Longer life in exchange for more noise? These are also some of the agenda items we’ll cover in our comparison of the Arctic P14 CO fan with the fluid bearing variant. These are actually the main points. In any case, the ball bearings in the more expensive variant of these fans also have specific features that can be easily observed and distinguished even in normal, “home” use.
Results: Frequency response of sound with a hexagonal grille
Measurements are performed in the TrueRTA application, which records sound in a range of 240 frequencies in the recorded range of 20–20,000 Hz. For the possibility of comparison across articles, we export the dominant frequency from the low (20–200 Hz), medium (201–2,000 Hz) and high (2,001–20,000 Hz) range to standard bar graphs.
However, for an even more detailed analysis of the sound expression, it is important to perceive the overall shape of the graph and the intensity of all frequencies/tones. If you don’t understand something in the graphs or tables below, you’ll find the answers to all your questions in this article. It explains how to read the measured data below correctly.
The vast majority of fan sound operates in the 70–7000 Hz band. You can virtually ignore frequencies above 7000 Hz, they reflect electromagnetic noise from the measurement chain. This (electromagnetic noise) also extends to frequencies below 70 Hz, although there is still aerodynamic noise at these frequencies. These bands (below 70 Hz and above 7 kHz) could be safely “cut out”, but we do not. Just in case one of the fans does have an anomaly that needs to be controlled and visualized.
| Fan | Dominant sound freq. and noise level, hexagonal grille@33 dBA | NF-F12 PWM | NF-A15 PWM | ||||
| Low range | Mid range | High range | |||||
| Frequency [Hz] | Noise level [dBu] | Frequency [Hz] | Noise level [dBu] | Frequency [Hz] | Noise level [dBu] | ||
| Arctic P14 PWM PST CO rev. 3 | 61,7 | -78,6 | 349,0 | -78,5 | 18245,6 | -90,8 | |
| Arctic P14 PWM PST rev. 4 | 65,4 | -76,1 | 369,7 | -81,7 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings 4 (BL117) | 44,9 | -80,7 | 391,7 | -80,5 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| Endorfy Stratus 140 PWM | 87,2 | -74,2 | 391,7 | -82,1 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| PCCooler CPS F5 R120 BK | 130,7 | -73,9 | 369,7 | -71,1 | 18245,6 | -90,9 | |
| Thermaltake Toughfan 14 Pro | 36,2 | -77,8 | 380,5 | -80,4 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Fractal Design Venturi HP-14 PWM | 36,2 | -77,8 | 380,5 | -79,5 | 19330,5 | -90,6 | |
| Seasonic MagFlow ARGB | 130,7 | -78,3 | 369,7 | -79,8 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Noctua NF-A14 PWM | 50,4 | -79,9 | 359,2 | -78,6 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| BeQuiet! Pure Wings 3 (BL108) | 50,4 | -80,1 | 380,5 | -78,7 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| Endorfy Stratus 120 PWM | 103,7 | -81,5 | 380,5 | -81,5 | 18780,2 | -90,8 | |
| Phanteks PH-F120T30 | 47,6 | -80,7 | 369,7 | -77,8 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings White (BL101) | 50,4 | -81,7 | 369,7 | -83,0 | 19330,5 | -90,6 | |
| Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 | 50,4 | -80,6 | 369,7 | -82,6 | 19330,5 | -90,6 | |
| Valkyrie X12 | 50,4 | -80,7 | 232,9 | -81,2 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| Fractal Design Silent R3 140 mm | 73,4 | -78,3 | 293,4 | -81,4 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| Arctic P12 PWM PST A-RGB | 50,4 | -79,9 | 329,4 | -73,8 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 Slim | 50,4 | -80,9 | 359,2 | -80,0 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Seasonic MagFlow 1225 PWM | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Arctic P12 PWM PST rev. 1 | 77,7 | -72,1 | 391,7 | -76,8 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Cooler Master Mobius 120 OC | 41,8 | -74,4 | 1107,9 | -74,8 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| Corsair AF120 RGB Elite | 50,4 | -69,6 | 339,0 | -73,3 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Enermax SquA RGB White | 123,4 | -82,4 | 369,7 | -74,5 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM | 89,8 | -78,6 | 359,2 | -75,5 | 18780,2 | -91,0 | |
| Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM ARGB | 89,8 | -79,6 | 369,7 | -76,3 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| Arctic P12 Slim PWM PST | 100,8 | -84,3 | 369,7 | -74,2 | 18780,2 | -90,7 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL099) | 44,9 | -75,7 | 320,0 | -77,7 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| Fractal Design Prisma AL-14 PWM | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 140 ARGB | 58,2 | -81,0 | 380,5 | -78,5 | 19897,0 | -90,7 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL075) | 100,8 | -80,3 | 380,5 | -80,0 | 19897,0 | -90,7 | |
| Fractal Design Aspect 14 RGB PWM | 63,5 | -83,1 | 391,7 | -75,2 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| DeepCool FK120 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Asus TUF Gaming TF120 | 67,3 | -86,0 | 349,0 | -76,6 | 18780,2 | -90,8 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL072) | 89,8 | -84,0 | 349,0 | -77,8 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| DeepCool FC120 | 195,8 | -72,9 | 201,6 | -82,1 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| Nidec Servo Gentle Typhoon D1225C (2150/12) | 50,4 | -78,9 | 369,7 | -86,1 | 19897,0 | -90,7 | |
| BeQuiet! Shadow Wings 2 (BL085) | 50,4 | -80,3 | 349,0 | -75,7 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM | 50,4 | -81,2 | 369,7 | -81,0 | 18780,2 | -90,8 | |
| Corsair AF120 Elite (black) | 49,0 | -80,0 | 339,0 | -78,2 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Cooler Master MasterFan SF120M | 41,8 | -72,3 | 380,5 | -83,1 | 4305,4 | -90,7 | |
| Akasa Alucia SC12 | 41,8 | -80,9 | 369,7 | -80,6 | 19897,0 | -90,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL098) | 47,6 | -75,2 | 329,4 | -74,9 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Thermalright X-Silent 120 | 50,4 | -77,7 | 339 | -76,0 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Fractal Design Aspect 12 RGB PWM | 59,9 | -78,7 | 349,0 | -69,8 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings 3 (BL066) | 49,0 | 79,3 | 329,4 | 78,9 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| Gelid Zodiac | 50,4 | -81,0 | 339,0 | -78,7 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| Fractal Design Dynamic X2 GP-12 PWM | 38,9 | -75,4 | 339,0 | -79,5 | 18780,243 | -90,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Pure Wings 2 (BL039) | 47,6 | -79,7 | 380,5 | -81,2 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 120 ARGB | 146,7 | -82,0 | 369,7 | -82,0 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Arctic BioniX P120 A-RGB | 169,5 | -84,7 | 329,4 | -70,5 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Akasa OTTO SF12 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 ARGB | 47,6 | -82,0 | 1076,3 | -81,9 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Alphacool SL-15 PWM | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Arctic BioniX F120 | 169,5 | -84,7 | 329,4 | -70,5 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| SilverStone SST-AP123 | SilverStone SST-AP123 | 58,2 | -80,8 | 302,0 | -77,3 | 19897,0 | -90,8 |
| Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM | 100,8 | -81,6 | 329,4 | -69,8 | 19897,0 | -90,9 | |
