CORSAIR Launches New ML Series Fans With Magnetic Levitation Bearings

[btarunr]

CORSAIR, a world leader in enthusiast memory, PC hardware and components today announced the launch of its new range of ultimate, high-performance cooling fans, the ML Series. Equipped with a revolutionary new Magnetic Levitation Bearing and custom rotor design, the ML Series redefines fan performance to deliver higher airflow, lower noise and better cooling, whatever the requirement.

When powered, the magnetic levitation bearing completely suspends the fan blades from the motor housing, delivering almost frictionless operation. The huge reduction in friction, in comparison to all conventional physical contact bearings, allows the ML Series to offer lower noise at higher RPMs giving PC Enthusiasts a true no-compromise fan.



Offered in ten different variants, the new ML Series is available in a full range of colors and multiple sizes, letting you customize both your build and your performance. Launching in standard ML, ML PRO and ML PRO LED models and in both 120 mm and 140 mm sizes, there's an ML fan to suit almost any performance PC cooling requirement.

All ML fans offer a huge PWM range, giving users total control over how their fans perform. Value silence above all else? At their lowest speed of 400 RPM, the ML Series will push more airflow at near silent 16 dBA (decibel A-weighting). Performance junkie? ML Series fans push up to 97 CFM (cubic feet per minute) of air. Be it a low noise case, high density radiator or anywhere in-between, the ML Series delivers best-in-class performance.

ML Series also provides next-level fan customization. ML PRO fans feature removable color co-coordinated corners fitted to the fan's vibration dampening rubber grommets, allowing easy color matching to accent your build's color scheme. ML PRO LED goes even further, mounting four ultra-bright LEDs into the central fan hub to radiate vibrant, even lighting through the fan's frosted blades.

"We built the ML Series to be the ultimate fan, offering exceptionally low noise levels to those who value silence and insane airflow for those who demand it" said Michael Hooper, Product Manager for Cooling at CORSAIR. "With the use of the Magnetic Levitation Bearing and custom rotor, we're able to create a single fan that lets the user choose their perfect balance between airflow, static pressure and noise with no compromises."

Specifications:

• Magnetic Levitation Bearing: Harnesses Magnetic Levitation technology to provide lower noise, higher performance, and a longer lifespan.
• Custom Rotor Design: Delivers the perfect balance between high static pressure and high airflow, operating flawlessly in the most challenging environments.
• Extensive Control Range: A 2,000 RPM control range gives you total control between low noise and absolute performance. At 400 RPM ML Series 120mm fans provide 12 CFM of airflow at just 16 dBA for near silent running. At 2,400 RPM, the same fans offer a huge 75 CFM of airflow, at an un-intrusive 37dBa. You choose the balance between silence and performance, and the ML Series delivers.
• Color Customization: Replaceable corners mounted to anti-vibration rubber dampers allow you to match your fans with the rest of your build while delivering quiet operation at higher speeds.
• Bold LED's: ML120 PRO LED and ML140 PRO LED are available in Red, White or Blue, with ultra-bright LEDs mounted to the center rotor, outputting a vivid blast of light and color.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[cdawall]

What is the minimum RPM for the bearings to levitate? Would setting your PWM too low smoke the bearings?

 

[Chaitanya]

saw these on performance-pcs other day, too expensive for my blood.

 

[Corsair George]

What is the minimum RPM for the bearings to levitate? Would setting your PWM too low smoke the bearings?

As long as the fans are on a PWM controller the magnetic bearing works 100%. The PWM range is 400-2,400 RPM for the 120mm version and 400-2,000 RPM for the 140mm version.

If you plug them into a voltage controller and drop the voltage, the magnetic bearing loses efficiency and the fan may get louder and you may shorten the lifespan a bit. It will still work, we've used them with +7V controllers, but I would HIGHLY recommend PWM for this fan.

 

[cdawall]

As long as the fans are on a PWM controller the magnetic bearing works 100%. The PWM range is 400-2,400 RPM for the 120mm version and 400-2,000 RPM for the 140mm version.

If you plug them into a voltage controller and drop the voltage, the magnetic bearing loses efficiency and the fan may get louder and you may shorten the lifespan a bit. It will still work, we've used them with +7V controllers, but I would HIGHLY recommend PWM for this fan.

Interesting I may have to try some out for my exhaust fans. Corsair still does not offer a replacement for my intakes however and I strongly doubt they ever will, wish they did

 

[R-T-B]

I have Sunon MagLev's in my rig right now. Granted, they are blowers that spin at 3000RPMs, but this is not new tech. I'm guessing they licensed it from Sunon.

Spoiler alert: They last virtually forever.

 

[Caring1]

Buy the plain ones without LED's and rubber corners and pay 30% more.

 

[nickbaldwin86]

ok $30 a fan... times 7 for my case $210... only double what my case is worth... LOL no thanks

 

[GhostRyder]

Those are some very attractive fans. May have to consider them when I replace my current set.

