The BEST RGB Fans - For Airflow, Radiators & More

[@starer2006]

could we have an update for 2024?

[@jaridbredemeier8729]

Agreed, no one buys EK anymore.

[@Keeks33]

What a fantastic video! Thank you guys for taking the time to do this. I was having a hard time finding tangible results for an RGB fans setup, and you guys absolutely nailed it. This was incredibly helpful.

[@ICOLER-Amazon]

How about ICOLER UNI Fan JM-V2RS?

[@frontwing67]

I have an Arctic P12 ARGB on my towercooler and a P14 ARGB in the back of my Lian Li Lancool 216. Airflow is steady as a rock, low temps and low noise for a fair price, couldnt be happier .

[@deuswulf6193]

Used the thermalright fans for my rig, totaling about 11 fans. They are great! It was $13 for a triple pack. $11 for the non rgb ones. By far one of the bets price to performance fans on the market right now.

[@assassinx-rated1440]

How is it when it come to noise? Are the fans really loud? Or quiet?

[@deuswulf6193]

@@assassinx-rated1440 Very quiet, especially when setting custom fan curve. I have them running at about 1100 rpm most of the time. Obviously it gets louder at full rpm. Keeps my 7950x3D with a 4090 quite cool.

[@Tojikuma]

@@deuswulf6193 Did you buy the TL-C12C-S or the TL-C12CW-S ?

[@zinyrtmiddle4008]

@@Tojikuma it same product . W mean white

[@user-wyosfr]

Don't your fans rattle? Just bought 3 of them, can't even use them at 300 RPM because they rattle that loud...

[@prashanthkrishanduth8521]

THIS is exactly what has been missing from fan reviews. Thank you. Suggestions to add the: Fractal Aspect RGB and Prisma ARGB, ID Cooling TF120 ARGB, Corsair SP120 RGB Elite, NZXT AER120 RGB 2, Deepcool FC120 ARGB, CM Sickleflow ARGB and InWin ARGB 120mm fans

[@HardwareCanucks]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

[@Pro4TLZZ]

Also fractal design gp-12 X2 pwm if possible. Thanks

[@krazyfrog]

Another factor to cover with these fans is how they look from the back. A lot of the time with some of these O11D inspired cases you end up mounting your fans backwards and how the fan looks from the back becomes very important. It's especially the case with ARGB fans since they draw attention towards themselves and sometimes aren't that well designed from the back as you showed with the Squa. The only proper solution here seems to be reverse spinning fans or something like the Deepcool MF120 GT, which has a very unique inverse hub design.

[@HardwareCanucks]

Yeah I did cover it with the be quiet and enermax. The others are pretty plain Jane.

[@wrenchviking8527]

@@HardwareCanucks This is one area where I think the Thermaltake SWA-fan would have been an appropriate addition. But, since they sponsored the video, I can see why you may not want to have their fan included to avoid any percieved bias.

[@HardwareCanucks]

I agree about the SwaFan and I wish I could have some here....but for some reason Thermaltake has been really hesitant to send us samples. And after this video and another one that's coming up, our samples budget is getting pinched pretty tight right now.

For back illumination phanteks has some nice rgb frames. They have the advantage of working with non rgb fans too.

[@charnel8480]

@@HardwareCanucks There exists a reverse spinning version of the Thermalright C12S called the C12R-S, hope you guys would be able to obtain a sample of those as that would probably be the top budget choice for that niche.

[@dylancnguyen]

I would LOVE to see how the Phanteks D30-120 fair in this comparison. I seems like they had a lowkey launch last week and almost immediately sold out, but they seem quite promising.

[@HardwareCanucks]

We asked and they only sent for a build to Dmitry. Not to our main lab....red flags right there...

[@Sterhaer]

Maybe in a later video when availability is better?

[@HardwareCanucks]

Absolutely.

[@MayonnaiseOreo]

@@HardwareCanucks That's too bad because I was really curious how they'd compare to the rest of the lineup. I have Lian Li SL120 Infinity fans so I don't need new ones but Phanteks has always been my favorite non-RGB fan.

[@yukisnoww]

looks kinda ugly tho, if i am paying that price, i go for lianli fans

[@XxTheMetalistxX]

Thermalright is a goldmine. Hoping for reviews on whatever products you can get your hands on. Suggestions: The premium edition of these fans called TL-C12-Pro. The Peerless Asassin have multilpe upgraded versions: Phantom Spirit SE and Frost Tower.

