The Best 120mm Case Fan Shootout: Arctic vs. be quiet!, BlackNoise, Noctua, Scythe & SilverStone

Here's the follow-up to my popular radiator fan roundup ( • The Best 120mm Cooler/... ), this time looking at case fan performance. Here are the contenders:
(1) Arctic F12 PWM: amzn.to/2MxDLA4
(2) Arctic F120 BioniX PWM: amzn.to/2XXaG6A
(3) WINNER - Price/Performance: Arctic P12 PWM: amzn.to/3cGXS9X
Also available as a 5-pack! - amzn.to/2MxtZy3
HUGE UPDATE! - P12 now available in an ARGB version! - amzn.to/3oKBS4w
(4) be quiet! Silent Wings 3 PWM BL064: amzn.to/3dAsnPZ
(5) Blacknoise NB-eLoop PWM 1500RPM: amzn.to/3ePeWfa
(6) Noctua NF-A12x25: amzn.to/2A3dSWj
(7) Noctua NF-P12 Redux-1700 PWM: amzn.to/3gV3Yqn
(8) WINNER - Best Performer: Scythe Kaze Flex 1200RPM PWM: amzn.to/3eByNPI
HUGE UPDATE! - Scythe Kaze Flex BLACK 1500RPM now available! - amzn.to/3guipD0
(9) SilverStone AP120i-Pro: amzn.to/308KxnV
(10) WINNER - Performance/ARGB: SilverStone AB120R-ARGB: amzn.to/30mpTRF
Want to support this channel? Leave a Paypal tip! - www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_...
For reference, here's my test bench:
(1) Case: be quiet! Pure Base 500DX White: amzn.to/2Y0hTCZ
(2) Cooler: Scythe Fuma 2: amzn.to/340yj0B
(3) AMD Ryzen 5 3600X: amzn.to/36ZL3pV
(4) EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Black: amzn.to/2A65nK1
(5) Corsair 2x8GB Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4-3200 White: amzn.to/2Y1HdZl
Please support this channel by using the links above to purchase any of these products!
Chapters - thank you to viewer buleini for compiling!
0:00 Introduction and test setup - Filling with hot air
1:30 Ten Contestants - Approximate USD prices
3:18 Test platform
3:30 Special thanks to Blacknoise
3:53 Test methodology
5:13 Idle at the Desktop Benchmark
6:18 Load Benchmark with 3DMark Fire Strike Combined
7:18 Arctic F12 PWM at 762rpm/30dB
7:29 Arctic F120 BioniX at 775rpm/30dB
7:40 Arctic P12 PWM at 1025rpm/30dB
7:51 be quiet! Silent Wings 3 at 872rpm/30dB
8:00 Noctua NF-A12x25 at 1022rpm/30dB
8:11 Noctua NF-P12 Redux at 767rpm/30dB
8:22 Blacknoise NB e-Loop at 894rpm/30dB
8:31 Scythe Kaze Flex PWM at 722rpm/30dB
8:43 SilverStone AP120i-Pro at 872rpm/36dB
8:50 SilverStone AB120R at 800rpm/30dB
9:02 Temperature and Sound Measurements at 1300rpm
11:44 Arctic F12 PWM at 1310rpm/42dB
11:54 Arctic F120 BioniX at 1311rpm/41dB
12:00 Arctic P12 PWM at 1300rpm/34dB
12:12 be quiet! Silent Wings 3 at 1315rpm/36dB
12:23 Noctua NF-A12x25 at 1300rpm/32dB
12:34 Noctua NF-P12 Redux at 1290rpm/42dB
12:44 Blacknoise NB e-Loop at 1288rpm/39dB
12:53 Scythe Kaze Flex PWM at 1198rpm/40dB
13:04 SilverStone AP120i-Pro at 1295rpm/42dB
13:13 SilverStone AB120R at 1285rpm/41dB
13:24 Temperature and Sound Measurements at maximum fan speeds
14:54 Arctic F120 BioniX at 1973rpm/57dB
15:02 Noctua NF-A12x25 at 2008rpm/44dB
15:10 Scythe Kaze Flex PWM at 1198rpm/40dB
15:13 Conclusion & Recommendations
21:00 Looking Forward: 140mm Fan Round Up, comments in advance?

[@marcinkabacinski687]

See test of 140 mm fans . Big YES from me

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Noted - seems like just as many people want a fan optimization video, so I may have to take a formal poll!

[@ermacstudios]

I really want a 140 round up but for radiators. I'm curious if the A14 is really that good or if something else is better. Any chance you can test EK's Vardar fans too? Hardware Scientist posted a recent 140mm comparison showing the Arctic P14 PWM kicks everything else's butt, would love to know your findings.

[@TheSongsmythe]

@@TheTechBuyersGuru Both would be helpful.

[@SafMan89]

@@TheTechBuyersGuru So even though Arctic recommends the F fans for case and P fans for heatsinks, the P12 is still a better option for cases?

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

The 140mm Fan Test is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c @S KR - Yes to the P12 over the F12, despite how Arctic markets them. The F12 is an old product, so it should probably be retired, but since it's still around, they have to say it's good for something, even if the P12 is better for everything!

