26 120mm Fans Tested and Compared

[RobNyc]

well, they use SilenX fans on tests/reviews for anandtech and they always score higher than stock .. they're known for 76CFM + Silent

[Ar3s]

that was on the old fan test at spcr in the new fan test the silenx isn't all that great anymore. they never were thats why i didn't believe that review and focused on vapour's instead. I have 3 yate loon DM12 and till now can't tell if its really 70cfm or 33dB. I really need to get those sharkoon i got the 1000rpm versions by mistake. terrible terrible mistake.

[RobNyc]

the silenX were just tested not even a month ago on the new scythe ninja b (new revision) .. silenX 120mm 74cfm 18dba .. and it was great silentpcreview, anandtech

[demonbane23]

SPCR didn't think it was that good IIRC....

Regardless, the specs mean nothing....they don't even list RPM specs on their newer fans

They only list specs the typical user can't verify

Great work on the fans here...

Did you by any chance test the fan that comes stock in the Swiftech radiator... It is rated at 37 db and like 73 or so If I recall. I was wondering how it stacked up...

[Vapor]

Great work on the fans here...

Did you by any chance test the fan that comes stock in the Swiftech radiator... It is rated at 37 db and like 73 or so If I recall. I was wondering how it stacked up...

Thanks

And no, I don't have that fan? I have a couple Swifty radiators and none of them came with a fan? Do you have the model #?

Anyway, got some good news....Part 2 is beginning to take form, hopefully will be ordering the fans on Tuesday

I'll be working on post #2 tonight as well, finally finishing that up

Now a little help from y'all

What fans would you like to see reviewed in part 2?

Here's what I'll be ordering for sure:
Yate Loon D12BL-12
Yate Loon D12SM-12
Yate Loon D12SH-12
Yate Loon D12SL-12 (orange....supposedly quieter)
Yate Loon D12SL-124B (Jab-Tech's clear blue)
Yate Loon D12SL-12 With Blue LEDs (Jab-Tech)
Yate Loon D12SL-12 With Blue LEDs (Petras)
Scythe S-Flex Fan - SFF21D
Scythe S-Flex Fan - SFF21E
Scythe S-Flex Fan - SFF21F
Arctic Cooling ACF12
Scythe Minebea Low
Scythe Minebea Medium
Scythe Minebea High
Sunon KD1212PTB2-6A Double Ball Bearing (90CFM/44.5 dBA)
Sunbeam Silent LED Case Fan - Blue LEDs (45.21 CFM/21.75 dBA)
Sunon KDE1212PMB3-6A Double Ball Bearing 4pin Case Fan (108 CFM/42 dBA)

Now where you guys can help:

1) I was looking for a San Ace, but can't find one Anybody know a shop where I can buy one? I want new and retail...for semi-obvious reasons.

2) I definitely want to test at least TWO SilenX's....what two you all y'all like?

3) Deltas....a couple of those from Sidewinder as well....which would y'all like? I'd like to focus on usable fans, not 200CFM benching fans (yeah, they're fun, but c'mon, we all know they're the only option for insane airflow )

4) Misc....other fans you want tested? Nothing obscure though....

[Vapor]

Just realized a super-duper neglegent error

In addition to the minor typos in the graph titles.....the fan I have referred to as the "Enermax 12S" is actually an "Evercool 12S"

[Ar3s]

Hope you could test these.

Have these. S-Flex is only $25 singapore dollars.
Yate Loon D12SM-12
Scythe S-Flex Fan - SFF21F

Interested in these
Yate Loon D12BL-12
Scythe Minebea High

Sanyo Ace out of stock on Petratechshop...

[signalpst]

Hi Vapor,

Will you be doing any tests with 92mm and 80mm fans anytime soon? I know this is a 120mm thread but by your testing methods, results, and how much impact it has generated, I'm sure alot of people are definitely interested in other sizes as well.

