Corsair RS120 MAX 120 mm Fan

[VSG]

Corsair enters the thick LCP fan market with the RS120 MAX. True to its name, it adopts a 120x120x30 mm form factor and large LCP blades that get real close to the frame to maximize airflow. A novel stator vane design and magnetic bearing helps keep noise low to make for a compelling PC DIY watercooling fan.

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[watzupken]

Surprising and good to know that the fan noise has improved. My experience with a few of the ML120 and 140 was poor because they sounded really loud and like an air raid alarm at high speed. The sound profile is really bad. The issue is less pronounced with the ML140 due to the lower RPM.

 

[rv8000]

Yikes, more expensive than RGB counterparts and performs worse than the uni fan. Looks like Corsair wants to be the next ASUS, without the quality.

 

[wheresmycar]

Just another pricey fan with similar perf.

Everytime i see a fan review I often check to see if Arctic P12/P14 fans are featured in the rankings/charts. I've been buying these for a long and have nothing but praise for them... even my current gaming RIG houses 10 of them (3 on the rad + 7 case fans). All of which was possible at a fraction of the cost. I think it's about time the P's made it to the fold.

 

[Caring1]

Yikes, more expensive than RGB counterparts and performs worse than the uni fan. Looks like Corsair wants to be the next ASUS, without the quality.

That implies Asus has quality

I'd pay $34.99 for the pack of three, not that other ridiculous price they expect.

 

[nguyen]

Phanteks T30 is still the best eh

 

[Chaitanya]

Whats the power draw(start up and at various speed range) of these fans like?

 

[Erazor6000]

It seems that the Corsair RS120 MAX has almost identical performance to the Phanteks T30-120.

The current price for a triple-pack Phanteks T30-120 is $85 US, while the Corsair RS120 MAX is $95 US.

TOUGHFAN 12 Pro is very close in performance to both fans, with a pack of three costing $70 US.

Usually, people buy packs of 2 or 3, not just one fan.

 

[SN2716057]

Whats the power draw(start up and at various speed range) of these fans like?

 

[mx62]

Same here, 35 bucks for a plastic fan, its crazy. One more fan i will never buy.
I also was looking for arctic p12max for comparison, maybe in a near future?

 

[Firedrops]

Those are the largest gaps on a LCP fan I've seen so far. Surely "LCP" has become purely a marketing gimmick on this product.

 

[ARF]

Everytime i see a fan review I often check to see if Arctic P12/P14 fans are featured in the rankings/charts. I've been buying these for a long and have nothing but praise for them... even my current gaming RIG houses 10 of them (3 on the rad + 7 case fans). All of which was possible at a fraction of the cost. I think it's about time the P's made it to the fold.

I have 4 Arctics in my case. 2 P14 PWM PST White/White, and 2 P12 that come with my ARCTIC Freezer 34 eSports DUO.
I also have a Gamdias case RGB fan, that is connected to only RGB, not to rotate, because it's quite whiny.

 

[watzupken]

Phanteks T30 is still the best eh

I agree. I think I would recommend or prefer people to buy PC fans from companies that focuses on cooling solution. These big brands typically go to an OEM with some uplift on the specs and slap their brands on it. The price also reflects a premium because of the "big" brand.

 

[Chrispy_]

Phanteks T30 and Arctic P12 Max still looking like better options in all scenarios.

• The Phanteks T30 is a little better, a little quieter, and a little cheaper - but if these Corsair RS120s were on sale, or availability of the T30 is an issue for you, then they seem like a reasonable alternative.
• The P12Max is comparable to the Noctua A12x25 in many regards so it's not quite up here with the 30mm-class thick boys but at $7/fan for a 5-pack it's very hard to argue with the decent all-round performance/dBA and performance/$.

It's a crying shame there's no P12Max review from TPU to show it against the rest of the fans using @VSG's test setup.

 

[mahirzukic2]

Phanteks T30 and Arctic P12 Max still looking like better options in all scenarios.

• The Phanteks T30 is a little better, a little quieter, and a little cheaper - but if these Corsair RS120s were on sale, or availability of the T30 is an issue for you, then they seem like a reasonable alternative.
• The P12Max is comparable to the Noctua A12x25 in many regards so it's not quite up here with the 30mm-class thick boys but at $7/fan for a 5-pack it's very hard to argue with the decent all-round performance/dBA and performance/$.

