• 1x Tube Clip
• 1x PWM Extension Cable
• 1x Linker to Motherboard Connecting Cable
• 1x User Guide
• 1x Information and Support Guide

Closer Look

It is time to take a closer look at each component of the main unit, starting with the radiator.

3x high-performance 140mm fans come pre-installed over the radiator. These are not RGB fans. Each fan has a short length power cable that runs on one side of the housing to set up a daisy-chain connection using a proprietary connector.

The cooler has an aluminum radiator measuring 462x140x27mm (LxWxH). The cooler has a total height of 57mm with the fans. The fin stack has a 20 FPI count and comprises 12 channels for the coolant flow. I did not see any bent or broken fin.

The tube connection on the radiator housing is well concealed using gunmetal gray rounded clamps. There is a considerable gap between the two tube connections. The opposite end of the radiator has a serial number and part number stickers.

The cooler also features Anti-Leak technology. I have been covering the Anti-Leak technology since its inception. The idea is to provide a mechanism that could effectively release the increased vacuum pressure inside the loop if the case be. Otherwise, this increased pressure is likely to result in breakage and leakage.

The radiator housing has no branding on the side frame. The rubber tubes are covered under the nylon braided sleeves. These tubes run to approximate to 465mm in length. The tubes come equipped with clips for a clean look.

DeepCool has been creative. They have provided 3x tube clips. Each clip has a center fold where the cable from the block is routed through. This way, these clips or catchers not only hold the tubes in place but also route the cable along the tube. This design cleverly hides the cable and provides a neat and clean outlook.

However, the length of the cable coming from the pump top is not sufficient to be routed along the tube length and reach the linker hub. An extension cable should have been provided, or the length of the cable should have been made as such.

Display Screen

The display screen is provided separately and uses a magnetic attachment. It makes contact with the pump top using a 6-pin connection. A pad is provided on the pump top.

The screen size is 3.4”. Its brightness is 750 nits with a resolution of 480 × 480x and has a color depth of 16.7M colors. Its refresh rate is 30Hz. I would have preferred more resolution, but still, this screen is adequate for a crisp display.

The housing is made of aluminum material and an overall dotted design bodes quite well with the aluminum shell, providing a stylish display screen. What is hidden is the ARGB LED strip and diffuser under the two sides of the top cover.

Editor’s Note: I am still not sure what these hidden ARGB LED strips would do on the pump housing!

Block/Pump Head

I must say that the pump top of this cooler, even without a display screen, looks quite vibrant despite the fact that it is a simple design. It has a dimension of 99x91x65mm (LxWxH). You can see a textured pattern on the top of the pump. 6-pin contact pad/pins are on the lower side of the frame.

The main housing seems to be made of aluminum, but it is ABS, and it has a fantastic, rounded finish. It has no stenciling or design pattern anywhere on the surface.

Looking at the rear of the unit, you can see 90° adapters on which the tubes are installed. They can be rotated for necessary adjustment during installation. A single flat cable can be seen coming out from the upper section of the base.

The pump and ARGB LEDs are controlled via a proprietary 10-pin connector for which a long-sleeved cable is provided. This connector goes to the Linker controller. This is the only caveat in the pump top side. This cooler does not have a dedicated connector for the pump.

Speaking of the pump, this cooler features a 6th-generation pump from DeepCool that uses ceramic bearings and is powered by a 3-phase, 6-slot, 4-pole motor with FPC control that rotates up to 3400 RPM.

The unit base comes with pre-applied thermal paste. DeepCool has enlarged the cold plate with 22% more surface area and contact area compared to the last generation for improved thermal efficiency.

This is how the block will look with the display screen installed.

Linker Controller

DeepCool has provided a controller with the cooler. It comes with a self-adhesive tape that has a magnet on the other side so that a magnetic attachment can be provided for the controller. 4x screws are also there in case you want to install this controller in the PC Case using screws.

This controller has 4x ports on one side labeled EXFAN and EXARGB 1 and 2. These ports are there in case you want to add PC Case fans to the controller for a single control.

The other side of the controller has a P/D labeled port to which the cable from the pump top is connected. The Sync labeled port uses a cable that connects the controller to the motherboard using a 4-pin fan connector and a 3-pin ARGB connector. The AIO Fan labeled header is for the AIO fans’ connector.

The pre-installed cables on the controller have a SATA connector and a 9-pin USB 2.0 header.

This picture illustrates the cable connection.

DeepCool has provided a Sync cable for the controller and motherboard, as well as the PWM extension cable for the AIO fans.

Fans

DeepCool has provided 3x high-performance non-RGB fans with this cooler. Each fan has 9x blades. The center has DeepCool branding. The mounting corners have DeepCool’s standard design. Each fan measures 140x140x30mm. These are rated for airflow of up to 112.5 CFM and 4.15 mmAq air pressure. The extra 5mm thickness is contributing to the high performance.

The backside of the frame shows a slope design on the border and 4-arms in an X shape providing focused flow. These fans are made in China. They use Hydro Bearings. The fan is rated for 0.35A, taking 4.2W of power.

Editor’s Note: Don’t daisy-chain connect all three fans to a motherboard fan header that is rated for 12W power in total.

The side frame shows a stripe design. The fans use a proprietary connector and socket.

Installation

We don’t cover the installation steps. Please use the installation guide for that. We only mention observations recorded during installation.

DeepCool has provided two mounting brackets for Intel. One bracket has an offset label. It provides a better coverage of hot spots on the die, hence providing better heat transfer. Installation of these brackets is convenient, and overall installation is even more convenient. I appreciate DeepCool for coming up with a unique but excellent mounting for Intel.

I did not observe any issues in the installation of this cooler on the AM5 platform. It has the same mounting mechanism for AM5, which I have seen on DeepCool’s latest coolers.

Clearance

Make sure your PC Case has clearance for a 420mm AIO measuring 462x140x57mm. The majority of the PC Chassis don’t have support for a 420mm radiator or liquid cooler.

Software

DeepCreative is a software that you need to download from the DeepCool website. You need to restart the PC in order for the software to pick the connected components correctly. On my first run without a restart, the software did not pick the Linker Controller.

The first page shows the sensor data from PC components. The second page lists the components. You can change the temperature unit under the settings. Firmware update is also provided in this section. Under the Devices, all the compatible or enabled devices will be shown. Click on the device you want to customize.

The display-related options are provided under SPARTACUS LCD Liquid Cooler Listing. You can customize the display screen there. You can display pictures or run videos, animations, GIFs, and can customize the sensor display.

You can tinker with the speed of fans, pump, and ARGB lighting from the SPARTACUS Linker listing. DeepCool has provided Digital Mode and Multimedia Mode to categorize the types of displays on the screen. In addition, there is a Zen control that will control and adjust various elements like brightness automatically. AI-based regulation is provided using DeepCreative’s proprietary AI-driven algorithm that tracks CPU load in real time and coordinates both fan and pump speeds to match the optimal fan speed curve. Please note that the fans will instantly shift to full speed when the CPU hits above 80 °C, and they automatically revert to preset mode once the CPU temp drops below 80 °C.

I recorded a simple video showing the animation on the screen.

The above pictures show the display in action.

RGB Lighting

I mentioned this in the review of Spartacus 360 that hidden ARGB lighting would not serve any purpose, and I am still putting it here.

Testing

The following configuration is used for thermal testing:

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
• ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi
• GSkill TridentZ NEO RGB 32GB 6400MHz CL30 DDR5 kit
• ASRock Phantom Gaming RX 7600 Graphics Card for Display
• Biwin Black Opal X570 Pro 4TB NVMe SSD
• Fractal Design ION+ 2P 860W Platinum PSU
• Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open frame layout

Here is the settings table for testing:

Settings	PBO Enabled [243W]
Clock (MHz)	Auto
Voltage (V)	Auto
Thermal Paste	Noctua NT-H2
Thermal Paste Application	Dots Method
Test Run Time	30 minutes
Idling Time	10 minutes
All Fans Speed	100% PWM Duty Cycle
Pump Speed
Stress Software	CINEBENCH R23.2
Monitoring Software	HWINFO64

I am reporting absolute temperature in the graph because the room temperature was at 22°C throughout the day. The testing is done on an open-air bench system. Once inside the chassis, the temperatures are expected to rise and would largely depend upon the optimal airflow inside the chassis.

Result

I must say this is the first 420mm liquid cooler in my testing experience that actually delivered an excellent performance. The fans’ noise is a bit loud, but using AI Silence or Performance mode, you can easily make these fans ramp up only under load, or you can use a custom fan curve in BIOS for that and enable sync to the motherboard in the software.

Conclusion

After testing Spartacus 360, I have taken a spin on Spartacus 420mm. It is compatible with Intel LGA1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5 sockets. The basic footprint of 420mm is identical to that of 360mm, but the major difference comes from the fans and, obviously, the radiator size.

The overall outlook is stealth, neutral, with a beautiful accented LCD screen. It comes with pre-installed non-RGB 30mm thick 140mm high-performance fans. The radiator has an overall dimension of 462x150x57mm with fans. It has 12 channels for coolant flow with a fin density of 20 FPI.

DeepCool uses rubber-tubing, which runs to 465mm in length and has a black nylon braided sleeve mesh. DeepCool has also provided three clips or catchers that not only bind the tubes but also provide a channel through which the single cable from the pump top is routed. Needless to say, this cooler also features Anti-Leak technology.

