Results: Frequency response of sound with a radiator
A fan does not have to be expensive to achieve high airflow at reasonable noise levels. A good example of this is the 140mm Fluctus, which is very high on the price/performance charts. It is outperformed virtually only by fans with more significant shortcomings in some aspects. The Fluctus 140 PWM is not flawless either, but it is still a hot favourite in its price range for many scenarios.
Results: Frequency response of sound with a radiator
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.
The sound of the 120 and 140 mm fans for the most part operates in the 70–700 Hz band. The bearings and motor operate between 1000 and 2500 Hz. Higher frequencies can be amplified by grilles or plastic filters (typically with hissing). Ignore the frequencies above 7000 Hz, these reflect electromagnetic noise from the measurement chain. This (electromagnetic noise) partially interferes with frequencies below 70 Hz as well, although there is still aerodynamic noise at these frequencies.
Note: For these measurements a thinner radiator of 28 mm is used. Such thickness (and restrictiveness with FPI 22) is common in practice (also within AIO coolers).
| Fan | Dominant sound freq. and noise level, thinner rad@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] | ||
| Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM | 109,9 | -73,8 | 380,5 | -83,6 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM ARGB | 109,9 | -75,1 | 391,7 | -78,5 | 18245,6 | -91,0 | |
| Arctic P12 Slim PWM PST | 123,4 | -73,5 | 369,7 | -82,9 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL099) | 55,0 | -83,4 | 201,6 | -78,6 | 2416,3 | -88,1 | |
| Fractal Design Prisma AL-14 PWM | 73,4 | -72,0 | 213,6 | -80,6 | 2031,9 | -89,6 | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 140 ARGB | 89,8 | -75,7 | 369,7 | -81,4 | 18780,2 | -90,6 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL075) | 138,5 | -69,2 | 246,8 | -81,2 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| Fractal Design Aspect 14 RGB PWM | 47,6 | -70,9 | 380,5 | -80,0 | 18245,6 | -91,0 | |
| DeepCool FK120 | 138,5 | -78,7 | 246,8 | -76,2 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Asus TUF Gaming TF120 | 100,8 | -78,3 | 339,0 | -79,7 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL072) | 116,5 | -77,5 | 339,0 | -81,6 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| DeepCool FC120 | 130,7 | -75,1 | 201,6 | -83,3 | 18780,2 | -90,8 | |
| Nidec Servo Gentle Typhoon D1225C (2150/12) | 138,5 | -79,0 | 678,1 | -75,8 | 19330,5 | -90,6 | |
| BeQuiet! Shadow Wings 2 (BL085) | 151,0 | -80,6 | 369,7 | -80,7 | 18780,2 | -90,8 | |
| Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM | 50,4 | -81,2 | 329,4 | -77,5 | 19897,0 | -90,9 | |
| Corsair AF120 Elite (black) | 138,5 | -77,3 | 339,0 | -84,3 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Cooler Master MasterFan SF120M | 95,1 | -80,2 | 190,3 | -85,7 | 4063,7 | -84,7 | |
| Akasa Alucia SC12 | 50,4 | -80,0 | 1522,2 | -83,4 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL098) | 155,4 | -78,8 | 339,0 | -83,5 | 2791,7 | -89,2 | |
| Thermalright X-Silent 120 | 50,4 | -78,3 | 310,9 | -85,5 | 2416,3 | -86,0 | |
| Fractal Design Aspect 12 RGB PWM | 50,4 | -78,6 | 293,4 | -81,5 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings 3 (BL066) | 50,4 | -79,8 | 213,6 | -82,1 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Gelid Zodiac | 50,4 | -79,5 | 246,8 | -80,9 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| Fractal Design Dynamic X2 GP-12 PWM | 36,2 | -72,8 | 1566,8 | -85,2 | 2215,8 | -86,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Pure Wings 2 (BL039) | 50,4 | -81,3 | 369,7 | -82,8 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 120 ARGB | 59,9 | -77,4 | 339,0 | -81,5 | 19897,0 | -91,0 | |
