Arctic P8 Max High-Performance 80mm PWM Fan Review

They say good things come in small packages, right? Well, let's hope that's true, as this is by far one of the smallest parcels I've ever received for a review sample! I have the Arctic P8 Max, and 80mm PWM fan which promises some seriously impressive specifications for such a small fan. Arctic has a rock-solid reputation for high-performance cooling products and high build quality too, so I have pretty high expectations for this fan, even if it is pretty small. Arctic P8 Max The P8 Max is a powerful fan with 500 to 5000 rpm. The fan delivers a static pressure of 5.3mm H2O and generates an airflow of up to 40 CFM. It offers precise control of the fan speed via pulse width modulation (PWM) and is extremely efficient at 0.19 A. The P8 Max is ideal for 2U server racks, which often require a high airflow to effectively dissipate heat. In addition, it has a 0 dB mode for silent operation in IDLE. Performance Fan Speed: 3000 RPM Airflow: 23.4 CFM/40.3 m³/h Static Pressure: 1.90 mm H₂O Noise Level: 0.3 Sone Fan Fan Frame: Standard Control Type: Fixed Speed Connector: 3-Pin-Connector Fan Bearing: Fluid Dynamic Bearing A Closer Look The Arctic P8 MAX looks pretty much as you would expect, It's an 80mm fan, so it's pretty small. Of course, that's not much use in most mid-tower or most standard PC builds. However, there are plenty of mini-ITX, slim form factor, small form factor and server-type cases that both support 80mm fans or heavily rely on them in the case of servers. The fan is PWM controlled with a standard 4-pin PWM header, so it'll be widely compatible with motherboards and numerous controller hubs. The fan blades are surprisingly large, with a twisted and overlapping design. They're configured for a high-pressure which is important in servers or for slim radiators, as the air needs to be pushed right through the case to cool components further back. The fans are heavily reinforced too with lines in the mould that will prevent flexing and warping. The sides are thick too, with very durable frames that are unlikely to crack or deform under stress. Given these fans can deliver up to 5000 RPM at their full speed, they'll can under some pretty strong forces for prolonged periods of time. The back of the fans is seriously robust too, with some of the thickest bracing I've ever seen on a fan. There are four spiralled arms that join to the motor mount, they're thick at the back but thinner at the front to allow air to pass over them more easily. There's also a curved lip leading out the back of the fan to help promote more airflow and pressure too. Performance These fans are powerful. They may be small, but with speeds of up to 5000 RPM, they really can shift some seriously high airflow despite their size. 50% RPM managed to deliver 66.09 CFM and 100% was 105.25 CFM, which is about the same as an NZXT F120 RGB Core, a much larger fan, so pretty impressive really. The fan isn't even as loud as I expected, and while it's still pretty audible at lower RPM, it's really not that bad compared to some 120mm and 140mm fans! The 100% speed is shockingly low at 44.8 dBa. I tested some 80mm fans on a server AIO a few weeks back and the fans were extremely loud, these are anything but. Recorded Fan Speed 50% PWM – 2640 RPM 100% PWM – 4971 RPM Airflow Performance 50% Fans Speed - 66.09 CFM 100 % Fan Speed - 105.25 CFM Acoustic Output 50% – 40.4 dBA 100% - 44.8 dBA How Much Does it Cost? The Arctic P8 MAX PC case fans are available now with an MSRP of £12.99 each, but they are actually on Amazon now for just £8.99. Honestly, I'm amazed they're as cheap as they are, I know it's a small fan, but the quality and performance are superb! So these are just a bargain, simple as that. Overview There's not really a lot I can say about these fans, as they're pretty simple products really. They come in at just 80mm, which means they're obviously not suitable for most PC builds. However, if you are building in a smaller or slimmer form factor case, then 80mm fans can be extremely useful. Of course, they're well suited to servers too, where there's often a height limit for components on each tray. What surprises me, however, is that despite their size, they can deliver airflow that exceeds that of the Noctua NF-F12, Thermaltake CT140, be quiet! LW 140, Antec PRIZM X 120, all much larger fans and more expensive too. Of course, Arctic does this by driving the fan at a finger-chopping 5000 RPM. However, with a maximum noise of just 44.8 dBa, they're actually quieter at 100% RPM than a Noctua NF-H14 PWM fan. The build quality is excellent, they're aesthetically pleasing, or at least as pleasing to the eye as an 80mm black server fan should ever need to be, and they're PWM so they're just plug-and-play; It's all just as simple as that. Should I Buy Them? So don't be fooled by the size, or the low price, as when it comes to shifting some seriously impressive amount of air in a tight space, Arctic have proven yet again that they're the masters of their craft. Top marks all around!