[@sijedevos2376]

Don’t buy Corsair fans unless you like horrible diffusion and the ability to count all individually leds

[@Pacheenee7]

And horrible price to performance and noise

[@swizzler8053]

And if you like lots of cables.

[@mrcrow_GG]

Too late, You should tell me this 2 years ago 😀

[@buenomini]

Fact

[@confusedcounsel5285]

Yes, but with some MX 2.54 or just standard Dupont 2.54 connectors you can connect any RGB to Corsair. The pin out is 5V DO DI GND. Yep same as on motherboard, but on Motherboards the data in pin is missing because motherboard does not want to hear back from the RGB. The date out pin on the fan is to pass the signal back to the hib so it can be passed to the next fan in the sequence.

[@HardwareCanucks]

The following fans were tested but didn't make the "grade" for this video (ie their performance was worse than what you see here): Fractal Prisma RGB NZXT Aer RGB 2 NZXT F120 RGB Corsair QL series Thermaltake Pure 12 Montech AX120 ID Cooling Crystal 120 White DeepCool FC120

[@KellyWu04]

The FC120 is so bad? I thought they were decent when looking at LS720 performance.

[@Crystalblade564]

performace was worse? what does it mean? While Fractal Prisma AL-12 and AL-14 have alot higher CFM/Static pressure/airflow than some of the fans in the video? So those stats are not valid in real world?

[@xypod]

I did not expect the NZXT fans to be *that* bad. I have some AER 2's in my case. That said im glad this video exists for that!

[@KellyWu04]

@@Crystalblade564 each manufacturer tests the stats differently and at max speeds. They are not comparable.

[@mikas2934]

Was hoping you'd test the silverstone air blazer 120r. Pretty cheap here in Australia, ARGB, decent claimed stats, goes up to 2200 RPM. Also, I saw you tested the SL120s in another comment, but did you test the SL120 infinity by any chance?

[@TheJjjoj]

The thermalright tl-b12S are technically pre-release. Thermalright has a tendency to put their products on their website 2-3 months prior to their actual availability on the market. The non-rgb b12's(regular not the extreme) are absolutely fantastic. The B12S (RGB) should be within striking distance of the regulars if thermalright maintains their usual consistency. The c12s are just slightly worse than the c12 likely due to the less rigid plastic RGB fans have to use.

[@wrenchviking8527]

I have been incredibly pleased with my Silverstone AB120r's. They perform really well as both case and radiator fans and the ARGB, while not particularly flashy, is very competently done with smooth transitions and very even diffusion. They're so quiet that you forget about them most of the time and when they do ramp up to audible levels, it's at a nice low hum with no whine. And that's with 12 fans in my system.

[@violentnomadx2436]

First off, excellent video. The production quality, expansive product coverage and reliability of information really make this channel second to none. I’d love to see the Lian Li SL-Infinity in future content as they are the best looking fans in my opinion, however expensive they may be. It would be interesting to see how they compare, especially since they haven’t gotten much technical coverage. Once again though, really appreciate all the great work from the Hardware Canucks Team!

[@nycplayboy78]

Yes I agree with ALL OF THIS!!! I agree that the Lian Li Uni SL Infinity fans are the best looking fans out there :)

[@arieskyz]

I really like how thorough this video was to help me get a better view of which fans to pick for building a pc.

[@GetWellSoonR.E.M.]

I was so overwhelmed with case fans and all the choices that exist out there. Thank you for making this WAY easier to understand and narrow my choices

[@shredman59]

Can you update this for early 2024?

[@kymnyth]

I would like to see the results for theThermaltake SWAFAN EX12 RGB. These come with two sets of fan blades so you can get a consistent look whether you need to bring air into the case or evacuate air out.

[@HardwareCanucks]

Yeah they weren't available when we did this.

[@thatsl1ve183]

There are reviews online. I read one and the conclusion was that they are trash. If you swap the blade it performs worse and gets even louder.

[@Amfibios]

Holy shit Mike, that's a lot of numbers! Thanks for including the radiator results and real world performance, it would be half a review without them, but many reviewers don't bother. It would be great to see how the below fans compare to the ones you already tested: - Coolermaster MASTERFAN SF120M ARGB - Coolermaster MASTERFAN MF120 HALO² - LIAN LI UNI FAN SL-Infinity 120/RGB

[@danhfvcsd1]

Why does barely anyone review the MF Halos from Cooler Master? I'd love to know how they actually stack up against others out there...

[@heyabro-p2b]

I'm happy with my Thermalright C12C-S. I purchased two three-packs and installed one on my heatsink, along with my three front fans and my rear case fan. They have been performing exceptionally well! For just over 25 dollars, tax included, these fans are incredibly well-rounded. I appreciate the simple design of these fans, as well as the aRGB features. They are truly top-notch. Great Video!