The pump top or pump head is a quite stylish and elegant design with a minimalistic approach. It has a 6-pin contact point on top to establish a connection with the magnetically mounted display screen. The pump itself is a sixth-generation design that has a 3-phase, 6-slot, and 4-pole motor with FOC control. It is rated for up to 3400 RPM and uses a ceramic shaft and bearing for durability. The other change comes in the cold plate and the contact surface, which are increased by 16% and 22%, respectively.

The screen module is an elegant design that bodes well with the overall theme of the cooler. It has a 3.4” screen with a resolution of 480×480 px using a 30Hz refresh rate. In my opinion, the refresh rate should be 60Hz for better polling.

DeepCool has provided a linker controller to which the cable connection from the pump top is required. Controller is SATA powered, and it is connected to the motherboard using a standard 4-pin PWM connector and a 3-pin, 5V, ARGB connector. DeepCreative software is provided for customization.

Fans are not RGB. Each fan is rated for 500 to 2000 RPM ± 10%, and they feature an auto stop function under 5% load. Airflow rating is 112.5 CFM, which is quite high compared to 79.89 CFM on Spartacus 360, and air pressure rating is 4.15 mmAq, which is higher than 3.30 mmAq on Spartacus 360. The noise level is rated at ≤ 32.89 dB(A). These fans use Hydro Bearings. The fan’s power draw is 4.2W. Pump’s power draw is 3.48W.

DeepCool has provided an offset mounting bracket in addition to the regular one for the Intel LGA1851 socket that provides better coverage of hot spots on the die, and it worked like a charm. Also, the installation is made super easy from the backside of the motherboard, for which a customized backplate is provided. I like this design.

The installation of this cooler on the AMD AM5 socket is the same as on DeepCool’s recent coolers. It is a straightforward task but requires 14 items. The installation on Intel requires only 10 items.

This cooler has an MSRP of USD 214.99, and it comes with a 5-year warranty. Dare me to say that this is the first 420mm cooler in my testing experience that has actually delivered an excellent thermal performance with almost 2.5°C compared to the Spartacus 360mm and taking a solid lead in our graphs.

Combine this thermal performance with the stealth design and brilliant LCD display, and you have got yourself a super good liquid cooling solution, provided your case supports this size liquid cooler, and don’t forget a 5-year warranty. No wonder if this cooler has won our top award, Must Have, which is equal to Editor’s Choice.

Pros:

• Thermal Performance
• 3.4” Display Screen
• Very Subtle A-RGB lighting
• New 6th Gen Pump
• Magnetic Display Mount
• High-Performance 140mm non-RGB Fans
• Simplified Cable Management
• Compatible with Intel LGA1700/1851 sockets
• Compatible with AMD AM4/AM5 sockets
• Noise
• Warranty
• Excellent Mount for Intel
• Convenient Installation

Cons:

• Pricey
• Almost Hidden ARGB Lighting
• The length of the cable from the pump should be longer

It has been a while since I tested or used a full tower PC Case from any brand. Noctua seems to be changing this, as I have got a legendary Antec Flux Pro with Noctua customization and branding. This is truly a case that supports up to 2x-thick 420mm radiators despite not being a super tower. This is one case that fits perfectly into the analogy of “it has more to it than meets the eye”.

Antec x Noctua gives you something special. The Flux Pro carries all its bells and whistles, while Noctua has perfected the game by improving the performance-to-noise ratio efficiency and lowered the overall decibels by 8dB (coming from their internal testing). In my testing, this case with 6x case fans and 2x cooler fans was found to be giving 44.2 dB(A), including the 3x fans on the graphics card under load. Mind you, this is with all case and air cooler fans running at 100% PWM speed. I am blown away by this level of noise to performance efficiency.

This case comes in Noctua’s tan and brown colors, and Noctua has included its high-performance flagship fans, NF-A12x25 PWM G2 and NF-A14x25 PWM G2 fans, taking the game to the next level. The overall layout of the case and symmetry provide the best possible airflow in this case, making it a perfect candidate for the reviewers/testers in case they want to use a case for cooler testing. I usually test coolers in an open test bench where there is little to no airflow.

This case is versatile not only in the cooling department and storage department but also in the PSU placement, which I recently saw in the Lian Li LANCOOL 217 INF. PSU can either be mounted in a standard position or rotated so that cables face the right side of the case, which Antec and Noctua termed as iShift. Similarly, the DeepCool CL6600 WH that we tested earlier also supported the 90° rotated PSU mount, which makes cable handling convenient and also makes it possible to change cables easily even after the build is done.

Noctua is taking pride in this design as Noctua branding is visible on three prominent places. This case supports a motherboard up to the E-ATX form factor with a maximum width of 285mm. Too bad, this case does not support the backplug motherboards, which are increasingly becoming a new standard. The storage provision is up to 4x 2.5”/3.5” and up to 2x 2.5” drives or a combination thereof. The brackets are removable.

This case has an MSRP of USD 399.90 /which is quite a premium price tag but can be justified since we know that the included 6x flagship fans, NA-EC1, NA-EC3, and NA-FH1 fan hub all contribute towards the price tag. Noctua offers a 6-year warranty on PC cases, Fans, and fan hubs. You can also purchase it on Amazon UK for £348 at the time of writing this review.

Specifications

Packaging and Unboxing

The case is shipped inside a standard cardboard box finished in brown. The features and specifications are also listed on the box. Two thick white styrofoam pads sandwiched the case for safe shipping. I like the idea of reinforced pads for added strength.

Accessories

Noctua has provided two boxes in the main shipping box. One case has:

• 2x NF-A14x25 G2 PWM PPA
• 2x NF-A14x25 G2 PWM PPB
• 1x NF-A12x25 G2 PWM PPA
• 1x NF-A12x25 G2 PWM PPB
• 36x NA-AV4 anti-vibration mounts
• 36x NM-SFS1 fan screws

In case you are wondering about the PPA and PPB. These fans run at slightly different speeds, creating an offset for acoustic optimization. The slight speed offset between adjacent fans helps to avoid periodic humming or vibrations due to beat frequencies.

The other box has the following:

• 1x Standard PSU Bracket
• 2x PSU Shroud Covers
• 1x Authentication on the Walnut wood used on the front frame
• Various Screws
• Standoffs
• Standoff Socket
• Zip Ties
• Detailed User Manual
• Power Supply Installation Brochure
• 1x NP-KC1 key chain

Closer Look

The Antec Flux Pro Noctua edition is a full tower with dimensions of 245x545x530mm (WxHxL). Its height without feet is 523mm. The 22mm lift from the feet is good enough to provide breathing space for the floor-mounted fans (optional) and to easily lift the case. Its weight with fans is 13.75Kg and 12.46Kg without fans. It is made of:

• 1mm Steel
• 4mm Tempered Glass
• 1mm Mesh
• FSC Certified Walnut Wood on Front Panel
• Steel Mesh
• Plastic
• Silicone for Grommets

I cover the case from an external aspect, followed by the internals. Let’s start.

Exterior View – Front of the case

Let’s start with an exterior view of the chassis, starting from the front.

The front of the case has a stylish mesh on the front which depicts a wave pattern. The stylish Walnut wood paneling on the side frame is exquisite. The Antec x Noctua branding is visible on the right lower side of the wooden frame. The brown-colored wood blends well with the Noctua’s tan and brown color scheme.

The mesh panel has a magnetic attachment, making its handling convenient. Removing it shows the pre-installed fan bracket. This bracket is secured using 6x Philips screws. In terms of cooling gear, the following is supported:

• Up to 3x 120mm Fans
• Up to 3x 140mm Fans
• Up to 1x 360mm or 420mm Radiator

The total space available for fan and radiator assembly on the front is 90mm, which is amazingly ginormous.

The right side of the main frame has cutouts to route the fans’ cables. It is a strategic design, making it a perfect fit to route the cables and, at the same time, hiding them. Noctua has specified that the fans are so that cables are on the right side.

Removing the bracket shows the completely exposed front. This now becomes interesting.

A careful observer would notice a set of 5 mounting holes. These are provided so that you can adjust the height of the bracket to make room for a top-mounted fan/radiator assembly, depending on the size and thickness. Here is a detail:

• Use position number 3 from top for standard size (27mm) 360mm radiator and 25mm fans on top.
• Use position number 4 from top for standard size (27mm) 420mm radiator and 25mm fans on top.
• Use position number 5 from top for 45mm thick 420mm radiator and 25mm fans on top.
• Use position number 5 from top for 45mm thick 420mm radiator and 30mm thick fans on top.

Let me iterate that the above clearance on the front is for the top-mounted fans/radiator size/thickness.

I have placed the bracket in position number 5, thus making the bracket almost sit on the floor, leaving a good enough room on top for the top-mounted 45mm thick radiator and 30mm fans.

You can adjust the height of the bracket as per the requirement to make room for the cooling gear on the top.

Since the bracket is removable, it makes the fans and radiator installation convenient.

Rear View of the Case

A total vented area is provided on the rear of the case. Looking closely, you can identify a pattern of opposing triangle design on the vents. The top area is vented. This area faces the top of the motherboard (from inside the case).

The main cutout provides room for the IO plate of the motherboard. Rail mounts are provided for the 120mm and 140mm fans. You can also install a 140mm radiator on the rear as per the requirement. I like the flexibility to adjust the height of the fans on the rear.

8x PCIe slots are placed inside the case, and these have vented/reusable covers. Both side panels use latching to close on the main frame; no thumb screws are needed. You can see two insets on the top of opposite ends behind the panels. This is where you place your hand to open the panels.

The bottom has a standard ATX PSU area. The bracket seems different as it has a 3-pin socket on the base.