[@Tsukuykamy]

You might be the first reviewer/person I watch that doesn't suck up to Noctua, and I've seen quite a few. Thanks for the test, btw!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

While it doesn't always please manufacturers, I actually still review products, rather than making infomercials like many KZbinrs. Noctua wins many of my shootouts and loses many, just as common sense would predict.

[@crazyrussianbot8012]

I send email to Scythe, I hope you don't mind, told them to promote their victory in your reviews, and maybe also promote your channel this way. thanks for the great review!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thanks for that! Got the cc, didn't know it was you! That means a lot to me, shows Scythe that this is a channel worth watching. They know I was testing the gear, because they sent it, but they are not very good about promoting these positive reviews to get more customers, so hopefully they will take a lesson from your e-mail!

[@crazyrussianbot8012]

@J Thorsson why not. Quality deserves support

[@absgames9425]

@@TheTechBuyersGuru I'd say they have no clue whatsoever about promoting. It is really hard to find videos, reviews and tests featuring them.

[@deputybluevein93]

Don't you work?

[@WillVRam]

they will increase the price for sure. But the guy deserves it

[@abcbcd1834]

This is incredibly comprehensive. I love how effort this video is. I look forward to seeing more from you!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thank you! Stay tuned and subscribe, because a huge new fan shootout is going to drop in a few days!

[@LynXHimself]

This is what i call an excellent review! Keep the good work up, man!

[@Locksharpe]

This is the first video I've watched from your channel, this was an amazing test and absolutely what I was looking for. I hope your channel grows, you deserve every success!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Glad you liked it, and thanks for the positive feedback!

[@kevinisawake]

The distance of the mic - I would have prefered that tested from say 10cm away from test fan. great review though - I have that case.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

I do regret that I put the mic so close. I measured the dB from 4" (which is in fact 10cm), but placed the mic on the case to make it completely obvious on video where I was recording the sound. After collecting the 10 clips and listening to them, I wish I'd done it another way, with the mic on a stand where I collected dB data, but reinstalling 10 fans and re-shooting all the video would have taken 4-5 hours. I couldn't make that kind of investment in time.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

By the way, any follow-up shootout will utilize a mic stand at 4"/10cm, so I fully appreciate your suggestion!

[@SebastienBrunier]

@@TheTechBuyersGuru that is indeed a pretty good idea as we can't really get an idea of real sound profile here, the clip mic must have collected a ton of case vibration (comming from all moving parts) some air turbulance as well. Sound profile is sometimes more important than raw db mesurements. It would be interesting as well to know what ponderation have you used, dbA or dbC.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

I used dBA, but I didn't even know about dBC and just read about it. Very interesting!

[@4Leka]

@@SebastienBrunier Indeed, the numbers don't show how loud the Silent Wings 3 really is when it's against a mesh filter. You can hear how bad it is in the recording but in the graphs it looks as if it's one of the quieter fans, when it is in fact one of the loudest to the ear.

[@stin4293]

Really organized and great straight-up review for multiple fans, good job

[@buleini]

Timestamps (for the video description) 0:00 Introduction and test setup - Filling with hot air 1:30 Ten Contestants - Approximate USD prices 3:18 Test platform 3:30 Special thanks to Blacknoise 3:53 Test methodology 5:13 Idle at the Desktop Benchmark 6:18 Load Benchmark with 3DMark Fire Strike Combined 7:18 Arctic F12 PWM at 762rpm/30dB 7:29 Arctic F120 BioniX at 775rpm/30dB 7:40 Arctic P12 PWM at 1025rpm/30dB 7:51 be quiet! Silent Wings 3 at 872rpm/30dB 8:00 Noctua NF-A12x25 at 1022rpm/30dB 8:11 Noctua NF-P12 Redux at 767rpm/30dB 8:22 Blacknoise NB e-Loop at 894rpm/30dB 8:31 Scythe Kaze Flex PWM at 722rpm/30dB 8:43 SilverStone AP120i-Pro at 872rpm/36dB 8:50 SilverStone AB120R at 800rpm/30dB 9:02 Temperature and Sound Measurements at 1300rpm 11:44 Arctic F12 PWM at 1310rpm/42dB 11:54 Arctic F120 BioniX at 1311rpm/41dB 12:00 Arctic P12 PWM at 1300rpm/34dB 12:12 be quiet! Silent Wings 3 at 1315rpm/36dB 12:23 Noctua NF-A12x25 at 1300rpm/32dB 12:34 Noctua NF-P12 Redux at 1290rpm/42dB 12:44 Blacknoise NB e-Loop at 1288rpm/39dB 12:53 Scythe Kaze Flex PWM at 1198rpm/40dB 13:04 SilverStone AP120i-Pro at 1295rpm/42dB 13:13 SilverStone AB120R at 1285rpm/41dB 13:24 Temperature and Sound Measurements at maximum fan speeds 14:54 Arctic F120 BioniX at 1973rpm/57dB 15:02 Noctua NF-A12x25 at 2008rpm/44dB 15:10 Scythe Kaze Flex PWM at 1198rpm/40dB 15:13 Conclusion & Recommendations 21:00 Looking Forward: 140mm Fan Round Up, comments in advance?

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Oh my goodness, this is awesome!!!! I have already added it to the video description, and with KZbin's new Chapters functionality, you can browse them in the video window! I can't imagine how long this took you to compile, thank you!!

