The fan carrying one of the most popular brands in the field has been tested against the latest competitors. Among them are the new Arctic P14 Pro (A-RGB), Noctua NF-A14x25 G2 PWM and Thermaltake Toughfan 14 Pro. And many others (including the FD Momentum 14/RGB) with which the TL-B14 will cross paths. In any case, the geometry of the Thermalright impeller is efficient, the price is low, and the results are impressive.
Measurement of static pressure…
Finally, it is time to move further down the tunnel a bit. Just behind the fan is a static pressure sensing probe. Its position has been chosen with maximum measurement efficiency in mind. In other words, the sensors are placed at the points of highest pressure (although this is virtually the same everywhere in the unconstrained part of the tunnel).
The Fieldpiece ASP2, which is connected to the Fieldpiece SDMN5 manometer, is used to measure the static pressure in the tunnel. The latter also allows measurements in millimetres of water column, but we measure in millibars. This is a more finely resolved base unit for this meter. And only from there we convert the measured values into mm H2O to allow easy comparison with what the manufacturers state.
While we wrote when measuring noise levels that our results could not be compared with the parameters, that is no longer the case here. As long as the fan manufacturers do not embellish the parameters, they should quote approximately the same pressure values as our tests show. The most significant deviations can only arise at the level of varying accuracy of the measuring instruments, but these are negligible percentages.
The greater the difference between the manufacturer’s claimed values and ours, the less the specifications correspond to reality. If the claimed values are significantly higher, it is certainly an intention to artificially give an advantage to the fans on the market. However, if the manufacturer quotes a lower pressure value than we do, it points to something else. Namely, a weaker tightness of the measuring environment. The less tight the tunnel is, the lower the pressure you naturally measure. This is one of the things we tuned for an extremely long time, but in the end we ironed out all the weak spots. Whether it’s the passage for the probe itself, the flanges around the anemometer, even the anemometer frame itself, which is made up of two parts, needed to be sealed in the middle. Finally, the flap at the tunnel outlet must also be perfectly tight. That’s because static pressure has to be measured in zero airflow.
But there is one thing that often lowers the pressure of the fans a bit. And that’s protruding anti-vibration pads in the corners or otherwise protruding corners. In other words, when the fan doesn’t fit perfectly to the mounting frame at the inlet, and there are small gaps around the perimeter, that also affects what you measure. But we have not gone into this because it is already a quality feature of the fan. In the same way, it will “stand out” and perform a bit weaker than it has the potential to do with better workmanship, even after application by the end user.
I have this installed as a back exhaust fan on my Fractal Design Define S. In the front I have three of the Fractal Design’s older dynamic GP14.
This fan has a specific prrrrrrrrrr noise that becomes pronounced above 1100rpm.
I somehow prefer it over the extremely annoying high pitched whine of the Arctic P14 PWM.
My quest for a satisfactory quiet fan over 1000rpm continues.
Are you sure that the noise is not actually being generated by the grille on which the fan is mounted? Maybe it is resonating with the TL-B14 fan and is the source of the unwanted noise. With other fans this doesn’t necessarily have to happen, of course…
Please review the Thermalright TL-C12015B. Maybe the best slim fan after the P12 slim, and important as the range for slim fans is limited.
Wow, Thermalright’s offering is quite impressive in this slim space. 😉
TL-B12015: https://www.thermalright.com/product/tl-b12015/
TL-B12015 Extrem: https://www.thermalright.com/product/tl-b12015-extrem/
TL-H12015B: https://www.thermalright.com/product/tl-h12015b/
TL-C12015B: https://www.thermalright.com/product/tl-c12015b/
TL-H12015B-S: https://www.thermalright.com/product/tl-h12015b-s/
TL-C12015S: https://www.thermalright.com/product/tl-c12015s/
TL-C12015L: https://www.thermalright.com/product/tl-c12015l/
and super-slim (13mm) in 140mm format
TY-14013R: https://www.thermalright.com/product/ty-14013r/
That’s a very nice list of fans. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Yes, the TL-C12015B looks good. Thanks for the tip! We are adding it to the list and will ask Thermalright for samples when we get the opportunity. No promises, but let’s hope we’ll get to see its tests on here. 🙂
1. For some reason, the positive/negative list in the evaluation section seems empty. Can you check if that’s also the case on your end?
2. On the topic of Thermalright, have there ever been considerations of reviewing some of TR’s CPU air coolers?
I’d love to see some of the detailed analysis you guys do for the likes of the Phantom Spirit 120 Evo, Royal Pretor 130 Ultra or the Peerless Assassin 140, just as examples for their 3 most performant recent models.
Sorry, no idea why this was posted a reply to you (Yamato). It was supposed to be a question to Ľubomír.
Thank you for the heads-up. 🙂
1.) The +/- table really was empty, but everything’s fixed now.
2.) We’re definitely interested in Thermalright coolers, and we already have a sample of the Royal Pretor 130 in the test lab. Their lower representation in our tests is only due to weaker local distribution, but that doesn’t change the fact that we want to cover Thermalright coolers too. The English edition of HWCooling does have global reach.
Is the TL H12-X28 anywhere in the schedule? Looks like a pretty good 120mm ARGB workhorse if the specs are anywhere near accurate
We don’t currently have the TL-H12-X28 fan in our testing plans. I agree its design is extremely attractive, but I’m constrained by limited time. While I believe we’ll eventually get around to testing this fan, I really can’t make any promises right now.
I’m sorry if it has been asked before or if it’s already on the schedule, but could you guys review the Sudokoo Mach140 fan, the Sudokoo Proteus 360 AIO and the Thermalright Stream Vision AIO?
IIRC, Sudokoo Mach is on the schedule, but I don’t know if it’s 120 or 140. 😛
Either will be great. Comparing the 120 with the Phanteks T30 or the 140 with the Arctic 14 Pro will show whether Sudokoo’s product is competitive.
I’m looking forward to it. The aerodynamic design of these fans looks really promising, and based on previous experience, I’d expect the Mach120 to deliver some very attractive results. 🙂
And you can find the TR Stream Vision AIO review here:
https://quasarzone.com/bbs/qc_qsz/views/2023652#p5
😛
Nice! Thank you!
As for Sudokoo fans, we have Mach120 samples in the test lab. Tests of these fans will definitely come out sooner or later. Regarding the Mach140—can’t say yet, we’re not that far ahead, haha. The Proteus and Stream Vision coolers are very good suggestions for future tests as well, but I can’t promise anything for now. We’ll see. 🙂
No problem! I know it’s not possible to review every piece of available gear.
Anyway, thank you for everything you have been doing!