Why did you refuse to put anti-vibration rubber gaskets on the non-ARGB P12 while the new A-RGB models suddenly have rubber gaskets. What's up with that?
These kinds of reviews truly help us customers make great purchase decisions. Without testing like this there really would be no way to well differentiate between fans and there truly seems to be some differences there. Anyhow, bought a while back some P14's for my cases and those have been just great. I am now considering adding a few P12's for CPU coolers. I am a big fan ( :-D ) of no-nonsense performance that Arctic's products represent.
Scythe makes fans fun! For sure, some of that original packaging was straight out of the 80s! They went conservative with the Wonder Snail box, guess they're hoping the name alone will bring on the smiles!
I actually just returned 4 Arctic P12 fans becasue there was so much humming, idk if i just got very unlucky with the fans but for anyone considering i just wanted to put this out there.
I got some humming on my P14 too. But only on a specific rpm range, and it is a known issue if I remember well :/ Also, installing a P14 on my Macho without noiseblocker to cancel vibration isn't optimal
@@artofersuke For case fans, it doesn't matter as much as for heatsinks and radiators. Pick something that has good airflow, good aesthetics, reasonable cost, and good noise profile. Check out @TechBuyersGuru video on case fans.
Always appreciative of the hard work you put into these videos. Keep up the great work and content, can't wait to see this channel grow! (Also thanks for helping me find the best radiator fan for my build after I watched one of your previous videos)
@@TheTechBuyersGuru I went with the Arctic P12s in white. They work perfect with my Thermaltake AIO. Couldn't stand the included fans, they were stuck at a fixed RPM and super loud. The Arctics were definitely worth the money.
I just purchased 2x wonder snails about a week ago right before it went out of stock on amazon. Loving it so far on my be quiet pure loop 240mm aio at but I am glad they also perform well on heatsinks. Appreciate the hard work my guy and I can't wait for part 2 of this awesome series.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Got a question, Do you think counter rotating fans improves performance on single/dual tower heatsinks? I'm just curious to hear your thoughts on counter rotating fans like the ones on the Scythe Fuma 2 with one rotating in the opposite direction from the other. Do you think if you were to put say for example the Noctua NF-A12x25 which rotates counter-clockwise and the Scythe Wonder Snail that rotates clockwise in a push-pull configuration on a single/dual tower heatsink would make a difference in cooling performance?
You are not the first to ask this, and trust me, it's something I want to test given how many people are interested in it. But yeah, after this review, the WS vs A12 matchup on the Fuma 2 is even more intriguing. It's on my ever-growing list of potential video topics, but I can't promise anything at this point. It's just niche enough that it could be very popular... or not popular at all!
Your channel and content are awesome, so much good and precise information, I don't understand why you have only 16k subs... Your test methodology improves for each video, I hope you keep doing this focused and specific research with top quality for years to come, we love it and I'm sure you will be well rewarded throughout this time and the making of the videos. Cheers from Brazil !!
As always, great in-depth comparison. I am glad that it seems like Arctic finally solved - at least partially that annoying humming noise. I had a couple of original P12s and they both did it. They were not noisy at all, but the resonance was annoying enough for me, that I had to ditch them. Thank you so much for another flawless video, we all appreciate the work you put into these.
Glad it was helpful! I do think Arctic is on the way to solving the issue. I speak more about it in the follow-up video, where I provide an audio sample of the humming: ua-cam.com/video/agojNJedtR8/v-deo.html In a video coming later this month, I'm going to discuss the causes of it a bit more, and what I hope Arctic will do about it in the future.
So I bought the Arctic P12 PWM value pack and been using 4 of them for six days. The noise is extremely horrible at all ranges even with fixed speeds. I tried one by one from 41-70% and man, they're unbearable. Their performance is very good as expected but they're a huge mess in noise. The vibrations, humming, and repeated motor noises at ALL RPMS are terrible, I couldn't find any comfortable range unless they're set to lower than 40%. I'm glad other choices exist and I will try the Wonder Snail next. Thanks for the awesome reviews as always and keep up the good work!
Sorry the P12s didn't work out for you. The Wonder Snail has been sold out since launch, and remember it is for coolers only, not cases, but it is AMAZING, so hopefully one day it will actually be available again: amzn.to/2UiKqFr If you're looking for a case fan, the best is the Scythe Kaze Flex 120: amzn.to/3xJmA4p
Sometimes I'm reminded of the Gentle Typhoon (2008) model everytime I see fans with 9 blades. Great review btw. Now I can make an informed decision on my next purchase.
I've been looking at translated amazon japan reviews for the wondersnail and for each of the different rpm models, there are comments about durability issues and bearing noise developing after a couple of weeks. Have yours shown any sign of this?
I got 3x 1800rpm Wonder Snails from Japan. I have now returned them after they all had a high pitch humming at different rpms. Good performance but the sound was not tolerable if don't run them at specific rpm.
@@AndersR4 Damn, sucks to hear that. How was the return process to Japan, did you have to pay for shipping and get reimbursed or did they send you a label?
Great content. This kind of stuff is what shifts companies to making better products instead of selling them by looks. They can engineer to make a good fan if they just want to. Personally I still feel that the arctic p12 resonance (also similar stuff happening to my old pure wings 2) is just as important as static noise level, and more audible in my system than in your recording. I've tried setting the curve to avoid the resonating ranges, but they still make the noise during transition and it's noticeable, and a staircase curve also makes RPM more fluctuating and noticeable when gaming on open-back headphones. They are super effective at static RPM and superb value for most people, but nobody uses static RPM realistically and the resonance makes them not premium experience. Also, while it's only small and situational issue, so is the performance difference between competitors, making it relatively significant.
Glad you liked the review! And yes, my goal is to push manufacturers to make better fans. The P12 is a revolutionary fan, but I do hope Arctic develops a new version that eliminates the resonance. I believe it can be done with a stiffer blade material. Price might go up, but that is OK because it started so low!
Scythe is such a great brand. Been using their Fuma 2 for over a year, whisper quiet and solid Temps on my 3900x (rip my 5k series hopes). I'll be looking into picking up the fans, I've been recycling my Noctuas from my 2 prior builds.
And then im here with the gelid phantom black ...... Super cooler tbh baught it for $26 . And my ryzen 3600 oc 4.4 ghz 30c room temperature is staying at 76 kombustor stresstest 👍🏻
Thanks for the review. I didn't expect the difference to be so small. I have an Arctic P12 ARGB installed on a SE-224-XT, and it is inaudible compared to the stock ID-COOLING fan. Also I use 3xArctic P14 as intake fans in my Aerocool Airhawk. They are very quiet as well. The only noise source in my case is the cooler's stock fan serving as exhaust, going to replace it with another P12 (maybe ARGB).
I’ve been trying to find tests on the p12 a-RGB for so long to see if it’s actually in the same league as the original p12, so thank you for this video. I think by the radiator round-up we will see for sure but is it too early to conclude that the p12 a-RGB is the best RGB fan you can get? Outclassing all the other major RGB fan manufacturers like Corsair, Cooler Master, NZXT, Etc?
It is definitely the best ARGB cooler fan out there. The models you've mentioned are really all about looks, and do not have a design that excels on heatsinks. I had some luck with the SilverStone AB120R, which just about equaled the P12 on my testing with a 120mm AIO, but it is more expensive than the P12 A-RGB.
There is also video on igor's lab (in german) with a link to an english write-up. He already came to the some conclusions abt. the artic p12 (rgb) fans a couple off weeks ago.
Awesome test as always from you! The one thing that would make such roundups perfect would be to test bearing noise too, or at least give us your impressions. I feel like the only thing, that still justifies the price of Noctua fans are their SSO2 bearings, which are virtually silent for years and their generally top notch build quality. For every fan, that I know will spin below 500 RPM in my builds, I always consider Noctua for their bearings alone.
Thanks for your comment! There's always a choice I have to make in each roundup regarding the audio samples I provide. What RPM to run at, the distance of the microphone from the fan, and the angle of the microphone from the fan all make a huge difference in what people hear. I agree that Noctua bearings are very good, but differentiating bearing noise from motor noise is pretty hard to do. In theory, at low RPMs, the only noise is the bearings, and then as RPMs increase, the whir of the rotor makes a bigger difference. I would say that in the audio samples provided in this test, run at 40dBA, the Noctua samples were not particularly "quiet" (despite all fans being at the same dB level). So while the bearings may be smooth, the motors tend to make more of a mechanical noise than others. Again, it's hard to determine exactly what is making the noise, but it is there.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru of course I fully unverstand and support your choices for testing, since you always provide us with reasoning! Actually I meant bearing and motor noise. The thing is, that motor noise is almost always overtaken by the airflow noise and Im sure you will mention it otherwise. I also have to correct, that some people of course may not really care what a fan costs and may value things like Noctuas low-noise-adapter or the rubber frame provided with the NF-A12x25 for example. So Noctua may also be a considered choice due to those things.
Theoretically, all somewhat decently designed BLDC motors should be silent. Besides the blades, the other places noise can come are from poor/cheap commutation electronics, and bearings. I've noticed some fans like the Cryrorig QF120 and Fractal Prisma AL12 have really annoying-sounding commutation, but most modern fans have mostly silent commutation. And, in my experience, most fluid/sleeve type bearings are silent, at least on new fans (older ones can definitely be audible), and ball bearings always make some noise.
@@ydihtty even if I certainly not know those things for certain, that definitely makes sense and also approves what I observed so far. Sometimes electronics noise is just bad.
I've been looking for fans for my new builds, and i looked like all the videos you made about fans, and i have to say, you deserve a lot more view. You give a lot of infos in a professional way, and it helped me a lot. I had the arctic fans in my mind for a long time, and those are the ones i choosed, because of the performances, but also because of the price. But thanks to you i've a good idea about what i'm buying =) +1 subscriber here, fans are really important and finding good videos about those can be hard I have to say i really could use a video like that but for the argb fans btw, like the new P12 bionix argrb, maybe the nzxt aer 2 argb (i heard it was a good fan), maybe the lian li ones..... i'm speaking about the good fans with argb (not every argb fan of course).
I'm so confused... In your (very helpful) 'best 120mm CPU cooler' video you demonstrated that the NH-U12A is outclassed by the older NH-U12S, and in fact, works better when paired with the fan of the U12S, the NF-F12; but now, we see that the U12S works far better with the NF-A12, the fan of the U12A, than with it's own? What is the meaning of this? are the heatsinks and fans mismatched? I think it would be very interesting to compare these coolers, but with their fans switched, that is, NH-U12A with U12S vs NH-U12S with NF-A12, don't you?
Seems like you've been keeping track of these videos! Here's that 120mm Cooler roundup: ua-cam.com/video/HZOGK49NGLQ/v-deo.html What I showed was that the NH-U12A really couldn't take advantage of the dual NF-A12x25 fans on it. That test shouldn't be interpreted to show that the A12x25 is worse than the NF-F12. It is better, in fact I've shown that several times, including here: ua-cam.com/video/W2Zis8RjcX8/v-deo.html In other words, the fan is good, but the U12A is not a great option at $100+.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Ah, I see now. If I understand correctly, the A12 is too pressure optimized to benefit from a push-pull setup on this size of heatsink? This, along with the fact that the A12 performs better than the F12 on radiators, as shown in the second linked video, makes it seem like the A12 is actually more pressure optimized than the S12, contrary to noctua's claims, doesn't it?
The A12 is incredibly pressure-optimized. It works much better on a 240mm rad than stacked on a 120mm heatsink. And the S12 really isn't optimized at all, in my opinion. It's just different.
you should do an RGB fan comparison with unifan fans, the corsair line up, some CM stuff. That is what most people are buying now and their is little to no data available to find what RGB fan is good or bad
Great video, as usual. I sincerely think this channel is the best when testing computer fans. Please, please, please, can you test the Wonder Snail as a case fan and in dual tower CPU coolers, especially the Fuma 2 and NH-D15? I think this will be very interesting to test these 2 coolers with 1, 2 and 3 Wonder Snails!!!
Thanks for this positive feedback! I have a few more tests planned for the Wonder Snail, but I can't test it in every possible application. Most likely among the tests you listed is benchmarking it on the Fuma 2.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Thank you. I don't have the right tools to test, but maybe I will test them (when they arrive, I am waiting for 3 Wonder Snail bought from Japan) in my case and NH-D15.
Any tips for reducing PSU case vibration? I have that same sound your PC is making at 12:00. It's that low-mid pitch humming sound. I noticed that your other clips doesn't have that noise. Even with the Arctic P12 running at full speed in the second half of the noise test. In my case, it seems like it's the noise of my PSU once its fans started to spin. I cannot do anything about it other than changing to a new PSU?
It's good you removed IDLE temps and performance. It gets ppl confused and it's almost uselless data. I would've tested on a 120mm water radiator, since with air coolers there is a bit of variance in rads and half the times, a fan like these, while it can get you performance, they won´t get you much eficiency at low rpms (400-800rpm), on a air cooler with a lot of space between the fins. That being said, u12s, is on the dense side, so that´s a thing... Thanks for reporting on the p12 series, and bridging arctic with the consumers and your viewers. Keep up the good work mate. This one, was a great one.
Thanks for these comments. I do have the 240mm rad test coming up, so that should be interesting. I agree there is way more variance between air cooler designs than liquid cooler designs, which all use fairly similar radiators.
It is being marketed as a radiator fan. Based on my tests of the very similar NF-A12x25 in a case cooling shootout versus the Kaze Flex, I'm sure the KF would win. Here's the shootout: ua-cam.com/video/WBoLyC0tSDQ/v-deo.html
My two Wonder Snail 120 just arrived. They look great, but they have loud humming below 800-1000rpm. The humming stops above 1000rpm, but then you can start hearing rattling above 1000rpm and loud rattling aobve 1200rpm. Did you notice anything like that on your models? I think for now i will just stick with the Toughfan 12 until the 12x25 chromax come out.
I'm sorry to hear that. I definitely did not notice that in my sample, and I tested it extensively. Sounds like yours may be defective, maybe a problem with the initial production run. I have another sample I'll be using in my 240mm AIO fan roundup, so I'll check again for the problem at that point.
Great video! 👍👍! Thank you for all the invaluable information! I have been looking to replace the remarkably loud stock fans of my liquid cooler (H80i V2) and you just provided me with all the information I needed. I decided to get two Arctic P12 PWM PST black.
Great choice, those are going to be a big improvement! But you might also find this video helpful, where I test on a Corsair AIO: ua-cam.com/video/agojNJedtR8/v-deo.html
A few people have asked this, and my educated guess is that it's not a good choice. That's because it is so similar to the NF-A12x25, which lost to the Kaze Flex in my 120mm case fan roundup: ua-cam.com/video/WBoLyC0tSDQ/v-deo.html So yeah, my recommendation for a case fan is still the Kaze Flex 120: amzn.to/3ylhCfa It really is perfectly designed for this application due to its excellent performance at moderate noise levels, which is how case fans should be used.
Great roundup! I'd love to see a shootout of coolers at the $50 price point. With the popularity of CPUs like the i5-11400, I think many people are looking for a stock cooler upgrade, but its rare to see detailed comparisons at a lower-end price point. I've heard good things about the Shadow Rock 3 and the NH-U12S redux, and Scythe and Arctic have options also.
This is in the works. I already have cooler samples from Arctic and be quiet! under $50. But do check out my shootout from a year ago that tested some of these coolers: ua-cam.com/video/HZOGK49NGLQ/v-deo.html
Hi, thank you. Great video. I have a question. For a Fuma 2, would keep the default fans on or would you change it to a single Wonder Snail in the middle?
Great review. What do you think about big fans? I'm swapping my Antec Big Boy Triple Speed 200 (230mm) with the same 230 from Bitfenix. I think the Bitfenix is more silent while pushing more air (at lower pressure).
I haven't tested anything above 140mm, so I really couldn't say which are better in the 230mm size. With fans that size, there probably isn't a huge difference, because they spin so slowly.
Any chance the Scythe's CW (clockwise) motion makes a difference when combined with a CCW (counterclockwise) fan? E.g. say you put a Wonder Snail 120 in the front of a D15 and left the Noctua A15 in the middle. Purely academic. I know you already tested dual A12x25 vs dual A15 in a previous video, but the 120mm in the front does open up more possibilities for RAM kits. But i wonder if this makes more turbulence/noise, or reduces cooling efficacy?
Scythe says this is the key to the performance of the Fuma 2 cooler. I may test this at some point by comparing the NF-A12x25 and the Wonder Snail on that cooler using the standard slim fan in the front. Honestly, there are a few too many niche topics out there for me to cover them all, but this is definitely on my radar.
If you can't find the P12 PWM in your region, the P12 (3-Pin DC) model are a good substitute. The main difference is that the minimum won't be as low, and will be dependent on your motherboard's DC controls. The amount of control over the RPM curve may also be more limited. But the performance at any given RPM under load will be the same.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru That is very helpful! Thank you, good sir!! You're literally the best fan tester on UA-cam and your engagement with the community is amazing. Keep up the good work. :-)
I do not think that dust filters present the same type of application as a heatsink. Yes, there is some resistance, but it's nothing like a dust filter. My tests of the Noctua NF-A12x25 as a case fan behind a dust filter showed it was only mid-pack. I recommend the Scythe Kaze Flex series for cases: 120mm: amzn.to/3w3SCHo 140mm: amzn.to/3eSgAzy
9:00 100% correct there is an end to end variance that is acceptable from the factory. This is why often you see a round about the performance when speaking in rpm and dba on the side of the box or what have you, rather than exact figures. Not every motor will perform the same so not every fan will, not every fan blade hub assembly is 100% identical. These tiny manufacturing variances ultimately result in each fan performing just a tiny bit different. The same thing happens all across products we consume everyday. They call the sorting of this variance when dealing with CPU/GPU silicon as "binning". Example Pre binned Overclocking Cpu's, guaranteed to run certain Ghz ect. The OC models we see from gpu partners vs the base model, "GTX1660 or the ultra GTX1660 Super OC Gaming Storm Hurricane Lightening Mythical Monster Metaphor" that is really just the "1660 chip" that came out of the line a bit stronger than the rest.
Follow up, I bought the Arctic P12 for less than $10, and I attached it to the Wraith Prism heatsink with some clips that I made out of some pieces of wire. The P12 is MUCH quieter than the Wraith Prism fan. Much, much quieter. The CPU is running cool at 76C while mining crypto at full speed with the P12; the Wraith Prism fan was running at 86C. The Arctic P12 is by far the BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK. I am very happy with the Artic P12, and I highly recommend it.
I've never had a positive opinion on Cooler Master fans... have tried many models in the past, and always felt they were underwhelming. But I've been hearing/reading very positive stuff about their new SickleFlow V2 fans, enough to make me curious. Any chance you're getting some for testing? I have a three pack on its way myself to check them out.
A number of people have mentioned these, along with the SF120 series (which is different from SickleFlow). At this point, I don't have any plans to test them, as Cooler Master does not sample them for review.
The sickleflow is pretty nice, in my opinion. Not as good as something like a Silverstone AB120r, or probably Arctic P12 ARGB (I don't have it, so can't say for sure), but it's definitely an improvement over their MF120R.
Thanks for your awsome fans reviews ! But I would like you to test the Cooler Master Sickleflow120 and maybe the Cooler Master MF120 Halo as they look so nice. Would also be nice to see more argb fans.
I was wondering about that, good luck with the launch! Have the supply issues in the PC component market dampened demand on your end? I'm seeing far fewer DIY PC build sales on my end, but if you are mainly catering to the upgrader market, you may be insulated from it.
I have two spare arctic 120 pwm pst in white that I was going to attach to my u12s cooler to go with my black and white Meshify c. Did you use any rubber vibration dampeners on the fans at all? as the Noctua nf ones come with them. Just wondered if it would be a problem or not. Apologies if you mentioned it, for time I skipped a small section.
The new ARGB versions have rubber dampers, but the P12 models don't. I don't think it makes much of a difference, other than making the mounting process slightly more pleasant due to fewer scratching sounds!