[@buleini]

@@TheTechBuyersGuru KZbin has already made speedviewing easy for all videos, so it didn't take that long. I was genuinely interested in adding casefans to one of my systems at home, after spending EUR100 on two CPU coolers last month, mostly based on your review kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKmWkquEnL-mbrc. I appreciate your efforts too ;)

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thanks again! Which CPU coolers did you get?

[@buleini]

@@TheTechBuyersGuru I chose the Noctua NH-L12S. I Installed it inside a Silverstone Grandia GD09 (with a bent drivecage mod) paired with a Gigabyte GA-AB350M-Gaming 3, AMD Ryzen 5 2400G Boxed and Kingston HyperX Predator HX432C16PB3K2/8 memory. The 3,5" space of the optical drive cage in the GD09 (no replacements parts sold, just the entire case) is not essential in an HTPC to me, it had to go. The other NH-L12S went inside a Cooler Master Silencio 352 paired with an MSI B450M Mortar Max, AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Boxed and Kingston HyperX Predator HX432C16PB3K2/16 memory. I used the high clearance mode for future RAM upgrades, it would not fit otherwise. While doing this, I found that putting the fan in pull mode (Noctual label up topside) you will get a 'nice' fan whine due to resonance at high rpm. So this one is blowing down now.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Great choice on those low-profile coolers. And makes sense that setting up the NF-A12x15 as a pull would cause resonance. Definitely better blowing down if you have it mounted on top.

[@packalacky]

Great review. Got a pack of the Arctic P12 and P14 fans, they are amazing.

[@TheGilBehar]

Wow this is such a great review! Thank you so much for you hard work

[@MatthewDempsky]

Great video. I appreciated the time you put into both this one and your 140mm case fan review. I've been thinking about upgrading my PC's fans and looking for evidence-based fan reviews to help decide. Unfortunate, so many "reviews" are just folks unboxing fans and reading facts straight of the box or website. Yours are a breath of fresh air. No blowing hot air here.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Glad you found this helpful. I'm surprised at how many people still quote back to me the airflow and static pressure specs as if they are remotely comparable between brands or relevant in choosing a fan.

[@stopthefomo]

Please do radiator 140mm testing!

[@SoulRollerFIN]

And stick the NF-A12x25 on it with the rubber seal kit!

[@blakecasimir]

Not just on radiators please. Some of us have absolutely no interest in water cooling (because we sensibly don't want water in our PCs, thanks!)

[@diegomusty]

@@blakecasimir Exactly

[@frederictrm566]

@@diegomusty why? Nothing dangerous about it if you are careful. Just like driving a car, it is very dangerous if you're not care careful.

[@redclaw72666]

@@frederictrm566 right lol watercooling is the king and have been using different kinds and not a single leak

[@atlantroppus]

This guy is good at this, and still underrated. Keep the good work.

[@cars291]

Highly appreciated review. I really like that you take a clear position on recommendations as you have tried them all. I say that having chosen a different fan - but I found your review very helpful.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thanks! Here are a few other videos you might like: 120mm vs. 140mm shootout: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c 120mm vs. 140mm multi-fan positioning guide: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3TRXouCYq2sjsk

[@dominikroman4874]

Man, this is amazing. I love your approach. I have been trying to find review like this. You deserve more credit and I can´t wait to 140 mm round up. Very helpful information and honest opinion. Keep up doing this amazing work :-)

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Much appreciated! I worked really hard on the methodology. It's not perfect, and I'll keep refining it in advance of the 140mm test, but I'm glad that what I've put together helped you out!

[@frikkievuiltrens]

Although the case design plays a big part in the overall airflow, an optimized case fan video would nonetheless be swell. I'll be greedy and settle for both that and a 140mm case fan review ;-)

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Yes, the best answer to which one is always both!

[@jusuchin85]

I concur with this as well. Most cases these days allow for 140 mm fans placement - resulting in more airflow at lower decibels. I too would love to see this reviews as well as a guide for case fan placement/optimisation.

[@msanchezp86]

140mm fan video please!

[@ionutdanielserban9498]

@@TheTechBuyersGuru for next testing, do 30dba, 35dba and max speed. 1300rpm fixed speed doesnt mean much if one fan does 40dba and the other runs at 1800rpm for the same sound level, despite the different sound signature. 40dba for one single fan it´s pretty loud if you consider you will add another 2-3 fans to the setup. Also please keep all of them to the end. I know it´s a lot of work and testing, but right now seeing the behaviour of these fans, i can´t do anything else, but wonder if at 35dba the p12, would´ve been equal with the kaze flex. I´m only taking a blind guess, but 40dba for the p12 would´ve meant 1600rpm+. I know it´s a static pressure fan, and it comes a point where there´s a lot of diminishing returns in air moved, as we can see with the nf a12x25, but i think for the p12, that´s a bit higher, because it has fewer blades.

[@ermacstudios]

The problem with case placement is that it's case dependent. What works best in one case may be totally wrong in another layout

[@vladimirmarinov6730]

A true honest reviewer for the real PC enthusiast crowd, and only 4.3k subscribers. I am sad :( Amazing job, I subscribed and really hope to see you in a year with 430k subscribers at least.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

That would be a dream come true. Thanks for doing your part to make that happen!!!