| SilentiumPC Fluctus 120 PWM | 100,8 | -82,7 | 369,7 | -79,9 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| MSI MEG Silent Gale P12 | 100,8 | -81,2 | 369,7 | -80,3 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| Asus ROG Strix XF120 | 38,9 | -79,7 | 349,0 | -72,4 | 19897,0 | -90,9 | |
| Akasa Vegas X7 | 100,8 | -85,3 | 359,2 | -80,3 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Reeven Coldwing 12 | 92,4 | -79,8 | 369,7 | -79,7 | 19897,0 | -90,9 | |
| Reeven Kiran | 97,9 | -84,4 | 391,7 | -77,8 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| SilentiumPC Sigma Pro 120 PWM | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| SilentiumPC Sigma Pro Corona RGB 120 | 92,4 | -83,0 | 369,7 | -77,9 | 18780,2 | -90,8 | |
| SilverStone SST-AP121 | 113,1 | -80,9 | 246,8 | -84,0 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| SilverStone SST-FQ121 | 38,9 | -76,9 | 1522,2 | -81,7 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Xigmatek XLF-F1256 | 63,5 | -83,3 | 380,5 | -78,8 | 19897,0 | -90,9 |
| Fan | Dominant sound freq. and noise level, hexagonal grille@39 dBA | NF-F12 PWM | NF-A15 PWM | ||||
| Low range | Mid range | High range | |||||
| Frequency [Hz] | Noise level [dBu] | Frequency [Hz] | Noise level [dBu] | Frequency [Hz] | Noise level [dBu] | ||
| Arctic P14 PWM PST CO rev. 3 | 84,8 | -69,8 | 369,7 | -74,7 | 18780,2 | -90,7 | |
| Arctic P14 PWM PST rev. 4 | 84,8 | -69,9 | 339,0 | -68,7 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings 4 (BL117) | 103,7 | -75,8 | 415,0 | -68,7 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| Endorfy Stratus 140 PWM | 119,9 | -67,3 | 391,7 | -73,7 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| PCCooler CPS F5 R120 BK | 130,7 | -73,9 | 369,7 | -71,1 | 18245,6 | -90,9 | |
| Thermaltake Toughfan 14 Pro | 50,4 | -77,1 | 380,5 | -71,9 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| Fractal Design Venturi HP-14 PWM | 41,8 | -73,1 | 369,7 | -64,8 | 19897,0 | -91,0 | |
| Seasonic MagFlow ARGB | 20,6 | -74,2 | 369,7 | -72,8 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Noctua NF-A14 PWM | 75,5 | -75,7 | 391,7 | -68,7 | 18245,6 | -90,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Pure Wings 3 (BL108) | 50,4 | -78,7 | 339,0 | -68,7 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Endorfy Stratus 120 PWM | 123,4 | -77,7 | 369,7 | -69,7 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Phanteks PH-F120T30 | 50,4 | -80,4 | 369,7 | -74,0 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings White (BL101) | 151,0 | -80,5 | 339,0 | -68,8 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 | 50,4 | -79,8 | 369,7 | -73,4 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Valkyrie X12 | 160,0 | -77,3 | 320,0 | -70,4 | 19897,0 | -90,7 | |
| Fractal Design Silent R3 140 mm | 89,8 | -72,9 | 359,2 | -71,0 | 18245,6 | -91,0 | |
| Arctic P12 PWM PST A-RGB | 89,8 | -77,2 | 369,7 | -74,7 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 Slim | 119,9 | -79,9 | 479,5 | -72,9 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| Seasonic MagFlow 1225 PWM | 123,4 | -77,7 | 380,5 | -72,5 | 19897,0 | -90,6 | |
| Arctic P12 PWM PST rev. 1 | 103,7 | -66,5 | 415,0 | -67,8 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| Cooler Master Mobius 120 OC | 55,0 | -78,9 | 369,7 | -74,7 | 18780,2 | -90,7 | |
| Corsair AF120 RGB Elite | 146,7 | -71,6 | 339,0 | -72,7 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Enermax SquA RGB White | 119,9 | -78,9 | 369,7 | -68,4 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM | 119,9 | -77,2 | 380,5 | -72,1 | 18245,6 | -91,0 | |
| Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM ARGB | 123,4 | -75,6 | 391,7 | -70,4 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Arctic P12 Slim PWM PST | 89,8 | -81,7 | 380,5 | -67,4 | 18780,2 | -90,7 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL099) | 103,7 | -76,8 | 415,0 | -69,5 | 2347,5 | -90,6 | |