They are definitely more powerful, but you'll block a RAM slot, and also lose counterrotating vortex effect. I'd recommend just swapping the middle fan. Here's the link: amzn.to/2WVz7oB
Unfortunately, from what I've seen, there's a lot less choice with 92mm fans. Would still definitely be interesting, but I feel like noctua would win, because they're the only ones that really try at that form factor.
@@ydihtty Yes specially for SFF cases i think noctua has the lead there, but i was hoping that there is something even more powerful on that category that i might missed.
Thank you for the good video. Your videos about coolers helped me a lot when replacing the Corsair ML140 (max 1200 RPM version). P14 are doing much more quiet, also P12 is doing great job cooling down EVGA 1080 ti Hybrid AIO 120mm radiator 👌🏻
I don't think there will be a 140mm version of the Wonder Snail, simply because the market for it is too small. That's really only good for 280mm rads, while the 120mm version can be used on 120mm/240mm/360mm rads plus any 120mm tower heatsink. As for the Fuma 3, yeah, I asked, and they had no comment. But they did say there would be no Fuma 2 Black, so that tells me the Fuma 3 has to be next!
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Cant wait for that test. Overhanging on first ram slot is not an issue as I myself and lots of other people use 2 sticks on second and forth slots :)
I think that's the right attitude. The NF-A12x25 set a standard for 3 years now, it was amazing. But tech should not stand still, and Scythe has been able to achieve similar results at a lower price. We expect the same thing in the CPU and GPU markets, why not with fans?!?
Yeah, that level is honestly a bit high, but for me personally it would be OK under heavy load. For long gaming sessions, though, I'd need it to be lower.
Thank you for work. Nice and helpful, review. I buy for my H5 Flow 2pc P14 Argb for front and 1pc to back and 1pc on NH-U12S and 1pc P12 non rgb on bottom and top. Thanks the help. 👍🏻
I have four ToughFan but 140mm version on Phobya 1080 radiator with mounting hardware and are awesome! Set little over 500rpm and they pull strong air from radiator. Buy it!
Yeah, the Toughfan 14 is definitely a great pick for a big rad! - amzn.to/3bwKZRS It's in a league of its own for now, but there might be some competition later this year!
Could you test the few extra thick 120mm non-delta fans that still exist? I know of 3/4 fans which fit this particular criteria: SilverStone FHP141 & FHP141 VF SilenX iXtrema Pro IXP-76-18 EKWB Meltemi 120ER
I have a Furious Meltemi, and I was pretty disappointed by it tbh. It moves lots of air, but it has a very high minimum RPM (1200) given its maximum RPM of 3500, and has no 0 RPM feature, like the EK Vardars/X3Ms do. Mine was pretty unbalanced too, it vibrates a lot, and the cable routing along the strut isn't very well designed, so getting the cable to sit flush is pretty much impossible. If it wasn't for those things, it might be pretty decent. Have a listen to it: ua-cam.com/video/1R9iFVgseHE/v-deo.html
Awesome to see you back mate. I would love to recommend an idea i know you did 140/120 radiator fans video but can you solely do one video for 140mm best fans for static pressure(both rads & heatsinks in 1 video) & other one for airflow? And include Thermaltake toughfan 14 in both cases & arctic p14, noctua a14, scythe kaze felx 140, bequiet silent wings 3 140mm etc? & not using that 120 to 140 noctua adapter as lets be honest no one will use 120s on a 140mm rad. Would be a great 2-3 videos to finish off this newly revised series also don't use any other fans in sys while noise testing like you did here a bequiet at rear for eg in this case. And if possible can you ask the brands to send you more than 1 fan to test as most of us will have more than 1 fan of same brand. Cheers 🥂
I may revisit the 140mm fan class, but probably not for a while. Maybe once the next-gen Noctua 140mm fan launches at the end of the year. And the only reason I used that adapter is because Noctua promoted it for that use, not because I think it makes much sense. The Toughfan 14, by the way, was not yet launched when I did that test, otherwise I would have used it. I have it now, but like I said, I'm not going to repeat the 280mm rad fan test quite yet. By the way, I already did a 140mm airflow (case fan) test, back in mid-2020. Here's the link: ua-cam.com/video/PUdsTiRmuuU/v-deo.html
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Ohh thanks for reply That video was exactly what I wanted. Also yeah do it when noctua updates a14 but considering how long they take to actually launch their products I don't have much faith in them. Like the black a12 was supposed to launch q3 2020, d15 prototype w/ 7 heatpipes is 3yrs old news, and ok maybe covid19 affected them but they didn't mention it so theres that also if thermaltake can launch a black nidec like fan before noctua then they really don't have any excuse.
Appreciate the work! So wonder snail is actually a wonder ! I wonder (pun intended) if Metallicgear/Phanteks Skiron would match its performance per rpm since the design is similar. Similar similar, not like Noctua/Thermaltake similar. For fan RPM, normally manufacturer allow error tolerance of +/-10%. So Noctua's case is odd, is the reporting from M/B or external tacho? I use industrial fans for my PC, so there are cases where I get false reporting or the fan read the PWM signal wrong.
I was using the PWM readout via the motherboard to check speed. I do have a laser tach but didn't think to use it. Maybe I'll take that out for my follow up test!
As far as the tone what I've learned is that we just kind of have to take your word for it between the mic, recording, etc. Since you have first-hand experience with a large variety of fans side by side, you can make a better determination of what's acceptable which is more than 99% of the population can say. My Kaze Flex fans arrived a few days ago and I can say that in retrospect I'm sure most of the fans you tested (Bionix aside) would have been more than suitable. My first ITX build is amazingly quiet to me and when it does make noise it's pleasant. I'm kind of embarrassed to admit I overlooked this point; while the data is still cool, but your subjective opinion also has value when combined with the data. It's like people who try to judge cars by data/spec sheets when it's simply doesn't convey what users will experience. Thank you again for all of the work that you do. We're actually going to replace my girlfriend's AMD stock cooler and case fans to try to get her back to her preferred noise levels.
Are you saying you don't like the Kaze Flex? I agree that if you don't need more cooling, then any fan will do, because you can just run them very slow. But I'm always looking for the fan that is actually the best at specific noise levels. If you want to know which fans I subjectively believe have the best tone at a given dB level, just ask!
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Oh no. I love the Kaze Flex. I was stating that sometimes I get so wrapped in the numbers and spreadsheets, and even video evidence, that really just having someone who has experienced a lot of these things first hand has an intangible value that doesn't have to pass through the medium of recording hardware, software, mixers, compression etc. What I'm getting at is that first hand experience with a variety of products has value that can go beyond charts and pure data. The data is great, but in reference to tones and things of that nature it's better to find people like yourself that have had them stacked up side by side. Like the turbulent noise of your Bionix in the case fan test would drive me nuts, even if the noise reading wasn't bad. You're a human so we should share some idea of pleasant and unpleasant stimuli are.
Glad you appreciate the testing I've conducted! I do try to limit my subjective opinion, because people would then call me out as being subjective, LOL! But in this particular test, if you were to ask which fan made the most pleasant sound to my ears while using the fans, it would be the Thermaltake. Worst by far is the NF-F12, but it's an old design and wasn't a contender anyway.
Great review! Would you take a look at the new Phanteks SK series soon? They have a similar 9-blade fan design but are available here for as little as EUR 7.39 (D-RGB for 11.90).
Thanks for bringing these to my attention. People have also been asking me to review other Phanteks fan models. I'll definitely consider it for a future test, but I generally limit my tests to fans that have a large presence in the retail market. While Phanteks is very well-known for its cases, its fans typically aren't widely available, at least in the US.
Compared to these, the Phanteks SK design has larger blade tip clearance, so it isn't as good at creating static pressure, and the other aspects of the blade geometry make it prone to humming/ringing like you get with the P12. In addition, it lacks smooth commutation, but the motor torque is quite weak, so it's thankfully usually not audible, unless you're in a very quiet environment and running it at very low speed. In which case, it would be quite annoying. Either way, I have a video of this fan: ua-cam.com/video/PCoQNRAmHkU/v-deo.html and I assume the RGB ones sound the same.
What's wrong with Artic ? Have they changed the way they calculate measurement since the introduction of the P12 A-RGB ? : 48.8 cfm/1.85 mmH₂O vs P12 : 56.3 CFM/2.20mmH₂O Yet the P12 A-RGB performs better.
Arctic P12 PWM is the winner to me it's good in any position, comes in value packs and is value priced. Surprised he didn't have the Bionix fans, in the around 17 dollar segment.
I bought a box of Arctic P12s (5 pack), and the IceGiant ProSiphon Elite I got also came with 4 P12s (the CO model, goes up to 2300 RPM). The humming was so bad I ended up replacing all of them with Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700s. I do have two boxes of Arctic P14s that are fine. Seems weird this is only a problem with Arctic 120mm fans, not 140mm ones.
I similarly never experienced the issue with my box of five P14 fans, but have experienced it with all the P12s, and now the P12-ARGBs. The P12 redux fans you have may be quieter, but they are not actually higher performance. You might consider the Wonder Snail for that IceGiant if you are ever in the market to take performance up a notch.
The P12 ARGB model is much quieter, the motor hum is way lower. Lower than even Silent Wings 4 fans, and maybe my T30 as well at higher RPMs This video sound samples at 40db shows off this pretty well.
Use the time from the dropped idle tests to add temperature normalized tests instead, I think a lot of people will be interested in that and it's a lot easier to get an idea of rather than just a number like temperature
I've thought about that, but temp-normalized tests are really hard to do because the fans have to be very carefully tweaked for every single run, exponentially increasing bench time. I'll think about it for the follow-up rad fan shootout. Maybe I'll do one set of temp-normalized benches.
Great video dude! 5 Arctic P12's or 2 Scythe Wonder Snails for the same price? Hmmmmmm. It's such a shame with the whole issue with resonances and whistling or whatever. What is causing it? How do you fix it? How come other companies don't have this issue? How did they fix it?
