Efficient ARGB fans are rare—especially when, in addition to a low price, they also offer a less common variant. In this case we mean white materials, from which the illuminated Stratus fans are made. To begin with, here is an analysis of these fans in the physical 120 mm format. Prepare for tests packed with details that this article brings. A serious candidate for selection? Absolutely.
Results: Static pressure w/o obstacles
Explanatory note: Static pressure without an obstacle is measured in two different scenarios—using laminar and turbulent airflow at the inlet. The results in this section reflect the first case. This means that airflow to the impeller is laminar, guided through a dedicated inlet tunnel. In such a setup, the fan has access to a larger volume of air, and the resulting static pressure values are higher. This represents the optimal environment for properly measuring fan parameters. For a detailed explanation of what “static pressure” means and how to interpret it, see this article.
Why is a value sometimes missing for a fan? There can be several reasons. Most commonly, it’s because the fan couldn’t be regulated to the target noise level. Some fans have higher minimum RPM (or they spin slowly but have an excessively noisy motor), or they are simply slower models that can’t reach higher decibel thresholds. Results are also omitted from graphs if the impeller scrapes against the mesh of a nylon filter. In such cases, we classify the combination as incompatible. And of course, a zero in the graphs naturally appears in situations where we record an actual 0.00. This often occurs at extremely low speeds when obstacles are present or during vibration measurements.
For next time (maybe Friday?), how about the Antec Storm 120? That’s the plan, so that we get rid of the, well, 4-year long backlog. 🙂