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

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.

Reality vs. specifications

Explanatory note: For a quick overview of how manufacturers “spice up” specifications, we have a sort of “truthfulness” coefficient. We calculate this by putting our measured values in proportion to those given in the specifications by the fan manufacturers. A result of “1.00” means that the claimed parameters match the values we have recorded. After such a finding, we can conclude that the manufacturer has done his job honestly and the way he presents the fan agrees. The more the coefficient number is different from 1.00, the less accurate the claimed specifications are. Of course, the better case for the user is if the coefficient is higher than 1.00 (and it is, for example, 1.20), then the real parameters exceed the paper ones. Conversely, if the coefficient starts with zero, then the fan does not reach the parameters on paper. For example, a value of 0.80 means that the real airflow or static pressure is 20 % lower than the manufacturer claims.



Contents

Fan frame daisy-chaining trend. When is it (not) helpful

Easier installation? Yes, that’s why it’s done. Daisy-chaining fans using contacts in their frames is great, but it often also comes with pitfalls that reduce “cooling efficiency”. Manufacturers deal with this in different ways. One does it technically one way, another differently. In any case, they know that a frame that is too thick means less space for the blades. And that does not improve airflow per unit of noise. Read more “Fan frame daisy-chaining trend. When is it (not) helpful” »

Contents

Arctic BioniX P14 A-RGB: Elegant daisy chaining is just the beginning

High cooling efficiency is the foundation, but with the BioniX P14 A-RGB fans, Arctic has also made efforts on other fronts. In addition to the clever daisy-chaining method (with the aim of reducing cabling to a minimum), this includes, for example, illumination as intense as possible. The light is guided not only through the entire impeller, but also through the surface of the frame, from the side. There are light guides in these areas as well. Read more “Arctic BioniX P14 A-RGB: Elegant daisy chaining is just the beginning” »

Contents

Arctic BioniX P12 A-RGB: Efficient, inexpensive, illuminated and…

And with very clever daisy‑chaining from one fan to the next. This is what can fill in the ellipsis in the headline. The aerodynamic efficiency remains top‑tier, built on a design that Arctic revised some time ago (with the P12 Pro fans), but which can still be considered “new.” The BioniX P12 A‑RGB fans certainly are (new), and in this in‑depth analysis we focus on how they work. Read more “Arctic BioniX P12 A-RGB: Efficient, inexpensive, illuminated and…” »

Contents

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *