Time for a change. Fractal Design Momentum 12 (Black) tested

For a long time, Fractal Design didn’t have fans with impeller geometry that looked “efficient” at first glance. Now come the Momentum fans, which finally do, and the improvement (compared to Aspect models) is clear. This puts the competition on alert, and more importantly, it finally opens up the potential to improve FD’s coolers and cases on the fan level. We’re starting off by testing the most affordable 120 mm model – the Momentum 12.

The new Fractal Design fans arrive with a modernized impeller geometry, aimed at achieving higher cooling efficiency. This means that at a comparable noise level, you can expect a greater airflow, which naturally translates into better cooling performance – both on heatsink radiators and inside cases. The static pressure is also expected to be higher than before, helping to reduce airflow drop-off even when obstacles, like a simple nylon dust filter for example, are placed in the fan’s path.

The release of the FD Momentum fans happened in parallel with the launch of the Meshify 3 (XL) cases, where they made their debut, but the new Fractal Design fans are also available for individual purchase. We’ll gradually be testing multiple variants (in both 120 and 140 mm formats), and to build an appealing results database, we’re starting with the most basic 120 mm model without lighting. It’s also the most affordable, and all subsequent Momentum models we test will be more expensive.

The core of the Momentum 12’s geometry is its distinctly curved blades, which guide air streams in a way that maximizes efficiency (that is, the highest possible flow at the lowest possible noise). You’re already familiar with this approach from many of our previous tests. It has proven efficient, and fan manufacturers are naturally adopting it. Fractal Design is no exception, switching from the “traditional” (and now outdated) shapes of Aspect fans to this new design.

A front view of the impeller reveals seven blades with medium-sized gaps between them. The gap between the blade tips and the inner wall of the stator frame is also average. So, the fan’s static pressure is moderate, but that comes alongside fairly high airflow, which really is there at the maximum 2200 RPM. Of course, many users will be more interested in how the fan performs at lower noise levels than in its maximum, loudest output. Levels where the fan can be called “quiet.” And the Momentum models definitely have potential for silent operation – especially when considering the wide speed range listed in the specs.

 

The specs indicate speeds starting at around 350 RPM, and you already know the upper limit is around 2200 RPM. Both extremes have been confirmed by our measurements, with the fan’s minimum and maximum speeds matching the manufacturer’s claims.

Cut-outs or notches (call them what you like…) have returned to the trailing edge of the blades near the impeller hub – a feature not used on the Aspect fans, but present in older models like the Dynamic X2.

These cut-outs are designed to suppress unwanted microturbulence, which could otherwise cause inconvenient tonal peaks. In such cases, the fan naturally becomes noisier – as was the case in a previous comparison of Fractal Design fans on a hexagonal grille (Aspect and Dynamic X2). We focused on this in our past analyses. That said, the absence of these cut-outs doesn’t automatically mean the fan will perform worse – not necessarily. It depends on the specific aerodynamic design, where in some cases these notches might have no effect at all. At least according to the engineers who deliberately omit them and have their own technical reasons and explanations for doing so.

Please note: The article continues in the following chapters.