The Corsair SP (Static Pressure), AF (High Airflow) 120/140mm Fan Review
by E. Fylladitakis on November 25, 2015 8:00 AM ESTConclusion
The goal of our first fans review was to demonstrate the great performance difference that various fan designs can have and how these affect the selection of a fan for a specific application. It is also important to illustrate that merely the maximum static pressure and maximum airflow are not enough to represent the true performance of a fan, especially since both of these figures do not represent any real-world application scenario. Corsair's AF and SP series fans were ideal products for that purpose, as they are not "universal" models but each is designed for a specific application in mind.
Depending on the application, the selection of a fan can greatly affect performance. For example, if the fan is for a low impedance application (e.g. case fan without a filter), the AF140 would provide considerably more airflow than the SP140 and at a lower noise level. Similarly, the AF120 Performance Edition would provide about the same level of air volume flow at a much lower speed and noise level. On the other hand, if the fan is to be installed on a thick radiator, the AF120 would not manage to push half the air through it in comparison with a SP120.
As for the quality and performance of Corsair's fans, we first have to clarify once more that the LED and standard AF and SP fan versions are significantly different. This can also be noticed from the specifications of the fans, as the LED versions appear to have notably inferior performance than their non-LED counterparts. There is a reason why the LED versions are retailing for less. A twin pack of the AF120 LED fan currently retails for $18.40, while the AF120 Quiet Edition Twin Pack retails for $26 and a single fan for $18.20. The standard AF120, SP120 and AF140 fans are of both superior quality and design, plus they are using more expensive engines. By no means the AF140 LED and the SP140 LED are bad fans, but they do not really stand out like the immense static pressure of the SP120 Performance Edition does. If the lighting effect is not a necessity, we would definitely recommend the standard black version of the appropriate fan.
Corsair's advanced hydraulic bearing engine design is not ground-breaking, but it is clever. What Corsair did was to take the very widely used sleeve bearing design and improve it to match the reliability of a high end product. Sleeve bearings are known to generate comparatively low noise, especially when compared to ball bearings, but their lack of lubrication gives them relatively short lives. What Corsair did was to take a sleeve bearing and literally immersed it inside a tank of lubricant, alongside the axle of the engine itself. The lubricant ensures that the bearing will remain lubricated for life and also reduces friction and noise even further. That is where the name of this bearing design, "hydraulic", comes from. On paper, Corsair's hydraulic fan bearing can even outlast common ball bearing designs.
As for the engines of the LED fan versions, they might not have advanced hydraulic bearings as the rest of the series, but the rifle bearing that they are using is also considered a very good compromise between quiet operation, longevity and performance. They are not as premium as the hydraulic and FDB bearings that Corsair is using in their better fans, but they are definitely superior to a basic sleeve bearing fan.
To summarize, Corsair's fan products generally are of high quality and offer great application-specific performance, with the standard versions being even better than the LED versions of the seemingly same fan series. The SP series offer good performance for high impedance applications, such as coolers and radiators, while the AF series are designed to perform optimally as unobstructed case fans. Whether the LED version, the Performance Edition or the Quiet Edition is the right choice, that depends solely on the user's preferences, wants and needs.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
92 Comments
View All Comments
toxinate - Thursday, December 3, 2015 - link
BS in Computer Engineering from Rutgers, represent!I just hope you're right, lmao
AntiLumo - Sunday, December 6, 2015 - link
Hey Hulk,I haven't even thought of getting any kind of degree on anything, yet I still use word impedance to describe the flow resistance of helium mixture flowing inside mechanical parts and I do it daily at work. In physics it is quite normal thing to use word impedance, because you can't just say flow resistance since there are so many things affecting the flow resistance and as you can see it's much longer term than impedance.
Probably it would be fine to use the term "head", but I think that is largely used in technical papers and not in review texts meant for common people and I think that the graphs with impedance are nice and clear.
And E. Fylladitakis is not being rude at all, he is just explaining how things are done in this review.
ImSpartacus - Wednesday, November 25, 2015 - link
I don't come to Anandtech for this passive aggressive condescending horseshit.Before today, I was able to say that I've never seen an Anandtech writer snap at a commenter regardless of how coarse they were. You just broke that streak for me. I'm pretty disappointed and a little upset.
Let's be 100% clear in that the content of your post can be completely correct (it seems to be) and the post is still unacceptably rude.
I come to Anandtech to learn new things and I absolutely love to see its writers present new ideas. I don't want that to ever change. However, I don't come to Anandtech to see its writers be appear rude to readers even if those readers are rude "first".
It's really hard to accomplish that because it's so easy to be accidentally appear ruder than you intended - that's just the nature of the limitations of written communication. You really have to go overboard to make sure that your comments can't be misinterpreted.
I'm just concerned because Anandtech has historically been so awesome at that and I don't want that to change.
E.Fyll - Wednesday, November 25, 2015 - link
I am sorry if you, or anyone else, is offended in any way. I certainly did not mean to offend anyone. It just appear to me as common sense that someone who is studying mechanical engineering would not have heard of the term mechanical impedance, except if he/she was a first or second year student. That is why I took my time to explain the difference anyway.Hulk - Wednesday, November 25, 2015 - link
E. Fyll,Holy crap! Your post wasn't rude at all!!! It was informative and your informed opinion. That's what we're supposed to do here isn't it. Are so we politically correct that we can't even politely disagree. And your post was TOTALLY polite. As you can see from my post I also have a different opinion, but it's just that an opinion. There was no mocking or personal attacks here until the person who was so "offended" by your response posted.
Please, please, please, don't apologize when there is no need. We need to have just a little free speech don't we? Can't we discuss and...yes, God forbid sometimes disagree, and in the end learning something? I learned that fluid resistance is also impedance. That's cool and that's why I'm here.
Let's be active and engaged, let's argue sometimes, let's laugh sometimes, but please let's not be afraid to freely honestly express ideas and opinions!!!
Manch - Wednesday, November 25, 2015 - link
Oh hell... here we go... there will be protests, a demand for E. Fylladitakis firing, and a creation of a "safe zone" comments section...That poster must be from that college in Missouri...
Kutark - Thursday, November 26, 2015 - link
Seriously. People literally INVENT things to be offended by these days.tim851 - Wednesday, November 25, 2015 - link
No worries, dude. Your reply was fine.ninjaquick - Wednesday, November 25, 2015 - link
I don't come to anandtech to read shitpost comments by butthurt intertards.Kutark - Thursday, November 26, 2015 - link
<3