There you see the bracket and the pre-installed internal power cable or cord. This case supports the PSU in a 90° rotation for which this bracket and cable would be required. You can check the provided paper for the orientation of the bracket, subject to the placement of the PSU. Noctua has also provided a standard bracket in the accessories, which allows you to install the PSU in a standard layout.

I am showing the PSU bay from the rear after removing the bracket. Look closely, one rubber foot is missing in the PSU area.

Bottom View of the Case

You can see a full-length dust filter on the bottom, which is handled from the front side of the case. The complete area is vented, which is a wise move. The area next to the PSU bay has dial mounts indicating that you can install fans and a radiator here. The details are:

• Up to 2x 120mm or 140mm fans
• Up to 1x 240mm radiator

Also, you can see 4x screws securing a bracket on the floor. This bracket holds the drive cage. Both are removable, but do take the bracket out initially if you plan to install cooling gear on the floor. Did you notice the brown/tan-colored rubber feet? Noctua has been paying attention to the minute details.

Top View of the Case

The top panel has a Noctua color on it, and man, I must say, this color combination looks dope in person. I wish Noctua had done this color on the right side panel as well! The top panel has a mesh design, and it covers the top-mounted IO panel. You can see protective covers on the IO ports.

It is surprising to see no dust filter under the mesh on the top panel. The same is the case on the front. Anyhow, the panel is tool-less so you can remove it with just one hand by pulling it from the rear. Under this panel, you will find a fan bracket, which is also removable. It has rail mounts. The detail is:

• Up to 3x 120mm or 140mm fans
• Up to 1x 360mm or 420mm radiator

A maximum thickness of 75mm is allowed on top for a combination of fans and a radiator.

To remove the top fan bracket, you need to remove the side glass panel and undo the two screws on the opposite sides. It reminds me of the Fractal Design Meshify 2 case that has a similar design.

You have got a spacious layout and area to work on.

The top and front fan brackets are not the same, hence can’t be swapped.

The IO panel has the following ports:

• 1x USB-C 3.1 (10 Gbps)
• 2x USB-A 3.0 (5 Gbps)
• 1x 3.5 mm headphone/mic combo jack
• 1x Power button
• 1x Reset button
• 1x Temperature & display switch

Noctua branding is visible on the top frame along the line of IO ports. I would have preferred a USB 3.2 Gen2 minimum!

Interior View

Let’s take a look at the sides and internals of the case.

This case comes equipped with a tinted tempered glass panel having a 4mm thickness. It uses a snap-on design using latches and bolts, making it convenient to handle. The brown color mesh panel on the bottom serves as a full air intake for proper ventilation. It will come in handy for the radiator/fans mounted inside this area.

Removing the glass panels shows a spacious layout. The grommets are brown, and so is the PSU shroud bracket, which I will cover shortly. The area on the right of the motherboard tray does not have any function on the front side, except on the backside, where they provide a cutout on which the drive brackets are rested. In my opinion, there should be a provision to mount a radiator/pump combo on the side.

The motherboard tray does not have flex in it. This case supports motherboards up to the E-ATX form factor with a maximum allowed width of 280mm. The rubber grommets feel flimsy during handling. I hope they will last. They have Antec branding. The standoffs are pre-installed, which is a nice touch. The CPU cutout is not as large as I have seen, even in mid-towers. I have tested the case with the AM5 motherboard, so I am not sure if there is any obstruction to installing the cooler’s back plate/bracket on the Intel platform.

I appreciate the side and bottom cutouts with proper grommets. The top cutouts have a distinctive style with a flat inset on top, hence I am giving it a pass.

You easily get 70mm of space above the motherboard tray, which is too good. You would get a good clearance for the high-profile RAM in this case. You can see a 4-pin PWM connector coming out from the back side. This cable comes from the fan hub NA-FH1 and allows you to regulate the speed of connected fans using the motherboard; otherwise, fans will run at full speed since the NA-FH1 is SATA powered. I have also observed that in the absence of a SATA connection, NA-FH1 will still run the fans if this connector is attached to the motherboard. This is an oversight in my opinion, and should not have been allowed in the first place due to the power consumption/drawn ratings of the fans and the power rating of the fan header. Anyhow, NA-FH1 has good safety features. I would urge the users to connect the SATA connector before connecting the hub to the motherboard.

The front of the case shows a fan bracket that is inset into the case. The gap on the front between the PSU shroud and the fan bracket is approximately 60 mm, giving you a total of 90mm space from the front to the shroud for the cooling gear.

You can mount a 120mm or 140mm fan on the rear. 8x PCIe slots are implemented inside the case, for which the side has a groove or recessed frame providing direct approach towards the screws. I have observed that removing the PCIe cover screw will not release that cover; instead, you have to loosen the next screw to remove the cover.

Now, I am showing another beauty of this case. A 360mm PSU shroud with three covers. One cover comes pre-installed as it sits right over the PSU bay. The other two are provided in the accessory box. The complete shroud is secured using two Philips screws and can easily be removed.

The cooling gear possibility is:

• Up to 3x 120mm fans
• Up to a 360mm radiator in a 120mm size

I have removed the PSU shroud. You can see the base area completely. I really wish that Noctua had provided a removable cover for the front gap between the fan bracket and PSU shroud for better aesthetics.

The bundled two NF-A12x25 PWM G2 fans can either be installed over the PSU shroud or under it, which is subject to the PSU’s orientation. I have installed both fans under the cover for a clean look. It is up to you. It would hardly make any difference in overall thermals.

Now, I have removed the bottom mesh cover. You just need to pull upward, and it will come off. Again, I am not seeing a dust filter on this mesh. The cutout on the top right faces the display screen that is integrated into the main frame of the case.

You can see a side view of the bottom chamber. The leftmost side hosts the PSU in either of two directions. The middle portion provides an unobstructed area for air intake. The storage drive bracket can be seen.

The front has a solid cover on which the display screen is installed. It is controlled via a 9-pin USB 2.0 header for which the cable is pre-routed. The screen displays the CPU and GPU temperature using the iUnity software from Antec.

You can install the PSU in either a 90° orientation by default or in a standard layout for which a bracket is provided in the accessory box. iShift here refers to the 90° degree orientation, which provides the flexibility for convenient cable connection on the PSU since the PSU’s connectors side faces the right side.

Clearance

Since we are at it, let’s see the clearance restrictions of components in this chassis:

• 190mm CPU Air Cooler
• PSU maximum length is 300mm in standard layout with HDD cage
• PSU maximum length is 470mm in standard layout without HDD cage
• PSU maximum length is 180mm in 90° layout
• Graphics Card’s maximum length is 455mm
• Cable Management space is 32mm.

It is now time to look at the backside of the case.

The side steel panel is made of steel, and it has the same fitment as the glass panel on the left side. You can also see a similar mesh cover on the base that is on the left side, except that this complete side is in black.

One look and you may become overwhelmed by the complexity of what is on the back, but fear not. You don’t need to do much here anyway, since Noctua has covered it for good already. I will be covering this side in detail ahead.

This case comes pre-equipped with a drive cage on the floor. It can house 2.5” and 3.5” drives at the same time. Two 2.5” drive brackets come pre-installed on the back of the motherboard tray. Two 3.5” drive brackets or bays come pre-installed on the side frame.

You can see the drive brackets and cage above.

I have removed the drive cage and am showing the platform or bracket on which it was installed. You can adjust the position of this cage on the left or right, or even remove it altogether. If moving it left or right, don’t forget the front cooling and PSU clearance.

I have removed two 3.5” drive brackets from the side, showing you the available space. Take note of two NA-EC1 30cm extension cables tucked on the left side of these brackets, effectively hiding them. These cables are placed in such a way that the cables of the bottom two fans on the front fan bracket will come out towards the connectors of NA-EC1. Job well done, Noctua or Antec or both!

Noctua has provided a premium NA-FH1 fan hub pre-installed and configured in this case. It is an 8-port 4-pin PWM fan hub, which is SATA powered. The headers marked as 1 and 3 have two NA-EC1 cables connected to them. You can connect the bottom two fans on the front fan bracket to these two cables. You need to connect the top-most front-mounted fan directly to the fan header labeled 5. The headers on 2,4,6, and 8 have two NA-EC1 and two NA-EC3 cables connected. The EC3 cables are provided for the PSU shroud or bottom-mounted fans. This hub has a magnetic attachment, which is super cool. However, Noctua did not provide a SATA extension cable. A pre-connected and routed cable would have been a welcome addition. You need to route a SATA cable from the PSU to the fan hub. This will check your cable management skills!

The center area has a two-way cable management tray with Velcro hook and loop strips. I love this approach from Antec and Noctua, making our job easy. The straps have Antec branding. You will find similar catchers in other areas on the backside as well. There are plenty of cable tie positions for cable management needs.

We have a spacious layout on the base for PSU and cables management, or a combination of cooling gear and PSU as per your need.