[@HandsomeAlex25]

That was such a thorough analysis! I did not expect a video about RGB (fans) to be so engaging! This is a great reference video for lots of prospective buyers.

[@pascalkreilaus3626]

Lian Li SL120 V2 would have been interesting as well. Also the Phanteks D30-120.

[@leftcoastfunk]

tbh the Arctic P12 argb is super decent at such quiet levels. Plenty enough to keep my 12700k (360mm aio) and 3080ti (240mm aio) both under 70 degrees at load. Could my temps be better? Sure, probably by 3-5 degrees - but these fans MAX out at 39db! I know in the low db radiator tests they were mid-pack, and I'm not surprised by that, but I still think they're a steal in the price:performance:noise level:looks race... As for the looks, one thing you failed to address on any fan here except the weird-ass SQUA, is that the overwhelming majority of argb fans just don't look good when viewed from the back - which most fans running as intakes would be. I honestly think this is super important, almost always overlooked by reviewers and manufacturers alike, and yet is one of the biggest deciding factors in my (and likely others') choice for argb fans. The P12 argb (like very few argb fans) has that continuous ring connecting the outer edges of the blades which I can tell you honestly reallllllly helps it look significantly better and more vibrant from the back - the light spreads all the way out the outer edge so well. Way more so than most typical and popular argb fans. I don't care how bright and diffused the hub lighting is, if the hub is mostly blocked by plastic on the backside.

[@Alexandra-Rex]

I wrote this in the beginning when you did not introduce the P12 PWM PST A-RGB, but I saw it in the test anyway 😄 Suggestions: - Arctic P12 PWM PST A-RGB - Arctic P14 PWM PST A-RGB These are PST fans, meaning _"PWM Sharing Technology"_ (not static pressure optimized, like I've seen some reviewers say), so I wonder if they can pass through light stuff too, or just what's needed to run the fan.

[@xerf7001]

Missing out the Cooler Master MF120 halo. Here in germany they cost around 12-16 euros which is something like 13-17 dollars

[@nexaner7]

I would love to see something on the Razer Chroma RGB Hub. It is really versatile and let's you layout all standard 3 PIN ARG to really incorporate great patterns. Not just duplicating the effect across them.

[@dennissmith1435]

Great content! Most thorough fan evaluation I've seen. In my most recent build, I chose non-RGB fans. Before seeing this, I had come to the conclusion RGB fans generally didn't perform as well as non-RGB fans, which you have shown. I've used plenty of RGB fans in builds, but decided to focus on performance and go light on the RGB (pun intended). The Silent Wing Pro 4 are good looking fans, just no ARGB. EK has also been one of my go to fans and I'm glad the new Loop fans perform so well. Thanks to the content I also have some new candidates to consider.

[@-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-8]

Can you do the same noise-to-CFM test for these? - Cooler Master MF120 Halo - NZXT F120 RGB Core (listed as having almost twice the CFM of the NZXT F120 RGB)?

[@FernandoJorgedaSilva]

From cooler master, theres the MF120 Halo and the second version of then. They look a little like the Rise Aurora, but with no adapter needed.

[@gfei4059]

Thermal right! Im using their radiator Frozen Prime, 60$ 360mm . all i got to say is that you must try it.

[@RjxDare]

Thank you guys for the hard work on this video, 9 months later I still refer to this 😁

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

until the pc working again itll still the one for all to aim sad should be the 5800x2880 instead, it was noticeably different

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

oled owners know this

[@mrfawkes9110]

I would love to see the same kind of comparison for 140mm fans, both RGB and not. This and the comparison of the unlit 120s has been invaluable. I'm also a huge fan of Cooler Master's SickleFlow V2 in both 120 and 140, unfortunately the white is more of a green or purple, depending on ambient lighting.

[@robojimtv]

Please get us a 140mm version of this test? Feels like the choices are smaller there too.

[@MHAAAAANZ]

Omg, the BEST review on the planet about fans!

[@valtarg1299]

Thank you for testing fans Even thought they might not have the most impact on performance, it always interesting to have details and choose what is the best especially when on a budget and you care about airflow

[@rgracon]

would love to see: Cooler Master MasterFan MF120 Halo White

[@Vialli100.]

I have 7x Darkflash DR12 pro fans with the controller, they are connected to Aura sync. These are brilliant fans and keep everything very cool, inside Lian li o11 dynamic evo. They also cost only £40 for the complete set..

