Category: Fans

Thermaltake Toughfan 14 Pro: Number one for radiators

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

While the selection of high-end 140mm fans is quite narrow, there is one model that may be of interest to you. Especially if you want the “most effective” for your radiator, at low noise levels. Certain features of the high-end admittedly don’t appear on the Toughfan 14 Pro, but when it comes to cooling radiators, Thermaltake’s fan doesn’t have much competition in this discipline. It will defend its place in silent builds. Although… Read more “Thermaltake Toughfan 14 Pro: Number one for radiators” »

Fractal Design Venturi HP-14 PWM: Against vibrations above all

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

Venturi fans have some of the softest mounting corners. The transmission of vibrations from moving parts further away to anything (case plates, heatsink fins, …) is thus very significantly damped. Compared to other (even more modern Fractal Design models), these fans have more robust blades, which are both thicker and wider, and as a result, higher static pressure is also achieved at comparable speeds. Read more “Fractal Design Venturi HP-14 PWM: Against vibrations above all” »

Seasonic MagFlow ARGB: Lighting with LCP? The right way

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

A concept in which an LCP impeller and ARGB LEDs meet is particularly rare. But it has enormous potential for achieving top-notch results. That is, as long as everything fits together optimally and there are no weak spots somewhere that increase the noise level. There are still a few things to tweak with the MagFlow ARGB fan, but already now, in its current form, it is a premium fan, and not only among lighted models. Read more “Seasonic MagFlow ARGB: Lighting with LCP? The right way” »

Noctua NF-A14 PWM: Relevant even after a decade

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

There aren’t many 140mm fans that are more popular than the NF-A14 (PWM). This Noctua model has maintained that for a long time, for over a decade. In the meantime, naturally, a host of newer competing solutions have come along, and the question is how Noctua’s still-flagship 140mm fan will hold up against them in the present day. By analyzing the NF-A14, we’ll also shorten a bit the interminable wait for its successor. Read more “Noctua NF-A14 PWM: Relevant even after a decade” »

BeQuiet! Pure Wings 3 (BL108): Efficient and “cheap” in 140 mm

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

The long break is over, back to fans. BeQuiet! recently updated its entry-level line – Pure Wings – and at least the slower 140-millimeter models have to be on your radar. The Pure Wings 3 fans in the BL108 variant represent an extremely efficient low-cost option for some situations, while not suffering from the common shortcomings of their price class. What’s quiet here is not only the aerodynamic component, but also the motor one. Read more “BeQuiet! Pure Wings 3 (BL108): Efficient and “cheap” in 140 mm” »

Endorfy Stratus 120 PWM: Efficient fan on a budget

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

Why spend as much money on one fan as you would on four or five Endorfy Stratus 120 PWMs? There is a clear answer to this, but it may not be interesting to everyone. Especially when the fans are meant to fit well into builds designed with the best possible price/performance ratio in mind. That’s when low-cost fans make sense, and the end-user often dismisses the “imperfections” of the Stratus 120 (PWM) with a wave of the hand. Read more “Endorfy Stratus 120 PWM: Efficient fan on a budget” »

15× Endorfy Stratus 120 PWM fan in vibration tests

Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

Same model, different pieces. Differences in vibrations can be dramatic. Especially if they are cheap fans with high manufacturing tolerances. While most Endorfy Stratus 120 PWM fans have some vibration, you can also come across “golden” samples that don’t vibrate at all. This is admittedly a very rare but existing situation. The variance of vibration is much greater than you might think. Read more “15× Endorfy Stratus 120 PWM fan in vibration tests” »

Phanteks PH-F120T30: The fan that pushes boundaries

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

Does it or does it not clearly beat the Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM? The Phanteks T30 doesn’t like second places, and in the vast majority of cases it doesn’t get to them, outperforming competing fans in its format (120mm) by a good chunk when optimally setup. But that was a bit of a must to justify the extra thickness, which is associated with poorer compatibility after all. Read more “Phanteks PH-F120T30: The fan that pushes boundaries” »

Escape from darkness – BeQuiet! Light Wings White (BL101)

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

There are only a few white fans with ARGB. Still, BeQuiet’s Light Wings models have some rather unique features as this rare commodity. That’s true visually as well. But they also have high performance or airflow to noise ratio. For our tests this time, out of the two options, we chose the high-speed design, which has its “own” blade geometry. But it also handles very low speeds to boot. Read more “Escape from darkness – BeQuiet! Light Wings White (BL101)” »

Scythe Kaze Flex II 120: Wild ride in reverse

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

Clockwise rotation fans are quite a rarity, you don’t normally come across them. However, Scythe, for example, makes such models and for good reason. Why not take it the other way around? In terms of standalone operation, of course, it doesn’t matter. In series, in the position of the second fan, it is possible to achieve higher cooling performance on CPU coolers compared to using fans with the same direction of rotation. Read more “Scythe Kaze Flex II 120: Wild ride in reverse” »

Valkyrie X12: Impressive rotor, a bit undermined by the motor

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

You might be saying that you know the rotor of this fan and that Valkyrie was inspired by the Gentle Typhoon D1225C a little too much. But that’s okay. Mainly the positives were taken from said template and the biggest negative – high vibrations – was avoided. And although some things could still be worked on, in the context of ARGB LED models the X12 fan fares quite well. Read more “Valkyrie X12: Impressive rotor, a bit undermined by the motor” »

Psychoacoustic optimization of coolers… A gag? Physics

CPU coolers, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

“Modifying” a cooler by replacing the fan with a relatively more efficient model may not always lead to the desired result. Sometimes you will get significantly less improvement than you would expect, other times you may even be worse off. This means that at equal noise levels, you will achieve lower cooling performance, and it doesn’t really matter what fan you use. Sometimes the design of the heatsink has the final say. Read more “Psychoacoustic optimization of coolers… A gag? Physics” »

Fractal Design Silent R3 140 mm: Low speed, “no” vibration

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

An older, even old, but still relevant fan. The selection among cheaper, 140mm models is quite small and when you look at the design of the Silent R3, it looks quite good at first glance, even technically. Moreover, it is a slower-speed fan, which doesn’t automatically mean that it avoids resonant frequencies, but it does promise to run rather quietly. And at those lower noise levels, also an attractive price/cooling performance ratio. Read more “Fractal Design Silent R3 140 mm: Low speed, “no” vibration” »

Arctic P12 PWM PST A-RGB: Hoop? Anti-rumble rescue

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

The biggest shortcoming of Arctic’s original P-series fans is the rumbling sound profile. The manufacturer realized this and decided to do something about it. Sensibly, by implementing a hoop to eliminate the critical vibrations that are the source of the annoying acoustic profile. The implementation turned out well, and already the P12 A-RGB shows how much quieter it is compared to the older P12 model. And the list of improvements doesn’t end there. Read more “Arctic P12 PWM PST A-RGB: Hoop? Anti-rumble rescue” »

Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 Slim: Well balanced SFF fan

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

Low-profile fans are a special category, but sometimes they are unavoidable in more confined spaces. For technical reasons, it’s always about compromises compared to more respectable fans of normal thickness, but their weight can vary. If the Arctic P12 Slim and Alphacool SL-15 don’t fit your needs, the Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 Slim may be the closest thing to what you’re looking for. Read more “Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 Slim: Well balanced SFF fan” »

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