ASUS Announces ASUS GeForce RTX 3070 Noctua Edition Graphics Card

This time ASUS and Noctua teamed up to create the most excellent and quietest air-cooled graphics card in its class.

ASUS today announced the ASUS GeForce RTX 3070 Noctua Edition — a graphics card built with Noctua fans and modders in mind.

Noctua aficionados are some of the most dedicated PC DIYers, often building custom builds with a Noctua fan in each open case mount and the signature Noctua cooler on top of the CPU. Most die-hard fans even modified their graphics cards to beige and brown hardware instead of their stock GPU fans. If there is a place in the system to mount a fan, a Noctua fan can be counted on to add one. In addition to their visual appeal, Noctua fans feature smooth noise, optimized airflow characteristics, and high reliability, making for an excellent, quiet PC that’s comfortable on the ear while providing sustained high performance.

Inspired by this passion for fans, ASUS recently entered into a long-term partnership with Noctua and went further by collaborating on a graphics card tailored to harness the unique power of Noctua’s fans.

ASUS and Noctua technology come together in one excellent graphics card

The ASUS GeForce RTX 3070 Noctua Edition incorporates a pair of state-of-the-art Noctua NF-A12x25 fans to move air through a large 2.3-slot heatsink developed in partnership between the veteran thermal R&D team at ASUS and engineers at Noctua. These engineers worked together to adjust the heatsink’s fin density and heat pipe arrangement, optimizing it for the airflow characteristics of the NF-A12x25. To prioritize low noise levels, smooth acoustic features, and high cooling performance while making room for this pair of 120 mm fans, the card’s total volume was expanded to occupy 4.3 space slots.

"Using our extensive thermal R&D experience, we have created a new GPU heatsink that is tailor-made for the advanced performance characteristics of the NF-A12x25 fan," said Kent Chien, Corporate Vice President, and General Manager ASUS Multimedia Business Unit. "Our team's work provides noise-conscious gamers and Noctua fans alike, a unique graphics card that maximizes heat dissipation per decibel of noise emitted, all in one package that coordinates perfectly with other Noctua products in DIY PCs."

This cooperative development process results in some of the best thermal performance per decibel of noise emitted from any graphics card on the market. Compared to the already excellent TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 OC Edition, the Noctua Edition delivers 10 dB lower sound pressure levels while controlling the same power limit, ambient temperature, and thermal connection temperature. Users who pay attention first and foremost to the noise level and noise characteristics will surely notice the difference.

"By using our NF-A12x25 fan and collaborating to fine-tune the heatsink for use with their product, this card achieved significant improvements in performance-to-noise efficiency," added Noctua CEO Roland Mossig. "ASUS's line of GeForce RTX 3070 cards is already great, but we're confident that the Noctua Edition will be a highlight for noise-conscious customers."

Noctua enthusiasts are often as concerned about the aesthetics of their buildings as they are with high performance and low noise levels. A special brown shroud for the NF-A12x25 fan duo completes their signature color scheme and provides a secure mounting system, so no extras are needed. ASUS and Noctua logos on the front and side of the shroud, along with smooth graphics on the full-length alloy backplate, help this card coordinate seamlessly with other Noctua components in a system.

In addition to a bespoke heatsink and state-of-the-art fan, the GeForce RTX 3070 Noctua Edition is packed with all the signature features. A dual-mode BIOS switch comes preset to Quiet mode for the optimal balance between noise and performance, while a 0 dB idle mode keeps noise levels to a minimum under light graphics loads. Exclusive Auto-Extreme assembly technology ensures precise placement and clean soldering of onboard components. The ventilated backplate design provides a shortcut for hot air into the case’s natural airflow path. In addition, the 144-hour validation process ensures that this card is ready to be used for the long term and is immediately ready to use.

Noctua’s advanced fan technology makes the NF-A12x25 fan the ideal choice.
The NF-A12x25 fan was an easy choice for this project because of the many innovations packed into the 120mm frame. An impeller made of Noctua’s Sterrox® liquid crystal polymer has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion, allowing the fan blades to sit only 0.5 mm from the outer frame. These highly tight tolerances let the NF-A12x25 operate more efficiently against back pressure by reducing airflow leakage between the blade tip and the outer edge. The metal-reinforced motor hub and axle further support the exact gap between the impeller and the frame.

Furthermore, a custom PWM IC with Smooth Commutation Drive technology reduces fan noise levels at lower speeds. An acoustic profile specifically tuned for a smooth and pleasing character, even against backpressure, is ideal for GPU heatsink applications. Flow Acceleration Channels at the end of each impeller blade increase efficiency and reduce vortex noise. Inner Surface Microstructures in the fan housing reduce noise from passing fan blades. Anti-vibration pads made of soft silicone prevent transmission of sympathetic vibrations to the graphics card and through the case. These advanced features have earned them hundreds of media awards and a reputation as the best 120mm fan on the market.