| Arctic BioniX P120 A-RGB | 109,9 | -78,7 | 369,7 | -85,0 | 19897,0 | -91,1 | |
| Akasa OTTO SF12 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 ARGB | 47,6 | -78,3 | 604,1 | -82,9 | 18780,2 | -90,7 | |
| Alphacool SL-15 PWM | 97,9 | -81,3 | 369,7 | -84,2 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Arctic BioniX F120 | 109,9 | -78,7 | 369,7 | -85,0 | 19897,0 | -91,1 | |
| SilverStone SST-AP123 | SilverStone SST-AP123 | 100,8 | -81,6 | 415,0 | -82,8 | 19897,0 | -90,9 |
| Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM | 113,1 | -79,1 | 329,4 | -77,0 | 19897,0 | -90,9 | |
| SilentiumPC Fluctus 120 PWM | 130,7 | -74,0 | 369,7 | -85,1 | 18780,2 | -91,0 | |
| MSI MEG Silent Gale P12 | 155,4 | -80,8 | 310,9 | -79,9 | 19330,5 | -91,0 | |
| Asus ROG Strix XF120 | Asus ROG Strix XF120 | 95,1 | -77,9 | 329,4 | -78,9 | 2347,5 | -90,0 |
| Akasa Vegas X7 | 119,7 | -79,9 | 339,0 | -83,0 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Reeven Coldwing 12 | 127,0 | -78,2 | 339,0 | -84,8 | 19897,0 | -90,9 | |
| Reeven Kiran | 127,0 | -81,4 | 339,0 | -84,4 | 19897,0 | -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 | 130,7 | -77,0 | 339,0 | -84,9 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| SilverStone SST-AP121 | 50,4 | -79,9 | 329,4 | -81,4 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| SilverStone SST-FQ121 | 80,0 | -81,8 | 329,4 | -83,1 | 18780,2 | -91,0 | |
| Xigmatek XLF-F1256 | 36,2 | -66,0 | 783,4 | -80,6 | 19897,9 | -90,9 |
| Fan | Dominant sound freq. and noise level, thinner rad@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] | ||
| Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM | 142,5 | -67,7 | 369,7 | -78,1 | 19330,5 | -91,2 | |
| Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM ARGB | 142,5 | -69,4 | 380,5 | -78,6 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Arctic P12 Slim PWM PST | 127,0 | -68,2 | 369,7 | -76,3 | 18780,2 | -90,8 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL099) | 134,5 | -74,7 | 269,1 | -74,3 | 2416,3 | -83,6 | |
| Fractal Design Prisma AL-14 PWM | 106,8 | -68,8 | 369,7 | -76,2 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 140 ARGB | 116,5 | -73,7 | 380,5 | -75,6 | 3133,6 | -87,6 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL075) | 179,6 | -64,8 | 718,4 | -75,7 | 19897,0 | -91,0 | |
| Fractal Design Aspect 14 RGB PWM | 123,4 | -62,6 | 369,7 | -73,2 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| DeepCool FK120 | 179,6 | -74,8 | 339,0 | -75,1 | 19897,0 | -90,9 | |
| Asus TUF Gaming TF120 | 123,4 | -74,5 | 339,0 | -75,4 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL072) | 160,0 | -72,9 | 320,0 | -72,6 | 18780,2 | -90,7 | |
| DeepCool FC120 | 169,5 | -72,7 | 339,0 | -77,1 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| Nidec Servo Gentle Typhoon D1225C (2150/12) | 190,3 | -70,2 | 380,5 | -77,2 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Shadow Wings 2 (BL085) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM | 23,1 | -77,9 | 213,6 | -70,4 | 19897,0 | -91,0 | |
| Corsair AF120 Elite (black) | 174,5 | -69,6 | 369,7 | -78,3 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Cooler Master MasterFan SF120M | 138,5 | -70,1 | 285,1 | -73,7 | 4063,7 | -78,2 | |
| Akasa Alucia SC12 | 164,7 | -74,0 | 1522,2 | -75,5 | 19897,0 | -90,8 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL098) | 190,3 | -73,1 | 339,0 | -69,8 | 2791,7 | -86,7 | |
| Thermalright X-Silent 120 | 50,4 | -79,3 | 239,7 | -72,6 | 2347,5 | -86,6 | |
| Fractal Design Aspect 12 RGB PWM | 130,7 | -74,5 | 339,0 | -75,8 | 18245,6 | -90,8 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings 3 (BL066) | 130,7 | -71,4 | 369,7 | -79,2 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Gelid Zodiac | 138,5 | -75,4 | 277,0 | -75,6 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Fractal Design Dynamic X2 GP-12 PWM | 103,7 | -77,2 | 1566,8 | -76,7 | 2152,7 | -87,9 | |