[@forestR1]

Coolermaster MF120 HALO user here: ~$50 for 3 - 24x ARGB LEDs (8+16) - Daisey chain cables for fan control and argb (standard 5V ARGB connectors) - controller V1 is garbage, V2 is supposed to be much better; but Amazon sent me V1 (V2 was advertised) - currently controlled by splicing into Corsair node pro and using ICUE - They appear to have poor static pressure and there is a lot of blowback between the blade and the frame when fitted to radiator.

[@nighthawk9264]

Honestly, I come to a completely different conclusion. For you „best fan“ = highest CFM. However, I find it much more interesting to talk about how quiet a fan is while still providing most flow. Based on that metric, the P12 is the best, because it provides most flow per dBA, i.e. the slope is the steepest.

[@ronniekregar3482]

Because then you would have to compare fans that all have the same max rpm

[@nighthawk9264]

@@ronniekregar3482 That is false. RPM is irrelevant and is completely taken out of the picture. No one cares about RPM.

[@spentcasing3990]

I'm using Asiahorse FS-9002. Bought two 5 packs for about $50 Cdn each. I don't have to worry about RGB software because they can use a remote to control the lighting. And the push a decent amount of air, up to 1800rpm. I've had them for almost a year now with only 1 fan causing an issue. The company sent me a 3 pack for free.

[@martinarscott3524]

I bought corsair, not cheap for a 10 fan setup, and within 18 months over half have developed faults - if set to completely white for example, they have large pink segments

[@roberthelcher2884]

I would love to see you review Uphere T7SYC7 RGB. I have used them several time and wonder how they compare to the big names.

[@jbgwapoodellot33]

My Recommendation for RGB Fans are Silverstone Air Blazer 120R for Case Fans and Silverstone Shark Force 120 for Radiator Fans. Recently Changed my Case Fans from Lian Li Unifans Infinity 120 to Silverstone Air Blazer 120R and the Stock Fans (EK Loop FPT) of my EK Nucleus 360 to the Silverstone Shark Force 120. Satisfied with the Change.

[@nighthawk9264]

Honestly, I come to a completely different conclusion. For you „best fan“ = highest CFM. However, I find it much more interesting to talk about how quiet a fan is while still providing most flow. Based on that metric, the P12 is the best, because it provides most flow per dBA, i.e. the slope is the steepest. Edit: pro Tip. When measuring, vary and control the RPM, while measuring CFM and dBA at once. Then, afterwards use your data to plot CFM (x) vs noise (y). Much more intuitive to read and much less work when measuring

[@Jordh_media]

Id like to see a 2024 update to this video, perhaps comparing 120 to 140mm aswell for context

[@chincemagnet]

I have a ton of Corsair fans, including a bunch of ML’s. I really like the ML140’s. But I’ll never buy another Corsair fan again based solely on the outrageous price. They used to be much more reasonably priced. The one thing I can say about Corsair is they will honor your warranty and replace a bad fan. Although I have at least 25 Corsair fans and not a single one has ever had an issue. I have had several other Corsair products require warranty replacement. I have ML120, ML140, AF140, SP120, HD120, and LL120’s. The ML140’s are good.

[@dez7roy3r]

Love those cooling reviews! Another great one! Keep them coming! 😍

[@James95Dark]

Been wanting to see a detailed video like this for years! Thanks! one side point, when presenting the line plots, if you're going to the trouble of animating it, could maybe update the legend at the same time with the data being highlighted, only showing the ones already on the figure, just to make the graph easier to read

[@LeKingCarnage]

Just got and installed the Thermalright fans and they perform great for the price.

[@richthoven]

very good video, id like to see the Coolermaster Halo in the comparison

[@little_fluffy_clouds]

Be Quiet’s Light Wings fans are my favourite from this list. Gorgeous RGB from either side, whisper quiet and great airflow. They come in 120 and 140mm variants and their pricing is reasonable especially for the three packs they sell.

[@andrewdaley4894]

Here is Australia, the older SilverStone Blazer is great value compared to the mobius for a rad fan. The cam sicklemaster is worth adding as well.

[@shadow105720]

Thermalright is the hands down winner. You can't just have one RGB fan. I just got my SO a Fractal Meshify Mini and she wanted the pretty fans. Filled all 6 fan slots for $24 and threw in a Phantom Spirit with 2 more ARGB fans for $36, with an 8 fan hub also from Thermalright for another $12. I paid almost that much for the RGB RAM 3600 C14. Put the controller under the PSU shroud where the hard drives would go and got all the fan cables routed neatly by the mobo and through the shroud. All 6 case fans and all 8 ARGB cables plugged into the hub and the 2 CPU fans plugged into the CPU fan header. No they dont have any fancy connections but they do all have splitters for PWM and ARGB but the mobo only has one case fan and one ARGB header and I didn't want to overload anything or have a rats nest sitting in the front of the case.