The value is there, and that's why I always mention the 5-packs. As for the whistling, it's just part of the P12's blade design. It is not a motor problem, nor is it a vibration caused by improper balancing. I believe it's the aerodynamics of the blades, although Arctic hasn't specified this to me. The reason you don't hear this in other fans is that no other fan uses the Arctic 5-blade design.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Ahh very interesting theory. The same blade design that makes it a jack of all trades for case, radiator, and heatsink cooling, also gives it a weird resonance. Do you know if Scythe has any plans to introduce a similar 3 or 5 pack bundle for Kaze Flex, Kaze Flex Black, and Wonder Snail? Even if the bundle was 50 bucks for 5 pack, that's still better than 17 for 1.
The BioniX line likely does not avoid the problem, although when I conduct my ARGB case fan test, which was postponed in favor of this shootout, I will be testing the new BioniX P120 ARGB, so I'll check for resonance from it.
Another excellent review. Good to see Noctua getting some competition. I'm curious to see which fans would come ahead as a case fan, where there is some impedance in the intake. E.g. Fractal Design Define R5/R6/7.
I actually conducted this test instead of my planned case fan test due to interest in the cooler topic. I eventually will publish that video, but it will have very different fans represented, as cooler fans are not the best choice for case cooling.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Wish I had known the Wonder Snail 120 was going to be so good. I recently bought 3xA12x25s as case fans, because I assumed it would work better on a higher impedance case like my Fractal R6. Not sure how the Scythe Kaze Flex would have fared in that case, but the Wonder Snail 120 might have been even better. Looking forward to your next video.
Definitely the best ARGB cooler fan. There are very few fans that are better on a cooler, period. They're all in this roundup, and they are obviously not ARGB! As for best ARGB case fan, well, that's a possibility, but eventually I'll get back around to conducting my big ARGB case fan shootout, which was postponed in favor of this shootout.
Just got the new Kaze Flex 120 Black 1500 RPM - mine spins up to 1646. Got it as a case fan for a new build but decided to compare it to a Noctua A12x25 as the upper fan on a L12 Ghost Edition dual downdraft with an A9x25 fan under the cooler on an Aorus B550 ITX MB with a 4750G APU build with 32GB Ram in a 5.9 liter Yiluka YLK-01 case with no space for other fans. I ran the Blender classroom render and Unigine Valley to stress the entire CPU/GPU of the processor. The temperatures after completing the 10 minute render with Unigine Valley also running were identical on all 5 MB sensors, the pkg temp was1 degree lower on the Kaze Flex, and both SSD's had identical temps. The render with the Kaze Flex took an additional 7 seconds to complete.
Interesting that the Kaze Flex Black kept up with the NF-A12x25. It is primarily designed as a case fan, but it does have pretty high RPM. Another factor could be that the benefits of the NF-A12x25 in terms of static pressure don't help much on the L12 cooler.
I'm currently upgrading an older system and changing practically everything inside. I have a big Cryorig H5 Universal air cooler and I don't think it needs to be changed but the fan is quite loud with a minimum of 700 rpm. Would you have any recommendations for a low profile (or full size as I'm only using two sticks of ram) 140mm fan with 120mm mounts for a heatsink? Preferably white but sound is the most important factor. I've been scouring youtube for a few days without much luck. Thanks in advance.
Good question. I actually have an original H5 sample from years ago. The Universal was designed for better RAM clearance, but slim 140mm fans are not all that common, and ones with 120mm fan mounts are even harder to find. Hence your difficulty finding content like this on UA-cam. I haven't done a specific test of 140mm heatsink fans (i.e., ones with 120mm mounts, not typical square radiator fans). Of the ones I have tested only Noctua and Scythe make a round frame version. You can see my shootout here: ua-cam.com/video/cQ6W-b45wZ0/v-deo.html I think you'd be happy with the Noctua NF-A15 HS chromax.black: amzn.to/2T9uq8l It's black, so that may fit in with the style you are working with, and it has a good tone overall. Here's a recent review where I showcase that fan: ua-cam.com/video/o-bRE1Wo97Y/v-deo.html I do recommend you measure whether the additional 10mm in thickness would put this fan over your second RAM slot. In that case, you'd have to go with a slim 120mm fan. I've found that the slim NF-A12x15 matches many standard 120mm fans, as you can see here: ua-cam.com/video/W2Zis8RjcX8/v-deo.html Unfortunately, the more stylish black version is sold out in the US until July, which isn't surprising given current circumstances. Here it is at Amazon: amzn.to/345qNm2 You can get the brown version, but I'm assuming you won't like how it looks if white is your top choice. Here's the link: amzn.to/3ywEEja
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Awesome! Thanks a lot for the thought out response, I really appreciate it. I figured if anyone was going to have a good recommendation it would be you. One of the things I'm changing in my system is the mobo, so I'll wait until I install that and I'll measure the distance between my ram and the cooler before deciding which to buy, but I really like that Noctua NF-A15 HS chromax.black. I hate to be *that guy* when it comes to styling a build, but I put a lot of work into the original iteration and so I feel I may as well keep it up; that fan fits my colour scheme perfectly. Many thanks again.
The AB120R is a surprisingly-good fan. I previously tested it and found it to be about equal to the P12 when used on a radiator: ua-cam.com/video/qGOCk1S1WLs/v-deo.html I think you'll be fine!
Always enjoy these videos. I honestly don't think the sound the artic fans make is a big deal. Well it depends on where your system is positioned I guess.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Can I make a suggestion regarding fans to be tested? I would love to see the EK Vardar x3m fans tested. They are criminally over priced but they look amazing!
LOL, I hadn't looked at the price, but yeah, that's a lot! I've reached out to EK in the past and didn't get anyone to respond, so I doubt I'd be able to get samples.
It really miffed my muffin when some tech channels posted beef about the Toughfan. I was just sitting there thinking... Well, what about the Gentle Typhoon? Thanks for telling it like it is. Anyways, how can I not pop on a couple Wonder Snails! I just put together a nearly all Scythe rig. I may have to replace the two Toughfans that found their way into the build. LOL. Wonder Snail :) Heck yea
Thanks for that feedback. Yeah, I'm not really one to subscribe to boycotts and the like. I'll raise the issue and move onto thermal and noise performance, because that's what I can add to the conversation. Just be forewarned, the Wonder Snails are going to be very hard to find in stock for a while. The initial shipment to the US sold out within days of launch in late-April, but hopefully by the end of May we'll see some more!
We always appreciate the hard work you put into your videos. Keep going! 🙌
Thanks for checking in!
Hey we appreciate the great products at great prices!
Why did you refuse to put anti-vibration rubber gaskets on the non-ARGB P12 while the new A-RGB models suddenly have rubber gaskets. What's up with that?
These kinds of reviews truly help us customers make great purchase decisions. Without testing like this there really would be no way to well differentiate between fans and there truly seems to be some differences there. Anyhow, bought a while back some P14's for my cases and those have been just great. I am now considering adding a few P12's for CPU coolers. I am a big fan ( :-D ) of no-nonsense performance that Arctic's products represent.
I just bought 6 of your argb p12 fans because they're amazing value. I love how they daisy chain. Also really quiet for the amount of air they push!
20 mins went so fast. Thank you Scythe for being such your own thing and especially with the older fans packaged straight up like toys for kids
Scythe makes fans fun! For sure, some of that original packaging was straight out of the 80s! They went conservative with the Wonder Snail box, guess they're hoping the name alone will bring on the smiles!
I actually just returned 4 Arctic P12 fans becasue there was so much humming, idk if i just got very unlucky with the fans but for anyone considering i just wanted to put this out there.
I got some humming on my P14 too. But only on a specific rpm range, and it is a known issue if I remember well :/ Also, installing a P14 on my Macho without noiseblocker to cancel vibration isn't optimal
This is a known issue with the P12 and P14. One reason I didn't get them.
I was about to get them as case fans :(
What can be the best alternative?
@@artofersuke The Schyte Kaze Flex fans look very good IMO
@@artofersuke For case fans, it doesn't matter as much as for heatsinks and radiators. Pick something that has good airflow, good aesthetics, reasonable cost, and good noise profile. Check out @TechBuyersGuru video on case fans.
Always appreciative of the hard work you put into these videos. Keep up the great work and content, can't wait to see this channel grow!
(Also thanks for helping me find the best radiator fan for my build after I watched one of your previous videos)
Glad you liked it! Which fan did you choose?
@@TheTechBuyersGuru I went with the Arctic P12s in white. They work perfect with my Thermaltake AIO. Couldn't stand the included fans, they were stuck at a fixed RPM and super loud. The Arctics were definitely worth the money.
Good choice, and the white version looks very custom!
I was about to get to work then I saw this new upload. I had to watch it first of course :)
Hope it didn't make you late!
I can feel that this is a honest person form the screen
Thank you!
I just purchased 2x wonder snails about a week ago right before it went out of stock on amazon. Loving it so far on my be quiet pure loop 240mm aio at but I am glad they also perform well on heatsinks. Appreciate the hard work my guy and I can't wait for part 2 of this awesome series.
You are one of the lucky ones! It's going to be hard to find the WS in stock for months to come, I'm afraid!!!
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Got a question, Do you think counter rotating fans improves performance on single/dual tower heatsinks? I'm just curious to hear your thoughts on counter rotating fans like the ones on the Scythe Fuma 2 with one rotating in the opposite direction from the other. Do you think if you were to put say for example the Noctua NF-A12x25 which rotates counter-clockwise and the Scythe Wonder Snail that rotates clockwise in a push-pull configuration on a single/dual tower heatsink would make a difference in cooling performance?
You are not the first to ask this, and trust me, it's something I want to test given how many people are interested in it. But yeah, after this review, the WS vs A12 matchup on the Fuma 2 is even more intriguing. It's on my ever-growing list of potential video topics, but I can't promise anything at this point. It's just niche enough that it could be very popular... or not popular at all!
I was just looking for a new 120mm aio fan and once again you come to the rescue. Thanks man, great vid.
Your channel and content are awesome, so much good and precise information, I don't understand why you have only 16k subs... Your test methodology improves for each video, I hope you keep doing this focused and specific research with top quality for years to come, we love it and I'm sure you will be well rewarded throughout this time and the making of the videos. Cheers from Brazil !!
