How to choose a case fan for a PC: 5 interesting models from 120 to 360 mm

Today, for the most part, such problems are a thing of the past. Manufacturers have become more attentive to effective heat exchange, providing more fan mounting locations for both intake and exhaust. Users, in turn, have started budgeting for cooling systems for PC builds. But having mounting locations alone is not enough; the choice of specific devices remains with the user.

I studied the fans available on the market, learned what parameters to choose them by, and which models are recommended by reviewers and bloggers. Based on my experience, I compiled a selection of fans from 120 to 360 mm. The list is sorted by price in ascending order to make it easier to navigate the presented models. The information for the article was taken from open sources. It represents my opinion and is not an advertisement. All prices are current at the time of publication.

How to choose a case fan

What to look for when choosing a new fan:

Size. There are many fans on the market ranging from 40 to 200 mm.

• 120 x 120 and 140 x 140 mm. The most common size that fits most computer cases, as well as air and liquid cooling systems. They represent the ideal balance between noise and performance.

• 80 x 80 and 92 x 92 mm. In slim cases, due to limited internal space, small fans are often used. But the small size comes at the cost of increased noise levels.

• 180 x 180 and 200 x 200 mm. In large cases designed for high-end components, large fans are installed. Their task is to drive a large volume of cool air inside the computer.

Thickness. Varies from 10 to 40 mm. It depends on whether the fan will fit in the case and what its characteristics will be.

• 25 mm. Most models are 25 mm. This is the distance that case manufacturers lay down when designing. This width has proven itself well for both static pressure and airflow readings.

• 10-15 mm. In custom and slim cases, due to limited space, regular fans may not fit. In this case, models with a thickness of 10-15 mm are chosen. However, they are noisier and worse at pushing air.

• 30 mm. Models with a width of 30 mm or more are their complete opposite. Due to the greater depth, the blade surface area increases. These models provide greater airflow at lower speeds and are quieter.

Type of bearing. This parameter directly affects the maximum speed, noise level, and service life of the device.

• Mechanical. Rolling bearing is the most common and budget type. The rotation of the blades is ensured by metal or ceramic balls. The disadvantage is the high noise level.

• Hydrodynamic. Lubrication is used to reduce friction. They operate quieter, but the service life is shorter.

• Magnetic. A magnetic field is used to make the shaft "levitate". Such fans operate quietly, have increased reliability, but are the most expensive.

Blades. Manufacturers change the shape, size, bend, and apply additional elements to increase efficiency. It is worth mentioning fans with replaceable impellers, such as Thermaltake SWAFAN 12 RGB. In such models, the blades can be removed and cleaned of dust or replaced with new ones. Devices are divided into three main types: Air Pressure, Air Flow, and Air Balance.

• Air Pressure or AP — differ in a small number of blades with a strong bend, no more than 5-7. This shape is designed to forcefully push air through obstacles. Even at low speeds, they have a high level of static pressure. Such fans should be installed for intake and on air and liquid cooling radiators.

• Air Flow or AF — devices with 5-15 blades, mostly without noticeable bends. Thanks to the high rotation speed, they quickly move the air flow. However, in this case, it is dispersed. These fans are designed to exhaust hot air from the case.

• Air Balance or AB — universal models that combine the advantages of the two previous types: good static pressure and high airflow. They can be installed for intake, exhaust, on CPU coolers, and on water cooling radiators.

Power Type. It determines the ability to control the rotation speed and the operation of the backlight.

• 2-pin — old connection format, the fan will only run at maximum speed.

• 3-pin — a common type of connection. These models transmit information to the motherboard about the speed of the blades. It can be roughly regulated by lowering the voltage.

• 4-pin — in addition to information about the speed, it allows you to adjust the speed without lowering the voltage.

• 4-pin Male/4-pin Female — this type of power supply allows you to sequentially connect several fans to one connector on the motherboard.

• Molex — it is connected directly to the power supply when there are not enough three- and four-pin connectors for fans on the motherboard.

• 6-pin — type of power supply for devices with adjustable lighting.

• 7-pin — proprietary connector for the Taiwanese case manufacturer Lian Li.

• 9-pin — power supply for fans with lighting, which is connected directly to the USB 2.0 connector on the motherboard.

