To write that we have something mapped out to the last detail is perhaps too bold, but after proper preparation, few pieces of hardware are as easy to evaluate as fans. Of course, this had to be preceded by long preparations, developing a methodology, but you already know the story. What you don’t know yet is the first fruit, or rather the results of Akasa, SilentiumPC, SilverStone, Xigmatek or more exotic Reeven fans.
Reality vs. specifications
Explanatory note: For a quick overview of how manufacturers “spice up” specifications, we have a sort of “truthfulness” coefficient. We calculate this by putting our measured values in proportion to those given in the specifications by the fan manufacturers. A result of “1.00” means that the claimed parameters match the values we have recorded. After such a finding, we can conclude that the manufacturer has done his job honestly and the way he presents the fan agrees. The more the coefficient number is different from 1.00, the less accurate the claimed specifications are. Of course, the better case for the user is if the coefficient is higher than 1.00 (and it is, for example, 1.20), then the real parameters exceed the paper ones. Conversely, if the coefficient starts with zero, then the fan does not reach the parameters on paper. For example, a value of 0.80 means that the real airflow or static pressure is 20% lower than the manufacturer claims.
Although the test a super, non of the recommended Fans can be bought today making it intentesting but overal not that usefull. For next test, please include some fans that are expeded to be solf for at least one year later.
The selection of older, outdated fans for this test was purposeful. The goal was to get some results/ some basic idea to have something to go off of when evaluating current fans. When you look at the current database, it overwhelmingly contains fan models that are widely available in stores: https://www.hwcooling.net/en/bequiet-light-wings-bl072-sturdy-rotor-with-argb-leds/13/
The first eight have been selected so that later on none of these models will lack (since they are no longer sold) an in-depth evaluation of all aspects, as we do at the end of the “solo” tests, of which there are 26 after this article.