Thank you! I'm glad you find the tests helpful and that they stand out from others in UA-cam!
As always, great in-depth comparison. I am glad that it seems like Arctic finally solved - at least partially that annoying humming noise. I had a couple of original P12s and they both did it. They were not noisy at all, but the resonance was annoying enough for me, that I had to ditch them. Thank you so much for another flawless video, we all appreciate the work you put into these.
Glad it was helpful! I do think Arctic is on the way to solving the issue. I speak more about it in the follow-up video, where I provide an audio sample of the humming: ua-cam.com/video/agojNJedtR8/v-deo.html
In a video coming later this month, I'm going to discuss the causes of it a bit more, and what I hope Arctic will do about it in the future.
Thank you Ari ❤️❤️🥳 best video as always... Worth the wait 🔥
Enjoyed your review. Keep up the good work. Just picked up a 4 pack of Scythe for my rig. I'm glad to see I made the right choice . Many thanks!
Nice review as always
So I bought the Arctic P12 PWM value pack and been using 4 of them for six days. The noise is extremely horrible at all ranges even with fixed speeds. I tried one by one from 41-70% and man, they're unbearable. Their performance is very good as expected but they're a huge mess in noise. The vibrations, humming, and repeated motor noises at ALL RPMS are terrible, I couldn't find any comfortable range unless they're set to lower than 40%.
I'm glad other choices exist and I will try the Wonder Snail next. Thanks for the awesome reviews as always and keep up the good work!
Sorry the P12s didn't work out for you. The Wonder Snail has been sold out since launch, and remember it is for coolers only, not cases, but it is AMAZING, so hopefully one day it will actually be available again: amzn.to/2UiKqFr
If you're looking for a case fan, the best is the Scythe Kaze Flex 120: amzn.to/3xJmA4p
@@TheTechBuyersGuru always helpful. Thank you, kind sir!
Sometimes I'm reminded of the Gentle Typhoon (2008) model everytime I see fans with 9 blades. Great review btw. Now I can make an informed decision on my next purchase.
I've been looking at translated amazon japan reviews for the wondersnail and for each of the different rpm models, there are comments about durability issues and bearing noise developing after a couple of weeks. Have yours shown any sign of this?
I'm about to start my second episode of the review using a radiator, and I'll check for that.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Thanks a lot man, looking forward to your review
I got 3x 1800rpm Wonder Snails from Japan. I have now returned them after they all had a high pitch humming at different rpms. Good performance but the sound was not tolerable if don't run them at specific rpm.
@@AndersR4 Damn, sucks to hear that. How was the return process to Japan, did you have to pay for shipping and get reimbursed or did they send you a label?
great roudup, i just hope we ll see the p12 and p12 argb in the next case fan roundup
Great content. This kind of stuff is what shifts companies to making better products instead of selling them by looks. They can engineer to make a good fan if they just want to.
Personally I still feel that the arctic p12 resonance (also similar stuff happening to my old pure wings 2) is just as important as static noise level, and more audible in my system than in your recording. I've tried setting the curve to avoid the resonating ranges, but they still make the noise during transition and it's noticeable, and a staircase curve also makes RPM more fluctuating and noticeable when gaming on open-back headphones. They are super effective at static RPM and superb value for most people, but nobody uses static RPM realistically and the resonance makes them not premium experience.
Also, while it's only small and situational issue, so is the performance difference between competitors, making it relatively significant.
Glad you liked the review! And yes, my goal is to push manufacturers to make better fans. The P12 is a revolutionary fan, but I do hope Arctic develops a new version that eliminates the resonance. I believe it can be done with a stiffer blade material. Price might go up, but that is OK because it started so low!
This is exactly what I need, that's exactly my cooler! thanks Ari!!
Scythe is such a great brand. Been using their Fuma 2 for over a year, whisper quiet and solid Temps on my 3900x (rip my 5k series hopes). I'll be looking into picking up the fans, I've been recycling my Noctuas from my 2 prior builds.
I've been recycling my NH D14 for almost a decade now. I just replace the fans. Using Kaze Flex's on it right now haha.
Agreed...Fuma 2 on 3700x.
And then im here with the gelid phantom black ...... Super cooler tbh baught it for $26 . And my ryzen 3600 oc 4.4 ghz 30c room temperature is staying at 76 kombustor stresstest 👍🏻
You are my king of fans testing!
LOL, it's good to be the king of something!
Great comparison. Especially for showing the audio samples and testing the humming/whistling for the Artic!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for the review. I didn't expect the difference to be so small. I have an Arctic P12 ARGB installed on a SE-224-XT, and it is inaudible compared to the stock ID-COOLING fan.
Also I use 3xArctic P14 as intake fans in my Aerocool Airhawk. They are very quiet as well. The only noise source in my case is the cooler's stock fan serving as exhaust, going to replace it with another P12 (maybe ARGB).
Wow, this is a detailed video. You are very knowledgeable with regard to CPU fans. Thanks for the video!
Great review! I was surprised about the wonder snail result and to think i just got P12 pwm pst co for my push-pull
Thank you finally some who does a thorough fan review!
Your intro sounds like Pink Floyd's Run Like Hell intro; One of my favorites
I’ve been trying to find tests on the p12 a-RGB for so long to see if it’s actually in the same league as the original p12, so thank you for this video. I think by the radiator round-up we will see for sure but is it too early to conclude that the p12 a-RGB is the best RGB fan you can get? Outclassing all the other major RGB fan manufacturers like Corsair, Cooler Master, NZXT, Etc?
It is definitely the best ARGB cooler fan out there. The models you've mentioned are really all about looks, and do not have a design that excels on heatsinks. I had some luck with the SilverStone AB120R, which just about equaled the P12 on my testing with a 120mm AIO, but it is more expensive than the P12 A-RGB.
There is also video on igor's lab (in german) with a link to an english write-up. He already came to the some conclusions abt. the artic p12 (rgb) fans a couple off weeks ago.
Awesome test as always from you! The one thing that would make such roundups perfect would be to test bearing noise too, or at least give us your impressions. I feel like the only thing, that still justifies the price of Noctua fans are their SSO2 bearings, which are virtually silent for years and their generally top notch build quality. For every fan, that I know will spin below 500 RPM in my builds, I always consider Noctua for their bearings alone.
Thanks for your comment! There's always a choice I have to make in each roundup regarding the audio samples I provide. What RPM to run at, the distance of the microphone from the fan, and the angle of the microphone from the fan all make a huge difference in what people hear. I agree that Noctua bearings are very good, but differentiating bearing noise from motor noise is pretty hard to do. In theory, at low RPMs, the only noise is the bearings, and then as RPMs increase, the whir of the rotor makes a bigger difference. I would say that in the audio samples provided in this test, run at 40dBA, the Noctua samples were not particularly "quiet" (despite all fans being at the same dB level). So while the bearings may be smooth, the motors tend to make more of a mechanical noise than others. Again, it's hard to determine exactly what is making the noise, but it is there.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru of course I fully unverstand and support your choices for testing, since you always provide us with reasoning! Actually I meant bearing and motor noise. The thing is, that motor noise is almost always overtaken by the airflow noise and Im sure you will mention it otherwise.
I also have to correct, that some people of course may not really care what a fan costs and may value things like Noctuas low-noise-adapter or the rubber frame provided with the NF-A12x25 for example. So Noctua may also be a considered choice due to those things.
Theoretically, all somewhat decently designed BLDC motors should be silent. Besides the blades, the other places noise can come are from poor/cheap commutation electronics, and bearings. I've noticed some fans like the Cryrorig QF120 and Fractal Prisma AL12 have really annoying-sounding commutation, but most modern fans have mostly silent commutation. And, in my experience, most fluid/sleeve type bearings are silent, at least on new fans (older ones can definitely be audible), and ball bearings always make some noise.
@@ydihtty even if I certainly not know those things for certain, that definitely makes sense and also approves what I observed so far. Sometimes electronics noise is just bad.
Did you ever tried Thermalright B12 or C12 Pro?
Thank you again for the great content!
I've been looking for fans for my new builds, and i looked like all the videos you made about fans, and i have to say, you deserve a lot more view. You give a lot of infos in a professional way, and it helped me a lot.
I had the arctic fans in my mind for a long time, and those are the ones i choosed, because of the performances, but also because of the price. But thanks to you i've a good idea about what i'm buying =)
+1 subscriber here, fans are really important and finding good videos about those can be hard
I have to say i really could use a video like that but for the argb fans btw, like the new P12 bionix argrb, maybe the nzxt aer 2 argb (i heard it was a good fan), maybe the lian li ones..... i'm speaking about the good fans with argb (not every argb fan of course).
Glad you like the videos, and yes, an ARGB fan shootout is coming later this summer.
Will be very interesting to see the wonder snail as case fan against p12.
thank you for such ultra high quality work!
I'm so confused...
In your (very helpful) 'best 120mm CPU cooler' video you demonstrated that the NH-U12A is outclassed by the older NH-U12S, and in fact, works better when paired with the fan of the U12S, the NF-F12;
but now, we see that the U12S works far better with the NF-A12, the fan of the U12A, than with it's own?
What is the meaning of this? are the heatsinks and fans mismatched?
I think it would be very interesting to compare these coolers, but with their fans switched, that is, NH-U12A with U12S vs NH-U12S with NF-A12, don't you?
Seems like you've been keeping track of these videos! Here's that 120mm Cooler roundup: ua-cam.com/video/HZOGK49NGLQ/v-deo.html
What I showed was that the NH-U12A really couldn't take advantage of the dual NF-A12x25 fans on it. That test shouldn't be interpreted to show that the A12x25 is worse than the NF-F12. It is better, in fact I've shown that several times, including here: ua-cam.com/video/W2Zis8RjcX8/v-deo.html
In other words, the fan is good, but the U12A is not a great option at $100+.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru
Ah, I see now. If I understand correctly, the A12 is too pressure optimized to benefit from a push-pull setup on this size of heatsink? This, along with the fact that the A12 performs better than the F12 on radiators, as shown in the second linked video, makes it seem like the A12 is actually more pressure optimized than the S12, contrary to noctua's claims, doesn't it?