The following cables/connectors are provided for the top IO panel and display screen:

• USB 3.0 Connector
• USB Type-C Connector
• HD-Audio Connector
• Front Panel Single Connector
• USB 2.0 Connector for Display Screen
• 4-pin PWM connector coming from NA-FH1
• NA-EC1 and NA-EC3 cables pre-routed with 4-pin sockets

Installation

I have used air cooling and liquid cooling using AIO to test both configurations. These are:

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X [Stock, Auto]
• ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi
• Zotac GeForce RTX 3080 Trinity OC
• Noctua NH-D15 G2 LBC
• ID-Cooling DX360 GDL
• Noctua NT-H2 Thermal Paste
• G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO RGB 2x16GB @ 6400MHz CL30 DDR5
• Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 1TB NVMe SSD
• Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 2TB NVMe SSD
• CPS YN1000 PSU
• 3x Noctua NF-A14x25 PWM G2 on Front as intake
• 1x Noctua NF-A14x25 PWM G2 on Rear as exhaust
• 2x Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM G2 on PSU shroud as intake

I always start my builds with the motherboard, and I did the same this time as well. I encountered an issue where one screw got stuck on the standoff, and I had to remove the motherboard and use pliers with a screwdriver to take the screw out. I ended up changing that standoff with extra from the accessory box. CPU, air cooler, and RAM were installed outside the case. Then the PSU was installed in a standard layout, which enabled me to install the second 120mm fan under the PSU shroud.

Next, the cables were routed and connected. A SATA connection was made to the NA-FH1 hub. Then I installed a graphics card in a horizontal layout with an air cooler and connected its cables. Then I did the backside cables with minimum cable management, and it still came out clean.

The liquid cooler was installed after completing testing the build with an air cooler. It was also a comfortable fit with no issues. For liquid cooling, I installed the graphics card in a vertical layout. The overall installation is buttery smooth, and I faced no glaring issues to report here.

Thermal Testing

The following testing methodology is used for the thermal behavior of this case:

• First Test is done without any fan installed in the case using an air cooler.
• The second test is done with 3x 140mm fans on the front, 1x 140mm fan on the rear, and 2x 120mm fans on the PU Shroud. All fans at 50% PWM.
• The third test is done with all fans at 100% PWM.
• The fourth test is done with a liquid cooler with all three fans at 100% PWM.
• During all the first three tests, fans on NH-D15 G2 were at 100% PWM.
• The graphics card was at stock settings with auto fan curve.
• 5 dots of NT-H2 were applied on CPU IHS, which is my standard way of testing coolers.
• PC was left idling for 10 minutes before recording the idle temperature.
• After completion of a test, the PC ran on idle for 15 minutes.
• A 45-minute interval was given between each test during which the PC was off.
• A sound meter was used to record the overall sound level during each test.

Throughout the testing session, the ambient temperature varied from 24.2°C to 25.5°C; hence, I will show a graph with the delta temperature for accurate comparison. The first graph shows absolute temperature.

In all honesty, this graph is self-explanatory. Noctua has given us the best possible performance in terms of noise and thermal performance using an air cooler. The case with a liquid cooler is different. We are paying high sound for a 2.4°C overall drop between the air cooler and the liquid cooler.

44.2 dB(A) with 6x case fans, 2x cooler fans, 3x graphics card fans, and 1x PSU fan is too good. It is a brilliant performance, giving you the best efficiency possible out there. The Antec Flux Pro is just made awesome with Noctua cooling.

Conclusion

Ok, so I am done testing, evaluating, and writing about the Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition PC Case. First things first, this is a full tower PC case, not a mid-tower, so this might not be your cup of tea if you are into lower volume cases in compact form. Having said that, this case has amazed me, and I am forced to praise this cross of Antec and Noctua, which has brought the best possible solution for a case and cooling. Obviously, caveats are also there, but the total positives are way more than the negatives. The brown and tan color scheme is speaking out loud and needs no advocacy.

This case has a dimension of 245x545x530mm (WxHxL). The 22mm lift is provided using the large feet. By the way, the rubber on the feet is also brown! The main material used for this case is steel, tempered glass, steel mesh, plastic, and Walnut wood. I love the original wood texture on the front panel, augmenting the case’s look and feel. The Noctua branding all over the case shows you its pride and brand association/identity. I can tell why, Noctua! Well done!

The case comes equipped with 4x NF-A14x25 PWM G2 and 2x NF-A12x25 PWM G2 and NA-FH1 fan hub with 4x NA-EC1 and 2x NA-EC3 extension cables. Now, you can guess where the high price tag comes from!

The fan support is as follows:

• 3x 120mm or 3x 140mm fans on the front
• 3x 120mm or 3x 140mm fans on top
• 1x 120mm or 1x 140mm fan on rear
• 2x 120mm or 2x 140mm fans on the bottom
• 3x 120mm fans on the PSU shroud

The radiator support is as follows:

• Up to 420mm on the front
• Up to 420mm on top
• Up to 360mm on the PSU Shroud
• Up to 240mm on the bottom
• 1x 140mm on Rear

Clearance is:

• 190mm CPU Air Cooler
• PSU maximum length is 300mm in the standard layout with the HDD cage
• PSU maximum length is 470mm in the standard layout without the HDD cage
• PSU maximum length is 180mm in a 90° layout
• The graphics card’s maximum length is 455mm
• Cable Management space is 32mm.

Storage provision is:

• 4x Combined 2.5”/ 3.5” Drive Bays
• Dedicated 2x 2.5” Drive Bays

Dust Filtration:

• Non-Magnetic bottom filters

The dust filtration department surprises me. The front, top, and side mesh panels are simply mesh with no additional filters. This case supports a motherboard up to the E-ATX form factor with a maximum width of 280mm. The cooling department, as can be seen, is lavish. Not only that, but the front panel has 5 positions on which the removable fan bracket can be adjusted to make room for a thicker radiator and fan assembly on the top.

Noctua has installed a magnetic NA-FH1 fan hub and pre-configured and routed the extension and other cables. The IO panel cables also come pre-routed. You don’t need to worry about it. Just install the fans and connect the cables to the extension cables, and call it a day. I wish Noctua had provided an extension SATA cable routed as well!

The PSU shroud is also brown and can house additional fans for fresh air intake towards the graphics card, or it can be removed for the addition of a radiator and fan on the bottom. Noctua has provided two covers for the shroud in the accessories. Hint: you can also mount 120mm fans under the shroud 😉.

The gap between the front bracket and PSU shroud is 60mm, and it is not covered, which it should have been for proper aesthetics. The top displacement is near 70mm, which is excellent clearance. This case has 8x PCIe slot covers. The case out of the box does not provide any support for the graphics card’s vertical mount. You would need to buy a bracket and riser cable for that.

Another salient feature is the iShift PSU mount, in which you can install a PSU in a 90° layout by default. In this layout, the connector side of the PSU faces the right side of the case, providing easy access to the connector side for cable addition/removal. You can also install PSU in the standard layout for which a bracket is provided in the accessory box.

The cable management provision is top-notch with hook and lock Velcro styles and dedicated channels for cable routing. The drive brackets are removable as well. The top of the case has a removable fan bracket as well, for which the 4mm glass panel needs to be removed.

This case also packs a display screen that shows the CPU and GPU temperature using iUnity software from Antec. A 9-pin USB 2.0 connector cable is provided for this purpose. I wish Noctua had installed the IO panel on the side bottom for convenient access!

Antec Flux Pro is not a new platform, but Noctua has perfected this aged platform, providing a breath of fresh air with Noctua style and powerful cooling. This case has an MSRP of 399.90, which is quite a steep price for the case but makes sense when you account for the fans and other provisions. Noctua offers a 6-year warranty for this case, including fans, fan hub, etc.

Speaking of installation, it is a walk in the park, thanks to the spacious layout provided by the design of this case and its form factor. I tried to do a complete Noctua-themed build in this case, but could not manage the PSU and graphics card. For once, Noctua ought to do the blade color of NF-A12/14×25 PWM G2 fans on the frame as well! This will bode well with this case’s tan color scheme! My two cents!

What about the thermals? Using Noctua air cooling with powerful NH-D15 G2 and Noctua fans, the 9900X did 74.1°C for a 165W load, and Zotac GeForce RTX 3080 Trinity OC did 73.2°C. The 6x case fans and NH-D15 G2 fans were set to run at 100% PWM, and the combined sound output was roughly 44 dB(A). This is too good for the best possible noise to thermal performance efficiency, winning our three awards.

Pros:

• Premium Full Tower
• Noctua Edition in Tan and Brown Scheme
• Walnut wood on the front
• Up to 420mm radiator support on the front and top
• Up to 360mm radiator support on PSU shroud
• Up to 240mm radiator support on the bottom
• Adequate Storage Provision
• NA-FH1 Fan Hub
• 4mm Tinted TG Panel
• Tool-less side panels
• Excellent Cable Management Provision
• Removable Fan Brackets on top and front
• USB Type-C Port
• 4x NF-A14x25 PWM G2 Fans
• 2x NF-A12x25 PWM G2 Fans
• Thermal Performance
• Noise Performance
• Excellent Warranty
• iShift PSU Mount
• Integrated Temperature Display Screen

Cons:

• Price
• I was expecting a minimum USB 3.2 Gen2 on the IO Panel
• No Backplug motherboard support
• Bracket to cover the gap on the front
• A SATA Extension Cable would be nice
• Side Frame could provide mounting for a pump/reservoir combo

Integrated fan assembly is not a new concept. Back in time, Cooler Master (as per my limited information) released integrated fan assemblies in 240mm and 360mm sizes. While the concept is brilliant, providing a seamless daisy-chained fan system with hidden internal cables and a single fan/set to control all connected fans in the assembly, the loss or malfunction of one fan would mean the complete set needs to be replaced.

This concept is still in play, though not all manufacturers are doing it. Sigma F36 ARGB is an Ocypus solution based on this idea. Their description of Sigma F36 is “360mm Integrated ARGB Suspended Illuminated Fan Hub”. These are high-performance fans suitable for radiator and case ventilation. The airflow rating is at 82.5 CFM with a static pressure rating of 3.1 mmH₂O.

