Performance Testing

Please refer to the dedicated test setup page as it applies to this review as well and I did not want to go over it separately to save on review space.


Let's remind ourselves that the fan is rated for 1300 RPM (RPM range of 1000–1450). The provided samples, and this is based on two data points at each measurement thus, went from an average of 1249 RPM at 100% power (12 V) on the radiator (1335 RPM with zero airflow impedance) down to 455 RPM at 27% (~3.25 V) before shutting down, as is usually the case with voltage-controlled fans. Restarting voltage was 3.36 V for both fans, and overall sample variation was low.

Context is needed to talk more about the fan's performance and noise, so I have below comparison charts for some fans tested at set RPM values so far (or as near as they can get to those).


I have included fans in charts where the rated RPM is within 50 RPM of the chart cutoff point, which means that some fans are in specific charts only if their rated speed is over 50 RPM off from a threshold value (Corsair SP120 RGB, for example) or they simply do not slow down enough (NB-eLoop B12-4, for example). Similarly, the specific RPM values chosen reflect usage scenarios most popular with watercooling even though some fans (the Noctua NF-A12x25, for instance) go higher. The charts are to be considered for comparison within this result set only and are not to be compared with results from another test elsewhere owing to different testing conditions.

Given the maximum fan speed of the Alphacool Eiszyklon Aurora RGB LT, and this is even with the faster 1300 RPM variant, the 1500 RPM tests are not valid here since it just does not go that high. The remaining three sets of graphs for both noise and airflow alike do not really tell a good story for Alphacool, with mediocre performance as a radiator fan at best. The fan is low on noise, which does meet a key metric of advertisement I suppose, but most of it is because of a lack of airflow noise. Towards the bottom end, I was starting to get some bearing noise on one of the fan samples, but the other was fine throughout the testing period. Take this for what you will, but it is pretty much similar to the CORSAIR LL120 RGB fan most of the way through, and that is not really where you want to be from a pure performance/noise basis. The non-square frame definitely hurts here, and pricing will be key to justify the entire feature set.