The A12 is incredibly pressure-optimized. It works much better on a 240mm rad than stacked on a 120mm heatsink.
And the S12 really isn't optimized at all, in my opinion. It's just different.
Great channel, deserves way more than 17k subs 👌
Maybe one day!
Thanks for review. Wondersnail in my wishlist, next month I will buy it for replace my fan in my hsf 😁
you should do an RGB fan comparison with unifan fans, the corsair line up, some CM stuff. That is what most people are buying now and their is little to no data available to find what RGB fan is good or bad
Great video, as usual. I sincerely think this channel is the best when testing computer fans. Please, please, please, can you test the Wonder Snail as a case fan and in dual tower CPU coolers, especially the Fuma 2 and NH-D15? I think this will be very interesting to test these 2 coolers with 1, 2 and 3 Wonder Snails!!!
Thanks for this positive feedback! I have a few more tests planned for the Wonder Snail, but I can't test it in every possible application. Most likely among the tests you listed is benchmarking it on the Fuma 2.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Thank you. I don't have the right tools to test, but maybe I will test them (when they arrive, I am waiting for 3 Wonder Snail bought from Japan) in my case and NH-D15.
Any tips for reducing PSU case vibration? I have that same sound your PC is making at 12:00. It's that low-mid pitch humming sound. I noticed that your other clips doesn't have that noise. Even with the Arctic P12 running at full speed in the second half of the noise test.
In my case, it seems like it's the noise of my PSU once its fans started to spin. I cannot do anything about it other than changing to a new PSU?
It's good you removed IDLE temps and performance. It gets ppl confused and it's almost uselless data.
I would've tested on a 120mm water radiator, since with air coolers there is a bit of variance in rads and half the times, a fan like these, while it can get you performance, they won´t get you much eficiency at low rpms (400-800rpm), on a air cooler with a lot of space between the fins. That being said, u12s, is on the dense side, so that´s a thing...
Thanks for reporting on the p12 series, and bridging arctic with the consumers and your viewers.
Keep up the good work mate. This one, was a great one.
Thanks for these comments. I do have the 240mm rad test coming up, so that should be interesting. I agree there is way more variance between air cooler designs than liquid cooler designs, which all use fairly similar radiators.
Does Scythe recommend using the wonder snail as a case fan at all? I'd be interested to see how they match against the Kaze Flex
It is being marketed as a radiator fan. Based on my tests of the very similar NF-A12x25 in a case cooling shootout versus the Kaze Flex, I'm sure the KF would win. Here's the shootout: ua-cam.com/video/WBoLyC0tSDQ/v-deo.html
My two Wonder Snail 120 just arrived. They look great, but they have loud humming below 800-1000rpm. The humming stops above 1000rpm, but then you can start hearing rattling above 1000rpm and loud rattling aobve 1200rpm.
Did you notice anything like that on your models?
I think for now i will just stick with the Toughfan 12 until the 12x25 chromax come out.
I'm sorry to hear that. I definitely did not notice that in my sample, and I tested it extensively. Sounds like yours may be defective, maybe a problem with the initial production run. I have another sample I'll be using in my 240mm AIO fan roundup, so I'll check again for the problem at that point.
Great video! 👍👍! Thank you for all the invaluable information! I have been looking to replace the remarkably loud stock fans of my liquid cooler (H80i V2) and you just provided me with all the information I needed. I decided to get two Arctic P12 PWM PST black.
Great choice, those are going to be a big improvement! But you might also find this video helpful, where I test on a Corsair AIO: ua-cam.com/video/agojNJedtR8/v-deo.html
Good video everytime tbh. Just wondering if the Wonder Snail can also be a good Case Fan just as the Kaze Flex?
A few people have asked this, and my educated guess is that it's not a good choice. That's because it is so similar to the NF-A12x25, which lost to the Kaze Flex in my 120mm case fan roundup: ua-cam.com/video/WBoLyC0tSDQ/v-deo.html
So yeah, my recommendation for a case fan is still the Kaze Flex 120: amzn.to/3ylhCfa
It really is perfectly designed for this application due to its excellent performance at moderate noise levels, which is how case fans should be used.
Nice, could you do a quick upload comparing the noise and performance of two fans on a cooler vs one?
Great roundup!
I'd love to see a shootout of coolers at the $50 price point. With the popularity of CPUs like the i5-11400, I think many people are looking for a stock cooler upgrade, but its rare to see detailed comparisons at a lower-end price point.
I've heard good things about the Shadow Rock 3 and the NH-U12S redux, and Scythe and Arctic have options also.
This is in the works. I already have cooler samples from Arctic and be quiet! under $50. But do check out my shootout from a year ago that tested some of these coolers: ua-cam.com/video/HZOGK49NGLQ/v-deo.html
Hi, thank you. Great video. I have a question. For a Fuma 2, would keep the default fans on or would you change it to a single Wonder Snail in the middle?
I'll be running that test soon, but my guess is the wonder snail will improve performance.
Great video, thank you. Keep up your great, fascinating work!
Thanks, will do! There's so much content out there, so I'm trying to do something a little bit different!
Great review. What do you think about big fans? I'm swapping my Antec Big Boy Triple Speed 200 (230mm) with the same 230 from Bitfenix. I think the Bitfenix is more silent while pushing more air (at lower pressure).
I haven't tested anything above 140mm, so I really couldn't say which are better in the 230mm size. With fans that size, there probably isn't a huge difference, because they spin so slowly.
Excellent review as always. You are my reference when it comes to CPU cooling.
Glad to hear it!
Any chance the Scythe's CW (clockwise) motion makes a difference when combined with a CCW (counterclockwise) fan? E.g. say you put a Wonder Snail 120 in the front of a D15 and left the Noctua A15 in the middle. Purely academic. I know you already tested dual A12x25 vs dual A15 in a previous video, but the 120mm in the front does open up more possibilities for RAM kits. But i wonder if this makes more turbulence/noise, or reduces cooling efficacy?
Scythe says this is the key to the performance of the Fuma 2 cooler. I may test this at some point by comparing the NF-A12x25 and the Wonder Snail on that cooler using the standard slim fan in the front. Honestly, there are a few too many niche topics out there for me to cover them all, but this is definitely on my radar.
Wonderful video! Thank you so much! BTW, would you recommend the non-PWM P12 fans? I can't find the PWM variant for a proper price.
Thanks.
If you can't find the P12 PWM in your region, the P12 (3-Pin DC) model are a good substitute. The main difference is that the minimum won't be as low, and will be dependent on your motherboard's DC controls. The amount of control over the RPM curve may also be more limited. But the performance at any given RPM under load will be the same.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru
That is very helpful! Thank you, good sir!! You're literally the best fan tester on UA-cam and your engagement with the community is amazing. Keep up the good work. :-)
Thanks for that feedback, it means a lot!
So when's the 2nd episode coming? I want to see if the Wonder Snails are a worthwhile upgrade vs my P12s on a radiator in my SFF build
Would you recommend the WS-120 as a case fan behind a Dust Filter?
I do not think that dust filters present the same type of application as a heatsink. Yes, there is some resistance, but it's nothing like a dust filter. My tests of the Noctua NF-A12x25 as a case fan behind a dust filter showed it was only mid-pack.
I recommend the Scythe Kaze Flex series for cases:
120mm: amzn.to/3w3SCHo
140mm: amzn.to/3eSgAzy
i really like the new cooler master sickle flow
I'll be testing these fan on the new CM MA612 ARGB cooler - amzn.to/3D9Sl9j - in my next product shootout.
9:00 100% correct there is an end to end variance that is acceptable from the factory. This is why often you see a round about the performance when speaking in rpm and dba on the side of the box or what have you, rather than exact figures. Not every motor will perform the same so not every fan will, not every fan blade hub assembly is 100% identical. These tiny manufacturing variances ultimately result in each fan performing just a tiny bit different. The same thing happens all across products we consume everyday. They call the sorting of this variance when dealing with CPU/GPU silicon as "binning". Example Pre binned Overclocking Cpu's, guaranteed to run certain Ghz ect. The OC models we see from gpu partners vs the base model, "GTX1660 or the ultra GTX1660 Super OC Gaming Storm Hurricane Lightening Mythical Monster Metaphor" that is really just the "1660 chip" that came out of the line a bit stronger than the rest.
Follow up, I bought the Arctic P12 for less than $10, and I attached it to the Wraith Prism heatsink with some clips that I made out of some pieces of wire. The P12 is MUCH quieter than the Wraith Prism fan. Much, much quieter. The CPU is running cool at 76C while mining crypto at full speed with the P12; the Wraith Prism fan was running at 86C. The Arctic P12 is by far the BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK. I am very happy with the Artic P12, and I highly recommend it.
I've never had a positive opinion on Cooler Master fans... have tried many models in the past, and always felt they were underwhelming. But I've been hearing/reading very positive stuff about their new SickleFlow V2 fans, enough to make me curious. Any chance you're getting some for testing? I have a three pack on its way myself to check them out.
A number of people have mentioned these, along with the SF120 series (which is different from SickleFlow). At this point, I don't have any plans to test them, as Cooler Master does not sample them for review.
The sickleflow is pretty nice, in my opinion. Not as good as something like a Silverstone AB120r, or probably Arctic P12 ARGB (I don't have it, so can't say for sure), but it's definitely an improvement over their MF120R.
So, the Wondrous Snail it is then.
Thank you, Ari!
Thanks for your awsome fans reviews ! But I would like you to test the Cooler Master Sickleflow120 and maybe the Cooler Master MF120 Halo as they look so nice. Would also be nice to see more argb fans.
Thank you for the awesome review and can't wait for the next round!
Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well with you!
@@TheTechBuyersGuru it is, thank you for asking! Really busy currently with launching first batch of N-ATX case :)
I was wondering about that, good luck with the launch! Have the supply issues in the PC component market dampened demand on your end? I'm seeing far fewer DIY PC build sales on my end, but if you are mainly catering to the upgrader market, you may be insulated from it.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru thank you! :) I am selling fine, I would say it is due to whatvyou said, and the fact thatbI make small batches.
