We consider the Corsair AF120 Elite to be one of the most pleasant surprises of last year when it comes to fans. There wasn’t much to complain about with the simple but effective design… Someone may have missed the lighting though. The “RGB” model added this after some time. However, this is not the only change, there are more and these include, for example, higher speeds. However, the wide range (with low minimum speeds) remains.
Results: Frequency response of sound w/o obstacles
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.
Zvuk ventilátorov z drvivej väčšiny operuje v pásme 70–7000 Hz. Frekvencie 7000 Hz môžete prakticky ignorovať, tie reflektujú elektromagnetický šum meracieho reťazca. Ten (elektromagnetický šum) zasahuje aj do frekvencií pod 70 Hz, hoci je na nich stále aerodynamický hluk. Tieto pásma (do 70 Hz a nad 7 kHz) by sa dali pokojné „odstrihnúť“, ale nerobíme to. Pre prípad, že by sa u niektorého z ventilátorov predsa len objavila nejaká anomália, ktorú treba mať pod kontrolou a vedieť ju vizualizovať.
| Fan | Dominant sound freq. and noise level, no obstacle@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] | ||
| Corsair AF120 RGB Elite | 58,2 | -80,9 | 269,1 | -80,1 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| Enermax SquA RGB White | 50,4 | -80,6 | 369,7 | -81,9 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM | 20,6 | -75,1 | 391,7 | -83,3 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM ARGB | 20,6 | -74,7 | 403,2 | -81,6 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Arctic P12 Slim PWM PST | 100,8 | -83,4 | 369,7 | -76,8 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL099) | BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL099) | 109,9 | -74,9 | 391,7 | -80,0 | 18780,2 | -90,9 |
| Fractal Design Prisma AL-14 PWM | 41,8 | -80,3 | 1208,2 | -77,5 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 140 ARGB | 92,4 | -77,3 | 380,5 | -80,3 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL075) | 138,5 | -73,3 | 391,7 | -80,5 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Fractal Design Aspect 14 RGB PWM | 50,4 | -68,1 | 391,7 | -78,5 | 18780,2 | -90,8 | |
| DeepCool FK120 | 138,5 | -77,5 | 246,8 | -68,6 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Asus TUF Gaming TF120 | 130,7 | -82,8 | 369,7 | -80,9 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL072) | 23,1 | -71,7 | 380,5 | -72,9 | 18780,4 | -90,8 | |
| DeepCool FC120 | 195,8 | -77,4 | 201,6 | -78,5 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| Nidec Servo Gentle Typhoon D1225C (2150/12) | 127,0 | -78,2 | 339,0 | -86,0 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| BeQuiet! Shadow Wings 2 (BL085) | 151,0 | -79,8 | 369,7 | -79,0 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM | 50,4 | -80,2 | 380,5 | -80,6 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| Corsair AF120 Elite (black) | 130,7 | -76,9 | 369,7 | -81,6 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| Cooler Master MasterFan SF120M | 50,4 | -80,9 | 1566,8 | -87,5 | 4305,4 | -89,2 | |
| Akasa Alucia SC12 | 50,4 | -78,8 | 1566,8 | -91,5 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL098) | 50,4 | -81,2 | 339,0 | -80,8 | 2712,2 | -87,1 | |
| Thermalright X-Silent 120 | 50,4 | -79,0 | 369,7 | -88,6 | 4974,2 | 87,1 | |
| Fractal Design Aspect 12 RGB PWM | 20,7 | -76,1 | 380,5 | -80,5 | 19897,0 | -90,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings 3 (BL066) | 97,9 | -75,2 | 1107,9 | -79,1 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| Gelid Zodiac | 119,9 | -71,1 | 380,5 | -80,9 | 19897,0 | -91,0 | |
| Fractal Design Dynamic X2 GP-12 PWM | 47,6 | -72,8 | 1015,4 | -79,9 | 19897,0 | -90,7 | |