| BeQuiet! Pure Wings 2 (BL039) | 130,7 | -78,6 | 369,7 | -77,2 | 17726,2 | -91,1 | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 120 ARGB | 190,3 | -70,5 | 369,7 | -75,5 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Arctic BioniX P120 A-RGB | 119,9 | -64,0 | 239,7 | -73,0 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Akasa OTTO SF12 | 151,0 | -70,0 | 339,0 | -75,4 | 4832,6 | -82,2 | |
| Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 ARGB | 134,5 | -69,2 | 310,9 | -74,9 | 4974,2 | -86,7 | |
| Alphacool SL-15 PWM | 130,7 | -77,8 | 369,7 | -72,7 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Arctic BioniX F120 | 142,5 | -73,8 | 369,7 | -77,3 | 3225,4 | -90,3 | |
| SilverStone SST-AP123 | SilverStone SST-AP123 | 151,0 | -72,3 | 339,0 | -74,4 | 19897,0 | -90,8 |
| Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM | 146,7 | -69,0 | 369,7 | -79,9 | 18780,2 | -91,0 | |
| SilentiumPC Fluctus 120 PWM | 179,6 | -66,3 | 359,2 | -76,8 | 2152,7 | -88,3 | |
| MSI MEG Silent Gale P12 | 195,8 | -77,5 | 403,2 | -71,9 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| Asus ROG Strix XF120 | Asus ROG Strix XF120 | 130,7 | -62,5 | 329,4 | -87,8 | 18780,2 | -91,1 |
| Akasa Vegas X7 | 155,4 | -75,8 | 339,0 | -76,5 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| Reeven Coldwing 12 | 160,0 | -71,4 | 339,0 | -77,9 | 19897,0 | -90,9 | |
| Reeven Kiran | 58,2 | -81,9 | 329,4 | -73,1 | 19330,5 | -90,8 | |
| SilentiumPC Sigma Pro 120 PWM | 127,0 | -72,9 | 339,0 | -78,0 | 2487,1 | -76,5 | |
| SilentiumPC Sigma Pro Corona RGB 120 | 134,5 | -68,8 | 538,2 | -80,3 | 2635,0 | -87,1 | |
| SilverStone SST-AP121 | 123,4 | -69,2 | 854,3 | -77,3 | 18780,2 | -91,1 | |
| SilverStone SST-FQ121 | 146,7 | -71,3 | 1522,2 | -79,6 | 19330,5 | -90,9 | |
| Xigmatek XLF-F1256 | 58,2 | -76,1 | 739,4 | -71,9 | 19330,5 | -91,1 |
| Fan | Dominant sound freq. and noise level, thinner rad@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] | ||
| Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM ARGB | 179,6 | -62,8 | 1478,9 | -71,8 | 2031,9 | -85,4 | |
| Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM ARGB | 179,6 | -63,7 | 391,7 | -69,3 | 2091,4 | -84,6 | |
| Arctic P12 Slim PWM PST | 195,8 | -62,2 | 391,7 | -70,7 | 2091,4 | -86,2 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL099) | 164,7 | -69,5 | 329,4 | -64,4 | 2416,3 | -80,6 | |
| Fractal Design Prisma AL-14 PWM | 134,5 | -62,8 | 538,2 | -69,3 | 6267,2 | -89,2 | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 140 ARGB | 142,5 | -67,5 | 369,7 | -70,5 | 2215,8 | -86,4 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL075) | 119,9 | -67,4 | 1522,2 | -66,0 | 2152,7 | -81,3 | |
| Fractal Design Aspect 14 RGB PWM | 130,7 | -68,5 | 380,5 | -62,6 | 2280,7 | -88,4 | |
| DeepCool FK120 | 23,1 | -71,6 | 339,0 | -72,3 | 5424,5 | -90,4 | |
| Asus TUF Gaming TF120 | 155,4 | -61,3 | 310,9 | -68,0 | 2091,4 | -88,7 | |
| BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL072) | 184,9 | -71,3 | 369,7 | -65,5 | 3133,6 | -89,6 | |
| DeepCool FC120 | 23,1 | -66,7 | 213,6 | -70,3 | 2416,3 | -87,0 | |
| Nidec Servo Gentle Typhoon D1225C (2150/12) | 25,6 | -73,0 | 246,8 | -59,1 | 2280,7 | -82,0 | |
| BeQuiet! Shadow Wings 2 (BL085) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM | 28,3 | -77,0 | 261,4 | -67,7 | 2091,4 | -88,9 | |
| Corsair AF120 Elite (black) | 130,7 | -77,2 | 213,6 | -63,0 | 2152,7 | -87,3 | |
| Cooler Master MasterFan SF120M | 169,5 | -65,3 | 339,0 | -59,2 | 4063,7 | -71,7 | |
| Akasa Alucia SC12 | 23,1 | -73,1 | 207,5 | -68,0 | 19330,5 | -90,7 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL098) | 20,3 | -78,5 | 246,8 | -66,7 | 2215,8 | -83,3 | |
