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.


EK rates the RPM range of the Quantum Impulse 120 mm RGB fans from 400 to 1800 RPM. Of course there will be variations between samples, and airflow resistances will play a big role, too. The provided three samples went from an average 1761 RPM at 100% PWM down to 405 RPM at 25%, following which the fans remained at the same speed all the way down to 1% PWM duty cycle. These numbers fall easily within rated specs so there is no problem on that front. We also now know for sure that these fans do not have a zero-RPM mode which would have been nice to see. The overall RPM range is long enough for PC cooling use and the RPM response curve is relatively linear. Note also the barely visible error margins indicating minimal sample variation too. Context is needed to talk more about the fan's relative performance and noise, so I have comparison charts below for some fans tested at set RPM values, or as near as they can get to those.


The charts above help put the EK-Quantum Impulse 120 D-RGB fan in better context with the chosen RPM values reflecting usage scenarios most popular with watercooling, although some fans go higher as is the case here. 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. Note that these are average values for all samples of each fan and do not reflect any sample variation, and I will also place another caveat here given these are intended by EK to be more airflow optimized for use as case fans rather than radiator fans. As such, the relatively low airflow through the radiator is not a surprise. These fans are not high performers thus, and are more on the quieter side mostly as a result of just not pushing as much air through. Interestingly, I was expecting the fans to be quieter than the rest at lower fan speeds owing to the sealed VAPO bearing but, despite the lack of any bearing noise, it was still bested here by many others. It's when you go faster that the EK-Quantum Impulse makes more of a case for itself for those prioritizing noise over anything else. Do keep in mind that these fans are likely to push far more air when up against less airflow restriction such as a case filter.


Instead of having CFM/dBA charts that can potentially be taken for more than they really offer, I am going to show three other fans as a comparison for further context. These include the subject of this review—the EK-Quantum Impulse 120 D-RGB—in addition to three other RGB fans currently sold on the market in the form of the CORSAIR AF120 RGB ELITE, the be quiet! Light Wings 120 mm, and the Thermaltake SWAFAN 12 RGB. There is also the Lian Li UNI FAN SL INFINITY 120 for those wanting a different RGB lighting effect and cleaner cable management too. Overall we can see there's not a lot differentiating these fans from a performance/noise basis although the EK-Quantum Impulse still fares relatively worse here. For those wondering, the EK-Vardar EVO RGB does even worse in this metric since it's more a pure performance fan while being on the louder side.