Thanks,
SignalPST

[Vapor]

Okay, I'm PISSED....just was ONE fan away from finishing post #2 and I hit command+B instead of command+V....took me to my bookmarks page....went back and all my work was gone GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I'll work on it again tomorrow

/calms down

Yes Ar3s, those fans will be tested The list I gave are definites....I'm looking for a few more recommendations.

signalpst....I would very much like to test 92 and 80mm fans, but their uses are getting rarer and rarer....and there are SO many of them. I have the ability to test them already with my equipment that I have, so maybe I'll test a few eventually, but I'd like to get through as many 120mm and 140mm fans as possible first as they're what's getting used more these days.

[eva2000]

ouch sorry to hear Vapor..would drive anyone crazy!

[Ar3s]

bro won't you be wasting your money and time by retesting the fans spcr did already ?
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article739-page1.html

SilenX has just 2 120mm fans right ?
11dBA iXtrema Fan
14dBA iXtrema Fan

Adda fans ? those now in your seasonic PSU ? haha i don't know if they are rare i'm on the other side of the world.

[Vapor]

They have 2-3 25mm thick and 2-3 38mm thick, plus many discontinued fans.

Why bother? Well, I test on a radiator and on a CPU....and I want to see if they (SilenX, not SPCR....I know their testing is different) bluff on their CFM specs as well (I consistently get CFM readings that match reliable manu's ratings), not just their dBA specs. Of all the tests I do....I find raw CFM values are the least important.....but they are interesting. XS isn't after PURE silence like SPCR is as well....maybe the higher speed fans actually do a decent job when undervolted?

ADDA fans are an idea...not easy to get in retail here though....I think I have one in my basement that I took the connector off, I'll rewire it and add it I think.

I want to test more ebmpapsts as I have easy access to many of them (or I think I should....), but none can be found in retail so I'll holdoff I guess.

[Spanki]

bro won't you be wasting your money and time by retesting the fans spcr did already ?
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article739-page1.html

SilenX has just 2 120mm fans right ?
11dBA iXtrema Fan
14dBA iXtrema Fan

Adda fans ? those now in your seasonic PSU ? haha i don't know if they are rare i'm on the other side of the world.

Not at all... when you see a round-up, the fans need to be tested by the same person, using the same (consistent) methods. You can't compare SPCR's cfm or dbA numbers to Vapors, because different methods are used to aquire them. I don't really care which ones may be more 'correct' or not, I want to see how the fans compare relative to each other within the roundup.

SPCR is another great resource for fan info (with included recordings), but they also don't care about overclocking or dealing with high temperatures (the fans needed to cool them fall outside the range they care about).

[demonbane23]

Hey Vapor,,

Well cant wait to see the results on the Yate Loon blue plastic from Jab-Tech I just ordered 3 for the case and are still waiting on them. Hopefully they are up to snuff.

Any how as for the Swiftech Radiator I did some research its a delta fan ... Model Delta WFB1212M -- Its rated at 2100 RPM, 73 CFM 34 db or 37 db depending on the site.

I would love to see a review of it since it ships with the MCR220 that they sell but I was just curious if I should replace those fans or rather how they measure up...

Thanks again for all the hard work and I dont think its wasted to retest those that spcr did since this are all with your own standardized testing methods...

[Vapor]

WFB1212M you say? I'll see what I can do about sourcing one....seems most of the places that sell them are rips from OEM machines.

FWIW, Delta is the most honest manufacturer I've tested about their specs....if you can find the white paper for the WFB series on Delta's site, that's pretty much the numbers I'll get (and you have the noise profile already). That fan definitely seems interesting though....2000ish RPM range needs some competition (and is where the two best fans I tested before are from).

EDIT: thank you Spanki....very well said

[Gautam]

Okay, I'm PISSED....just was ONE fan away from finishing post #2 and I hit command+B instead of command+V....took me to my bookmarks page....went back and all my work was gone GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I'll work on it again tomorrow

I get the feeling that, at this rate, either post #2 or your fingers are cursed.

Sucks to hear that though. :-/

[bobov]

http://store.thermalfx.com/merchant2...egory_Code=120

Sanyo Ace 120x38 fan.

[Vapor]

I get the feeling that, at this rate, either post #2 or your fingers are cursed.

Sucks to hear that though. :-/

Yeah, that's the 2nd time that has happened to me on Post #2.....I really, really dislike that post now :-/ I realize how it important it is though....

http://store.thermalfx.com/merchant2...egory_Code=120

Sanyo Ace 120x38 fan.