Rotation speed or RPM. One of the main parameters of the fan, which indicates how many revolutions per minute the device makes. The higher the speed, the more air the fan will move. It can be constant, for example, like the Aerocool Orbit — 1200 rpm, or have a certain range, for example, like the ID-COOLING WF Series — from 500 rpm to 1600 rpm. However, it should not be forgotten that as the speed increases, so does the noise produced by the fan. Therefore, most models have a maximum speed of no more than 2000 rpm.

Speed control. This feature helps adapt the fans to current needs. In standby mode or when working with simple programs, documents, or a browser, you can reduce the rotation speed and decrease the noise level. Under high load, more heat is generated, and it will be necessary to increase the cooling speed. There are three main types of devices: without adjustment, with stepped or automatic adjustment.

• Without adjustment. The first group of fans only supports maximum speed. However, it can be changed using a step-down adapter with a resistor.

• With stepped adjustment. Here you can change the voltage in the motherboard settings, reducing the fan speed.

• With automatic adjustment or PWM. The device speed will depend on the temperature of the components. For this, a fan that supports 4-pin power is required.

Airflow or CFM. The volume of air that the device can move in one minute. The readings are measured in cubic feet, hence the name — Cubic Feet Per Minute or CFM. Airflow depends on the size of the fan and its rotation speed. A good indicator for an average model is 50 CFM. The smaller the fan size, the faster it must rotate to move the same volume of air. Therefore, it is worth either choosing models of 140 x 140 mm or putting up with the noise.

Static pressure. Imagine you need to blow through a straw. Static pressure is the fan's ability to push air through obstacles: a dust filter or a radiator. The higher the air pressure, the better the air passes through the cooler. Static pressure is indicated in pascals or millimeters of water column. To achieve high performance, manufacturers use long and wide blades, the elements of which are located at a sharp angle. In this case, the airflow will be non-directional but capable of penetrating any openings well.

Noise level. This indicator is measured at maximum rotation speed and indicated in decibels or dB. Most fans on the market produce noise from 20 to 30 dB. During the day, this noise level does not attract attention, but at night it is uncomfortable. If the system unit is on the table or works at night near the bed, then it is better to prefer fans with a noise level below 20 dB.

Adapters. Some manufacturers add optional but useful accessories to the package. The Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM model can boast a good set of cables.

• Adapters. Most often, adapters from 3-pin to 4-pin and vice versa are found.

• Extenders. They will help extend the fan to a remote port on the motherboard.

• Splitters. They can connect two devices to one port at once. This includes hub controllers, which can be found when purchasing a set of fans from one manufacturer, such as DEEPCOOL FK120-3 in 1.

• Resistor adapter. Necessary to reduce the maximum speed of revolutions. It will come in handy when you have few 4-pin connectors, the motherboard cannot reduce the speed, or there is no rheobus to control the fans.

Anti-vibration pads. To reduce vibration and hum from the device, manufacturers install anti-vibration pads at the points of attachment to the case. For example, Noctua produces a series of chromax.black.swap edition fans with interchangeable pads in six different colors to harmoniously fit into the PC interior. As an alternative, you can use anti-vibration nails or silicone pads.

Type of backlight. The user can purchase a fan with one of three types of backlight: FRGB, RGB, and ARGB.

• Fixed RGB or FRGB — a device with fixed lighting, which can be either monochromatic or multicolored. It cannot be changed programmatically, so you can purchase several identical models to make the lighting look harmonious and not resemble a Christmas garland. It uses 3-pin, 4-pin, or a separate Molex for power.

• RGB — a customizable type of lighting where all LEDs are synchronized with each other. The user can choose a specific shade or set a dynamic mode. The device is powered by 12 volts using a separate 4-pin connector (12V-G-R-B).

• ARGB — a fully customizable type of lighting where each LED operates independently of the others. It connects using a 3-pin 5-volt connector (5V-D-G).