[@Likely_Alucard]

I'd love to see another performance breakdown video that features newer fans like corsair's link lineup, thermaltake swa fan, and newer lian li fans

[@thomaslayman9487]

one fan i hear is actually relatively good for an RGB fan is the corsair AF120 Elite RGB, which is their airflow version of the Elite design and supposedly performs much better than the MLs

[@djrollerx81]

Thanks for your hard work! I couldn't pass up the value versus performance of the Thermalright fans. They're a no-brainer at less than $30 for 6 fans. On top of that I grabbed the Thermalright Frozen Notte 360 AIO for just $60! It's beautiful and comes with 3 more fans for the radiator! $100 to cool the entire case AND the CPU? Heck yes!

[@pcfreakx]

I hope Corsair is listening. I'm building a PC right now and ordered NINE Lian Li fans and the only reason I didn't go with Corsair was cause they don't do daisy-chaining and they won't make their fans interoperable with a standard. And I actually LIKE iCUE - I have a Corsair keyboard/mouse.

[@HuyV]

I used to do this RGB + hardline watercooling stuff. But am I happy to have switched to SFF anti RGB focus these days. So much less hassle, but still challenging and pretty in a different way

[@anastasy2]

​@@actualwafflesenjoyer Small Form Factor case 😊

[@bradhaines3142]

i personally love my unicorn vomit light show, and i have no interest in the hassle of a tiny box. tiny wires are offensive enough

[@MrStR1K3Rify]

Thank you for given me reliable point of view. Do 140 please. Planning to build all 140 fan built.

[@mrsupertash]

I'm looking into RGB for the first time and am quite overwhelmed with the non-standardized and proprietary ways to actually cobble something together. My B450 Tomahawk Max only has 2 J-RGB headers but I want A-RGB. There are some offerings of 5 or 6 fans that come with a dedicated controller, so I don't have to go via the motherboard connectors, but most of them then also don't have separate PWM fan speed control via the motherboard. Some run at 100% all the time, while others seemingly have 3 speed levels that need to be set manually via a (remote) controller. Very few can be connected to an internal USB-header to be controlled by (dedicated) software instead of the remote or the case reset switch button. The Thermalright caught my eye because of the price but I was sceptic. Seeing them be the absolute winner here in that category and especially for that price is pretty neat. But with these I'd need a separate controller again, which ups the price significantly if I want a decent one, it seems. And it seems most RGB software is horrible (although I don't know yet in which ways), but having this software run constantly in the background I assume, hogging resources, probably impacting system boot time, etc. doesn't sound too appealing on top of that. I guess right now I'm on the fence between a 5 or 6 fan kit including controller for around €35 or getting the 2x Thermalright 3-fan packs for around €32 + a controller solution on top for about another €20 - €30. And then again, there are 5-fan kits including controllers around the €55 mark that might then be the better solution. This is so frustrating, lol. I think this is what I'll do: I'll do the rest of my research with the Thermalright's in mind looking for a good A-RGB controller. And will look into the OpenRGB software, if it's worth over just a simple (remote) controller with buttons and pre-configured light modes, and if it'll work with the components. And well, what if I want to add A-RGB strips not only inside my case but around my desk, lol. It's a week away from X-Mas 2023 and I'm trying to set up my lights.

[@WraithDesignz]

I got these UpHere RGB fans for my build back in 2021, and got another box of the same ones as backups this year. These fans, for only $0 have not failed me yet, and are quiet as heck! Sure, when they really rev they can get a bit louder, but compared to cooler master RGB fans that get wicked loud and start to wine and fail after only a year or so, these are just tough to beat. I'd advise anybody not wanting to payan arm and a leg, to get 6 RGB fans that are wicked quiet, to grab those.

[@shoobadoo123]

$0?

[@ronniekregar3482]

Not the Mobius fans.... they're the quietest fans I've ever used, and that's including noctuas.

[@christernordlander1354]

This was one of the best fan reviews, ever! Well done! 👌🏻

[@CLOSAxN]

Coolermaster MF 120 or 140, have the 120's in my build and run pretty quietly and quality is very good compared to others I've seen priced similarly.

[@HHX_H]

I tested the thermalright and yes they are amazing for the price!

