Category: Fans

Thermaltake: Rotate a fan? Nah, replace the rotor!

Cooling, Fans, News | | Ľubomír Samák

Just when it seems that the pointlessness of some things must have gone through the roof, along comes SWAFAN 12/14 RGB. We can’t put it any other way, Thermaltake is taking advantage of the fact that casual users don’t know how a fan works. After all, paying for two rotors is a better “bargain” than having to orient one as you need it. At least if they didn’t have the same performance characteristics… That’s not how elite companies are built. Read more “Thermaltake: Rotate a fan? Nah, replace the rotor!” »

Thermalright X-Silent 120: Quiet operation for a bargain

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

Thermalright fans have been somewhat overshadowed by great heatsink throughout this company’s history. For a long time, even relatively high minimum speeds were awkward. These have now been tamed for most current models and the X-Silent 120 has a superbly low top speed as well. This is the “slowest” fan we have tested to date. With a price of under five euros, it also ranks among the cheapest you can buy. Read more “Thermalright X-Silent 120: Quiet operation for a bargain” »

Static pressure vs. airflow, part 2/3: Measuring performance on fins

Analysis, Cooling, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

No one, no one at all, can claim based on any tests that one fan is a touch more or less efficient than the other for radiators or cooler heatsinks in general. Technically it’s impossible, and not just because of the huge design diversity of fins. However, after in-depth analyses, one can work one’s way to comparisons that have a high predictive value with a certain amount of universality. Read more “Static pressure vs. airflow, part 2/3: Measuring performance on fins” »

Sightly and efficient: the Fractal Design Aspect 12 RGB PWM test

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

An old-school rotor with one small aerodynamic tweak, the shortcomings of the Dynamic series of fans removed, and the addition of ARGB LED lighting. There are negatives too, but with the right application you can neatly avoid them. Overall, though, Fractal Design’s Aspects are functionally among the most feature-rich of what’s available in the current lineup of LED fans. Read more “Sightly and efficient: the Fractal Design Aspect 12 RGB PWM test” »

Silent Wings 3 (BL066): The best from BeQuiet!… so far

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

It’s heating up. We have added the first triple-A fan to the tests, which has been viewed “some way” for years, and now it will turn out how it is exactly – what are its weaknesses and what are its strengths. Some have also debated whether the Silent Wings 3 happens to be the most efficient fan ever. But as it happens, it’s a bit more complicated than a one-word answer like yes or no. Read more “Silent Wings 3 (BL066): The best from BeQuiet!… so far” »

Static pressure vs. airflow, part 1/3: Quantities under control

Analysis, Cooling, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

Fan marketing materials could not do without the use (or is it misuse?) of key variables. There are plenty of them everywhere, but no one anywhere explains the nature of how they work, always just the supposed consequence. After all, for expected sales, companies need you to understand their presentations, which often contradict the laws of physics. But we will take a look at them, in all simplicity. Read more “Static pressure vs. airflow, part 1/3: Quantities under control” »

Gelid Zodiac fan: ARGB LED and excellent price/performance ratio

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

Aside from whether the fan is named after the zodiac or a serial killer from California, we know all about Gelid’s latest fan. In the end, the inspiration may stem from the latter as well. After all, it has a backlight option and at the same time “kills”, performance-wise, the price-equivalent fans without it. And attractive models at that. But there is one thing that can erase all the good features. Read more “Gelid Zodiac fan: ARGB LED and excellent price/performance ratio” »

Dynamic X2 GP-12 PWM: Fractal Design knows what works in cases

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

Sometimes they don’t even get a chance and are immediately replaced by other, “better” ones. We’re talking about fans that come pre-installed in computer cases. We are going to test one of them now and although there are reasons to replace the Dynamic X2 GP-12 (PWM), be careful not to end up being worse off. After all, these aren’t exactly ordinary fans. They even have more specific aerodynamics and acoustics modifying features. Read more “Dynamic X2 GP-12 PWM: Fractal Design knows what works in cases” »

