Montech AX120 PWM RGB Fan

[VSG]

Montech aims to challenge the status quo of RGB fans in 2023 being overly expensive with the new $9 AX120 PWM. Available in black or white color options, these 120 mm fans use standard connectors and 20 LEDs per fan to put forth a compelling cooling solution that is quiet in operation too.

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[Chrispy_]

Mediocre performance was what I expected from the thumbnail and images on page one of the review, before I even finished reading to the conclusion.

That's not a 120mm fan, it's a 105mm fan with 15mm of potential impeller diameter wasted on RGBLED nonsense. Of course it can't compete with 120mm fans!

 

[sLowEnd]

Very form-over-function. At least it's cheap, and Montech chose to use HDB bearings instead of scraping the bottom of the barrel with sleeve bearings.

 

[KellyNyanbinary]

Unless you are really after the RGB squircle, the Thermalright TL-C12C-S triple pack for $15 or so would be a way better buy. According to Hardware Canuck's testing, those outperform the Arctic P12 ARGB.

 

[wheresmycar]

Unless you are really after the RGB squircle, the Thermalright TL-C12C-S triple pack for $15 or so would be a way better buy. According to Hardware Canuck's testing, those outperform the Arctic P12 ARGB.

Not sure about the P12 being beat by a TL-C12 unless its compromising on performance elsewhere (noise levels/rpm/etc). Can you share the link? Also the C12s come in a bunch of variants, using different fan blades or possibly different tech-make-up. I was looking for a particular C12 flat type ring but couldn't see one.

I don't usually bother with fans with curved/bending outer rings around the blade. I've always taken the position that flat rings circling the blades effectively push more air opposed to curved rings which IMO add turbulence or fall short of static pressure up-keep. Maybe this is one of the reasons why fans like the Montech AX120 and TL-C12 (both curved) tend to perform less effectively with radiators/dust filters.

The P12 (the absolute budget daddy-of-em-all) sticks to a flat ring - i guess directing airflow more efficiently without curvature leakage or bounce-back turbulence.

I'm certainly no curvature expert, although i do love curvy curves, just not on me fans Any thoughts on the above?

EDIT: should have mentioned, the above thoughts are based on non-RGB variants.

 

[KellyNyanbinary]

Here is the link

 

[henry08092003]

For the price, I think this fan is insanely great.
It's not a performance chart topper, but it still provides sufficient airflow while maintaining quietness.
But if you look at the RGB shape and performance, other brand like NZXT or Corsair would definitely sell this fan over 25 dollars.

 

[TheDeeGee]

You'll know you buy a cheap ass motor when it can't spin below 30%.

Same cheap stuff that GPU fans have, 5 bucks per fan tops. They can't go below 30% either.

 

[Dammeron]

For a 120mm fan, it sucks.

For a RGB fan - it's great value.


If someone likes colourful lights and has only middle-end CPU+GPU to cool, then those are more that fine. To each their own, I guess.

 

[Chrispy_]

If someone likes colourful lights and has only middle-end CPU+GPU to cool, then those are more that fine. To each their own, I guess.

Aye, it's a spinning light that mounts to an empty fan bay. If you want the lights more than the fan it's hard to argue with the price. If you actually need decent cooling at the same price you'll need something that actually has a 120mm impeller and good noise/perf characteristics:

And BeQuiet's own RGBLED fans are worse than these, too - for the same reason as these Montechs; the most important part of the impeller's swept area is removed to make room for blinkenlights.