I'll check it out, thanks very much Whoa....they have the Panaflo LH too....whoa....

[vkbms]

I'll think that this fan could be interesting:

Enermax Warp

I'm very curious to see the result.....

[humeyboy]

SPCR didn't think it was that good IIRC....

Regardless, the specs mean nothing....they don't even list RPM specs on their newer fans

They only list specs the typical user can't verify

You didnt look very hard.

120x120x38mm - 18dBA - 90CFM Fan

specifications
sku IXP-76-18
rated dba 18
dimensions 120x120x38mm
rpm 1400
cfm 90
operating voltage 8-14v
current draw 0.24A
power consumption 2.88w
bearings hybrid immersion

http://www.silenx.com/ixtremaprofans.asp?sku=ixp-76-18

Click on any fan in the list on the top right side of page and it list specs there like above.

[humeyboy]

Not at all... when you see a round-up, the fans need to be tested by the same person, using the same (consistent) methods. You can't compare SPCR's cfm or dbA numbers to Vapors, because different methods are used to aquire them. I don't really care which ones may be more 'correct' or not, I want to see how the fans compare relative to each other within the roundup.

SPCR is another great resource for fan info (with included recordings), but they also don't care about overclocking or dealing with high temperatures (the fans needed to cool them fall outside the range they care about).

They have 4 diff 120mm fans in the new range, not inc the older range, the fans sure should be overspeced going by the numbers but they should also not be crap going by shape,most other fans all have same basic dinosaur shaped blades, I would like to try these and can get some a 1 hour drive away but they are costly, I would rather go by my hand and ears than any sites review.

[Vapor]

I'll think that this fan could be interesting:

Enermax Warp

I'm very curious to see the result.....

You're the 2nd to ask for that (well, the Enlobal)....looks like I'll be getting one then

You didnt look very hard.

120x120x38mm - 18dBA - 90CFM Fan

specifications
sku IXP-76-18
rated dba 18
dimensions 120x120x38mm
rpm 1400
cfm 90
operating voltage 8-14v
current draw 0.24A
power consumption 2.88w
bearings hybrid immersion

http://www.silenx.com/ixtremaprofans.asp?sku=ixp-76-18

Click on any fan in the list on the top right side of page and it list specs there like above.

No, I really didn't....just checked out FrozenCPU and didn't see any RPM specs. That's hilarious though......90CFM at 1400RPM? They're around 1000RPM short of doing that...

They have 4 diff 120mm fans in the new range, not inc the older range, the fans sure should be overspeced going by the numbers but they should also not be crap going by shape,most other fans all have same basic dinosaur shaped blades, I would like to try these and can get some a 1 hour drive away but they are costly, I would rather go by my hand and ears than any sites review.

Where their fatal mistake may be is in blade material....like the UV blue Yates. I still want to test them though But no one has said which two they want to see tested.....based on the RPM values, I'm thinking the two fastest ones (one 25mm thick and one 38mm thick).

[humeyboy]

As a tester you should know all specs are BS, go by your ear and hand and over perf of them in your test rig.

[humeyboy]

As a tester you should know all specs are BS, go by your ear and hand and over perf of them in your test rig, I aint sticking up for them fans but correcting 2 issues as specs are avail and there is more then 2 models of 120mm's, as I said 4 models of 120mm for new design not inc old ones (not aimed at you).

[Vapor]

FWIW, the hand is fooled by different blade geometry....some fans just MOVE the air, others direct it at one point. Both may move 100CFM, but the fan that directs it all at one point will feel like it moves a lot more air. Oddly enough....the fans that direct it at one point don't necessarily do better on a radiator/HSF either.

I won't be getting all 4 at first because frankly, I don't want to spend $100 for four fans + shipping

Doesn't mean they'll be bad fans, but when a company sells an 1100RPM fan rated for 46CFM, and a 1400RPM fan rated for 90CFM....and all at dBA readings below most ambient levels, the specs largely have to be disregarded. The fans I want to test are fans that XSers will most likely use....1100RPM stock fan is a little on the low side....and not everyone can use a 38mm thick fan, that's why I'm thinking the two faster of the four.