[@nikushim6665]

You're not locked off with Icue/armoury/L-connect for controlling splitter boxes. signal (gag) and openRGB both support them without all the app juggling.

[@VetteTTV12]

I'm not sure if I missed the specific radiator used in the restriction test, but I'm assuming it's the A60. Would you please use a more standard 45mm thick 18FPI radiator for this? I believe it would make the results much more accurate since a fair amount of AIOs are now 45mm and the majority of custom loops use 45mm rads.

[@kattara13]

I'd love it if you could do a video like this but for reverse fans only!

[@jaspercools]

Please review the Cooler Master MF120 Halo Duo-Ring ARGB

[@dreamEnd]

I really like "ring" / border type RGB fans. So it's the BioniX, Light Wings, and Lian Li's older model: SL fans for me.

[@xypod]

Same here. Really wish there were more of those types available

[@See.You.Soon.027]

google Corsair QL140

[@See.You.Soon.027]

@@xypod google Corsair QL140

[@amineBoucherit]

just bought a pack of Thermalright TL-c12c-s x3 for 18€ thank you for the review Hoping they'll look good with my other fans the Cooler Master Sickleflow 120

[@4ujase]

APNX FP2 are amazing and also great value.Full metal 30mm case and comes as a spare, reversible fan. Costs about £($)23.

[@mystic8b]

Brother, you did a great job, my respect! Thank you! But there is one big problem in all fan reviews - decibel noise is irrelevant. Much more important are the intermittent noises that the fans create, such as vibration going to the chassis or the noise of the bearing at different speeds and especially when increasing and decreasing the speed. Such things cannot be conveyed in numbers, only recorded on a good microphone and shown in a video. For example the p12 is actually a rival of noctua by any graphs, but it produces an annoying sound at around 1000rpm. Corsair and many others are generally impossible to use at speeds above 700-800. I was extremely disappointed with the be quiet light wings 140mm, at almost any speed it vibrated on the chassis even with noctua silicone nails. This is really the biggest problem. Noise as such is not a problem at all if it is air noise and it is constant and not whining above the ear. If someone ever decides to do such a test on youtube, it will literally save thousands and thousands of buyers from buying garbage, and 95% of what is on the market is garbage. Especially when it comes to PWM, they vibrate when changing speeds, etc.

[@Buzykil]

I agree. I asked this on the previous fan testing video too. There should be audio clips from couple rpm or decibel ranges so we could hear the tone ourselves. Maybe from noise floor or 36dB in this video, and then perhaps a 10-100 % PWM rampup. Even if the fan noise is at or under the noise floor, it is still producing audible noise. Optimum Tech has a really nice touch in their videos by including some mouse clicks before the clip to set the stage how loud the noise actually is, as we are familiar with how loud a typical mouse click is. I'm still waiting for an exhaustive fan testing video.

[@mystic8b]

@@Buzykil Yes Yes Yes! Optimum Tech is the only one who show this. Thanks to him, I realized that this is not something wrong with me, but there really is a problem and everyone except noctua (perhaps the new Arctics also do not have this problem, I'm not sure). In general, I have an assumption that this is only true for fans with pwm. All of my non-pwm be quiet fans run quietly.

[@HardwareCanucks]

Yes, this will absolutely be added to the upcoming individual fan videos. Having it in such a large review would make things untenable.

[@mystic8b]

@@HardwareCanucks Thank you!" You are all awesome!

[@IIShana-chan]

One thing I really love about my Uni Fans is, that from each cluster, I get exactly *one* cable to the controller. And from there, I can decide wether I go with USB (L-Connect) or 5V ARGB (Motherboard). Just big props how much thought Lian Li puts in its products! I mean, they even added the little frame accents on the back of the fan, so you see them, when they are reversed (bottom of the case) I am also so happy about moving away from corsair in that regard. I loved their products, but the pricing really went out of hand... 40€ for fans that are mediocre in performance AND looks is just way too much. Oh, and my god is it a chaos to manage all those cables. My old case had 6 of those corsair ones. Equals 12 cables to be routed. My new one has 10. I can't imagine routing 20 of those small cables ... Only corsair products left are the H150i and the RAM ... But maybe this will soon be followed by an Galahad and some other RAM...

[@HardwareCanucks]

Absolutely 100% agreed on this. While their software isn't the greatest, its actually quite good AND they have fallback options which is super important

[@yelts24]

I've been debating between the Corsair QX fans and the Lian li infinity fans. The icue software being able to sync with everything is really cool to me and I do like the Dominator ram as well. But I really love the Lian li fans too, I just hope that L-connect 3 is just as good as the icue software when it comes to syncing etc. Maybe even add or customize your profiles. I am sure that they can do a lot of adding for their software too.