It's a crying shame there's no P12Max review from TPU to show it against the rest of the fans using @VSG's test setup.

Here's to him making it. @VSG would you do the honors?

 

[Chaitanya]

View attachment 354585

I was refering to HWbusters style chart showing power consumption at different ranges of PWM cycle.

 

[VSG]

Here's to him making it. @VSG would you do the honors?

It's going to happen as I said before, just need to find the time as I have multiple international trips in Aug and Sept. Probably after I get back.

 

[Airisom]

The vanes on the backside of the fan probably contributes to the slightly higher noise level vs the T30. They straighten out airflow at the cost of extra noise.

That said, these should perform well as case fans due to the vanes keeping the airflow on more cylindrical path vs the typical obtuse and diffuse airflow of other fans. But actually trying to measure this change in a case becomes a tough task with all of the other variables at play.

If those vanes weren't on there, they might outperform the T30s.

 

[Athlonite]

Meh is all I can say there was nothing there that would make me change to them over the Lian-Li Uni fan V2's I have in my case and on my AIO

That said, these should perform well as case fans due to the vanes keeping the airflow on more cylindrical path vs the typical obtuse and diffuse airflow of other fans. But actually trying to measure this change in a case becomes a tough task with all of the other variables at play.

If a cylindrical air path is what your really after you'd better of grabbing some SilverStone air penetrator fans specially if you want them for case fans low noise at full rmp and great airflow and available in 120mm, 140mm and 180mm

 

[Airisom]

No one has measured Silverstone's latest air penetrator series, and their older versions were pretty mediocre compared to other offerings. I wanna say that vsg measured them years ago on his old website, and the vanes on the ap182 created around 3-5dba more noise at the same airflow as the fm181 (same blade design, no vane). It also restricted airflow at higher rpms.

That said, I think Corsair hit the mark for a high performance fan that works well in cases and coolers. The T30 edges it out, but these should be more effective as case fans while still delivering on radiators.

 

[DaveLT]

No one has measured Silverstone's latest air penetrator series, and their older versions were pretty mediocre compared to other offerings. I wanna say that vsg measured them years ago on his old website, and the vanes on the ap182 created around 3-5dba more noise at the same airflow as the fm181 (same blade design, no vane). It also restricted airflow at higher rpms.

That said, I think Corsair hit the mark for a high performance fan that works well in cases and coolers. The T30 edges it out, but these should be more effective as case fans while still delivering on radiators.

At the same time, the AP fans have far more vanes. Corsair one doesn't harm noise as much but it also doesn't do as straight as AP does. (I have a couple of Corsair's vaned fans)

that number of vanes is a healthy compromise not to harm noise performance that much. I have a couple more fans with vanes that isn't silverstone AP including a Delta AK12B

Phanteks T30 and Arctic P12 Max still looking like better options in all scenarios.

• The Phanteks T30 is a little better, a little quieter, and a little cheaper - but if these Corsair RS120s were on sale, or availability of the T30 is an issue for you, then they seem like a reasonable alternative.
• The P12Max is comparable to the Noctua A12x25 in many regards so it's not quite up here with the 30mm-class thick boys but at $7/fan for a 5-pack it's very hard to argue with the decent all-round performance/dBA and performance/$.

It's a crying shame there's no P12Max review from TPU to show it against the rest of the fans using @VSG's test setup.

One of my P14 whites started vibrating like hell so while I replaced it I put in a P12 Max White (P12 max whites use FDB instead, while the P12 Max black 2BB isn't bad at all the FDB is just better... but i still want 2BB...) and its one of my favorite fans now

 

[Blueberries]

I found myself cross referencing the dBA and CFM charts having to scroll up and down repetitively, it would be helpful if the performance page also included [CFM / dBA].

 

[VSG]

I found myself cross referencing the dBA and CFM charts having to scroll up and down repetitively, it would be helpful if the performance page also included [CFM / dBA].

I did that before, but people extrapolated more out of those charts than what they are capable of realistically representing. So I decided to not open that can of worms again.

 

[ARF]

Is there such a feature called "noise/whine quality"?
What about the noise quality of this Corsair fan?

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