[@GewelReal]

Nope

[@mibo747]

Wow, WHAT A PERFECTION of analysis!

[@Stallion076]

Such an awesome video! All the information I was looking for, for my first build. You just persuaded me to switch to an all Arctic P12 setup in the NR200 case.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Happy to help! The NR200 has a lot of fan slots, so if you're getting more than 2, you should seriously consider a 5-pack. The 3-pin fan combo pack is amazingly cheap: amzn.to/3avHivW The 4-pin PWM version with included splitters is better for a multi-fan installation, but costs a bit more and has a shipping charge: amzn.to/37C9Ou1

[@FinalezZ]

Thank you for your work! The same thing with 140mm case fan will be nice.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

OK, I may have to put up a poll on this, so far it seems pretty much split 50/50!

[@jakebloodworth1815]

@@TheTechBuyersGuru A poll would be great. I am actually looking at 140MM fans right now and would love another a video with the same tests! Thanks so much for your work!

[@BrianHCohen]

@@TheTechBuyersGuru I vote for a 140 review!

[@millanferende6723]

If the microphone is set at the same distance and sensitivity, then these seem to me the best 4 fans, from quietest to loudest. (Scythe being the loudest from the 4) Just try clicking them 1 by 1, and you will see how the noise increases a little bit each time: 12:03 - Arctic P12 12:25 - Noctua NF-A12 12:14 - Silent Wings 3 12:53 - Scythe Kaze Flex Edit: Judging by Amazon comments, Arctic doesn't have as good of a quality control as the other 3 brands.

[@Blaquegold]

Wow!!! Very surprised!!! I have all noctua fans in my case. This puts a new perspective on choosing fans in the future.

[@MiSTiK199]

Great testing, really helpful, keep going!

[@qT_p13]

For the effort yoy put forward you need more subs. Good job as always.

[@4Leka]

Thank you for a realistic test setup! This is the first case fan review where I see the Silent Wings 3 demonstrate its awful turbulence when it's pulling through a mesh. And that's because most reviews test and record the fans either in open air or in a push configuration. There the SW3 is great, but it's absolutely horrible as a pull fan. I wish I had known this before wasting money on two of them.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Glad it was helpful! There are so many ways to test fans, but an open air test bench is not one of them. I tried to construct a test scenario that was realistic, but every case is different, so there is no one right answer to the question of which fan is quietest in "XYZ" case.

[@damnindian]

I've been searching for good fans with no rgb or leds for the past two weeks, so glad I finally came across this amazingly detailed video. Liked and subscribed, looking forward to seeing the 140mm fan review :D

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Glad I could help! Thanks for the sub! It's actually easier to find good fans *without* RGB than good fans *with* RGB! So you have a few choices!

[@ter.iv.4336]

Excellent and very detailed review. Above all, I appreciate your honesty. You have my subscription.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

And I appreciate the subscription!

[@GainzGuardian]

Tip: Maybe it would be a good idea to create a “Shootout” playlist with just these types of reviews. Your reviews are the best. Very well presented and incredibly detailed. I really appreciate the “Shootout” style reviews. It’s been YEARS since the last time I’ve commented on a YT video, but I just had to give credit where it’s due. I’ll make sure to share your videos.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Much appreciated, and thank you for commenting! You have a great idea to create a playlist. Do you mean just fans, or any type of shootout? Most of my shootouts are coolers or fans, so there's quite a lot of overlap. My case reviews also include comparison benchmarks, but I rarely review more than one at a time, frankly because it would just be too unwieldy physically and otherwise!

[@GainzGuardian]

The Tech Buyer's Guru I was thinking about a playlist with any type of shootout. It’s nice to see a bunch of products competing, and finding all those videos in one place would be cool, but it’s just a tip. The channel is yours of course. Cases definitely are too unwieldy to review many at a time.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

I'm going to do this - I like your idea! Glad you like the shootout format - I believe it provides more information, even if it means I can't have years and years of old cooler data in my charts.

[@JustMeOne13]

Amazing review, thank you! Just convinced me to subscribe to this channel. Finally someone with good fan review away from noctua fans. I have a bunch of noctua's which I replaced in my system. If you listen carefully is more to a fan noise than dB. Noctua's have an awful buzz even at a low rpm. Replaced my 120 radiator fans (noctua) which cost me £20 each with Arctic P12 at £5 each and they are so much better. Thank you again and keep up the good work!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thanks for the sub, and thanks for the feedback on the audio testing. You know, I let that speak for itself, I do not do a lot of commentary about those noise patterns, because what's pleasing to one person is not pleasing to another. But they absolutely sound different, even at the same decibel level.

[@Hyper1555]

You have a12x25 noctua? I am waiting for the chromax version coming soon, but when I saw the arctic p12 in the radiator review, I was surprised. What is the real difference? I am going for as low noise as possible. My Noctua A14 has a very low frequency noise which I dont find buzzing, but I hear it on the A12x25 in this review. You mean this humming buzz although low in decibel?

[@JustMeOne13]

@@Hyper1555 I had 4x120 noctua's on a 240mm radiator which I replaced with Arctic P12. Yes I am talking about the low pitch sound of the noctua's. Not the only fans I tried though, I also tried bequiet silent wings 3, Corsair ML 120, NZXT fans... settled to Arctic. However as TBG mentioned everyone has a different perception of sound tone. For someone else noctua's may sound better.