| Fractal Design Prisma AL-14 PWM | 130,7 | -71,5 | 380,5 | -67,5 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 140 ARGB | 58,2 | -82,6 | 359,2 | -68,5 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL075) | 130,7 | -79,9 | 452,5 | -74,7 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| Fractal Design Aspect 14 RGB PWM | 47,6 | -71,2 | 427,1 | -72,4 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| DeepCool FK120 | 130,7 | -76,5 | 293,4 | -73,4 | 18780,2 | -91,1 | |
| Asus TUF Gaming TF120 | 50,4 | -81,1 | 349,0 | -67,8 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL072) | 130,7 | -78,6 | 697,9 | -72,4 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| DeepCool FC120 | 190,3 | -75,8 | 570,2 | -74,8 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| Nidec Servo Gentle Typhoon D1225C (2150/12) | 151,0 | -72,5 | 302,0 | -64,7 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Shadow Wings 2 (BL085) | 71,3 | -85,6 | 339,0 | -72,8 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM | 20,3 | -78,4 | 369,7 | -72,3 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Corsair AF120 Elite (black) | 138,5 | -73,2 | 369,7 | -73,5 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| Cooler Master MasterFan SF120M | 95,1 | -79,1 | 380,5 | -72,7 | 4305,4 | -89,6 | |
| Akasa Alucia SC12 | 50,4 | -80,5 | 369,7 | -72,6 | 19897,0 | -90,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL098) | 155,4 | -78,6 | 339,0 | -71,3 | 2712,2 | -87,9 | |
| Thermalright X-Silent | 89,8 | -77,8 | 359,2 | -68,8 | 18780,2 | -91,0 | |
| Fractal Design Aspect 12 RGB PWM | 50,4 | -82,7 | 380,5 | -68,7 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings 3 (BL066) | BeQuiet! Silent Wings 3 (BL066) | 58,2 | -78,5 | 339,0 | -73,2 | 18780,2 | -90,9 |
| Gelid Zodiac | 50,4 | -80,5 | 380,5 | -73,2 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| Fractal Design Dynamic X2 GP-12 PWM | 50,4 | -80,4 | 320,0 | -65,3 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| BeQuiet! Pure Wings 2 (BL039) | 59,9 | -79,0 | 369,7 | -73,3 | 18780,2 | -90,8 | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 120 ARGB | 138,5 | -81,5 | 369,7 | -73,2 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Arctic BioniX P120 A-RGB | 151,0 | -82,0 | 219,8 | -62,2 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Akasa OTTO SF12 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 ARGB | 130,7 | -81,8 | 369,7 | -75,4 | 2152,7 | -90,4 | |
| Alphacool SL-15 PWM | 146,7 | -76,8 | 369,7 | -73,2 | 18780,2 | -91,0 | |
| Arctic BioniX F120 | 47,6 | -82,0 | 369,7 | -72,0 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| SilverStone SST-AP123 | SilverStone SST-AP123 | 100,8 | -80,7 | 339,0 | -73,4 | 18780,2 | -90,9 |
| Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM | 116,5 | -76,8 | 339,0 | -69,4 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| SilentiumPC Fluctus 120 PWM | 146,7 | -78,0 | 586,9 | -72,7 | 18780,2 | -91,0 | |
| MSI MEG Silent Gale P12 | 164,7 | -80,6 | 339,0 | -71,1 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| Asus ROG Strix XF120 | Asus ROG Strix XF120 | 92,4 | -77,5 | 369,7 | -70,1 | 19330,5 | -91,2 |
| Akasa Vegas X7 | 31,3 | -84,3 | 369,7 | -74,3 | 18780,2 | -90,8 | |
| Reeven Coldwing 12 | 123,4 | -71,2 | 380,5 | -71,3 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Reeven Kiran | 127,0 | -77,7 | 380,5 | -73,4 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| SilentiumPC Sigma Pro 120 PWM | 63,5 | -83,4 | 380,5 | -74,0 | 2347,5 | -83,8 | |