| BeQuiet! Pure Wings 2 (BL039) | 47,6 | -78,3 | 958,9 | -79,6 | 18780,2 | -91,0 | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 120 ARGB | 130,7 | -82,8 | 369,7 | -80,7 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Arctic BioniX P120 A-RGB | 127,0 | -73,2 | 219,8 | -70,4 | 19897,0 | -90,9 | |
| Akasa OTTO SF12 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 ARGB | Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 ARGB | 59,9 | -82,7 | 1076,3 | -83,1 | 19330,5 | -90,7 |
| Alphacool SL-15 PWM | Alphacool SL-15 PWM | 190,3 | -79,1 | 380,5 | -78,8 | 18245,6 | -90,9 |
| Arctic BioniX F120 | Arctic BioniX F120 | 123,4 | -76,5 | 246,8 | -80,0 | 19330,5 | -90,9 |
| SilverStone SST-AP123 | SilverStone SST-AP123 | 100,8 | -81,2 | 415,0 | -78,6 | 19897,0 | -90,8 |
| Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM | 103,7 | -76,9 | 329,4 | -73,2 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| SilentiumPC Fluctus 120 PWM | SilentiumPC Fluctus 120 PWM | 130,7 | -76,5 | 369,7 | -80,9 | 19897,0 | -91,0 |
| MSI MEG Silent Gale P12 | 50,4 | -81,7 | 369,7 | -81,0 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| Asus ROG Strix XF120 | 50,4 | -80,2 | 329,4 | -76,2 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Akasa Vegas X7 | 123,4 | -77,0 | 369,7 | -83,3 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| Reeven Coldwing 12 | 38,9 | -79,7 | 1317,5 | -84,0 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| Reeven Kiran | 138,5 | -80,6 | 369,7 | -83,3 | 19330,5 | -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 | -78,0 | 18780,2 | -90,8 | |
| SilverStone SST-AP121 | 47,6 | -77,5 | 261,4 | -86,4 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| SilverStone SST-FQ121 | 31,3 | -87,5 | 1208,2 | -79,9 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Xigmatek XLF-F1256 | 41,8 | -69,7 | 213,6 | -77,3 | 19330,5 | -91,0 |
| Fan | Dominant sound freq. and noise level, no obstacle@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] | ||
| Corsair AF120 RGB Elite | 169,5 | -73,5 | 339,0 | -69,7 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| Enermax SquA RGB White | 146,7 | -69,4 | 369,7 | -74,6 | 18245,6 | -91,0 | |
| Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM | 151,0 | -66,2 | 380,5 | -75,9 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM ARGB | 138,5 | -72,6 | 391,7 | -72,7 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Arctic P12 Slim PWM PST | 127,0 | -75,6 | 380,5 | -72,0 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL099) | 138,5 | -69,5 | 380,5 | -75,1 | 2416,3 | -86,2 | |
| Fractal Design Prisma AL-14 PWM | 109,9 | -75,3 | 391,7 | -73,9 | 5583,4 | -90,0 | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 140 ARGB | 116,5 | -71,7 | 391,7 | -73,0 | 3225,4 | -90,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL075) | 184,9 | -69,8 | 391,7 | -73,5 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Fractal Design Aspect 14 RGB PWM | 92,4 | -76,0 | 391,7 | -70,8 | 17726,2 | -91,0 | |
| DeepCool FK120 | 38,9 | -78,8 | 246,8 | -67,0 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Asus TUF Gaming TF120 | 127,0 | -76,0 | 380,5 | -74,6 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL072) | 138,5 | -80,1 | 369,7 | -78,4 | 18780,4 | -90,9 | |
| DeepCool FC120 | 195,8 | -71,5 | 201,6 | -68,0 | 3620,4 | -89,7 | |
| Nidec Servo Gentle Typhoon D1225C (2150/12) | 190,3 | -69,7 | 380,5 | -73,8 | 18780,2 | -91,0 | |
| BeQuiet! Shadow Wings 2 (BL085) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM | 23,1 | -73,9 | 369,7 | -74,1 | 19897,0 | -90,7 | |
| Corsair AF120 Elite (black) | 164,7 | -79,2 | 339,0 | -72,8 | 19897,0 | -90,7 | |