[@ifitistobeitisuptome]

Excellent review, thank you!

[@user-spv96x3x7i.4kc]

Very nice review! thanks

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Glad it was helpful! Feel free to check out my follow-up 120mm vs 140mm case fan shootout! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c

[@justsomegamer2285]

Really looking forward for some explorations of case fan placement with P12.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Definitely a possibility. I'm going to give this all some thought and post a poll on the channel soon. Might try to combine the 140mm testing with the fan placement testing. Two birds with one stone kind of thing. I'd use three manufacturers that have both 120mm and 140mm versions of the same fan available, namely Arctic (P12/P14), Blacknoise (eLoop 12/14), and Scythe (Kaze Flex 120/140). I'd do one 120mm (as shown in the current video) vs. one 140mm in front, then I'd compare two 120mm and two 140mm in front/front, front/top, and front/rear configurations. Oh, shoot, that's already 8 tests per manufacturer. You see the problem! The works grows exponentially!

[@wiedapp]

I am baffled at how loud the Noctua and the Noiseblocker are in this test. I will go with Arctic P12 for sure.

[@tuber2kh]

I'm not. Every Noctua fan I buy, I'm again disappointed that the reviews praise them so highly, but they are so loud. I have an old Silenex that is quieter at straight voltage than my last Noctua even with the low noise resistor inline.

[@Arashmickey]

The noiseblocker is loud when the intake side is pushed up against a filter or other obstruction. They recommend using a frame or washers to create some distance if mounted with the intake facing a radiator/heatsink/dust filter.

[@jingzheshan]

After watched the review I bought Arctic P12, and four fans are working perfect and very quiet.

[@tomerbakshi]

PLEASE make a version for 140mm fans. This is great, thank you.

[@flickdakobold]

This must have taken so long to do - thanks for covering the fans that are missed by so many reviews! Helped me save about £25 on case fans.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Yeah, this video took a while, and so did this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c Please do subscribe if you haven't already, because cooling tests are something I will do more of as long as the interest is there!

[@Echizenwd]

Thank you, I was going for Noctua but after watch this video and the cpu fan video I changed my mind and will buy Scythe that has great performance and it's way cheaper in my country

[@lifengliu5597]

I thought Scythe was gone just like Gentle Typhoon. Good to see they're still keeping their reputations.

[@jaywalker.]

You know, even before your conclusion I noticed the Silverstone RGB had a more pleasing sound profile for my taste, even at higher dB. Think I'll grab a couple of these, thanks!

[@svenstenberg2124]

Did you end up getting the SIlverstones? If so, what's your opinion of them one year later? I agree with you that of all of them, they have the most pleasing tone (in this video anyway!).

[@marcowong7]

randomly came across your pc fan videos. dude you are sooooo underrated. keep up the good work!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thanks, more to come!

[@andrewlawrence5299]

This is some quality work!! Earned my sub. I really expected Noctua to take this crown, but had a feeling you’d give Scythe a runner up or a “best value” prize. What a nice surprise they took the win! I’m glad I know of Scythe, they sure do make some quality products. Own a Mugen Rev. B in my R 5 3600 rig myself.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thanks for the sub! Yeah, I've always loved Scythe products, still run some of their legendary S-Flex fans that I got 15 years ago. Quality stuff, but I thought they'd be outgunned here. Not the case.

[@rizrizriz]

I thought Scythe was gone just like Gentle Typhoon. Good to see they're still keeping their reputations.

[@nicholassmith7723]

Just added the p12 5 pack to my build list. By far the best sounding imo

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Yup, fantastic bargain: amzn.to/38JHNj6. Right now there's a $7 shipping charge, though, so if you don't need 5 fans, you might be better off buying them separately direct from Amazon at $10/fan: amzn.to/2ZXrwDo

[@faisalamir1928]

Amazing review. Full of relevant information. You've got me as a new sub for sure!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Awesome, thank you! More content like this will be coming soon!

[@slownightsolongg]

By far one of the best fan reviews on KZbin. Nice one! There are other fans I would have liked to see, but i understand that you can't test everything so this was good coverage.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Wow, thanks! Check out my 120mm vs 140mm case fan shootout here! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c I improved the testing process to make it even better!

[@Ds3DeniS3Ds]

Coming from the 120mm radiator video! Amazing work man! Honestly I could not agree more with your conclusions! Overall the Scythe kaze flex is just on another level. The noctua redux is terrible, much worse than I thought! Also I would love to point out that SUBJECTIVELY the silverstone AB120R tone was the least irratating to me! Did not expect that at all. The Noctua NF-a12x25 has such a worse tone to me, it blow me away. Thank you for this review this is such a high quality content, it completely changed my previous opinions about those fans! If you want to know what I would love to see in your 140mm fan round up would be to also make a couple of wrap up graph when you present temps and Db at minimum-speed rotation, 35db normalized, and for some that might care (I personally don't) fans at full speed with the 2-3 best performing fans overall, removing the clutter of some very poorly performant fans from the graphs. Followed by the sound test of such fans after each graph. And another thing for Noctua, I would love for you to include a test with low noise adapter for the min speeds when it's included in the box! Again, you made an AMAZING video! Thank you! (Subbed ofc)