You are the case fans guru! Silent/Shadow Wings 3 vs Scythe Kaze/Wonder Snail next please!
You know argb gets you 10% more of overclock! LOL seriously great review glad UA-cam didn't make me miss it...
Glad you found it, LOL!
I have two spare arctic 120 pwm pst in white that I was going to attach to my u12s cooler to go with my black and white Meshify c. Did you use any rubber vibration dampeners on the fans at all? as the Noctua nf ones come with them. Just wondered if it would be a problem or not. Apologies if you mentioned it, for time I skipped a small section.
The new ARGB versions have rubber dampers, but the P12 models don't. I don't think it makes much of a difference, other than making the mounting process slightly more pleasant due to fewer scratching sounds!
Nice work. Would it be worth it to replace the Fuma 2 stock fans with two of the wondersnail 120's?
They are definitely more powerful, but you'll block a RAM slot, and also lose counterrotating vortex effect. I'd recommend just swapping the middle fan. Here's the link: amzn.to/2WVz7oB
Excellent work!!!!, great dedication , and very usefull info!!!
Thank you, don't miss follow-up! - ua-cam.com/video/agojNJedtR8/v-deo.html
@@TheTechBuyersGuru , of course!!!, i´m on it!!!
So i wonder in the tests using just 1 fan on the heatsink right? Good job for wonder snail im ordering one waiting for it to come.
i wanna see 92mm fan comparison on those type of case fans looks neat, Nice work on the 120 type
Unfortunately, from what I've seen, there's a lot less choice with 92mm fans. Would still definitely be interesting, but I feel like noctua would win, because they're the only ones that really try at that form factor.
@@ydihtty Yes specially for SFF cases i think noctua has the lead there, but i was hoping that there is something even more powerful on that category that i might missed.
the most trustworthy fan comparison youtuber
Thank you for your support!
Thank you for the good video. Your videos about coolers helped me a lot when replacing the Corsair ML140 (max 1200 RPM version). P14 are doing much more quiet, also P12 is doing great job cooling down EVGA 1080 ti Hybrid AIO 120mm radiator 👌🏻
You're welcome! Great to hear the P-series fans have fixed up your system!
Will there be a 140mm of the Wonder Snail?
When is the Fuma 3 Release date :D
I don't think there will be a 140mm version of the Wonder Snail, simply because the market for it is too small. That's really only good for 280mm rads, while the 120mm version can be used on 120mm/240mm/360mm rads plus any 120mm tower heatsink.
As for the Fuma 3, yeah, I asked, and they had no comment. But they did say there would be no Fuma 2 Black, so that tells me the Fuma 3 has to be next!
I wonder if 2xWonder Snails can be replaced for Fuma 2. @Tech Buyers Guru @Ari? Advice is greatly appreciated.
That is something I will eventually test. Note that the front fan would overhang the first RAM slot. Otherwise it can be done.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Cant wait for that test. Overhanging on first ram slot is not an issue as I myself and lots of other people use 2 sticks on second and forth slots :)
@@TheTechBuyersGuru can i use 1 wonder snail and the kaze slim in the front of the fuma 2? There are no problem with the different rpm?
Is the Scythe Wonder Snail good at radiator?
Great content as always. I have no regrets with my Noctua NF-A12x25. Congrats to Wonder Snail.
I think that's the right attitude. The NF-A12x25 set a standard for 3 years now, it was amazing. But tech should not stand still, and Scythe has been able to achieve similar results at a lower price. We expect the same thing in the CPU and GPU markets, why not with fans?!?
@@TheTechBuyersGuru I think it's because of the long lifespans of some of these fans. There's definitely innovation, just not as often.
Good point. A good fan will last through many CPU/GPU upgrade cycles!
Another excellent video! Yeah 40 dB is about the max I can tolerate too. Looking forward to the AIO fan test :))
Yeah, that level is honestly a bit high, but for me personally it would be OK under heavy load. For long gaming sessions, though, I'd need it to be lower.
Thank you for work. Nice and helpful, review. I buy for my H5 Flow 2pc P14 Argb for front and 1pc to back and 1pc on NH-U12S and 1pc P12 non rgb on bottom and top. Thanks the help. 👍🏻
Have you had the chance to test the ws120 on radiators yet? Very curious to see if it performs the same
Working on that now. The video will be out in a few weeks.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru the suspense is killing me! Any tl;dr for the ws120?
I have four ToughFan but 140mm version on Phobya 1080 radiator with mounting hardware and are awesome! Set little over 500rpm and they pull strong air from radiator. Buy it!
Yeah, the Toughfan 14 is definitely a great pick for a big rad! - amzn.to/3bwKZRS
It's in a league of its own for now, but there might be some competition later this year!
Could you test the few extra thick 120mm non-delta fans that still exist?
I know of 3/4 fans which fit this particular criteria:
SilverStone FHP141 & FHP141 VF
SilenX iXtrema Pro IXP-76-18
EKWB Meltemi 120ER
I have a Furious Meltemi, and I was pretty disappointed by it tbh. It moves lots of air, but it has a very high minimum RPM (1200) given its maximum RPM of 3500, and has no 0 RPM feature, like the EK Vardars/X3Ms do. Mine was pretty unbalanced too, it vibrates a lot, and the cable routing along the strut isn't very well designed, so getting the cable to sit flush is pretty much impossible. If it wasn't for those things, it might be pretty decent. Have a listen to it: ua-cam.com/video/1R9iFVgseHE/v-deo.html
Awesome to see you back mate. I would love to recommend an idea i know you did 140/120 radiator fans video but can you solely do one video for 140mm best fans for static pressure(both rads & heatsinks in 1 video) & other one for airflow? And include Thermaltake toughfan 14 in both cases & arctic p14, noctua a14, scythe kaze felx 140, bequiet silent wings 3 140mm etc? & not using that 120 to 140 noctua adapter as lets be honest no one will use 120s on a 140mm rad. Would be a great 2-3 videos to finish off this newly revised series also don't use any other fans in sys while noise testing like you did here a bequiet at rear for eg in this case. And if possible can you ask the brands to send you more than 1 fan to test as most of us will have more than 1 fan of same brand. Cheers 🥂
I may revisit the 140mm fan class, but probably not for a while. Maybe once the next-gen Noctua 140mm fan launches at the end of the year. And the only reason I used that adapter is because Noctua promoted it for that use, not because I think it makes much sense. The Toughfan 14, by the way, was not yet launched when I did that test, otherwise I would have used it. I have it now, but like I said, I'm not going to repeat the 280mm rad fan test quite yet.
By the way, I already did a 140mm airflow (case fan) test, back in mid-2020. Here's the link: ua-cam.com/video/PUdsTiRmuuU/v-deo.html
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Ohh thanks for reply That video was exactly what I wanted. Also yeah do it when noctua updates a14 but considering how long they take to actually launch their products I don't have much faith in them. Like the black a12 was supposed to launch q3 2020, d15 prototype w/ 7 heatpipes is 3yrs old news, and ok maybe covid19 affected them but they didn't mention it so theres that also if thermaltake can launch a black nidec like fan before noctua then they really don't have any excuse.
Appreciate the work! So wonder snail is actually a wonder !
I wonder (pun intended) if Metallicgear/Phanteks Skiron would match its performance per rpm since the design is similar. Similar similar, not like Noctua/Thermaltake similar.
For fan RPM, normally manufacturer allow error tolerance of +/-10%. So Noctua's case is odd, is the reporting from M/B or external tacho? I use industrial fans for my PC, so there are cases where I get false reporting or the fan read the PWM signal wrong.
I was using the PWM readout via the motherboard to check speed. I do have a laser tach but didn't think to use it. Maybe I'll take that out for my follow up test!
As far as the tone what I've learned is that we just kind of have to take your word for it between the mic, recording, etc. Since you have first-hand experience with a large variety of fans side by side, you can make a better determination of what's acceptable which is more than 99% of the population can say. My Kaze Flex fans arrived a few days ago and I can say that in retrospect I'm sure most of the fans you tested (Bionix aside) would have been more than suitable. My first ITX build is amazingly quiet to me and when it does make noise it's pleasant. I'm kind of embarrassed to admit I overlooked this point; while the data is still cool, but your subjective opinion also has value when combined with the data. It's like people who try to judge cars by data/spec sheets when it's simply doesn't convey what users will experience. Thank you again for all of the work that you do. We're actually going to replace my girlfriend's AMD stock cooler and case fans to try to get her back to her preferred noise levels.
Are you saying you don't like the Kaze Flex? I agree that if you don't need more cooling, then any fan will do, because you can just run them very slow. But I'm always looking for the fan that is actually the best at specific noise levels.
If you want to know which fans I subjectively believe have the best tone at a given dB level, just ask!
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Oh no. I love the Kaze Flex. I was stating that sometimes I get so wrapped in the numbers and spreadsheets, and even video evidence, that really just having someone who has experienced a lot of these things first hand has an intangible value that doesn't have to pass through the medium of recording hardware, software, mixers, compression etc.
What I'm getting at is that first hand experience with a variety of products has value that can go beyond charts and pure data. The data is great, but in reference to tones and things of that nature it's better to find people like yourself that have had them stacked up side by side. Like the turbulent noise of your Bionix in the case fan test would drive me nuts, even if the noise reading wasn't bad. You're a human so we should share some idea of pleasant and unpleasant stimuli are.
Glad you appreciate the testing I've conducted! I do try to limit my subjective opinion, because people would then call me out as being subjective, LOL! But in this particular test, if you were to ask which fan made the most pleasant sound to my ears while using the fans, it would be the Thermaltake. Worst by far is the NF-F12, but it's an old design and wasn't a contender anyway.
Great review! Would you take a look at the new Phanteks SK series soon?
They have a similar 9-blade fan design but are available here for as little as EUR 7.39 (D-RGB for 11.90).
Thanks for bringing these to my attention. People have also been asking me to review other Phanteks fan models. I'll definitely consider it for a future test, but I generally limit my tests to fans that have a large presence in the retail market. While Phanteks is very well-known for its cases, its fans typically aren't widely available, at least in the US.
