Blade length is always the “topic”, but will be more common with 140mm fans than smaller variants. Some bet on long blades for preference of selected features, the other manufacturer on short ones. And such (short) and overall more robust blades are also used by the 140mm Aorus fan. From certain points of view this is quite a big advantage, but for which something had to be sacrificed. It’s a quid pro quo. Read more “Gigabyte Aorus 140 ARGB: Short/quiet and lighted (blades)”
We analyzed the “Light Wings” fan fairly recently, but that was in the 120 mm format. BeQuiet! approached the 140mm model a little differently. Although the frame is only proportionally enlarged, the shape of the rotor is already significantly different. It relies on long, curved blades, which look great in this cross-section, but there are some design caveats. Still, in some applications, this fan excels. Read more “BeQuiet! Light Wings (140 mm): Different size, different geometry”
Starting with the Fractal Design Aspect 14 RGB PWM test, we are starting to build a database of 140mm fan results. These may have a smaller market presence due to poorer compatibility, but compared to the 120mm models they have the makings of higher efficiency, which is why they are more popular among many users. The Aspect 14 RGB PWM fan, in addition to its aerodynamic qualities, also fights for customer favour with its lighting. Read more “FD Aspect 14 RGB PWM: Larger rotor, higher airflow per dBA”
It is made in the same injection mould as the FC120, but still has noticeably better properties. Stronger material, higher weight, different bearings and a more powerful motor make the FK120 one of the most attractive options among inexpensive fans. But that’s only assuming the “right” adjustment. Outside of that, this fan can be quite uncomfortable and ironically for the same reason it is sometimes unbeatable. Read more “DeepCool FK120 fan: Efficiency ceiling for some scenarios”
Asus’s efforts in the field of standalone PC fans are on the rise. After the premiere in the form of the ROG XF120, there is now the half-price TUF TF120, which also gives more attractive results in some applications. And that’s even compared to other, similar fans with ARGB LEDs. The geometry of the TF120 is quite sensible, which is why it often beats its competitors in its price range. Read more “Asus TUF Gaming TF120: Cheap, lighted and efficient fan”
Wake up, Steve! You kind of slept through a convenient opportunity to divulge what’s going on with the fan testing that your audience funded a long time ago. Never mind, I’ll blog a bit and shed some light on it myself. I understand that you’ve reached a difficult, stalemate situation that’s hard to come out with to the public and it’s more effective to sweep inconvenient things under the rug (again). That too is the style of Gamers Nexus, history repeats itself. Read more “Gamers Nexus fan testing won’t come, was it all talk”
Last year’s tally of fans tested ends at 34 models. We don’t know what number it will stop at one day over the years, but our plan for the next twelve months is clear: Push hard on fan topics. Not only by adding to the record number of fans, but also by popular education on the physics that is essential to a proper understanding of exactly how fans work. The goal is for you to have a clarity about everything. Read more “Year of the fan is here: by 2023, there will be 70 of them compared”
Illuminated fans from BeQuiet! have the advantage over many competing models in a more robust rotor design. This is also due to the fact that it is not made of “light conductive” material and therefore some may not like the Light Wings fans, but aerodynamically they have the edge over other models. This is not only because of the choice of raw materials and their robustness, but also the overall shape of the blades. Read more “BeQuiet! Light Wings (BL072): Sturdy rotor with ARGB LEDs”
On edges of blades of some fans there are small notches forming a kind of teeth, typically on the trailing edges, closer to the motor. These elements serve to break up tonal peaks, and it’s curious that manufacturers are abandoning them rather than adding them. In some designs, however, such a modification can be seen as a backwards move; elsewhere it’s an understandable one. We have a few examples for you. Read more “Removing notches on fan blades? Sometimes a mistake”
Six new models, with the slowest capping at 2,000 rpm and the fastest up to 4,000 rpm. It’s a mix of 120 and 140-millimeter fans, where with the larger format Alphacool reached for differently modeled rotors. This is also with a view to ensuring that a fan this fast and relatively large can operate at all at reasonably low vibration. Among Alphacool’s new products is therefore a fan with more robust blades as well. Read more “Alphacool introduces the “Core” series of high-speed fans”
The biggest advantage, but at the same time the biggest disadvantage of the DeepCool FC120 fan are its long and overall large blades, whose area exceeds that of competing models. Among illuminated fans, this one represents one of the most efficient solutions with ARGB LEDs, in optimal conditions. However, it is important to notice its downsides, which are a side effect of the chosen rotor design. Read more “DeepCool FC120: Big ARGB blades in a “small” cross-section”
Wondering how the Gentle Typhoon D1225C, the originator of the efficiently shaped rotor, is stacking up against much newer fans today? Very well. Outside the band of the most intense vibrations with annoying resonant frequencies, even from today’s perspective this fan has a top performance-to-noise ratio. In some ways it is even still unsurpassed, and the designers of the time built on strong physical foundations. Read more “Nidec Servo Gentle Typhoon D1225C won’t lose to just any”
Simple but clever. The Noctua NA-IS1-1x supplementary frames are an extension to the existing fan frames, which provide greater clearance from an obstacle, thus mitigating microturbulence, which naturally reduces the noise level of the entire cooling system. To what extent, you’ll find out later from our tests, for now let’s take a look at what it’s actually all about and how it all works. Read more “Noctua has frames (NA-IS1) to reduce microturbulence”
We come to the analysis of a fan that even if it dates back to cooling prehistory, many manufacturers are only now discovering the aerodynamic qualities of its design. Although the Gentle Typhoon is a great inspiration to many manufacturers (including Noctua), it does have one weakness. And a rather fundamental one. It is very high, excessive vibrations, which we will unusually devote a separate test to. Read more “Gentle Typhoon’s high vibrations resemble SilverStone’s sins”
With the addition of the Shadow Wings 2 tests, you now have a full overview of the features of all unlit BeQuiet! fans in 120 mm format. Shadow Wings 2 is between Silent Wings 3 and Pure Wings 2 in terms of both price and design. In terms of efficiency, they are closer to the more expensive Silent Wings 3 and in certain situations they give top-notch results. Given the lower price, this can be a very attractive option, but there are some things to look out for. Read more “BeQuiet! Shadow Wings 2 (BL085): A cheaper option”
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