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thank you for this great feedback. I am now getting so much constructive criticism/advice that I've created a document to capture it all, and will try to implement as much of it as I can in the next iteration of this test, which will focus on 120mm vs. 140mm and optimal fan placement. I really like your idea of a wrap-up review showing the winning fans at all test settings, and a repeat of their audio recordings. This will help viewers do back-to-back listening sessions on the best performing fans. And yes, the AB120R is shockingly smooth. Note, however, that it is not "quiet". I don't think there was anything wrong with the dB reading on that, which I took at 4", even if it sounded quieter close up (from about 1/2"). In other words, its noise travels further. But in my next video, I will measure dB and do sound recordings at exactly the same distance, to eliminate this dichotomy. As some viewers have noted, I still have the problem of whether the microphone is picking up what the ear would pick up, and whether 4" is what matters to a user at 12-24", but there's only so much I can do. I'm not running a sound lab, after all! Plus, for purposes of KZbin, if the mic isn't visible in the audio recordings, people will definitely cry foul, so it has to be in between the camera and the fan!

[@Ds3DeniS3Ds]

@@TheTechBuyersGuru Possibly different frequencies and tones are more pronounced when you only hear them up close since you are isolating them, and are more/less pronounced the farther you go because they get masked by background noise or possibly human hearing is more/less susceptible to certain frequencies even when the sound has less somewhat energy (then far) or most probably some frequencies are better absorbed by the surroundings and you get less "reflections" from walls, furniture and stuff? Just guesses. By the way man, I know how much work you have put into this test and the video and honestly I find it gives already AS IT IS basically the complete picture and gives you all the elements to make your personal favourite choice, every improvement you make it takes an already EXCELLENT and COMPREHENSIVE (for purchase sake) video into an EXCEPTIONAL one, almost on the level that it incorporates of a scientific analysis! I think all the suggestions are cool and all, and even regarding to sound recordings, I think the 4" recording should NOT go away because you can also hear the turbulence as you pointed out as the one created by the kinda gummy frame of the Arctic BioniX F120, I mean I one 2 (that I run at min speeds) and if it weren't for your video and your 4" recording I wouldn't have noticed how important the frame material really is! Even just for personal knowledge! So I personally would LOVE 2 recordings, one at 4" because it's very interesting IMHO to "isolate" the actual fan noise and one at like you say 12-24" user distance and you can also hear in that way how that particular sound bounces from walls and propagates (that might illustrate your point about the AB120R). As I said I already loved the video as it is, these are just nitpicking because you asked for suggestions on how to improve a super good video so one has to really nitpick. You gave me almost more insight than owning the fans myself! Please keep up making great videos! Do you have some early findings for 140mm fans? I needed to buy 2 for case airflow, to be just as silent as possible at min speeds. I was watching fan videos and that's how youtube recommended your video to me!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

I wish I could give you the answer now on 140mm fans, but I honestly can't, as I haven't yet conducted the benchmarks. Based on what I've learned and shared regarding 120mm fans, it's quite clear that thermal and normalization testing really is required.

[@Mazak1324]

I mean even if Scythe were more or less even with Noctuas they're still at least 2 times cheaper! Honestly between these two, it's a no brainer for me.

[@RayathF]

Purchased that Scythe fan thanks to your review! Looks like an excellent balance between performance and noise.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@Ryzen-gw7yl]

superb test. thanks :)

[@jasonreviews]

i like the sound of the silverstone. thanks for the video. LOLs.

[@medec10667]

I'm pleasantly surprised at those noiseblocker and silverstone fans... the tone is kind of nice. I've never seen em in Canada, though. I'm shocked at the two noctuas being so ear piercing. Happy customer of Arctic P12 intakes and F14 exhausts, and a Freezer 34. I hope they get their supply issue fixed, as the prices are getting gouged here. lol $15 fan + $80 shipping from the states

[@ssgpizzalover515]

I really like your tests , the test alones made me trust your reviews, its not just a quick brand recomendation like a lot of other youtubers.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thank you! These types of videos take a lot of time to make, which is probably why few other KZbinrs do them. Don't miss the follow-up videos I published: 140mm case fans: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c 120mm/140mm case fan placement: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3TRXouCYq2sjsk

[@mibo747]

GREAT REVIEW!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thanks! Don't miss the follow-up 120mm/140mm case fan shootout! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c

[@juancarlosorozcoleyton2829]

It's amazing how the budget Arctic P12 performs almost identically to the Noctua NF-A12x25 at around 1300 RPM. Arctic seems like the most sensible choice for a silence oriented PC without spending over $200 in fans. I'm eager to see the results of the 140mm test, it seems like a forgotten territory. Is there a reason for not including Corsair's ML series fans in your tests btw?

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Yes indeed, the P12 is quite a budget wonder, and yes, the 140mm fan shootout will be coming next month and shouldn't be forgotten, given how many new cases fit 140mm fans these days. As for not including Corsair's ML series, there certainly is a reason. Exhibit A: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWO9mqZuh8-Wjpo. Enough said.

[@Milchschndde]

sadly not quit right. The arctic is a great bang for buck but it has a problem. It produces a humming sound at many frequencies. Not to loud but its irregular and stands out from the normal air sounds espacially at low rpm like 600. Very annying for very silent builds, switched to the noctuas...