| SilentiumPC Sigma Pro Corona RGB 120 | 134,5 | -72,0 | 369,7 | -75,1 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| SilverStone SST-AP121 | 53,4 | -81,9 | 380,5 | -70,8 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| SilverStone SST-FQ121 | 41,8 | -78,9 | 369,7 | -75,0 | 19330,5 | -91,1 | |
| Xigmatek XLF-F1256 | 50,4 | -70,3 | 246,8 | -72,7 | 19897,0 | -90,9 |
| Fan | Dominant sound freq. and noise level, hexagonal grille@45 dBA | NF-F12 PWM | NF-A15 PWM | ||||
| Low range | Mid range | High range | |||||
| Frequency [Hz] | Noise level [dBu] | Frequency [Hz] | Noise level [dBu] | Frequency [Hz] | Noise level [dBu] | ||
| Arctic P14 PWM PST CO rev. 3 | 106,8 | -67,5 | 369,7 | -70,1 | 5120,0 | -90,8 | |
| Arctic P14 PWM PST rev. 4 | 106,8 | -63,9 | 349,0 | -68,4 | 18245,6 | -90,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings 4 (BL117) | 134,5 | -67,7 | 380,5 | -68,0 | 18780,2 | -90,8 | |
| Endorfy Stratus 140 PWM | 151,0 | -60,8 | 604,1 | -66,5 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| PCCooler CPS F5 R120 BK | 169,5 | -72,8 | 339,0 | -62,6 | 18780,2 | -91,0 | |
| Thermaltake Toughfan 14 Pro | 20,6 | -72,9 | 380,5 | -66,5 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Fractal Design Venturi HP-14 PWM | 103,7 | -74,1 | 380,5 | -69,0 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Seasonic MagFlow ARGB | 130,7 | -61,2 | 219,8 | -67,8 | 19897,0 | -90,9 | |
| Noctua NF-A14 PWM | 92,4 | -71,9 | 369,7 | -65,9 | 18780,2 | -91,0 | |
| BeQuiet! Pure Wings 3 (BL108) | 109,9 | -77,1 | 380,5 | -67,5 | 18780,2 | -91,0 | |
| Endorfy Stratus 120 PWM | 164,7 | -71,4 | 380,5 | -68.1 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| Phanteks PH-F120T30 | 151,0 | -69,4 | 302,0 | -72,7 | 2873,5 | -88,8 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings White (BL101) | 138,5 | -79,0 | 854,3 | -67,9 | 19897,0 | -90,7 | |
| Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 | 130,7 | -75,7 | 369,7 | -69,4 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Valkyrie X12 | 20,9 | -74,9 | 359,2 | -65,3 | 18780,2 | -90,7 | |
| Fractal Design Silent R3 140 mm | 119,9 | -65,7 | 380,5 | -69,7 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| Arctic P12 PWM PST A-RGB | 116,5 | -71,1 | 465,8 | -70,9 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 Slim | 146,7 | -72,5 | 586,9 | -63,6 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Seasonic MagFlow 1225 PWM | 151,0 | -72,4 | 403,2 | -69,5 | 19897,0 | -90,6 | |
| Arctic P12 PWM PST rev. 1 | 123,4 | -59,6 | 380,5 | -67,8 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| Cooler Master Mobius 120 OC | 151,0 | -75,5 | 349,0 | -65,1 | 18245,6 | -91,0 | |
| Corsair AF120 RGB Elite | 179,6 | -65,2 | 359,2 | -65,9 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| Enermax SquA RGB White | 134,5 | -72,6 | 621,8 | -68,8 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM | 155,4 | -65,1 | 621,8 | -69,1 | 2280,7 | -87,5 | |
| Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM ARGB | 155,4 | -66,6 | 621,8 | -68,2 | 2487,1 | -87,5 | |
| Arctic P12 Slim PWM PST | 22,8 | -65,6 | 369,7 | -69,3 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL099) | 138,5 | -68,0 | 380,5 | -67,3 | 2416,3 | -86,1 | |
| Fractal Design Prisma AL-14 PWM | 169,5 | -72,5 | 403,2 | -61,9 | 7240,8 | -90,3 | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 140 ARGB | 130,7 | -80,3 | 678,1 | -65,7 | 2487,1 | -90,7 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL075) | 184,9 | -77,1 | 369,7 | -68,2 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Fractal Design Aspect 14 RGB PWM | 103,7 | -77,5 | 380,5 | -68,7 | 18780,2 | -90,8 | |