Reversibility. Any fan has two sides: one side takes in air, and the other blows it out. To find out which is which, you can turn on the device and put your hand in front of it. Or you can remember that the side with the blades is responsible for intake, and the side with the frame is for exhaust. However, the rules of the game have changed with the spread of cases with glass walls. Users have become more meticulous about the interior of the system unit: they manage cables, select components by color, and even by the presence of lighting. Cooling is no exception. Now modders install reversible fans to make them look harmonious. These devices work the other way around: the side with the blades blows air out, and the side with the frame sucks it in. In other words, by combining traditional and reversible fans, you can achieve that they all "look" with the blades inward or outward. Thus, you will only see the "beautiful" side of the fan, and the "ugly" part with the wires will be hidden from view.

Navigation through the list of models:

1. Be quiet! Silent Wings 4 140mm PWM high-speed — a fast fan with a powerful airflow;

2. Noctua NF-A20 PWM chromax.black.swap — a 200 mm giant;

3. NZXT F360 RGB Core — three fans in a monolithic case;

4. Thermaltake Swafan 12 RGB — three fans with interchangeable blades;

5. Corsair iCUE Link QX140 RGB PWM Starter Kit — a set of fans with a hub.

Be quiet! Silent Wings 4 140mm PWM high-speed — a fast fan with a powerful airflow

• Fan size: 140 x 140 mm

• Fan thickness: 25 mm

• Rotation speed: 1900 RPM

• Noise level: 29.3 dB

• Airflow: 78.4 CFM

• Connection type: 4-pin

• Bearing type: hydrodynamic

• Lighting: none

• Adapters: none

• Price: $20.00

The fan is completely black, without any lighting. The manufacturer's logo sticker does not stand out, blending completely with the body of the device. This Be quiet! model has seven blades with a textured surface. At a rotation speed of 1900 RPM, they demonstrate a noise level of 29.3 dB, which is roughly equivalent to a whisper conversation. During the day, the device will not stand out, but at night it will be uncomfortable to sleep next to it. The airflow is 78.4 CFM, and the static pressure is 23.1 Pa.

The Silent Wings 4 140mm PWM high-speed has two sets of interchangeable corners: the first are anti-vibration, suitable for mounting to the system unit case, the second are plastic, used for tight fitting to the radiator of liquid cooling systems. The power cable is hidden in a fabric braid. The fan connects to the motherboard using 4-pin and allows you to control the rotation speed.

Noctua NF-A20 PWM chromax.black.swap — 200 mm giant

• Fan size: 200 x 200 mm

• Fan thickness: 30 mm

• Rotation speed: 350 – 800 RPM

• Noise level: 18.1 dB

• Airflow: 86 CFM

• Connection type: 4-pin

• Bearing type: magnetic centering

• Lighting: none

• Adapters: 1 x 30 cm extension

• Price: $36.95

The largest fan in this selection, its size is 200 x 200 mm. In regular models, the screw holes are located at the same distance, which corresponds to the size of the impeller. However, in the NF-A20 PWM chromax.black.swap, to increase compatibility with cases, Noctua has provided three mounting point options: 110 x 180, 154 x 154, and 170 x 170 mm.

The fan has an increased thickness of 30 mm. This positively affected the airflow, its rate is 86 CFM, which is 1.7 times better than the average value. Also, the noise level is reduced to 18.1 dB. You won't hear the fan even at night.

The device comes with 28 anti-vibration mounts in six colors: white, black, red, blue, yellow, and light blue. The user chooses the color scheme they like and that will match the other components. The box with the fan contains an extension that will have to be used in almost all cases. For some reason, Noctua made the main power cord only a couple of centimeters long.

NZXT F360 RGB Core — three fans in a monolithic case

• Fan size: 360 x 120 mm

• Fan thickness: 26 mm

• Rotation speed: 500 – 2400 RPM

• Noise level: 30 dB

• Airflow: 75.12 CFM

• Connection type: 8-pin

• Bearing type: hydrodynamic

• Lighting: ARGB

• Adapters: 1 x splitter 4-pin + 4-pin

• Price: $79.99

The device's static pressure is approximately 3.3 mmH2O or 32.3 Pa. This is a good result, as the average for most fans ranges from 15 to 25 Pa. Therefore, the F360 RGB Core can be placed both at the front of the case for intake and attached to a large radiator for exhaust. Thanks to the increased static pressure, the fan will easily push air through the cells of the dust filter and the aluminum plates of the water cooling system.