[@NoneofyourBusiness-gy9yw]

@@Milchschndde and i was wondering what kind of retard runs his fans at 600 rpm. guess your it. here have a 🖕

[@aviationclub2637]

Yes for 140mm fan test. I would like to know how the temps and noise change compared to 120mm

[@rtyzxc]

Yes, try to do it with as similar hardware as possible. If you think about it, a wider case doesn't necessarily lead to better airflow around the components themselves, more air will just move through empty space.

[@alexmercer3001]

A case fan round up?. Didn't see this one coming. Exactly I was searching some fans to buy and youtube recommended me this video, and I like it. Thank you buddy.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

And here's follow up! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c

[@_Forever555]

Great test

[@benettelazo609]

thanks im getting all arctic p12's because of the price. let's go

[@tomu8237]

140mm case fans...please.

[@dommo2803]

Congratulations for your amazing effort!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thank you very much!

[@BuddyGuy0621]

thanks for the information bro, good job

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

No problem 👍

[@emp1985]

yes for 140mm!

[@blkshp25]

Please if you could. Such an eye opener.

[@jch7807]

We don't see reviews like this anymore, this is like back in the days when reviewers wrote thorough articles that weren't an infomercial. Another thing to note is that is not only the dB level, but also the sound signature that can make a huge difference. The be quiet! Silent Wings 3 had the best noise quality and signature. Excellent job sir!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Glad you like this, and yeah, I did this to make up for all those informercials out there! Explore the channel and you'll see I've done a bunch more videos like this one, but perhaps even better. Here are a few: 120mm/140mm case fan shootout: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c 120mm heatsink fans: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4OxZ2SMrtZ3faM

[@Tythas1]

Enjoyed this review, it's really detailed :) thanks!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thanks for watching! And if you didn't already catch it, here's the sequel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c

[@electricketchup]

I enjoy that you left the chassis rainbow light sequence on while testing the fans. Looking forward to you doing the 140 fans soon.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Yeah, I kind of like ARGB effects, and I do think they made the audio clips a bit more interesting to look at!

[@mkskrakusnh]

I like fans.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Yup, they're "cool"! ;)

[@toonsem]

You had an opportunity to call Noctua loyalists "FAN-boys" and I'm disappointed that you didn't.

[@waleiam5150]

Amazing review! I would love a video about fan placement within cases (including recommended no of fans) and advice on positive/negative pressure.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Yup, that's a great idea. Definitely considering it!

[@OOIEatte]

Thanks so much for this video. Keep doing good videos like these and you'll be at 100k subs in no time.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Hopefully you're right! Don't miss my follow-up 120mm/140mm shootout: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c

[@Zannooda]

19:58 "I asked Noctua if I should use their S12 line..." You really should've... It's really bizarre they recommended loud and outdated P12 fan instead of their S12A and S12B fans designed specifically for airflow... Just looking at the specs, S12 fans should perform better as case fans than even extremely successful but radiator-oriented A12x25 fan. It's a real shame S12 was absent from your tests, it could easily be a winner...

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

They just sent me an S12A chromax.black, and I have a brown S12A, so I may include them in two-fan testing in my next roundup. Lots of people want lots of different fans tested, so I have to decide which make the most sense for a follow-up case fan test.

[@Zannooda]

@@TheTechBuyersGuru, while the expressed desires of your audience are important, some sort of objective and logical choice can be made. Obviously, you have to include Noctua as one of the most respected brands with proven reputation. Now, specifically for the case fans comparison the most logical choice is their most airflow optimized quiet fan, which is the S line. On a personal note, I have four S12B Redux PWM fans in my case (which are pretty quiet and move a lot of air), and I'd love to see how they're doing against significantly less affordable S12A fans... BTW, great work, your videos are one of the best sources for anyone choosing a fan. 👍

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

The biggest thing stopping me from saying "YES" to the S12A is that I'd really like to make this a 120mm vs. 140mm review, and Noctua's 120/140mm case fan lineups are radically different. They don't provide much in the way of an apples-to-apples comparison in terms of fan design. In fact, arguably Noctua doesn't have a dedicated 140mm case fan, it just has the fans it designed for its 140mm coolers (which I've named the best air coolers on numerous occasions). Trust me, I want to test the S12A, and I really wish I hadn't asked Noctua which fans to test, I should have just made the call. I literally said to them "I am going to test the A12x25 and S12A for my case fan test, please let me know if you'd like me to test different fans." I even considered making the S12A the 11th sample in my test, but I ultimately decided 10 was a reasonable max. I'll try to find a way, trust me, it's on my to-do list!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Ha, ha, I don't think that's going to happen! There are so many 120mm fans out there that once I started down that road, I'd end up having nothing but 120mm case fan shootouts!

[@BlueCatLofi]

Great video, man. keep up the good work.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thanks, don't miss the sequel to this video, my 120mm/140mm shootout! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c

[@nahomseifu5102]

Super helpful, definitely subscribing! Thank you boss!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thanks for the sub! Check out follow-up shootout here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c

[@rohanv18]

Nice loved the review

[@YouAreGodGodIsYou]

Excellent work - keep it up.. Thanks

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thanks, will do!

[@mariusponsonnet6193]

Thanks you for this awesome video !