 

[R-T-B]

ok $30 a fan... times 7 for my case $210... only double what my case is worth... LOL no thanks

Wow, really? Yeah no thanks. You can get Sunon Maglevs and DC regulate them (they accept as little as 6V) until they are quiet for about $14.00 per fan... and I thought THAT was expensive. Corsair is over double.

https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/sunon-fans/3161-MEC0251V1-000U-G99/259-1657-ND/4291614

EDIT: Oh, wait...

Buy the plain ones without LED's and rubber corners and pay 30% more.

That made me do a double take too. It turns out that's a 2 pack. That makes it a little better at about $20.00 a fan.

 

[m4gicfour]

I have Sunon MagLev's in my rig right now. Granted, they are blowers that spin at 3000RPMs, but this is not new tech. I'm guessing they licensed it from Sunon.

Spoiler alert: They last virtually forever.

Indeed. Enermax has been selling mag bearing fans for years now as well. The Marathon series was Enermax's first IIRC; Those are low-speed but there's been one in my dad's HTPC for five(?) years now. They've since brought their magnetic bearing to several of their other series of fans. They have PWM variants across several lines as well.

I'm wondering if corsair has come up with some new innovation over these previous systems or if they've just licensed a prior tech and stuck the corsair badge, styling and QC on it as is so common.

 

[R-T-B]

Indeed. Enermax has been selling mag bearing fans for years now as well. The Marathon series was Enermax's first IIRC; Those are low-speed but there's been one in my dad's HTPC for five(?) years now. They've since brought their magnetic bearing to several of their other series of fans. They have PWM variants across several lines as well.

I'm wondering if corsair has come up with some new innovation over these previous systems or if they've just licensed a prior tech and stuck the corsair badge, styling and QC on it as is so common.

Interesting. Sunon patentend MagLev bearings around 2007, which is where my new/old stock fans come from. I was unaware of these Enermax models and assume they must be a licensee of the tech as well (it appears so, under the name "Enlobal").

I doubt any innovation has really taken place since the Sunon patent, as it's already pretty damn cool tech and what more can you do with levitating bearing via magnets in air? Fill it with something lower friction like Helium maybe? Be expensive I picture. These are probably all licensed cut and pastes, with better blade sets of course.

 

[Disparia]

Nice. Two fans and two PWM headers in my case. I'll consider them when I get around to prettying up my system.

 

[$ReaPeR$]

i would like so much to buy some of these, but that price... too much imo.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

saw these on performance-pcs other day, too expensive for my blood.

mistake #1, looking at performance-pcs, rip-offs.

 

[Vicious2500]

These fans have a 5 year warranty the Sunon fans only have a year warranty.

 

[natr0n]

Most I've ever spent on a single fan was about $12 for a grandflex for my psu. These are absurd priced.

 

[Darksword]

$31.99 per fan??

 

[Chaitanya]

mistake #1, looking at performance-pcs, rip-offs.

Why? since frozencpu went out of business, for me performance-pcs are the only vendor who ships water cooling and other stuff out to India. Their prices seem a little better than newegg.com also its Corsairs MRP of 31.99$ thats too high.

Edit: performance-pcs is selling them for 27.99$ which is still high.

 

[Melvis]

You want to see an expensive fan? ill just leave this one here for you > https://www.pccasegear.com/products/27867/noctua-nf-f12-industrial-ppc-120mm-2000rpm-ip67-pwm-fan

 

[R-T-B]

These fans have a 5 year warranty the Sunon fans only have a year warranty.

Good point, though I'm pretty sure the Sunon's would last as long as these, being they are marketed as industrial fans.

 

[Frick]

Regarding cost: they are about the same as other high end fans focusing on noise. And they're actually cheaper than some of them.

 

[cryohellinc]

Nice fans, will grab 5 of those later on for my case. Need to do some research but they should be able to fit into H115i cooler and MSI 1080 sea hawk, plus two for case.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Why? since frozencpu went out of business, for me performance-pcs are the only vendor who ships water cooling and other stuff out to India. Their prices seem a little better than newegg.com also its Corsairs MRP of 31.99$ thats too high.

Edit: performance-pcs is selling them for 27.99$ which is still high.

I suppose you dont know about them overcharging for shipping, I bought a 6-pin cable end, cost me $15.11 to ship it and it wasnt even priority mail, it was snail (regular) mail. You know the old saying, screw me once shame on you, screw me twice shame on me.

I feel for your shipping costs. Have you tried asking on bit-tech forums (bit-tech is UK based) about closer suppliers?

 

[Chaitanya]

I suppose you dont know about them overcharging for shipping, I bought a 6-pin cable end, cost me $15.11 to ship it and it wasnt even priority mail, it was snail (regular) mail. You know the old saying, screw me once shame on you, screw me twice shame on me.

I feel for your shipping costs. Have you tried asking on bit-tech forums (bit-tech is UK based) about closer suppliers?

Generally when shipping to India I have make sure the order is quite moderate in size around 300-400$, after that shipping via 5-7 business day is around 60-75$ which is reasonable. For me customs costs are a lot higher, I generally end up paying bribes or 40% of the bill at customs as per rules. In general though I have noticed that if the order is too small performance-pcs shipping costs are too high.
No I haven't tried bit-tech but in Europe compared to US taxation is a lot higher(like India) so I dont end up with a good deal at the end of the day if I get things from Europe.