It arrived quietly, but we had been looking forward to it for a very long time. In its form factor, the Phanteks T30-140 fan works wonders and often defeats everything that stands in its way. Yes, even the Noctua NF-A14x25 G2 PWM is often the “next in line”, albeit at the cost of a thicker profile. Airflow is exceptionally high (and consequently cooling performance) through obstacles. Larger fans now have a new dominant model.
We truly waited a long time for the Phanteks T30-140 fan, but it’s finally here. That means it’s time for a detailed analysis. What makes this fan so exceptional? It combines features expected to deliver extraordinarily high cooling efficiency across various scenarios. First and foremost, it’s the efficient geometry of the strongly curved blades, which from past experience (with fans using similarly shaped blades) we know excels in the airflow-to-noise ratio. In other words, relatively high airflow is achieved per unit of noise.
High (aerodynamic—or rather cooling?) efficiency is also supported on obstacles by the above-standard 30 mm profile thickness. This parameter increases blade surface area, but more importantly contributes to higher static pressure.
Static pressure is further supported by relatively small gaps between the blades and an overall small idle cross-section. This includes, for example, the small clearance between the blades and the fan tunnel. In flight, it is only around 0.8 mm. Measuring this precisely is quite complicated, but ultimately what matters is the output result. The mentioned gap is just one of many elements intended to help achieve the most attractive real-world performance possible.
The fan is made from liquid crystal polymer (LCP), an exceptionally rigid material. Such a structure is also useful for suppressing unwanted vibrations, thereby preventing noise increases at this level. The overall mechanical execution is, of course, excellent as well. The Phanteks T30-140 is a truly robust fan, weighing approximately 270 grams.
To set different speed ranges, there is a switch on the motor housing. By default, it is in the “Performance” position with approximately 340–2045 RPM. Maximum airflow is achieved in the “Advanced” mode, where you reach speeds of around 2500 RPM. The lower limit (~340 RPM) remains unchanged. That only changes in the “Hybrid” switch position, where the range is the narrowest. Not only are maximum speeds the lowest (~1212 RPM), but minimum speeds are also the highest (~547 RPM). This is what we recorded in measurements. After exceeding a certain PWM duty cycle threshold, the fan switches off, so support for “semi-passive operation” can be confirmed.
Motor power is nearly 20 watts, which is extraordinarily high, and in some situations an intake grille would be advisable for safety reasons. Especially at maximum speed, unintended object ingress into the fan could have devastating consequences. In terms of maximum operating power consumption, it is approximately 6.3 W, meaning more than 500 mA per fan.
With three fans (typically in the case of triple packs), you are already above 1 A, even without considering inrush current, which is naturally even higher. When connecting three fans to a single motherboard header or hub, keep this in mind. The fan’s design accommodates such installation quite well, as the short cables (approx. 15 cm) feature two connectors—one for the fan’s own power supply, the other for connecting the next in sequence.
The accessory package also includes longer screws (with UNC 6-32 threads) for radiators.
Please note: The article continues in the following chapters.
One photograph labeled “v2” is intended for the main teaser:
Can you help me understand the importance of “Static pressure through a through a thicker radiator” when we also have “Airflow through a thicker radiator”? It seems to me that the airflow is the end result and static pressure is just one variable that leads to that resulting airflow. You get a fan like the Endorfy Fluctus 140 that rates high on static pressure at 31dB but then underperforms on airflow at the same dB against other fans that had lower rated static pressure.
Static pressure through a radiator represents a scenario where the measured value reflects the combined effect of the fan and the radiator. In contrast, the results labeled Static pressure w/o obstacles are influenced solely by the fan itself.
Typically, a radiator (or any obstacle) reduces static pressure. If the obstacle does not provide sufficient resistance, pressure leakage occurs, and we measure lower values as a result.
From a practical perspective, however, these values are not critically important. It’s important to understand the conditions under which static pressure is measured — regardless of whether an obstacle is present or not. The measurement is performed at zero airflow, with the tunnel sealed.
When measuring Airflow through a radiator, the situation is essentially the opposite. Speaking of “zero static pressure” would be somewhat inaccurate (since even the tunnel itself introduces a small amount of resistance), but this resistance is very low. In that case, airflow restriction is determined primarily by the obstacle itself.
Static pressure measured through a radiator may correlate better than airflow values in extremely restrictive environments—but such conditions do not represent typical real-world scenarios.
Is the answer clear enough and satisfactory or is there something that needs to be further clarified? 🙂
This helps very much. Thank you for taking the time to explain it so clearly for me.
What a waste of a fan
What facts are you basing that on? In certain situations, when things are set up properly, the Phanteks fan can actually be number one. 🙂
Could you explain why 120mm G2 Noctua beats T30-120, but T30-140 beats Noctua 140mm G2? Is Noctua 140mm G2 for some reason worse than 120mm version? For example at 31dBA 140mm Noctua on thick/thin radiators has less airflow than 120mm version
Could you please provide specific situations or measurements? I’m not able to work with the term “beats” on its own—it’s too vague. What exactly do you mean by that? Please elaborate in more detail so it’s clear what needs to be explained. 🙂
Hello – I am not skilled in Electronics. I ordered the 3x pack of this Phanteks T30-140, can I run them – all three of them – off of one 3A “PUMP_SYS2” header on my motherboard?