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

My pleasure! Don't miss my follow-up looking at 120mm vs 140mm case fans: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c In a lot of ways, that video is even better, with a refined test methodology to provide more insights into performance.

[@mariusponsonnet6193]

@@TheTechBuyersGuru already watched 😂😂

[@pietro_s032]

You are the best fan tester of all internet! Thanks for the video!!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Wow, thank you! If you liked this video, don't miss the follow-up 120mm/140mm case fan shootout: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c

[@steveosaysyes]

Thankyou for this! You've made my mind up with the 5 pack of black P12's for £30 in the uk

[@justsomegamer2285]

Same here man, i paid 34€ for white 5x P12 with transparent blades and i loving it.

[@herpderpson4712]

Super informative! Instantly subscribed

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Welcome aboard! Luckily, for every one viewer who said this was the worst review ever, there are about 100 people like you who appreciated it! About as good as it gets on KZbin!

[@dipyourbread]

Great video. I just bought the 5 pack of F12 PWM as I'm in a budget so thanks. Have a sub!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thanks for the sub, enjoy the fans!

[@davidb2]

Thanks for demonstrating the sound profiles of the fans! 30 dB can sound very different depending on the frequencies produced.

[@xBenjumanji]

Job well done, thank you.

[@kev60625]

Great video!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Glad you enjoyed it - don't miss the follow-up looking at the best 120mm and 140mm fans! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c

[@m.sierra5258]

I usually don't subscribe because I don't really care about getting notified. But I subscribed to you because I think you are very underrated and deserve more attention. Bests of luck from Germany :)

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thanks for subbing! My 140mm radiator fan shootout is coming soon, which you may enjoy as well!

[@Tezorus]

I was unboxing some Artic f12 pwm pst co, asking myself if i made a good choise with thoses, while brosing youtube, and this vid pops up in my recomendations. I think the sound i hear at night is a youtube worker hidding in my closet and eating in my fridge while i'm at sleep. That's the only and most logical explanation for this 100% on point recomendation.

[@tonydimeck]

This is a brilliant video. Thank You for doing this,

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Glad it was helpful! Don't miss the follow-up: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c

[@tonydimeck]

@@TheTechBuyersGuru Hello, Thank You again for the first video, it was really informative & helpful and just ot right into the testing, no waffling etc; and Thank You for the second one, I am going to watch it right now. All The Best Of Health To You,Your Family & All Your Loved Ones..

[@ryannix2606]

Yeah this was a great video. You really know what you are doing when it comes to these tests. I may need to get different fans to make the best use case of my computer case.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Check out the follow-up that tests 140mm fans: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c If you have space for them in your case, they're your best choice!

[@SteadyPaceVince]

Really awesome video, ty

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mohamadzulhazrynoorhazlan261]

The best video for fans. Would like to see the case fan placement video soon

[@tonybeckett66]

Fantastic job with the review

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Glad you liked it! See the follow-up here! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c

[@jonirevoltas]

you did an amazing job, my friend!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thank you very much! Don't miss my follow-up review of 140mm case fans: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c

[@Genakrul_93]

Thanks for such nice video man! :)

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Glad you liked it!

[@karama300video]

This is a great review! Got a new sub!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thanks for the sub! Don't miss the follow-up video, which compared the best 120mm and 140mm models! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobHpIefh9Koq7c

[@StudioNB]

I only needed the information for one, single fan I was going to buy. However, even though I will likely never need to research fans again, your video was so succinct and packed full of useful information I couldn't NOT subscribe! Very well done, keep it up!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Thank you, more to come!

[@CA_Carilae_KeReRi]

I put the three Arctic P12s on the front positon of my case . They did a good job

[@Amonny]

I have 6 P12s PWM in my case. Just outstanding.

[@erich3784]

I did buy a 5 pack of Arctic P12 PWM for 29,89€ (and they dropped to 28,75€ since then), when the Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM currently goes for 29,90€ A PIECE (I just checked). What a steal! The P12 may not be the absolute best in terms of performance but it's definitely by far the best value for money... BTW, great video!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Yes, the P12 at 1/5 the price of the Noctua does make it hard to recommend the latter. It's still the best for radiators, but not worth it for cases.

[@pedrosoares7273]

You just got yourself a new subscriber. This was great content

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Welcome aboard, and thank you!

[@metalmasterlp]

you were absolutely right about he Noctua NF-P12 Redux-1700 PWM, i wish I saw this review earlier

[@MrSteffo]

I would like to say thank you to you for your interesting videos. With kind regards from Sweden.

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Glad you like them! One day I'd love to visit Sweden!

[@mictest1027]

Nice review. Hoping for 140mm review too.

[@PureXatesfanu]

bought my scythe fuma 2 and i love the temps that i get along with the noise level on those fan 100% recommend

[@oFuRiOuS]

Love this review ! I myself have got the scythe fuma 2 already and I love it, waiting for your 140mm reviews before I decided which fans I should get I’m torn between if I should get 3 120s or just 2 140s for the intake most likely 140s are quieter but you never know theres a lot of surprises out there! Thanks again great content!

[@TheTechBuyersGuru]

Oh, yeah, this is definitely something I'm interested in. I may have to save the multiple-install fan shootout for a follow-up. Like a final throw-down between the best 120mm and best 140mm models, packing in the most of each that my case will allow.