| Cooler Master MasterFan SF120M | 146,7 | -78,8 | 380,5 | -77,9 | 2635,0 | -83,9 | |
| Akasa Alucia SC12 | 151,0 | -80,6 | 226,3 | -73,4 | 19897,0 | -90,7 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL098) | 20,3 | -76,0 | 339,0 | -73,9 | 2791,7 | -83,3 | |
| Thermalright X-Silent 120 | 119,9 | -74,0 | 369,7 | -75,0 | 10540,1 | -88,4 | |
| Fractal Design Aspect 12 RGB PWM | 20,7 | -70,4 | 380,5 | -72,4 | 18780,2 | -90,8 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings 3 (BL066) | 130,7 | -70,1 | 369,7 | -75,2 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Gelid Zodiac | 146,7 | -66,0 | 369,7 | -73,4 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Fractal Design Dynamic X2 GP-12 PWM | 113,1 | -78,5 | 329,4 | -74,6 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Pure Wings 2 (BL039) | 130,7 | -76,1 | 369,7 | -75,3 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 120 ARGB | 127,0 | -63,9 | 380,5 | -74,2 | 19330,5 | -90,6 | |
| Arctic BioniX P120 A-RGB | 50,4 | -77,9 | 439,7 | -72,4 | 18780,2 | -91,1 | |
| Akasa OTTO SF12 | 155,4 | -67,1 | 380,5 | -75,2 | 4431,5 | -87,2 | |
| Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 ARGB | 109,9 | -72,8 | 1076,3 | -72,4 | 18245,6 | -90,9 | |
| Alphacool SL-15 PWM | 184,9 | -73,4 | 380,5 | -73,1 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| Arctic BioniX F120 | 151,0 | -69,3 | 369,7 | -75,3 | 18780,2 | -91,0 | |
| SilverStone SST-AP123 | SilverStone SST-AP123 | 164,7 | -75,1 | 369,7 | -74,7 | 19330,5 | -90,9 |
| Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM | 146,7 | -68,0 | 329,4 | -66,7 | 18245,6 | -91,1 | |
| SilentiumPC Fluctus 120 PWM | 190,3 | -69,2 | 380,5 | -68,8 | 19897,0 | -90,9 | |
| MSI MEG Silent Gale P12 | 23,1 | -73,5 | 380,5 | -73,3 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Asus ROG Strix XF120 | 130,7 | -70,9 | 369,7 | -75,2 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| Akasa Vegas X7 | 127,0 | -77,8 | 369,7 | -76,1 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Reeven Coldwing 12 | 160,0 | -74,0 | 369,7 | -76,8 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Reeven Kiran | 184,9 | -75,2 | 369,7 | -75,2 | 17726,2 | -89,8 | |
| SilentiumPC Sigma Pro 120 PWM | 97,9 | -81,7 | 369,7 | -78,1 | 2635,0 | -86,2 | |
| SilentiumPC Sigma Pro Corona RGB 120 | 20,3 | -67,8 | 380,5 | -77,3 | 2487,1 | -85,6 | |
| SilverStone SST-AP121 | 103,7 | -76,2 | 339,0 | -73,4 | 2031,9 | -86,5 | |
| SilverStone SST-FQ121 | 138,5 | -75,2 | 1208,2 | -71,1 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Xigmatek XLF-F1256 | 190,3 | -77,1 | 761,1 | -75,5 | 19897,0 | -91,1 |
| Fan | Dominant sound freq. and noise level, no obstacle@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] | ||
| Corsair AF120 RGB Elite | 134,5 | -67,3 | 269,1 | -62,2 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Enermax SquA RGB White | 184,9 | -67,4 | 369,7 | -70,4 | 19897,0 | -90,9 | |
| Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM | 20,6 | -60,9 | 195,8 | -64,3 | 2487,1 | -85,5 | |
| Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM ARGB | 20,6 | -62,0 | 391,7 | -68,9 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Arctic P12 Slim PWM PST | 155,4 | -67,8 | 380,5 | -63,5 | 2031,9 | -89,0 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL099) | 179,6 | -65,5 | 380,5 | -69,3 | 2487,1 | -83,2 | |
| Fractal Design Prisma AL-14 PWM | 138,5 | -68,1 | 391,7 | -65,6 | 5583,4 | -87,2 | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 140 ARGB | 151,0 | -68,4 | 391,7 | -66,5 | 2280,7 | -89,8 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL075) | 130,7 | -78,8 | 232,9 | -62,1 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Fractal Design Aspect 14 RGB PWM | 134,5 | -70,9 | 391,7 | -65,8 | 17726,2 | -91,1 | |
