The design details here not only look fascinating, they really are. That is, except for one “little thing” that makes the MagFlow 1225 PWM unable to play an equal game with the top 120mm fans, even though it seemingly has all the prerequisites to do so. But at least the Seasonic fan has the added value of a very convenient installation: magnet here, magnet there, no cables in sight. Read more “Seasonic MagFlow 1225 PWM, the “King of Controversy””
Here and there we come across the opinion that it is advisable to test fans in real life conditions, which we can easily refute. At the same time, we understand that a layman can best identify with the differences in component temperatures that arise precisely due to different fan airflows. To help you see the correlations of such tests with results from “unnatural” environments, here’s something we remembered. Read more “In vivo fan tests: 14 models in system positions”
And they probably will. There will be significant intergenerational improvements in the latest fans for relatively simple reasons. The higher airflow and higher static pressure at the same speed for the Toughfan Pro has a clear explanation in the design details Thermaltake has worked on. It’s quite possible that you’re looking at fans that finally beat the Noctua NF-A12x25 in efficiency, even with the same profile thickness. Read more “Thermaltake stepped up. If Toughfan Pros live up to the specs…”
There are a lot of droning or downright rumbling fans out there, but none have been as popularized by this sound profile as the Arctic P12. Probably also because this acoustic deficiency is really pronounced here and has pushed the manufacturer to make design changes in newer models that are aimed at suppressing critical tonal peaks. But even so, the base model P12 PWM PST is a remarkable fan and is unbeatable in its price range. Read more “Arctic P12 PWM PST: The most famous rumbling fan”
With the Mobius 120 OC fan, Cooler Master could prove that it has worked on and avoided the rookie mistakes of older models. Partly yes, it removed some flaws, but it added (or strengthened) others in the process. Still, the current most expensive 120 mm CM fan has one ace up its sleeve, for which it will be extremely attractive in some use cases. Again, though, this is… how to put it… a somewhat “peculiar” execution. Read more “Cooler Master Mobius 120 OC: High airflow above all”
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. Read more “Corsair AF120 RGB Elite: The lighted variety of a successful fan”
Noctua’s May product roadmap does not bring good news. Everything we’ve been waiting for is being pushed back. Even one indefinite delay has been dropped. But that’s so that preparations around the new generation of 140mm fans have as few “obstacles” in their way as possible. But even those, barring a miracle, won’t be available for purchase this year after all. But there is one positive news for AMD Threadripper processor owners. Read more “White Noctua fans off the radar, 140mm (hopefully) in 2024”
Apart from the all-white design, which is rare in itself, this fan also stands out from the competition in other ways. Some of these need a cautionary finger raised, others deserve praise. Often for trying to differentiate themselves and even in a rather elegant, useful way. In the mix of everything about the SquA RGB fan, one can state its unique identity, for which it may win you over. But it also doesn’t have to. Read more “Enermax SquA RGB White: In many ways… unusual”
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. Read more “Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM: High efficiency “cheaply”, but…”
The headline may sound strange, but after reading the article it will make sense. After modifying a fan from unlit to lit, its noise level can change for a very simple reason. This is true even if the shape of the rotor or the operating speed has been maintained. As far as noise is concerned, a change by integrating ARGB LEDs does not always lead to a worse result. Still, it is important to know why any differences occur in the first place. Read more “Analysis: RGB LED implementation changes fan noise”
The first Fluctus 120 PWM fans marked a great qualitative progress in SilentiumPC production (now Endorfy). Nevertheless, they had their flaws, which the developers are gradually eliminating and, based on the measurement results, the newer 140 mm Fluctus can be said to be a clear improvement. The Fluctus 140 PWM ARGB stands out nicely from other fans in its price category. Read more “Endorfy Fluctus 140 PWM ARGB works, looks come second”
Low-profile fans are often seen as compromise solutions that will not achieve the efficiency of thicker models. This may or may not be true. In practice, the Arctic P12 Slim beats a number of full-size fans. Sure, Arctic’s 15mm fan has many shortcomings, but these are vindicated by the very low price. In the 120mm format, it is one of the cheapest, but definitely not the “weakest” slim fans. Read more “Top price/performance in 15 mm – Arctic P12 Slim PWM PST”
Finally, a 140mm fan that doesn’t wade between the 120mm ones, but has a clear edge over them – even the “best” ones. And it’s a completely different story than its smaller brother, whose biggest negatives are avoided by the 140mm model. But there is one new, rather unnecessary flaw. However, it can be eliminated, with a trade-off. But you might not even notice it, and then you can consider this fan an excellent choice. Read more “BeQuiet! Silent Wings Pro 4 (BL099): A 140mm sovereign”
For users who prefer a contrast to the traditional stuff, BeQuiet! has released white Light Wings fans, in both 120mm and 140mm formats. By the standards of lighted fans, these will be models with some of the stiffest blades, especially in the smaller format. Because of its design characteristics, it is highly likely to achieve extremely low vibration alongside a superbly non-intrusive sound profile. Read more “BeQuiet! Light Wings fans now also in white”
Fractal Design claims the Prisma models as its most efficient 140mm fans. According to the specs, they are supposed to achieve the highest airflow at a lower noise level than the Aspect 14s. However, this is physically impossible due to the constructional differences of the two fans. The title of the article has a bit of a pejorative tone and while the Prisma AL-14 PWM is a decent fan, it already has a superior from its own ranks. Read more “Prisma AL-14 PWM: The best 140mm fan by Fractal Design?”
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