BeQuiet! Pure Wings 3 (BL105): Silent, efficient, okay price

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

Evaluation

Some fans are “too expensive”, others suffer from several technical imperfections. Naturally, these come from being made cheaper, but there is also an attempt to strike a sort of… balance. This, for example, from BeQuiet!, with its Pure Wings models. We compared the latest variants with serial number 3 (Pure Wings 3) in detail with massive competition in 120mm format. And they can be described as the most perfect in history. Undoubtedly.

Evaluation

The airflow of the Pure Wings 3 (BL105) has increased compared to its predecessor (Pure Wings 2 BL039) at a comparable noise level. That’s across all applications. On a thicker radiator with a smaller FPI, the difference is sometimes even more than double. With such results, it can already be concluded that the tested Pure Wings 3 (BL105) fans are also suitable for radiators.

Sure, there are plenty of more efficient fans at every noise level, but these are, as we wrote in the introduction, often either significantly more expensive or technically imperfect. That means in this case, for example, bigger tonal peaks at certain sound frequencies and a worse acoustic profile than the Pure Wings 3 fans.

The sound of the PW3 is quite pleasant, which is typical of this fan series. Still, there will be situations where you may have reservations about the acoustic profile of the PW3. For example, on a hexagonal grille, where the fan, especially at medium speeds, “rings” at 360 Hz. But that’s only in a rather thin tone, which may or may not be annoying to your ear. That’s just one of the, shall we say, less favourable applications, anyway. If you choose a more suitable combination on the radiator or even with a dust filter, you are likely to be satisfied. Both acoustically and performance-wise. The Pure Wings 3 fan may not reach the Arctic P12 PWM PST, but BeQuiet!’s advantage is in lower tonal peaks. It’s a trade-off.

The Pure Wings 3 fan in the tested variant (BL105) should also be praised for its low vibrations. These are truly negligible even at maximum speed. It is thus likely that secondary noise, typically through vibration transfer to the computer case, will not be increased by this fan. Such a phenomenon can occur from the airflow, as with all fans, but then the weak point is already on the other side – in the structure of the grille, cooler heatsink or, in short, the components that are behind or in front of the fan.

It may interfere with nylon filters, but otherwise it is also suitable as a system fan – with a plastic filter or without it. What the PW3 has in common with the older generation (Pure Wings 2) is the absence of a passive mode at low PWM duty cycle. Speed-wise the fan goes really low, down to some 150 rpm in terms of the lower limit, but the motor always spins when PWM controlled.

Also above standard is the coefficient of airflow per unit of power consumption. It is one of the highest with the Pure Wings 3. The power efficiency of this fan is thus also high.

We give the Pure Wings 3 (BL105) the editorial award “Smart buy!“. That’s mainly for the above-standard cooling efficiency with a superb, pleasant acoustic profile, and all of that for affordable money.

English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš




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