Another salient feature is the ARGB lighting system featuring a radiant floating fan hub and a full-perimeter frame light bar. The overall lighting effect on these fans is quite impressive based on my user experience.

The pricing of these fans is not yet known, and we will update the price once confirmed by the manufacturer. These are available in black and white colors and carry a three-year warranty. For now, they are available in a regular blade design. I am hoping Ocypus may release the reverse blade design in the near future!

Specifications

Packaging

It is time to take a look at the fans.

The fan set is shipped inside a cardboard box in Ocypus standard packaging. Ocypus has given due consideration to the presentation of these fans. An inner top cover shows the possible use scenario along with an illustration for installation.

The following is provided in a box:

• A 360mm integrated fan assembly
• 1x Cable for ARGB and PWM Control
• 1x Low Noise Adapter Cable
• 5x Self-Tapping Screws for Case Mount
• 5x Long Screws for Radiator Mount

Design

Let’s take a look at the fans.

The dimension of the integrated fan assembly is 365x125x28mm (LxWxH), where the overall height of the assembly is 28mm. The width is 125mm, which is 5mm above the standard 120mm width of the fans. This is due to the housing of the frame. The complete assembly uses four mounting holes on the corners for the mounting, which is a wise decision. Ring-shaped anti-vibration pads are visible on these mounts. The air intake side of each fan as an inset design. The gap between the tip of the blades and the inner frame is quite visible.

Each fan has 9x blades. The center has a silver finish with a copper ring in the middle. Ocypus has defined this with metallic CD-brushed hub nomenclature. It is paired with a distinctive secondary anodized O-logo. This is all symbolic as it represents brand identity and craftsmanship.

Take a closer look at the side of the center area. This is a radiant floating fan hub design coming from an innovative ARGB ring on the fan hub, which appears to float independently.

All sides of the frame have a silver-colored line frame with Ocypus branding in the middle. Both sides have Ocypus text inverted to each other so that it remains upright regardless of which direction you install the fans in.

Looking at the backside of the assembly, you can see an X-shaped arm design on each fan. Looking closer, you can also spot the wires going under these arms. Since the connection of these fans is interlocked and it is all hidden under the housing or frame. The mounting holes also have anti-vibration pads here.

A label on the center of each fan shows a serial number along with the power rating of the fan. The fans are made in China. These fans use Fluid Dynamic Bearing. The power consumption of the fans with less ARGB is 10.956W. This means you can connect a single fan assembly to one fan header of your motherboard. However, connecting two F36 to a single fan header needs to be checked beforehand by the user. If the fan header is rated for 12W in total, don’t connect more than one F36 to that header. But if that header is rated for 24W, then you can connect two sets combined. Combined power draw of ARGB elements is 12W. You need to check the power rating of a single 3-pin, 5V ARGB header on your motherboard as well.

One side of the assembly has a 6-pin proprietary header to which the bundled power cable is attached. Since each set has a single header, this means that you can’t inter-connect two F36 for a single fan control.

The power cable has a standard 4-pin PWM and 3-pin ARGB connectors. A 6-pin proprietary connector is to be connected to the fan assembly.

Ocypus has also provided a low-noise adapter cable. This reduces the speed resulting in a reduction of the overall airflow, static pressure, and, more importantly, the overall noise. I will come back to it in the test section.

Setting up a unit is as simple as connecting a single cable and calling it a day.

I am showing the low-noise adapter cable connection. This is optional.

A-RGB Lighting

Since these fans use a standard 3-pin, 5V aRGB connector, they are compatible with the RGB Sync technology of motherboard manufacturers. I have used these on the GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Stealth ICE motherboard using the RGB Fusion 2 app. The fans were responding flawlessly to the changes in the lighting effects via the app.

Performance Testing

I have used two different systems for tests:

• Thermal Performance Evaluation on Liquid Cooler
• Thermal Performance as a Case Fan

The fans were operating at a rated fan speed of 2200 RPM without a low noise adapter cable, and they were operating above 1900RPM with the low noise adapter cable.

Noise

These fans are quite loud at their full speed. I recorded 46.9 dB(A) at their full speed, which is quite high. Using the low noise adapter cable, the noise level was near 43.1 dB(A). I would suggest using a custom fan curve or Auto PWM function so that they only ramp up under defined load to provide better acoustic.

Testing on Liquid Cooler

The following configuration is used for CPU Cooler thermal testing:

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X [243W]
• ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi
• Be Quiet! Silent Loop 3 360
• Be Quiet! Silent Loop 3 420 for P14 Pro Reverse ARGB White
• GSkill TridentZ NEO RGB 32GB 6400MHz CL30 DDR5 kit
• ASRock Phantom Gaming RX 7600 Graphics Card for Display
• Biwin X570 Pro 4TB PCIe Gen5 NVMe SSD
• Fractal Design ION+2 860W Platinum PSU
• Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open frame layout

Here is the settings table for testing:

Settings	PBO Enabled [243W]
Clock (MHz)	Auto
Voltage (V)	Auto
Thermal Paste	Noctua NT-H2
Thermal Paste Application	Dots Method
Test Run Time	30 minutes
Idling Time	10 minutes
All Fans Speed	100% PWM Duty Cycle
Pump Speed
Stress Software	CINEBENCH R23.2
Monitoring Software	HWINFO64

I am reporting delta temperature in the graph because room temperature varies from 23.9°C to 25.2°C during the testing. The testing is done on an open air bench system. Once inside the chassis, the temperatures are expected to rise and would largely depend upon the optimal airflow inside the chassis.

Result

As you can see, there is not much of a difference between the OCYPUS Sigma F36 and the be quiet! Silent Wings 4 120mm PWM High-Speed fans, except for the noise, which favors the be quiet! fans out of the box. However, Sigma F36 fans have a very marginal gain in thermals.

Case Fan Testing

I have also tested these fans as air intake using the following configuration:

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
• Gigabyte X870 AORUS Stealth Ice
• Gamemax Glacier 360 White
• BiWin DW100 2x24GB 8000MHz CL38 White DDR5 kit
• Maxsun Arc B580 White Graphics Card
• Sabrent 1TB Rocket 4 Plus PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD
• DeepCool PN1000M White PSU
• MSI MAG PANO 100L PZ

This case comes with no fan. My configuration is:

• CPU Liquid Cooler installed on top with fans throwing air out
• 1x Sigma F36 ARGB WH on side as intake
• 1x Sigma F36 ARGB WH on the bottom as intake
• 1x be quiet! non-RGB fan on the rear

I have tested the case without intake fans first and then repeated the tests with Sigma F36 ARGB WH fans installed.

It is apparent that with the given airflow schematic using Sigma F36 ARGB WH fans, it favors the graphics card thermals only. We hardly saw any improvement in the CPU temps.

Conclusion

I have tested Sigma F36 ARGB WH fans from Ocypus. These are new fans set to be released soon in the market, which is why we don’t have the pricing data. The idea behind these fans is to provide a seamless integrated fan in a single assembly in 240mm and 360mm sizes and in white and black colors.

The Sigma F36 ARGB WH has a dimension of 365x125x28mm (LxWxH). These have more width compared to the standard 120mm width on the majority of 120mm fans. The height of the assembly is 28mm as well. These fans are suitable for radiator use and case ventilation.

They feature an All-in-one fan design for a cleaner look and easier installation. Speaking of installation, each assembly requires only four screws for the installation. Ocypus has provided radiator and fan screws. The radiator screws are adjusted to 28mm height of the fan assembly.

Another key feature is a brilliant ARGB lighting effect on the assembly, which comes from a radiator floating fan hub and full-perimeter frame light bar. The looks on these fans are quite spectacular and one of a kind.

The three fans have a combined power draw of 10.956W, less the ARGB LEDs. These LEDs are rated at 12W. You may want to check the power rating of your motherboard’s fan and 3-pin, 5V ARGB headers. These fans are rated for up to 2200±10% RPM speed, generating 82.5 CFM airflow at 3.1 mmH₂O static pressure. The sound level is rated at ≤36 dB(A). Using the low noise adapter, the speed is up to 1900±10% RPM, generating airflow of 70 CFM with a static pressure of 2.4 mmH₂O and noise level of ≤32 dB(A).

Each fan features 9x blades or impellers. These fans use an FDB bearing, ensuring quiet operation and extended lifespan. I have tested these fans on a liquid cooler (be quiet! Silent Loop 3 360) and made a direct comparison with the be quiet! Silent Wings 4 120/140mm High-Speed PWM fans. The Sigma F36 ARGB WH performs similarly to Silent Wings 4 120mm HS PWM fans, but at the cost of high noise output. Using the low-noise adapter cable helps reduce the overall noise level but without compromising the performance level as such.

Then these fans were put to the test in the case ventilation inside the MSI MAG PANO 100L PZ WH, where they were installed on the side and base of the case as air intake. They were also used on the liquid cooler. They resulted in a good temperature drop for the graphics card.

These fans carry a 3-year warranty and offer form and function at a time, albeit a high noise output, which may kill the purpose of these fans, but luckily, the low noise adapter cable comes to the aid and provides adequate noise output without affecting the overall thermal performance.