Summer looks exciting, BeQuiet! prepares the Silent Wings (Pro) 4

Cooling, Fans, News | | Ľubomír Samák

The fourth generation of the new BeQuiet! Silent Wings fans have all the ingredients to reach the very pinnacle of efficiency. The rotor is based on the proven shape of long, distinctively curved blades. These are, moreover, very close to the frame to maximize pressure. After this parameter, you probably already think of Noctua’s “sterrox” fan, which, however, the BeQuiet! one can surpass with its typical grooves. Read more “Summer looks exciting, BeQuiet! prepares the Silent Wings (Pro) 4” »

BeQuiet! Pure Wings 2 (BL039): It wouldn’t do without the grooves

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

So, now we get to see what the grooves on the entire surface of the blades, which are typical of BeQuiet! fans, are worth! Judging by the geometry, we were initially concerned that the results might go in a similar direction to the Arctic BioniX F120. But it’s a lot better than that, and the 120 mm Pure Wings 2 even achieves a top price/performance ratio while running very quietly. The best of the fans tested so far. Read more “BeQuiet! Pure Wings 2 (BL039): It wouldn’t do without the grooves” »

Low profile in a larger, 140 mm body. Arctic’s P14 Slim

Cooling, Fans, News | | Ľubomír Samák

As the cross section of fans increases, the thickness usually grows. For cases where the opposite is desired, i.e. a large yet thin fan, Arctic has “squeezed” the P14 down to 16mm. This is one of the few fans with such proportions and this one has ambitions to be a cut above the rest of the range. Compared to the one number smaller P12 Slim model, the increase in airflow at the same noise level should be almost 24 %. Read more “Low profile in a larger, 140 mm body. Arctic’s P14 Slim” »

Gigabyte Aorus 120 ARGB: Not just stylish, but a proper fan

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

Gigabyte’s new fan stands out from the crowd of flashy, inefficient PC components. The Aorus 120 ARGB may entice the user with its illuminated rotor, but the features that make a fan a fan don’t play second fiddle either. Although there is still room for tuning and improvement, the Aorus 120 ARGB excels in many ways and beats even competing models from traditional fan manufacturers in some areas of application. Read more “Gigabyte Aorus 120 ARGB: Not just stylish, but a proper fan” »

Arctic BioniX P120 A-RGB: The lit specialist for filters and grilles

Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

Now that’s what we call a turnaround. Remember how the BioniX F120 failed on obstacles? The newer BioniX P120 (A-RGB) no longer has such a fundamental limitation. On the contrary, it is significantly less stifled by obstacles than many competing fans. Just tame those vibrations, fine-tune the acoustics, where there are some flaws, and it’ll be great. The basis (the rotor) is better in practice than the label parameters suggest. Read more “Arctic BioniX P120 A-RGB: The lit specialist for filters and grilles” »

Akasa OTTO SF12: Anti-vibration membrane, wavy blades and IP68

Cooling, Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

Predisposed to more demanding industrial conditions, Akasa OTTO fans go well beyond “normal” home computer use. Complete water and dust resistance, three-phase torque and, above all, a unique vibration elimination system. The effectiveness of the proven “S-Flow” rotor is high, but there is one thing Akasa has overdone a bit. That is, if the OTTO SF12 fan is really meant for system cooling. Read more “Akasa OTTO SF12: Anti-vibration membrane, wavy blades and IP68” »

Among the new Akasa fans is also the dangerous Alucia SC

Cooling, Fans, News | | Ľubomír Samák

Although it didn’t look like it at first, Akasa will sell the fan from the Alucia H4 cooler separately. We had it briefly in our wind tunnel and it definitely has the potential to succeed in the mid-range segment. Then there are the illuminated Soho AR and Vegas A fans based on it, which are also sold in unconventional “Siamese twins or triplets” variants with a common frame for two or three rotors. Read more “Among the new Akasa fans is also the dangerous Alucia SC” »

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