The device's rotation speed ranges from 500 to 2400 revolutions per minute. If you have a motherboard from NZXT or their fan controller, you can enable silent mode: at low PC load, the blades will completely stop.

The package includes one 60-centimeter splitter with 8-pin to 4-pin PWM for powering the fan itself and 4-pin RGB 5V for lighting. It is powered by 24 LEDs, eight around each of the three fans. The color of each can be adjusted independently of the others. To do this, you will need to download the NZXT CAM software. Four thin transparent panels are installed on the sides of the device, thanks to which the lighting will evenly illuminate the system unit.

Thermaltake Swafan 12 RGB — три вентилятора со сменными лопастями

• Fan size: 3 х 120 х 120 mm

• Fan thickness: 25 mm

• Rotation speed: 500 – 2000 RPM

• Noise level: 30.5 – 36.5 dB

• Airflow: 53 – 54.8 CFM

• Connection type: 9-pin

• Bearing type: hydrodynamic

• Lighting: ARGB

• Adapters: none

• Price: $89.00

Externally, the Swafan 12 RGB resembles regular fans with lighting. The body and blades are painted matte white. Large anti-vibration inserts are installed at the mounting points. But the most interesting part is hidden inside. The main feature of this series is the ability to quickly remove and replace the impeller. It can be washed under running water, dried, and put back in place. Thermaltake even included a syringe with bearing lubricant.

By default, the impeller with a black sticker is installed. With it, the airflow is 53 CFM, and the static pressure is 25.3 Pa. The spare impeller has a silver sticker. These blades are reversible, the direction of intake and exhaust is reversed. In this case, the airflow is 54.8 CFM, and the static pressure drops to 21.4 Pa. This impeller will be useful for modders who dream of a beautiful interior for the system unit. Regardless of whether the fans are blowing air in or out, they will all be facing the same way.

Each of the fans has three independent zones with 30 ARGB LEDs: 12 in the front and back, as well as 6 in the center around the manufacturer's logo. The built-in controller is responsible for lighting and speed control. It has five ports on the sides for Thermaltake devices, but the manufacturer does not recommend connecting more than three fans. Most settings are done using the proprietary TT RGB PLUS 2.0 utility. In addition, there is NeonMaker software, which is necessary for fine-tuning RGB lighting and creating smooth transitions.

Corsair iCUE Link QX140 RGB PWM Starter Kit — fan kit with hub

• Fan size: 2 x 140 x 140 mm

• Fan thickness: 25 mm

• Rotation speed: 480 – 2000 RPM

• Noise level: 37 dB

• Airflow: 82.5 CFM

• Connection type: 8-pin

• Bearing type: magnetic centering

• Lighting: ARGB

• Adapters: 2 x magnetic connectors

• Price: $139.99

There are two ports on both sides of the fans: passive and active. The first simply connects devices, while the second also powers them. Using magnetic connectors, the fans can be connected to each other. The connection is strong and does not require screws. The cable can be connected to any of the fans, and the second will be powered by its "colleague".

iCUE Link QX140 RGB features good airflow at 82.5 CFM and increased static pressure at 34.3 Pa. The device can be used for intake or for cooling a liquid cooling system. The fan blade speed ranges from 480 to 2000 RPM. It is automatically controlled. To improve efficiency and reduce noise levels, Corsair has installed a miniature temperature sensor on the fan frame. If the air inside is cool, the blades will temporarily stop.

Each of the fans has 34 addressable LEDs. In Corsair's software, you can customize the color of each of them or choose effects. One of these modes is called “strobing Time Warp.” In this case, the LEDs operate in strobe mode, creating the illusion that the blades move very slowly.

The iCUE Link hub also has a magnetic mount so it can be hung on the metal case of the computer in any convenient place for you. It comes with two wires for connecting to fans: one long — 60 cm and one short — 10 cm. The hub itself connects to the motherboard via micro USB and is powered by a 6-pin PCIe connector, which is used for video cards.

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I hope this selection has interested you. I planned to remind you of the parameters to pay attention to when choosing new fans for your PC. The listed models are an example of such a choice based on my experience. The main thing is not to forget to check the size that fits the existing mounts. My case has two 140mm fans from Thermaltake and two 120mm fans from Xilence and Noctua. If you have good examples of fans that you use, share them in the comments.

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