| DeepCool FK120 | 127,0 | -78,1 | 718,4 | -66,0 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| Asus TUF Gaming TF120 | 106,8 | -78,0 | 369,7 | -66,8 | 19897,0 | -91,1 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL072) | 142,5 | -69,8 | 718,4 | -65,6 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| DeepCool FC120 | 169,5 | -75,0 | 339,0 | -67,4 | 2215,8 | -87,1 | |
| Nidec Servo Gentle Typhoon D1225C (2150/12) | 179,6 | -69,3 | 359,2 | -64,5 | 6267,2 | -90,2 | |
| BeQuiet! Shadow Wings 2 (BL085) | 130,7 | -77,6 | 369,7 | -69,3 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM | 23,1 | -72,6 | 640,0 | -66,1 | 18780,2 | -90,8 | |
| Corsair AF120 Elite (black) | 179,6 | -69,1 | 369,7 | -67,5 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| Cooler Master MasterFan SF120M | 119,9 | -74,3 | 380,5 | -67,9 | 4182,8 | -87,8 | |
| Akasa Alucia SC12 | 151,0 | -76,6 | 369,7 | -67,2 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL098) | 190,3 | -74,5 | 339,0 | -62,4 | 2791,7 | -83,7 | |
| Thermalright X-Silent 120 | 119,9 | -73,4 | 369,7 | -69,5 | 4974,2 | -88,6 | |
| Fractal Design Aspect 12 RGB PWM | 119,9 | -78,5 | 586,9 | -69,3 | 19897,0 | -90,7 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings 3 (BL066) | 127,0 | -68,7 | 391,7 | -67,2 | 19897,0 | -90,9 | |
| Gelid Zodiac | 127,0 | -71,9 | 380,5 | -64,3 | 19330,5 | -91,1 | |
| Fractal Design Dynamic X2 GP-12 PWM | 123,4 | -75,0 | 1566,8 | -76,7 | 2215,8 | -89,6 | |
| BeQuiet! Pure Wings 2 (BL039) | 75,5 | -78,2 | 369,7 | -69,9 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 120 ARGB | 164,7 | -78,7 | 678,1 | -66,8 | 19897,0 | -90,7 | |
| Arctic BioniX P120 A-RGB | 130,7 | -70,6 | 219,8 | -62,2 | 18780,2 | -90,7 | |
| Akasa OTTO SF12 | 160,0 | -72,4 | 369,7 | -66,4 | 4431,5 | -88,3 | |
| Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 ARGB | 127,0 | -74,1 | 380,5 | -66,0 | 6267,2 | -90,8 | |
| Alphacool SL-15 PWM | 134,5 | -72,2 | 369,7 | -66,7 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Arctic BioniX F120 | 58,2 | -78,7 | 369,7 | -68,3 | 18780,2 | -90,7 | |
| SilverStone SST-AP123 | SilverStone SST-AP123 | 130,7 | -79,2 | 339,0 | -69,6 | 18780,2 | -90,9 |
| Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM | 142,5 | -72,8 | 586,9 | -65,0 | 18780,2 | -90,8 | |
| SilentiumPC Fluctus 120 PWM | 174,5 | -75,1 | 349,0 | -62,1 | 2957,7 | -90,3 | |
| MSI MEG Silent Gale P12 | 130,7 | -72,7 | 415,0 | -67,2 | 2487,1 | -89,3 | |
| Asus ROG Strix XF120 | Asus ROG Strix XF120 | 119,9 | -73,4 | 604,1 | -69,6 | 19330,5 | -90,9 |
| Akasa Vegas X7 | 33,6 | -81,5 | 427,1 | -70,2 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Reeven Coldwing 12 | 160,0 | -64,7 | 369,7 | -67,7 | 19897,0 | -91,0 | |
| Reeven Kiran | 155,4 | -73,7 | 369,7 | -69,7 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| SilentiumPC Sigma Pro 120 PWM | 130,7 | -77,8 | 369,7 | -68,1 | 4431,5 | -90,1 | |
| SilentiumPC Sigma Pro Corona RGB 120 | 20,3 | -64,8 | 369,7 | -73,0 | 3044,4 | -89,2 | |
| SilverStone SST-AP121 | 130,7 | -78,0 | 570,2 | -64,9 | 18780,2 | -91,2 | |
| SilverStone SST-FQ121 | 169,5 | -64,4 | 246,8 | -77,4 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| Xigmatek XLF-F1256 | 58,2 | -74,2 | 678,0 | -63,8 | 19330,5 | -90,9 |
Why is there a missing value sometimes? There may be more reasons. Usually it is because the fan could not be adjusted to the target noise level. Some have a higher minimum speed (or the speed is low, but the motor is too noisy) or it is a slower fan that will not reach the higher decibels. But the results in the graphs are also missing if the impeller is brushing against the nylon filter mesh. In that case, we evaluate this combination as incompatible. And zero in the graphs is naturally also in situations where we measure 0.00. This is a common occurrence at extremely low speeds with obstructions or within vibration measurements.