[@RobBCactive]

I was stress testing a data analysis PC today, I didn't want to use an AIO, gfx weren't important but the mobo & air tower cooler I chose has ARGB features. So just for adding a little fun to an unassuming Fractal Define compact case, I tried the thermalright as the exhaust fan. After 45mins of stress testing with NO fan tuning, still had 100% utilisation near the max boost on all cores and < 70C. The cheap Thermalright was shifting plenty of exhaust air but the box was really pleasantly quiet. I had non RGB, RGB cooler fan and then the Thermalright in series, yes my AIO offers lower temps, but using a case in solid configuration this was quieter as AIO are then constrained to either 120mm exhaust rad or an inherently non-optimal front mount. For an office or a study I'd take the Thermalright and just reduce the fan rpm a little

[@TemaOvchinnikov]

Thank you for the work you've done! Will there be a review on LIAN LI UNI FAN TL 120 Reverse Black, LIAN LI UNI FAN SL120 V2 Reverse Blade?

[@bekatabidze516]

I am very interested in Deepcool FC120 fans, they are 50$ for 3 pack and cheaper in some countries. They are fans that come included with Deepcool LS series AIOs, I like getting matching fans to AIO, but I want to know how do they perform. Also Cooler Master Masterfan Halos as they look good.

[@Arcamea]

I have 3 Inwin Sirius Loop RGB fans and 3 Inwin AJ120's and they are awesome RGB fans, for less then $65 CAD. Easy daisy chain with 5V 3pin.

[@CBlakeMN]

One fan I don’t see on the list that I’d like to see tested next time (if you’re able to), is the Thermaltake ToughFan 12 RGB fan. On paper, it looks like a similar/better offering than Be Quiet’s LW HS fan. Seems like a fan that would do okay under noise normalized tests and I think would be interesting to see how the results stacked up. I think it could be a good fan for people who REALLY care about noise, but still want decent performance.

[@SayeR88]

I bought last week two pack of Thermalright 120 RGB and are amazing , quiet and efficient. I paid 16€ for a pack , great deal .

[@takemebacktothen]

The Thermalright matching the NF-A12 is crazy

[@iamricardomarques]

You're really sleeping on Thermaltake's Swafan EX. Magnetic connections, which means you can connect 3 fans with just one cable that controls PWM and RGB. Reversable fan blades replacements, so that the leds always face the side you want, regardless of whatever airflow configuration you choose. Best hub with insane daisy chain capability and integration with multiple types of software, including Razer Synapse (if you ever used Studio, you know there's nothing as good as it). This not even to mention that if you use Synapse you can pair it with Philips Hue and have all your setup lights synced. In addition, the game specific profiles create a level of imersion that you cannot get with any other software.

[@MadmanLink]

3 months ago I was looking to fill a new case with fans. I used your last video to make my decision on the Silent wings pro 4. They were almost impossible to find and weren't cheap on Amazon at the time. The new Light wings were out and on sale for a three pack. I like the looks, but it's so hard to compare actual performance which is what I really wanted. They are quiet, and my setup doesn't run that hot so I'm happy with what I got. BTW you guys made another great video I'll sending out to friends and family! This is another video I'll be coming back to in the future.

[@HardwareCanucks]

Thanks!

[@sc0or]

Each layout has a max rpm after which a thermal efficiency stops improving. At this rpm we have to measure a noise level. By multiplying a temperature and the noise decibels we get an efficiency score. And only this value can define a place on a list. In a range of 7-10 degrees I will always prefer the quietest fan. Rpm will vary and an exact value means nothing.

[@AugmentedGravity]

My take on these: If you must have RGB then yes these are good options. At least some of them. I've had bad experiences with Corsair, not just fans but other hardware and yes software too. Also its crazy overpriced. I also dont agree with the subjectives here, as i think they really don't look that special. Lian Li has been very impressive in my opinion when it comes to innovation. I haven't used their fans yet but they definitely get alot of credit from me for advancing the industry. They are then, as expected, thus expensive.

[@martmeister]

REALLY appreciate the review. I just built an all white system for my 12 yo son and I am grabbing the 3 pack of Thermalrights (Thermalright TL-C12CW-S X3) for sure. It's $15 for 3!!! HOW CAN YOU BEAT THAT?

[@gregpatience9478]

I'd be interested in seeing how an MSI fan does with these tests. I recently discovered the MSI MPG EZ120 model while searching for new case fans.

