5
NF-A12x25 PWM
NOCTUA $30
Here’s some good ol’
Noctua khaki-and-mud
for the diehards. The
Noctua SF-12B is a fantastic fan,
but if you’re looking for a top-tier
120mm model that can move a
lot of air, the somewhat
awkwardly named NF-A12x25
blows away the competition. Of
all the fans I tested, this is the
model that pumped the most air
through my test rig.
Of course, it was able to do
that because it maxes out at a
zippy 2000 RPMs. And moving
that much air comes at a cost,
namely noise. Noctua’s own stats
put the NF-A12x25 in the middle
of the pack for noise, but my tests
say otherwise—at least, at top
speed. Spinning along at its full
2000 RPM glory the NF-A12x25
was the second-loudest fan I
tested, surpassed only by another
2000 RPM Cooler Master fan.
But the NF-A12x25 was also the
quietest fan I tested when
running at lower RPMs. My
numbers have it putting out less
noise at 1200 RPMs than some
fans running even 300 RPMs
slower. Since those speeds are
more likely to come up in
day-to-day use, that makes the
NF-A12x25 an excellent choice for
your gaming PC.Highest airflow of any fan we tested
Lots of accessories included
Old Noctua color scheme
Expensive for a fan with no LEDsVERDICTSPECS BEARING TYPE: SELF-STABILIZING OIL PRESSURE BEARING—SECOND GENERATION / RPM RANGE: 450 - 2000 /
LISTED CFM: 60.1 / LISTED DBA: 22.6 / RGB: NO / 140MM MODEL NO.: NF-A14 PWM
6
LL120 RGB
CORSAIR $30
If you’re chasing that
cyberpunk aesthetic
then Corsair’s LL120
Pro RGB fans are the best you
can buy. The LL120s are packed
full of RGB LEDs. Each has a
complement of LEDs shining out
from the rotor, diffusing light
down the length of the blades.
Then there’s a separate ring of
light embedded around the
housing’s outer edge. As a result
the LL120s are the brightest and
showiest fans I tested, and a
perfect fit for any RGB addict.
They’re not just for show,
though. The LL120s are also
pretty solid fans, lighting or no. At
mid-range speeds they tend to be
slightly louder than the
competition, but at load they’requieter than just about any
non-Noctua fan I tested—and
that’s only because most of the
Noctua fans top out at 1200 RPM,
versus 1500 RPM for the LL120.
The problem? They’re expensive.
Incredibly expensive.
To use LL120s you need to
commit to purchasing a
three-pack of fans with an
included Corsair Lighting Node
Pro, and additional fans when you
need them. That’s a fair chunk
of cash, even if the results
are stellar.Top-tier RGB lighting
Surprisingly quiet at full-speed
Expensive
Slightly louder than the competitionVERDICTSPECS BEARING TYPE: HYDRAULIC BEARING / RPM RANGE: 600 - 1500 / LISTED CFM: 43.3 / LISTED DBA: 24.8 / RGB:
YES, WITH CORSAIR LIGHTING NODE PRO / 140MM MODEL NO.: LL140 RGBGroup Test
HARDWARE
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