| DeepCool FK120 | 23,1 | -68,0 | 604,1 | -65,8 | 19897,0 | -91,0 | |
| Asus TUF Gaming TF120 | 23,1 | -66,2 | 380,5 | -70,6 | 2957,7 | -88,1 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL072) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| DeepCool FC120 | 195,8 | -71,5 | 380,5 | -72,8 | 3417,2 | -85,7 | |
| Nidec Servo Gentle Typhoon D1225C (2150/12) | 25,6 | -68,0 | 239,7 | -62,3 | 2280,7 | -84,1 | |
| BeQuiet! Shadow Wings 2 (BL085) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM | 28,3 | -72,5 | 269,1 | -69,8 | 2215,8 | -89,6 | |
| Corsair AF120 Elite (black) | 130,7 | -78,5 | 369,7 | -70,9 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Cooler Master MasterFan SF120M | 184,9 | -69,7 | 369,7 | -67,9 | 4305,4 | -73,8 | |
| Akasa Alucia SC12 | 130,7 | -70,3 | 380,5 | -68,6 | 2031,9 | -90,4 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL098) | 47,6 | -75,5 | 339,0 | -60,5 | 2791,7 | -83,3 | |
| Thermalright X-Silent 120 | 82,3 | -74,9 | 369,7 | -91,1 | 18780,2 | -91,1 | |
| Fractal Design Aspect 12 RGB PWM | 130,7 | -69,5 | 285,1 | -67,2 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings 3 (BL066) | 164,7 | -64,2 | 339,0 | -69,1 | 18780,2 | -90,8 | |
| Gelid Zodiac | 184,9 | -61,8 | 380,5 | -68,7 | 18780,2 | -90,8 | |
| Fractal Design Dynamic X2 GP-12 PWM | 146,7 | -72,2 | 391,7 | -71,5 | 2280,7 | -83,1 | |
| BeQuiet! Pure Wings 2 (BL046) | 130,7 | -71,3 | 369,7 | -69,3 | 19330,5 | -90,6 | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 120 ARGB | 160,0 | -61,9 | 369,7 | -70,4 | 2487,1 | -88,3 | |
| Arctic BioniX P120 A-RGB | 151,0 | -67,6 | 369,7 | -72,0 | 2873,5 | -90,6 | |
| Akasa OTTO SF12 | Akasa OTTO SF12 | 190,3 | -66,7 | 380,5 | -67,7 | 4695,1 | -86,3 |
| Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 ARGB | Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 ARGB | 138,5 | -66,7 | 1076,3 | -67,1 | 3835,7 | -89,2 |
| Alphacool SL-15 PWM | Alphacool SL-15 PWM | 151 | -71,5 | 232,9 | -66,5 | 2280,7 | -89,6 |
| Arctic BioniX F120 | Arctic BioniX F120 | 195,8 | -68 | 201,6 | -62,2 | 19330,5 | -90,7 |
| SilverStone SST-AP123 | SilverStone SST-AP123 | 130,7 | -70,9 | 369,7 | -67,7 | 19897 | -90,9 |
| Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM | Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM | 184,9 | -62,2 | 369,7 | -67,0 | 19897 | -91,1 |
| SilentiumPC Fluctus 120 PWM | SilentiumPC Fluctus 120 PWM | 25,6 | -69,6 | 239,7 | -62,0 | 2957,7 | -90,0 |
| MSI MEG Silent Gale P12 | MSI MEG Silent Gale P12 | 28,3 | -73,5 | 380,5 | -71,0 | 2487,1 | -85,9 |
| Asus ROG Strix XF120 | Asus ROG Strix XF120 | 23,1 | -62,9 | 369,7 | -71,7 | 2347,5 | -89,1 |
| Akasa Vegas X7 | Akasa Vegas X7 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Reeven Coldwing 12 | Reeven Coldwing 12 | 195,8 | -68,3 | 380,5 | -71,3 | 2031,9 | -90 |
| Reeven Kiran | Reeven Kiran | 130,7 | -73,1 | 219,8 | -70,2 | 17726,2 | -89,4 |
| SilentiumPC Sigma Pro 120 PWM | SilentiumPC Sigma Pro 120 PWM | 138,5 | -70,0 | 1522,2 | -71,9 | 2560 | -82,9 |
| SilentiumPC Sigma Pro Corona RGB 120 | SilentiumPC Sigma Pro Corona RGB 120 | 190,3 | -70,5 | 369,7 | -66,5 | 2416,3 | -82,4 |
| SilverStone SST-AP121 | SilverStone SST-AP121 | 130,7 | -66,8 | 439,7 | -66,1 | 2347,5 | -90,9 |
| SilverStone SST-FQ121 | SilverStone SST-FQ121 | 127 | -71,2 | 369,7 | -66,5 | 2031,8 | -81,4 |
| Xigmatek XLF-F1256 | Xigmatek XLF-F1256 | 130,7 | -71,5 | 239,7 | -60,9 | 18780,2 | -91,1 |
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 rotor 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.