Hi, connecting the Phanteks T30-140 fans should be fine even at maximum speed—assuming the connector is designed to handle higher current loads. These fans don’t come close to 3 A even at peak draw during startup, etc. 🙂
First, I registered to say thank you for the test: it’s not so easy to come by so much data of this nature! So many good 140mm fans in there. I wish it had been there when I made my case/AIO fan purchases a few months back.
Second, I found this fan disappointing: its niche seems to be airflow at max speed, whereas its 120mm predecessor had this reputation of having both great airflow when needed and some degree of quietness while remaining effective, when not. Which in my mind equates to a good exhaust fan in a PC case, but not as fit as an intake or radiator fan: You get 5xP14 Pro for the price of one of these, for a lower noise level and more effectiveness in most cases.
While it certainly isn’t bad, to me, your tests mostly highlight that Arctic has made something remarkable with its “Pro” line for radiators, and Fractal deserves quite a bit of credit for its Momentum 14 over the airflow/noise performance for standard case fans. While I like Fractal as a case manufacturer, they weren’t on my radar for their fans, at all.
So the only thing I’d criticise on this test is the title: T30-140 doesn’t look as efficient as it should be, even though it certainly isn’t inefficient! The only thing that feels completely inefficient to me is Arctic selling a “Max” line whose very name looks deprecated in any role but as an exhaust fan. The P12/14 Max’s market positioning doesn’t make much sense to me.
Also just a quick note: your infographics are showing thickness for the Arctic P14 fans at 25mm. All P14 variants (vanilla, Pro, Max, Silent) but the Slim ones are 27mm thick, which can matter in some niche cases.
Could you please point me to where this is stated that way? In the specification tables, in the second chapter, I can only see 27 mm everywhere. I tried to correct it, but there was nothing to fix… I must be overlooking something. 🙂
Of course, the fan profile thickness is important—it shapes the characteristics, both positively (mainly higher static pressure) and potentially negatively (worse compatibility). 🙂
Thank you for the comment, for registering, and for sharing your user experience. Could you elaborate on what specifically disappointed you about the Phanteks 30-140 fan, or in which aspect it failed to meet your expectations? Based on the test results, it performs exceptionally well across virtually all scenarios.
Yes, it is significantly more expensive than the Arctic P14 Pro while offering very similar cooling efficiency, but we can certainly discuss the specific characteristics that make the Phanteks fan considerably more expensive and, in some areas, slightly ahead. It’s similar with Noctua (NF-A14x25 G2), where the measurable differences are minimal, yet the price difference is dramatic. 🙂
Hello, Thanks for the great in-depth testing of the fans,
I want to give my opinion, so correct me if I’m wrong,
I’m not expert in this technical stuff, so i will give all I concern in consumer / user way.
I’m on way researching to upgrade from Arctic P14 Pro (Non ARGB) fans Front Intake Fans, Rear fan and probably the next 420 AIO (Arctic Liquid Freezer 3 PRO 420) to The T30-140mm for my ROG Hyperion Case BTF,
So there are bit of small comparion between the Arctic P14 Pro and T30 140
After reading and looking so much graph of results, and analyze,
I can say that, the main issue of T30-140mm is the “Noise”. Like the 120mm version.
TL;DR
Since the test of fans mostly use Noise-Normalized as the baseline for the measurement so this is has bad effect for the T30 or even another fans which also has the same rated noise or worse.
All I can see from the each rated target dBA (31 – 45) – the RPM is lower compared to the Arctic P14 Pro (Non ARGB),
Then since the Noise-Normalized is the baseline for the other most of tests, actually gives Domino Effect, as the T30 has high noise which produce targeted in lower RPM which also result less CFM and less of Static Pressure, I know I also saw like one or two, T30-140 dominates the Arctic P14 Pro.
When i saw on max RPM, the T30 like dominating most of the test, so I really thought that if the test were RPM-Normalized like same RPM testing for the the next test, I’m pretty sure to speculate that the T30 can really dominates most.
So I’m sure the T30 140 fans are OK only the “Noise” which make it looks bad in the graph, but actually they are good if all compared in same RPMs not focusing on the noise.
I’m not telling all of this, and summerizes the tests result are false or bad example, No, I’m not think like that.
But in consumer way of thinking, The speed (RPM) is will be the main baseline for the performance not the noise, at least for me (Idk if most people think the same as mine)
I’m ok with fan noise, I’m not playing 100% RPM all the time,
maybe ones that disagree probably focused on the less noise.
Well the Noctua NF-A14x25 G2 or Arctic P14 Pro has better acoustics, and Price to performance.
I’ll might get the T30-140 and replace the P14 Pro soon
Thank you.
Between phanteks t30 140 and sudokoo mach 140 which one do you recommend?
Thanks for your question. We haven’t tested the Mach140 fan (only the Mach120), so we can’t make any definitive claims or go into too much detail, haha.
That said, based on our experience with fans of very similar geometry, I’d expect their aerodynamic characteristics to be very close. In practice, I don’t think you’d notice much of a difference in cooling performance between them. 🙂