| Thermalright X-Silent 120 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Fractal Design Aspect 12 RGB PWM | 160,0 | -71,1 | 339,0 | -69,4 | 2487,1 | -90,1 | |
| BeQuiet! Silent Wings 3 (BL066) | 160,0 | -70,9 | 320,0 | -65,6 | 3133,6 | -90,0 | |
| Gelid Zodiac | 169,5 | -70,4 | 339,0 | -66,5 | 2957,7 | -83,2 | |
| Fractal Design Dynamic X2 GP-12 PWM | 142,5 | -66,6 | 329,4 | -69,0 | 2215,8 | -74,1 | |
| BeQuiet! Pure Wings 2 (BL039) | 127,0 | -72,1 | 391,7 | -71,3 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 120 ARGB | 155,4 | -67,5 | 239,7 | -65,5 | 2487,1 | -86,1 | |
| Arctic BioniX P120 A-RGB | 174,5 | -71,7 | 349,0 | -63,0 | 4832,6 | -82,8 | |
| Akasa OTTO SF12 | 190,3 | -66,3 | 380,5 | -72,4 | 4832,6 | -79,6 | |
| Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 ARGB | 169,5 | -65,4 | 678,1 | -66,9 | 2215,8 | -82,2 | |
| Alphacool SL-15 PWM | 151,0 | -74,1 | 232,9 | -68,2 | 2215,8 | -87,2 | |
| Arctic BioniX F120 | 174,5 | -71,7 | 349,0 | -63,0 | 4832,6 | -82,8 | |
| SilverStone SST-AP123 | SilverStone SST-AP123 | 184,9 | -70,9 | 246,8 | -66,5 | 2215,8 | -85,4 |
| Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM | 184,9 | -64,7 | 329,4 | -62,1 | 19897,0 | -90,9 | |
| SilentiumPC Fluctus 120 PWM | 23,1 | -65,1 | 219,8 | -59,8 | 2215,8 | -80,8 | |
| MSI MEG Silent Gale P12 | 25,6 | -74,3 | 339,0 | -71,7 | 2416,3 | -85,1 | |
| Asus ROG Strix XF120 | 164,7 | -66,8 | 320,0 | -68,2 | 2416,3 | -83,8 | |
| Akasa Vegas X7 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Reeven Coldwing 12 | 195,8 | -69,4 | 391,7 | -71,9 | 2152,7 | -85,6 | |
| Reeven Kiran | 123,4 | -71,7 | 391,7 | -71,2 | 3225,4 | -84,4 | |
| SilentiumPC Sigma Pro 120 PWM | 142,5 | -72,4 | 339,0 | -72,5 | 2152,7 | -76,1 | |
| SilentiumPC Sigma Pro Corona RGB 120 | 23,1 | -59,7 | 329,4 | -69,7 | 2635,0 | -81,1 | |
| SilverStone SST-AP121 | 127,0 | -65,5 | 310,9 | -70,2 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| SilverStone SST-FQ121 | 20,3 | -66,0 | 201,6 | -65,8 | 18780,2 | -90,9 | |
| Xigmatek XLF-F1256 | 130,7 | -64,2 | 739,4 | -64,3 | 3133,6 | -90,8 |
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.
- Contents
- Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM in detail
- Basis of the methodology, the wind tunnel
- Mounting and vibration measurement
- Initial warm-up and speed recording
- Base 6 equal noise levels…
- ... and sound color (frequency characteristic)
- Static pressure measurement…
- … and airflow
- Everything changes with obstacles
- How we measure power draw and motor power
- Measuring the intensity (and power draw) of lighting
- Results: Speed
- Results: Airlow w/o obstacles
- Results: Airflow through a nylon filter
- Results: Airflow through a plastic filter
- Results: Airflow through a hexagonal grille
- Results: Airflow through a thinner radiator
- Results: Airflow through a thicker radiator
- Results: Static pressure w/o obstacles
- Results: Static pressure through a nylon filter
- Results: Static pressure through a plastic filter
- Results: Static pressure through a hexagonal grille
- Results: Static pressure through a thinner radiator
- Results: Static pressure through a thicker radiator
- Results: Static pressure, efficiency by orientation
- Reality vs. specifications
- Results: Frequency response of sound w/o obstacles
- Results: Frequency response of sound with a dust filter
- Results: Frequency response of sound with a hexagonal grille
- Results: Frequency response of sound with a radiator
- Results: Vibration, in total (3D vector length)
- Results: Vibration, X-axis
- Results: Vibration, Y-axis
- Results: Vibration, Z-axis
- Results: Power draw (and motor power)
- Results: Cooling performance per watt, airflow
- Results: Cooling performance per watt, static pressure
- Airflow per euro
- Static pressure per euro
- Results: Lighting – LED luminance and power draw
- Results: LED to motor power draw ratio
- Evaluation