Pros

• Thermal Performance
• Seamless Integrated Design
• Inter-locked fans under the main frame
• Fluid Dynamic Bearings
• 3-Year Warranty
• ARGB Lighting
• Standard Connectors
• Low Noise Adapter
• Radiator Cooling
• Case Ventilation

Cons

• Fans are loud at full speed

When you get to have two of the best brands collaborate, you would get the best possible experience out of the box. Say hello to Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition, boasting feature rich experience with best of best air cooling integrated into the PC Case. Taiwanese PC case specialist Antec and Austrian quiet cooling expert Noctua have teamed up to create a custom, further refined Noctua Edition of Antec’s award-winning Flux Pro chassis. Upgrading the Flux Pro with Noctua’s latest NF-A14x25 G2 and NF-A12x25 G2 flagship fans for even better low-noise cooling performance, the new Noctua Edition forms an ideal basis for ultra-quiet, high-end builds.

“Antec has been at the forefront of PC case design for more than two decades, and we’re excited to collaborate with such a renowned, iconic manufacturer to introduce the very first Noctua Edition chassis,” says Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). “The Flux Pro has been rightfully praised for its exceptional quiet cooling potential, so it was an obvious candidate for the project. Once we integrated our latest flagship fans and saw how much further we could reduce noise levels while maintaining similar component temperatures, it quickly became clear that this is a worthy Noctua Edition.”

“Being chosen for Noctua’s first edition chassis is a genuine privilege for all of us at Antec. The Flux Pro was built to be a best-in-class foundation for quiet, high performance systems, and working with Noctua lets us take that experience even further”, says Frank Lee (Antec CEO). “This collaboration reflects the engineering standards both brands stand for, and we are proud to bring the Flux Pro Noctua Edition to builders who want top tier cooling with remarkably low noise.”

Antec’s Flux Pro chassis is renowned for its excellent ventilation capabilities, yet the Noctua Edition further improves its outstanding performance-to-noise efficiency by reducing noise levels up to 8dB(A), all while keeping internal components at similar temperatures. This is made possible by Noctua’s state-of-the-art NF-A14x25 G2 and NF-A12x25 G2 fans, which run significantly quieter when operating at the same flow rates.

Adjacent fans are offset in speed to avoid undesirable harmonics phenomena such as vibrations or periodic humming, and for further acoustic optimisation, customers can install the fans using the included NA-AV4 anti-vibration mounts. Alternatively, the fans can also be installed using screws for maximum safety during shipping or transport.

In addition to Noctua’s latest G2 series fans, the Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition also integrates the premium-grade NA-FH1 fan hub, which allows all fans to be speed-controlled through a single motherboard fan header. The NA-FH1 comes pre-installed, and all the required fan extension cables are pre-routed for maximum convenience.

On top of its best-in-class cooling performance, the Flux Pro has received critical acclaim for its build quality, well-thought-out layout, comprehensive feature-set and adaptability, making it a fantastic basis for both air- and water-cooled builds. Whether it’s a hardcore gaming rig or a high-end workstation – building within the Flux Pro will be a pleasure.

Reflecting its inner virtues on the outside, the Flux Pro Noctua Edition comes with dark brown accents on the side and top panel as well as brown silicone grommets and subtly placed Noctua logos on the top, side and front. Wearing its colours with pride, the Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition is the perfect choice for everyone who wants to build a high-performance system that runs as quiet as possible.

Pricing and availability
The Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition is available through Noctua’s official Amazon stores at a recommended selling price of EUR 399.90 / USD 399.90. EU customers can also purchase the case directly from Noctua through this order form. Other sales partners will receive stock shortly.

About Antec
Antec, Inc. is a global leader in high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself markets. Founded in 1986, Antec is recognised as a pioneer in the industry and has maintained its position as a worldwide market leader and international provider of quiet, efficient and innovative products. Antec has also achieved great success in the distribution channel, meeting the demands of quality-conscious system builders, VARs and integrators.

About Noctua
Noctua’s award-winning, premium quality quiet cooling components are internationally renowned for their superb acoustics, industry-leading performance-to-noise efficiency and remarkable longevity. Since its foundation in 2005, the Austrian manufacturer’s engineering-first mindset, history of innovations and relentless pursuit of continuous optimisation have become just as iconic as its long-term product support and excellence in customer service. Today, PC enthusiasts and industry clients alike swear by the signature blend of cutting-edge performance, outstanding quietness and ultimate reliability that makes Noctua’s products unique.

We have been testing coolers and fans from Noctua. This time, we are taking a look at something different from the manufacturer. This category is called HOME. Noctua has leveraged its best fan to provide a ventilation product for your home, office, and multi-purpose ventilation purposes. This got my attention as one of these series products, NV-FS1 is suited for focused air flow towards my open test bench setup, providing some sort of airflow which otherwise is not there.

I am testing NV-FS1 and NV-FS2. What Noctua has done here is take their off-the-shelf products like NF-A12x25 PWM, NA-FC1, and NA-FG1 and incorporated these into NV series accessories to provide HOME series products.

These products have a variety of applications that include:

• Cool Down Electronic Devices
• Quiet Ventilation for DIY Home Projects
• Adding a quiet breeze to your Desk
• Radiator Boosting Fans for better energy efficiency

The NV-FS1 has an MSRP of $109.95, whereas the NV-FS2 has an MSRP of $89.95. Noctua offers a 6-year warranty for both products. NV-FS1 provides a focused airflow and comes with an airflow amplifier and a metallic stand. The NV-FS2 comes with a thick gasket, allowing you to place it directly over the devices for direct ventilation.

Specifications

Above is a specification table for the NV-FS1.

Above is a specification table for the NV-FS2.

Packing Box and Unboxing

The NV-FS2 comes inside a Noctua chromax-themed packing box. Opening the box, you can see that Noctua is again on the spot when it comes to the presentation. The fan assembly is tucked on one side, the power adapter is placed on its side, and the fan controller is placed along with hidden accessories.

The NV-FS1 also features a chromax-themed box. It has a large-sized shipping box due to the funnel, which is placed on top of the accessory container. The accessories are placed over a compartmental container. I would have preferred a box instead of an open layout container.

What’s in the box?

The following are provided in the NV-FS1 box:

• NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black premium fan
• NA-AA1-12 airflow amplifier
• NV-FM1 multi-purpose fan mount
• NA-FG1-12 120mm fan grill
• NA-FC1 fan controller
• Cables & Adaptors
• NA-AC10 barrel to 4-pin adaptor cable
• NV-EC4-1m extension cable
• NV-PS1 power supply
• US socket adaptor (Type A)
• EU socket adaptor (Type C)
• UK socket adaptor (Type G)
• Mounting Parts
• 4x fan screws
• 4x zip ties
• 4x wall plugs
• 4x mounting screws

The following are provided in the NV-FS2 box:

• NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black premium fan
• NV-MPG1-12.black multi-purpose gasket
• 4x NV-MPP1.black multi-purpose pads
• NA-FG1-12 120mm fan grill
• NA-FC1 fan controller
• Cables & Adaptors
• NA-AC10 barrel to 4-pin adaptor cable
• NV-EC4-1m extension cable
• NV-PS1 power supply
• US socket adaptor (Type A)
• EU socket adaptor (Type C)
• UK socket adaptor (Type G)

Closer Look

Let’s start with the NV-FS2.

The idea is simple; use a single 120mm premium fan and provide a tight seal with the level surface using NV-MPG1 multi-purpose gasket. You can use this fan for the ventilation of:

• A/V Receivers
• DVRs
• Consoles
• Stereo Equipment

As long as the device has ventilation holes, you can mount the NV-FS2 below or on top of the device for effective ventilation. This is not all, if you have a level surface, you can use this product in vertical layout for a side-wall blow fan, which otherwise comes in the scope of NV-FS1.

Looking at the front, you can see the fan that has an NA-FG1 grill over the blades. This is for protection in case your hand accidentally touches the fan. Noctua has been paying attention to the details. The multi-purpose pads and gasket are at the core of this product, providing vibration dampening while providing a tight seal and enough lift so that the fan can breathe.

Looking at the backside of the fan, you can see the NA-MPG1-12 multi-purpose gasket providing a sufficient gap between the actual fan above the level surface.

I am showing the NA-MPG1 multi-purpose gasket after disassembling the product. I would caution the user who is disassembling the product for any reason to record the steps in which the disassembling is done so that they can reverse track the steps when assembling the product; otherwise, it could be challenging. This gasket sits on one side of the fan using tabs on the mounting corners, and it wraps around the fan frame. This gasket provides a 10mm offset to the fan from the level surface, hence effectively reducing the influx of turbulence. The gasket is made from thick, soft silicone rubber and features thin ribs on the device side, which create a smaller contact area and therefore further reduce the transmission of vibrations. This gasket has a dimension of 135 x 135 x 16 mm and weighs 80 g.

The NV-MPP1 multiple-purpose pads are also used in this product. They sit on top of the fan. Their thickness provides a sufficient gap to the top side of the fan. The gap on both sides of the fan is necessary to provide sufficient breathing space and ventilation area at the same time. These pads also provide a 10mm offset to the fan from the level surface. The pads are made from thick, soft silicone rubber and feature thin ribs on the device side, which create a smaller contact area and therefore further reduce the transmission of vibrations.

I have removed the fan from the assembly and shown the prime and might of Noctua fans. This is NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black fan. I am not going into the details of this fan, as we have given extensive coverage of these fans and are still using them as standard fans to be used for custom loop setup testing, including their performance in individual fan testing.

The fan is PWM regulated. This now raises a question on how to power this fan if it is to be used outside of the PC? Let’s address this.

Noctua has provided an NA-AC10 barrel to a 4-pin adapter cable. This cable is a must-have so that you can power the fan using the NV-PS1 power supply adapter that is also provided with the product. In case you want to use this fan with a PC, an NV-EC4 extension cable having a length of 1m is also provided.