Compared to these, the Phanteks SK design has larger blade tip clearance, so it isn't as good at creating static pressure, and the other aspects of the blade geometry make it prone to humming/ringing like you get with the P12. In addition, it lacks smooth commutation, but the motor torque is quite weak, so it's thankfully usually not audible, unless you're in a very quiet environment and running it at very low speed. In which case, it would be quite annoying. Either way, I have a video of this fan: ua-cam.com/video/PCoQNRAmHkU/v-deo.html and I assume the RGB ones sound the same.
What's wrong with Artic ? Have they changed the way they calculate measurement since the introduction of the P12 A-RGB ? : 48.8 cfm/1.85 mmH₂O vs
P12 : 56.3 CFM/2.20mmH₂O Yet the P12 A-RGB performs better.
Arctic P12 PWM is the winner to me it's good in any position, comes in value packs and is value priced. Surprised he didn't have the Bionix fans, in the around 17 dollar segment.
not sure what i have missed but which area does Scythe better than non RGB p12?
I bought a box of Arctic P12s (5 pack), and the IceGiant ProSiphon Elite I got also came with 4 P12s (the CO model, goes up to 2300 RPM). The humming was so bad I ended up replacing all of them with Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700s. I do have two boxes of Arctic P14s that are fine. Seems weird this is only a problem with Arctic 120mm fans, not 140mm ones.
I similarly never experienced the issue with my box of five P14 fans, but have experienced it with all the P12s, and now the P12-ARGBs.
The P12 redux fans you have may be quieter, but they are not actually higher performance. You might consider the Wonder Snail for that IceGiant if you are ever in the market to take performance up a notch.
The P12 ARGB model is much quieter, the motor hum is way lower. Lower than even Silent Wings 4 fans, and maybe my T30 as well at higher RPMs
This video sound samples at 40db shows off this pretty well.
Use the time from the dropped idle tests to add temperature normalized tests instead, I think a lot of people will be interested in that and it's a lot easier to get an idea of rather than just a number like temperature
I've thought about that, but temp-normalized tests are really hard to do because the fans have to be very carefully tweaked for every single run, exponentially increasing bench time. I'll think about it for the follow-up rad fan shootout. Maybe I'll do one set of temp-normalized benches.
Great video dude!
5 Arctic P12's or 2 Scythe Wonder Snails for the same price?
Hmmmmmm.
It's such a shame with the whole issue with resonances and whistling or whatever.
What is causing it? How do you fix it?
How come other companies don't have this issue? How did they fix it?
The value is there, and that's why I always mention the 5-packs. As for the whistling, it's just part of the P12's blade design. It is not a motor problem, nor is it a vibration caused by improper balancing. I believe it's the aerodynamics of the blades, although Arctic hasn't specified this to me.
The reason you don't hear this in other fans is that no other fan uses the Arctic 5-blade design.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Ahh very interesting theory.
The same blade design that makes it a jack of all trades for case, radiator, and heatsink cooling, also gives it a weird resonance.
Do you know if Scythe has any plans to introduce a similar 3 or 5 pack bundle for Kaze Flex, Kaze Flex Black, and Wonder Snail? Even if the bundle was 50 bucks for 5 pack, that's still better than 17 for 1.
Any thoughts on the Arctic Bionix line? just wondering if they got rid of the resonance
The BioniX line likely does not avoid the problem, although when I conduct my ARGB case fan test, which was postponed in favor of this shootout, I will be testing the new BioniX P120 ARGB, so I'll check for resonance from it.
Another excellent review. Good to see Noctua getting some competition. I'm curious to see which fans would come ahead as a case fan, where there is some impedance in the intake. E.g. Fractal Design Define R5/R6/7.
I actually conducted this test instead of my planned case fan test due to interest in the cooler topic. I eventually will publish that video, but it will have very different fans represented, as cooler fans are not the best choice for case cooling.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Wish I had known the Wonder Snail 120 was going to be so good. I recently bought 3xA12x25s as case fans, because I assumed it would work better on a higher impedance case like my Fractal R6. Not sure how the Scythe Kaze Flex would have fared in that case, but the Wonder Snail 120 might have been even better. Looking forward to your next video.
The P12 ARGB has a really nice tone to it. Might this be the best ARGB fan? ;)
Definitely the best ARGB cooler fan. There are very few fans that are better on a cooler, period. They're all in this roundup, and they are obviously not ARGB! As for best ARGB case fan, well, that's a possibility, but eventually I'll get back around to conducting my big ARGB case fan shootout, which was postponed in favor of this shootout.
Is interesting to note that the Scythe Wonder Snail 120 is the only fan going clockwise (all other are counter clockwise). Regards
Yes, Scythe does things differently!
Just got the new Kaze Flex 120 Black 1500 RPM - mine spins up to 1646. Got it as a case fan for a new build but decided to compare it to a Noctua A12x25 as the upper fan on a L12 Ghost Edition dual downdraft with an A9x25 fan under the cooler on an Aorus B550 ITX MB with a 4750G APU build with 32GB Ram in a 5.9 liter Yiluka YLK-01 case with no space for other fans. I ran the Blender classroom render and Unigine Valley to stress the entire CPU/GPU of the processor. The temperatures after completing the 10 minute render with Unigine Valley also running were identical on all 5 MB sensors, the pkg temp was1 degree lower on the Kaze Flex, and both SSD's had identical temps. The render with the Kaze Flex took an additional 7 seconds to complete.
Interesting that the Kaze Flex Black kept up with the NF-A12x25. It is primarily designed as a case fan, but it does have pretty high RPM. Another factor could be that the benefits of the NF-A12x25 in terms of static pressure don't help much on the L12 cooler.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Forget to mention with this dual fan setup I have counterrotating fans as in the Scythe Fuma II.
Good point, that may make the difference!!!
I'm currently upgrading an older system and changing practically everything inside. I have a big Cryorig H5 Universal air cooler and I don't think it needs to be changed but the fan is quite loud with a minimum of 700 rpm. Would you have any recommendations for a low profile (or full size as I'm only using two sticks of ram) 140mm fan with 120mm mounts for a heatsink? Preferably white but sound is the most important factor. I've been scouring youtube for a few days without much luck. Thanks in advance.
Good question. I actually have an original H5 sample from years ago. The Universal was designed for better RAM clearance, but slim 140mm fans are not all that common, and ones with 120mm fan mounts are even harder to find. Hence your difficulty finding content like this on UA-cam.
I haven't done a specific test of 140mm heatsink fans (i.e., ones with 120mm mounts, not typical square radiator fans). Of the ones I have tested only Noctua and Scythe make a round frame version. You can see my shootout here: ua-cam.com/video/cQ6W-b45wZ0/v-deo.html
I think you'd be happy with the Noctua NF-A15 HS chromax.black: amzn.to/2T9uq8l
It's black, so that may fit in with the style you are working with, and it has a good tone overall. Here's a recent review where I showcase that fan: ua-cam.com/video/o-bRE1Wo97Y/v-deo.html
I do recommend you measure whether the additional 10mm in thickness would put this fan over your second RAM slot. In that case, you'd have to go with a slim 120mm fan. I've found that the slim NF-A12x15 matches many standard 120mm fans, as you can see here: ua-cam.com/video/W2Zis8RjcX8/v-deo.html
Unfortunately, the more stylish black version is sold out in the US until July, which isn't surprising given current circumstances. Here it is at Amazon: amzn.to/345qNm2
You can get the brown version, but I'm assuming you won't like how it looks if white is your top choice. Here's the link: amzn.to/3ywEEja
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Awesome! Thanks a lot for the thought out response, I really appreciate it. I figured if anyone was going to have a good recommendation it would be you.
One of the things I'm changing in my system is the mobo, so I'll wait until I install that and I'll measure the distance between my ram and the cooler before deciding which to buy, but I really like that Noctua NF-A15 HS chromax.black.
I hate to be *that guy* when it comes to styling a build, but I put a lot of work into the original iteration and so I feel I may as well keep it up; that fan fits my colour scheme perfectly.
Many thanks again.
Sure thing - and don't forget to check your H5 box (if you still have it) for extended fan mounts. The ones on the slim fan won't be long enough.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Yeah I keep most of my boxes and should have them but I'll double check before ordering. Cheers!
A recently bought the Silverstone PWM AB120R ARGB for my heatsink, what do you think?
The AB120R is a surprisingly-good fan. I previously tested it and found it to be about equal to the P12 when used on a radiator: ua-cam.com/video/qGOCk1S1WLs/v-deo.html
I think you'll be fine!
I can confirm this too, it's quite good. Especially given the price here in Australia, which is $19 AUD, it's really good value.
may i know.. about the scythe wondersnail.. is it fine for case fan? Im planning to get 9 fans including my radiator's fan for my AIOs.
No, not a case fan. Get Scythe Kaze Flex Black for case instead.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru thank you! 😁
Always enjoy these videos. I honestly don't think the sound the artic fans make is a big deal. Well it depends on where your system is positioned I guess.
Glad you enjoyed it! And yes, how you use it matters.
@@TheTechBuyersGuru Can I make a suggestion regarding fans to be tested? I would love to see the EK Vardar x3m fans tested. They are criminally over priced but they look amazing!
LOL, I hadn't looked at the price, but yeah, that's a lot! I've reached out to EK in the past and didn't get anyone to respond, so I doubt I'd be able to get samples.
It really miffed my muffin when some tech channels posted beef about the Toughfan. I was just sitting there thinking... Well, what about the Gentle Typhoon? Thanks for telling it like it is. Anyways, how can I not pop on a couple Wonder Snails! I just put together a nearly all Scythe rig. I may have to replace the two Toughfans that found their way into the build. LOL. Wonder Snail :) Heck yea
Thanks for that feedback. Yeah, I'm not really one to subscribe to boycotts and the like. I'll raise the issue and move onto thermal and noise performance, because that's what I can add to the conversation.
Just be forewarned, the Wonder Snails are going to be very hard to find in stock for a while. The initial shipment to the US sold out within days of launch in late-April, but hopefully by the end of May we'll see some more!