I'm looking for some advice on choosing case fans. I initially considered the NZXT F140 and F120Q fans as a simple replacement for one 120mm and one 140mm fan in my NZXT case. They seemed decent for airflow and noise. After doing a bit more research, I found the Be Quiet! Silent Wings 4 fans, which look great and are well-built. However, I'm confused about which is actually better.
The NZXT fans push more air (102 CFM vs. 78 CFM), have similar noise levels (about 29 dB), and are slower at 1500 RPM compared to the Be Quiet! 1900 RPM. But I don't usually run my fans above 1000 RPM due to noise. The Be Quiet! fans have higher static pressure, which I thought was better for radiators, but I'm not sure how that matters for case fans. Plus, the NZXT fans are cheaper. Am I missing something? What do you all think?
3 Answers
Keep in mind that noise ratings can vary based on how they're measured. Also, those specs you see are usually at full speed, and the fans might not perform the same at lower RPMs.
Check out Gamers Nexus' video on case cooling. They go in-depth about different fan types and setups that might help you make a better decision.
Static pressure can be a big deal if you have filters or restrictive panels in your case. But if there are no filters where your fans are going (like on the top and back), then you might not need fans with high static pressure. Have you considered Arctic P12 or P14 fans? They're cheaper than both options and provide excellent performance without needing to run at full speed.
I just ordered the Arctic fans too! They’re affordable and seem to be getting good reviews. Can't wait to test them out!
Thanks for the quick response! I actually don't have any filters in those spots, so I think static pressure isn't as crucial for me. Just some perforations in my NZXT H510 Elite case.