Noctua has provided its NA-FC1 fan controller. We have done a dedicated review of this controller in the past. You can regulate the speed of the fan in steps using this controller. This controller can control up to 3 fans at a time.

Noctua has provided an NV-PS1 power supply, which enables you to power the fan from the wall socket.  The NV-PS1 is a compact, premium-grade 24W AC/DC power supply that supports both 230V and 115V input. Its idle power consumption is listed at 0.075W, providing maximum efficiency. You can see a modular design whereby you can swap the socket connectors.

Ncotua has provided modular connectors for EU, US, and UK type socketss meaning you can use this product anywhere in the world with peace of mind.

I am showing the prepared NV-PS1 using the NA-AC10 barrel to 4-pin adapter cable. Connect the fan to this assembly and install the plug to the wall socket using the required socket connector, and you are good to go.

The beauty of this design is its modularity and expandability. The NV-FS2 set can be easily expanded. You can use additional fans and fan mounts that can be powered from the same power supply and controlled using the same NA-FC1 controller using splitter cables (NA-SYC1) or fan hubs (NA-FH1/NV-FH2). It’s also possible to add additional NA-SEC3 extension cables.

 A look at the NV-FS1

Now, let’s shift our focus to the NV-FS1. NV-FS1 is a real deal. It is a multi-purpose fan set that you can use for various ventilation tasks, including but not limited to desk fan, device cooling, in our case, for airflow towards the open test bench setup, room fan applications, etc.

This set comprises three main components: NF-A12x25 PWM chromax. black fan, NA-FM1 multi-purpose fan mount, and NV-AA1, which is an airflow amplifier or funnel through which the focused airflow is provided. The fan assembly is installed on the NA-FM1, and NV-AA1 is installed on the rest of the assembly, providing a flexible solution providing flexibility to adjust the angle of the amplifier as per the need. The only thing lacking is the height adjustment of the stand, in my opinion.

You can see that the NV-AA1 amplifier is attached to the fan using fan mounting holes and standard Philips screws.

The above picture illustrates the three-way airflow amplification concept of NV-FS1.

Looking at the rear of the fan set, you can see that fan intake air from this end, hencethe blades (non-reversed) front side is on this end. Noctua has again focused on protection and installed the NA-FG1 grill using push pins. If you look carefully, these push pins are attached to the fan’s mounting holes.

I am showing a close-up of the NF-AA1 amplifier. As you can see, it has a hollow in the center, and the ducts on the sides are the only passage through which air comes out, hence you will get a directed or focused airflow. Noctua Home can be seen printed in the center.

The amplifier is made of ABS material. I am showing the side that attaches to the fan. It has standard 105mm mounting hole spacing.

NV-FM1 is at the core of this fan set. This part is made of steel. It supports 120mm and 140mm fans. You can not only place it over a surface, but can also install it on the wall, for which the necessary hardware is provided in the box.

Two anti-slip pads can be seen on the base. This base also has 4x magnets for magnetic attachment, making it quite a versatile bracket frame, catering to almost all possible installation requirements. Zip tie mounts are also provided. It has quite some weight to it, which makes sense since it has to hold the fan and the amplifier, and also supports the angle adjustment.

The complete bracket is secured to the rest of the assembly using side thumb screws. The side arms can also be removed by undoing the 4x screws shown in the above picture.

I have removed the NF-AA1 and NV-FM1 and am showing the NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black, which provides excellent airflow at an adequate noise level. The fan is PWM regulated.

Power option

NV-FS1 comes equipped with the same NV-FS1 power supply adapter and NA-FC1, along with other cables that is mentioned above in the NV-FS2, making NV-FS1 a comprehensive solution for your ventilation needs.

I am using NV-FS1 to provide airflow towards the motherboard area on my open test bench setup. This is better than having no airflow.

Conclusion

Noctua Home is a new category of products from Noctua catering to your customized ventilation requirements, including desk-based cooling, room cooling, and device cooling. The two main products in this category are NV-FS1 and NV-FS2. Both products use Noctua’s high-performance NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black fan. By setting a fan set, you get a powerful product for various ventilation needs.

The NV-FS2 uses multi-purpose gaskets and pads surrounding the 120mm fan, providing a 10mm offset on both sides, providing a breathing space for the fan and ventilation space at a time. Any device that has ventilation holes in the housing can be cooled using NV-FS2. The gasket provides a tight seal and effectively reduces the influx of turbulence, providing a consistent, noise-free operation. This fan set can be placed under or over an electronic device, and it can even be placed vertically on a level surface, in which it will act as a side-blowing fan.

The NV-FS1 is a killer deal. It uses the NV-FM1 multi-purpose metallic bracket and the NF-AA1 amplifier cover over the NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black fan. The bracket with a stand provides a resting platform on which the fan and amplifier are installed. This mechanism also provides an angle of amplifier adjustment. The funnel effect provides a focused airflow towards the target area. You can place NV-FS1 over a surface, install it on a wall, or use a magnetic attachment as well. Zip tie mounts are also provided.

The NV-FS1 and NV-FS2 come with extensive power hardware. Noctua has used an NV-FS1 power supply, which is a compact, premium-grade 24W AC/DC power supply that supports both 230V and 115V input. Its salient feature is 0.075W idling power. Noctua has provided EU, US, and UK socket type connectors, providing you with peace of mind, allowing you to use these products anywhere in the world, conforming to these formats.

NV-PS1 power supply is protected against overvoltage, overcurrent, and short-circuit,s and both the power supply and the fan carry safety certification from UL and TÜV. Unlike many cheap fans and power supplies, they are fully CE/UKCA compliant and meet all applicable standards for EMC and safety.

Noctua has no chill as they have also bundled their premium fan controller, NA-FC1, in each of these products. Noctua NA-FC1 is a handy PWM fan controller designed to control up to 3x 4-pin PWM fans. The controller has a slim outlook, standing at 21x25x48mm in a black color housing. A speed dial knob is used to change the PWM duty cycle. The maximum rated current is 3A and can handle Noctua 12V and 5V fans as well as third-party fans.

Many motherboards provide insufficient options to customize automatic fan control, or simply don’t go below certain duty cycles and speed levels. Using the NA-FC1, the user can lower the motherboard’s PWM control curve in order to achieve silent operation.

In addition to the 135cm cable of the NV-PS1 power supply, the 30cm long NA-AC10 adaptor for fan connection, and the fan’s 20cm primary cable, the NV-FS1 set includes an NV-EC4 1m extension cable that increases the total reach to 2.85m. The NA-FC1 controller can be placed before or after the extension cable for maximum flexibility.

The NV-FS1 in particular suits my requirement of providing some sort of airflow to my open test bench setup. NV-FS2 can also be used as a side-blown fan, but its height can’t be adjusted. NV-FS1 is flexible in terms of angle adjustment, but its height is also not adjustable.

The NV-FS1 has an MSRP of $109.95, whereas the NV-FS2 has an MSRP of $89.95. Noctua offers a 6-year warranty for both products. Yes, this is a steep price, but you are getting a rich experience from these products, and Noctua has gone all out providing everything that one would need for the operations of these products. Noctua has provided an expandable and modular design on these features, enabling you to add more products like fans and control them using a single controller. Both products are recommended by us.

If I recall correctly, Nvidia introduced a 12VHPWR 16-pin or technically 12+4 pin power connector on its GeForce RTX 3090Ti graphics card. That was a hint that they would be using a new form factor connector on the next generation of graphics cards. We saw exactly that on the GeForce RTX 40xx series of graphics cards, with the exception of entry-level SKUs.

While the idea is lucrative, as instead of using up to 3 or in some cases 4 8-pin PEG connectors giving us a cable management challenge, let a single connector handle it all for us, with a capacity of delivering up to 600W power. However, this connector or its idea met a serious issue where many users reported instability issues or melting (overheating at its core), triggering another related issue of warranty claims. I am not delving into its details; we all know about it!

The same continues with the GeForce RTX 50xx series graphics cards, with users reporting the same issues with RTX 5090 and RTX 5080s. Regardless of whether it is a loss of connection or some other underlying issue, this unique situation presented an unequivocal yet complex challenge to the community – to come up with a genuine solution without violating the warranty!

Many modders and vendors have ventured into this business, and we are taking a look at one of these solutions from Thermal Grizzly. It is WireView Pro, an adapter that technically sits between your graphics card and the PSU. It monitors the power parameters and reports them on the small screen. It also comes equipped with a speaker that sounds off if an abnormality is detected.

However, this is only a monitoring tool at its core, and it lacks the logging of sensors and software capability, which is why its second-generation WireView Pro II is out already. If you are not aware, this product is a collaboration between Elmor Labs and Thermal Grizzly. This is possibly the best combination that one could have on the market in my opinion. I have been using Elmor Labs monitoring tools, and they are a must-have for enthusiasts, modders, and reviewers alike.\

The WireView Pro has an MSRP of $89.97. Thermal Grizzly offers a 5-year warranty for its product.

Specifications

Packaging and Unboxing

The product is shipped inside a pouch, which is clearly not sufficient for the actual cardboard box inside. I encourage Thermal Grizzly to review its packaging for more user-friendly packaging while remaining eco-friendly.

The product itself comes inside a small cardboard box.

Thermal Grizzly has provided a basic user guide. You’d better check the detailed documents on their website.

Closer Look

The main housing is made of aluminum and ABS materials. You can see two connectors on the adapter. One goes into your graphics card, and the PSU’s 12VHPWR or 12V-2×6 cable is connected to the second connector/header. Its dimensions are 52x43x33mm.