[@graelstream2353]

I just want to thank you and your team again. I ended up ordering the ek loop and the ek nucleus because of their current sale. I originally wanted to buy the lian li ones for my nzxt h6 flow but after watching this a couple of time. I think the ek loop would be a better choice. Thank you.

[@HardwareCanucks]

Wow great choice!

[@graelstream2353]

@@HardwareCanucks package arrived! Would it be fine if I use the included drgb 6 way splitter?

[@alltheboost5363]

My first computer back in the day was an Alienware, and it had Rowdy fans. they would move a s*** ton of air, and you could also tune them to be silent. They were one amp 12-volt. I want that fan blade design and motor inside of like a lin li v2 Infiniti take that motor and that overall fan design put them together but in 140 mm and I think you have the perfect fan or if you also integrated the new LCD. I want a fan that'll tune all the way down to 100 RPM and max out at like 5 or 6,000 RPM and have RGB. Most of the time, it'll be tuned, and I won't hear them, but when I want to do some overclocking, I want to be able to crank it up and turn it into a jet.

[@flyingpj]

I imagine the new Phanteks D30 fans will be right up there if not the best in performance

[@HardwareCanucks]

Likely not. Remember their fan blades are SMALLER in diameter so it's not a true 120mm dan and that'll cause a loss of performance, especially on radiators.

[@RotemMantsur]

Great review! Finally I understood all the graphs :) One thing you should have done was to review the regular Be Quiet! and not the High Speed version. I read the regular was designed as case fans whilst the HS was designed to be use on radiators and heat sinks. Also, it would have been nice to understand why when comparing the same fans, one without RGB and one without it, the one with added RGB perform worse....just wondering.

[@cyclechris6591]

Wow, what a great review. I had just bought the alphacool rise, it had the best specs. Now I picked up the mobius. So much quieter.

[@khazraknotreal7224]

One down side with the EK loop is while cheaper in theory it costs $37 usd for shipping to the west coast. Which can significantly impact the at register cost of the fan.

[@TSUNAMI17]

Thank you! I'd be interested in this kind of testing for 92mm RGB fans.

[@NeoGhk]

You should see the Noctua fans of all sizes. No RGBs, just pure air pressure power with low energy consumption and they are so silent you won't be able to hear the fans rotating even under load.

[@Rye042]

Please tackle also reverse air flow fans! there are more cases now that should be using these like the lian li O11 and it's clones as well as Hyte Y40 and Y60 and Montech sky 2

[@dadjake]

This video is coming in clutch for me because I was about to go buy some RGB fans, thank you very much ❤

[@storm4710]

Thermaltake Sawfan EX12 is my current favorite

[@ryogaming4771]

i snag 9 Lian Li AL120 V2 (3 boxes of 3 with controller) last week from a sales at computer canada, all for 234$ tax in (204$ CAD before tax) that a whooping 26$CAD per fan, so far it's destroying my ML120 RGB Elite, no competition even on a radiator!

[@shinseitaizen]

I'm curious about the performance of all the Unifans over time with a comparison to something like the NH12x25 from Noctua. Are Lian Li getting better over time?

[@VincentAndre_HK]

Thanks for the review Mike, amazing work as usual. For the A-RGB daisy-chaining, did you notice that there are some doing a splitter while some have true daisy-chain? ARCTIC has daisy chain, allowing light effects to span to few fans. Not a splitter that will have all fans with same effect (well, except if they use LED gen2 though here again, ARCTIC is one of the few having it...) ;) For the CFM Vs dBA measurement, I am genuinely surprised by the P12 ARGB, it is the same impeller as the P12 Max, the Max even get ball bearing which is noisier than the sleeve bearings, so, they should be in around the same in teh bottom of the curve. did your P12 ARGB made any unusual noise? 🤔

[@HardwareCanucks]

It's a good point about the daisy chaining vs splitter. However I'd call what Arctic does individual common circuit control since daisy chaining implies the same signal is sent down the line so to speak. As for the P12 Max vs P12 ARGB we also have to remember there are additional fundamental changes between the two fans. While the Max appears to have the same impeller design, the tolerance between the outer ring and housing is much tighter and it's motor is completely different, not to mention the bearing difference. Personally I couldn't detect any issues with the P12 ARGB noise profile but subjectively it was louder than the Max at it's given decibel levels. The acoustic testing bore that out as well.

[@MikeKrasnenkov]

Do you know if any other fans in this video have true daisy-chain besides Arctic?

[@linsetv]

I would like to see how the Alpenfoehn Wingboost RGB would keep up in this :)