Expected results, but still an interesting showcase of the effect of only changing the bearings.
So, the “hum” is still here all the same, despite some claims that the CO version fixes it. ThermalLeft has documented sound differences between revisions too (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt8Ao4GDmzY), but even Arctic themselves doesn’t think revisions will have such an effect. I am starting to think it’s possibly a batch “issue” that may have introduced different properties to the rotor material.
I guess those claims of the CO rumbling less will never come from an official source (from Arctic)? They don’t seem to list among the changes across the revisions the modifications that address this. And personally, I don’t even see the technical reason behind the CO variant or the higher P14 revision (2 vs. 4) being quieter on lower frequencies. The impeller seems to have the same parameters in terms of geometry or material used. Nevertheless, there can certainly be a situation where different noise levels are measured across different fans. But it may not be due to different revisions, and perhaps it may be possible to observe this across different fan pieces of the same revision due to different manufacturing tolerances (which are high in the low-end after all)?
An analysis that tracks the tonal peaks of multiple pieces from the same revisions on each side would shed more light on this. From our experience, we note that the shape of the spectrograms of multiple pieces of the P14 PWM PST rev. 4 compared to P14 PWM PST CO rev. 3 in the low frequency band is identical at the same speed. The small differences in the spectrograms that you see in the tests are mainly just due to the fact that in modes normalized by the same noise levels, the speeds of the two variants (P14 and P14 CO fans) are slightly different. For the CO, the speeds are always set a little lower due to the noisier bearings.
Perhaps what is known as “resonance” is something else that’s not the frequency spike at ~100 Hz. Namely, the sudden increase in noise at specific RPM ranges. Or, perhaps the two issues are lumped together when people talk about it, when in fact the two (sound profile with pronounced low frequency peak, and some RPM ranges being suddenly louder) are different issues (that perhaps are related).
I am sure you would have noticed and mentioned it though, when you’re testing the fans and adjusting the fan speeds again and again.
Good day,
can the testers please answer this?
So P12 Max, P14 Max have both the better FDB, and only the CO versions have the ball bearing?
For both black and white version of the P12/14 Max?
Thanks
When the Max debuted (black color), it had a DBB. Later when the white version came, it had an FDB. Then they switched both models to FDB. The only Arctic fans that have a DBB nowadays are the “CO“ (continuous operation) and all server-grade fans (starting with the letter “S”)
DBB is optimal in harsh environments (higher temperature) and for continuous operation.
(I hope you don’t mind that I’m not a reviewer) 😉
It’s exactly as Bufo says. The P12 Max fan in its second revision already uses FDB. Ball bearings were only present in the first revision (P12 Max rev. 1). The unwanted whining noise that many users complained about no longer applies to the P12 Max rev. 2. Proof of this can also be seen in the sound spectrogram, where there are no significant tonal peaks at high frequencies. 🙂