Here is what Thermal Grizzly says about it, “The WireView Pro GPU is an advanced version of the device for measuring and monitoring the power consumption of graphics cards. Developed in collaboration with Jon “elmor” Sandström, the WireView Pro GPU connects to the 12VHPWR power connector of the graphics card and is linked to the power supply through the power cable. Power consumption data is displayed on an OLED screen. The Pro version has been enhanced with connector detection and temperature sensors. An added buzzer provides an audible warning if the adjustable temperature or current limit is exceeded or if the cable is not correctly connected or if an incorrectly specified cable is used.”

Salient properties of the adapter include:

• OLED display
• Power consumption measurement
• Power consumption recording
• Internal temperature sensors at the power connectors
• External temperature sensors
• Pin detection for sensor-pin connectors
• Alarm function
• Optimized cable management

The main housing has an aluminum construction, making it robust. You can see an OLED display screen on the front. WireView PRO is printed in white as well. You can see line stenciling, which is for style only. One connected the display screen will remain upright on the front.

One end of the adapter has a standard 12VHPWR connector to which your PSU’s 12VHPWR or 12V-2×6 cable is attached. You must hear a click sound confirming that the cable is properly attached to the connector.

One end of the adapter has a 12VHPWR connector. This connector goes into your graphics card. When installing the adapter, you will not hear a clicking sound. This sound confirms that the adapter sits correctly into the card.

In case you are wondering why that is so. It has a simple reason. There is not enough space around the 12VHPWR connector on the adapter and the graphics card’s PCB for you to conveniently press the locking tab or latch to unlock it and pull the adapter. On this account, I must appreciate the design team for covering this aspect as well.

You can see two thick metallic legs with heavy soldering/anchoring on the base. This is done to ensure that a high amount of current can flow through these without causing electrical disturbances like VDroop or heat buildup.

They have used two shunt resistances of 50 milliohms. In case you are not aware, a shunt is a device that provides a low-impedance path for current in a circuit. This is done to divert the current from the main component to prevent overcurrent. It uses Ohm’s law and the principle of voltage sensing. In operations, when current flows through a shunt resistor, a small voltage drop is introduced, which is proportional to the amount of current flowing through the resistor. This is where Ohm’s law comes into the equation, as we can measure the voltage drop in relation to actual current flow using V=IR. This allows the designers to measure the actual current without affecting the overall current flow.

Once we have the current reading and voltage reading, we can simply calculate the actual power being consumed or pulled during the operation. This makes the WireView Pro robust as it displays the minimum and maximum values in addition to the current power, and also provides energy measurement in KW/h which you can use to calculate the electricity cost.

Two logos confirm the joint venture of Elmor Labs and Thermal Grizzly in designing and manufacturing this product. Even if there was no Elmor Labs logo over it, the very design, layout, and screen display when navigating would give out.

You can see some additional headers on the PCB. Two are labeled TA and TB. These are two-pin sense headers. You can connect two thermal probes to these headers and get to measure the temperature reading of the surface on which the probes are attached. A 4-pin header is there as well. I think it is reserved for ROM programming of the embedded controller, but I am not sure.

Thermal Grizzly has provided two thermal probes as well. One has a small length compared to the other one. You can use these to monitor the PCB or connector temperature of the graphics card.

A small, rounded black button is provided on the backside of the OLED screen. It has a toggle function. Pressing it once will show the next sensor data on the screen. Also, you can long-press it for other functions.

The above picture illustrates the menu system of the display. You should read this document carefully to fully understand the menu settings and operations.

Connector Types

Thermal Grizzly offers WireView Pro in two basic configurations:

• Normal Connector
• Reverser Connector

The above picture gives an idea of which type of connector to select based on the alignment of the 12VHPWR connector on your graphics card. In addition, Thermal Grizzly offers 90° and 180° implemented connectors to which your PSU cable is connected.

Installation

Installation of WireView Pro is actually a simple step. I connected the PSU cable before installing the adapter on the card. Just align the connector on the adapter to the one on the graphics card and plug it in. Though you would not get a click sound, you should get a feeling for firm seating. An alarm is there in case the connection is lost, so here is your peace of mind. I have used it on the Asus ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5080 16G OC White edition.

Display Screen

The above pictures show you the sensor readouts, including temperature, electrical current, voltage, power, TA, and TB sensor values. Sense will show 600W all the time. I am not going into the details as it is self-explanatory. This is a monitoring-only tool, so don’t expect more.

Testing

I have used the configuration below for testing:

• ASRock X870E NOVA WiFi
• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X [Stock, Auto]
• G.Skill Trident Z RGB 32GB 6400MHz CL30 kit
• Western Digital SN850 500GB NVMe Drive [OS]
• Teamgroup Vulkan 2TB SSD [Game Drive]
• Ocypus Delta L36 ARGB V2 White
• CPS YN1000 1000W Platinum PSU
• Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open-frame layout

I don’t have dedicated equipment to measure the actual power being drawn by the graphics card. I will be setting up Elmor Labs PMD2 along with ADT-Link R33G PCIe 5.0 soon, for that matter. These days, it is not that straightforward to measure the actual power draw of the component since some portion of this power comes from the 24-pin ATX connector and PCIe connector as well.

Anyhow, I will keep it to the basics. I will use TPU GPU-Z Sensor Log’s Board Power Draw and 16-pin Power sensors and compare it to the values reported by the WireView Pro. For this, I ran the 3DMARK Time Spy Extreme stress benchmark. This test runs for some 20 minutes. Here is the comparison:

Source	Power Reading
Board Power Draw	342.7 W
16-pin Power	332.6 W
WireView Pro	468 W

The reported values are the maximum from each source. Average power value on WireView Pro during the test remains around 338W, which actually sits closer to the GPU-Z sensor data, but the maximum power the graphics card took during this session was reported to be 468W with a current value of up to 28A on the WireView Pro.

Thermal Imaging

I wanted to monitor the WireView Pro housing temperature as well, given the high amount of electrical current flowing through it. During this, I observed the heat pattern on the 12VHPWR connector onthe PSU cable.

You can see that electrical current is not flowing evenly when the PSU cable is connected directly to the graphics card, as evidenced by the heat source (shown in white). However, when this cable is connected to the adapter, it shows a balanced and evenly spread of current on all wires (visible top 6 wires).

During idling, the housing temperature was 31°C at an ambient temperature of 24°C. Under load, the housing temperature reached 41.3°C. Please keep in mind that I have tested the adapter on stock settings without unlocking the power limits on RTX 5080. On RTX 5090, this housing can reach much higher temperatures given the higher power draw. In that case, active cooling is definitely a consideration.

Conclusion

We are seeing options in the market in the wake of issues with the 12VHPWR connector. WireView Pro is a monitoring tool/adapter from Thermal Grizzly that sits between your graphics card and the PSU. What it does is continuously monitor the power parameters along with the thermals on the source. It comes equipped with a buzzer that sounds off in case of any power instability or if the cable connection is not proper/adequate.

This product and its upgrade are a collaboration between Elmor Labs and Thermal Grizzly. In case you are not familiar with Elmor Labs (John), I encourage you to visit his website, and you will find a range of monitoring tools and other related items that are handy for overclockers, enthusiasts, and product testers.

WireView Pro has an OLED display screen – although a small size – that shows values like current power, Energy, Min and Max values, Sensor probe readouts, Voltage readout, current value, Temperature on Input and Output, HPWR Sense, etc. It has a toggle button that can be used to toggle between the sensors, and long pressing it would give you access to the menu. You should check the technical documentation on the Thermal Grizzly website.

This adapter uses two 50-milliohms shunt resistors to accurately monitor input current and voltage, providing accurate power readings without affecting the overall electrical current. The housing of this adapter is made of aluminum material and has a size of 52x43x33mm.

Thermal Grizzly has provided two probes/sensor cables to record the surface temperature and provided two headers so that you can monitor the thermals on the OLED screen. This is a handy tool; in fact, it is a must-have tool to protect your investment in a graphics solution.

While this tool does not provide any logging function nor it provides any software based monitoring nor it regulates the power unlike the Aqua Computer’s AMPINEL which is a real deal but lacks in the warranty department, the WireView Pro provides a peace of mind that your graphics card and its power connection is being monitored and alarm would sound in case of any issue giving you a time to respond before damage happens. While I did not observe high housing temperatures on RTX 5080 but same can’t be said when this adapter will be used on RTX 5090 due to higher power draw and electrical current. For that, active cooling would be needed. It is advised not to touch the adapter during operation.

On a side note, this adapter is not compatible with Nvidia’s Founder Edition cards due to their 45° layout. Do check the compatibility on the Thermal Grizzly website. Also, make sure to check the configuration to avoid clearance issues with the CPU cooler.

This tool has an MSRP of $89.97. Thermal Grizzly offers a 5-year warranty, which is excellent, and this is where it outshines the competition. Based on my experience and testing, I am recommending this product to RTX 40xx and 50xx users and even AMD 9070/XT cards that use the same connectors.

Pros

• Safeguard for your pricey graphics card
• Accurate measurements
• Real Time Monitoring
• OELD Screen
• Two thermal probes
• Two Headers for probes
• Buzzer
• Temperature Monitoring
• Current Monitoring
• Voltage Monitoring
• Warranty
• Available in Normal and Reverse Connector Config

Cons

• Price
• No automatic shutdown protection
• Can’t monitor individual wires of the PSU Cable
• No logging of sensor data
• OLED Screen size
• Single-button control is not user-friendly
• Lacks Software
• Compatibility
• No active Cooling