Adata XPG Vento Pro 120 PWM: Refining the “imperfect”

The Adata Vento Pro PWM fans face a tough challenge ahead. They associate themselves with the legendary Gentle Typhoon D1225C fans, claiming to address the major shortcomings of the older GT models. And you probably know what those are – extremely high vibrations. These should not affect the XPG fans. The aerodynamic design they’re built on is excellent in the best sense of the word, and there’s no need to debate that.

Evaluation

First and foremost, this is one of the most efficient 120 mm fans available for desktop PCs. Nothing significantly more effective than the Gentle Typhoon D1225C has been devised so far. And the Vento Pro 120 PWM fan tested here is based on that very concept, with Nidec working to reduce vibrations. ANd successfully so.

Certain changes likely occurred at the impeller balancing level, as well as with the addition of anti-vibration pads on the frame. Naturally, these can be seen more as decorative than as fundamentally impactful improvements over the previous design. That one really vibrated a lot, but that’s a thing of the past now with the Adata (Vento Pro 120 PWM) fan. Its vibrations are significantly lower, though still present, which results in the fan being slightly quieter at the same noise level. This allows for higher speeds to be used, which naturally brings more attractive performance characteristics – higher airflow and static pressure. Airflow is indeed very high, not only at maximum (and noisy) speeds, but also in normalized modes at the same noise level. The Vento Pro 120 PWM ranks among the elite, occasionally even outperforming the Noctua NF-A12x25.

The Adata fan is especially well-suited for use in applications with airflow obstructions. Its high static pressure enables it to overcome them efficiently, with only a minor – or at least smaller-than-average – reduction in airflow compared to many other fans. This is primarily due to the fan’s impeller design, but also due to the motor’s characteristics. While the Vento Pro 120 PWM is a solid all-rounder for all situations, it clearly shines where other fans falter. For example, on radiators at medium and high speed ranges, it achieves the highest airflow we’ve recorded among 120 mm fans. This holds true for both thinner radiators (with higher FPI) and thicker ones (with lower FPI).

As a case fan in unrestricted environments, such as when paired with dust filters, the Vento Pro 120 PWM is still a valid choice – though it doesn’t stand out as much. It doesn’t benefit from its high static pressure here, and there are other fans with a larger active blade area. Quite a few, in fact. The Vento Pro 120 PWM’s strengths are best seen on liquid-cooling radiators (thin or thick), where it delivers an excellent price-to-cooling-performance ratio for a high-end fan.

The Vento Pro 120 PWM features a larger impeller hub, which contributes to a potentially longer lifespan and notably greater impeller stability. This larger hub improves overall balance – an essential factor for fans with heavier impellers. It also boasts high-end double ball bearings and a powerful motor with plenty of headroom. When facing harsh operating conditions (over time, through usage, or contamination), the Vento Pro 120 PWM has plenty of reserve power – the motor is genuinely powerful. At the same time, power consumption remains modest, and the fan stands out for its excellent energy efficiency.

An old but reliable and finely tuned design is what the Adata XPG Vento Pro 120 PWM builds upon. Given its relatively low price point (low in view of the top-tier performance it delivers), this fan deserves high praise – and in our review, it earns the “Smart buy!” award.

For users looking for the most efficient fan possible while sticking to a modest budget, the Vento Pro 120 PWM is worth considering – assuming they can overlook a few shortcomings. These include more pronounced tonal peaks at lower frequencies (which can cause the fan to be noisier and “boomier” in this range), relatively high minimum PWM speeds around 900 RPM (the very low values shown in graphs refer to DC control), and the lack of semi-passive mode. The motor does not stop under PWM control. With linear voltage control (DC), it will stop at low enough voltage, but this method isn’t particularly practical for users aiming to shut off the fan under low load.

If none of these downsides are deal-breakers, the Vento Pro 120 PWM is a good choice.

English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš

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