Choosing the Best 120mm Radiator Fan: Testing Eight Fans with Corsair's H80
by Dustin Sklavos on August 23, 2012 12:01 AM ESTConclusion: Fans Can Matter
So what information are we left with after this roundup? Regarding the Corsair H80 specifically (and presumably the rest of their line), you're probably best off just sticking with the stock fans included with the radiator as they provide a competitive blend of performance and acoustics. Those of you not using the H80 will find yourselves surprisingly well served by Corsair's two dedicated aftermarket radiator fans, as they're both fairly competitive.
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While most of the fans we tested did bunch up thermally, they separated a bit more when acoustics were taken into account. The frugal shopper looking for balanced performance from a radiator fan is probably going to want to try and track down the NZXT Performance fan; NewEgg doesn't have it available at the time of this article, but Amazon is selling it for just $6.99. Alternatively, the Nexus Real Silent D12SL-12 is an old standard but still an excellent performer; anecdotally it runs a bit quieter than the NZXT, though you'll pay a bit more for the privilege.
Meanwhile, BitFenix's Spectre Pro proves to be a jack of all trades and master of none. SilverStone's Air Penetrator AP121 is a fine fan but doesn't produce performance consistent with its acoustics. And amusingly enough, CoolerMaster's SickleFlow's grossly exaggerated specifications fall apart in practice as it proves that it's entirely possible to buy a bad radiator fan. I actually nearly burned myself on its plastic housing when I went to remove it.
What may be most disappointing about this lineup, though, is the unfortunate fact that there may be no magic bullet radiator fan that's able to produce stellar thermals with low noise. We can get close, but the reality is that we need to be moving more air at a faster rate to start hitting the limits of the pump and radiator, and that means more noise. If you're comfortable sacrificing a few degrees for a peaceful system, though, NZXT, Corsair, and Nexus all at least seem to have you covered.
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Kougar - Sunday, September 2, 2012 - link
I have to second this. The P12's are known for their silence yet, amongst other things, are specifically stated to deliver higher pressure for radiator use.Comparing the F12 against the P12 would be even better though, of course.
JPForums - Thursday, August 23, 2012 - link
Great review.Leaves me wanting more.
I vote for a follow up.
I second this. Noctua's fans specify pretty reasonable noise, airflow, and static pressure. By what I've heard, they may live up to their specs.
Also, like below, I'd be interested to see if Noiseblocker's excellent case fans make good radiator fans.
While we are at it, throw Thermaltake's Hydrodynamic bearing fans on the list to see if they are really as good as thermaltake claims. The versions pair with Thermaltake coolers should be ideal.
Finally, an old school Thermaltake Thunderblade would be a good point of comparison to see how far they've progressed.
Guspaz - Friday, August 24, 2012 - link
Yeah, the very first thing I thought when I opened this article was "Wait, there's no Noctua fans in that picture, where are they?"A 120mm fan review without a Noctua fan in it is certainly incomplete.
sam1337 - Saturday, August 25, 2012 - link
i agree, wheres the nf-f12 and scythe GT :POCedHrt - Thursday, August 23, 2012 - link
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/1...The SickleFlow comes nowhere near 69.69 CFM. Though even at 33 CFM it performs quite poorly here.
jackstar7 - Thursday, August 23, 2012 - link
I'm using Noiseblocker fans and find that in normal conditions they perform very well and keep quiet. Mine are on an H60. I believe Idontcare might have some stats in the forums about their performance.Grooveriding - Thursday, August 23, 2012 - link
Really surprised not to see Scythe GTs included.Mr. Pedantic - Thursday, August 23, 2012 - link
I would have really liked to see how the Gentle Typhoons stack up as well.Rick83 - Thursday, August 23, 2012 - link
Yes, after all often they are claimed to be -the- fan for radiators (and many other applications)sicofante - Thursday, August 23, 2012 - link
Absolutely. It kind of discredits the whole review, when the GTs are considered the best for this task almost everywhere.