NZXT F120 RGB Core Triple Pack Fans + Controller Review
Peter Donnell / 2 years ago
Performance
Once powered up, the fan LEDs look great. They’re not as aggressively bright as some of the fans we’ve seen recently, but that’s reflective of the 8 LED design vs the 20 LED design of their more expensive model. Personally, I like RGB, but I don’t like it overdone, so fans that light up without making my room a disco are what I prefer anyway. Plus, the white on these is pretty good, many fans tip towards a colder white light, but this is actually nice and clear.
The eight LEDs are built into the motor section of the fan, so they irradiate light outwards from the middle and that shines through the fan blades, giving you some nice fade effects.
There’s a great range of colours and effects from the built-in hub, including system reaction effects to things like temperature.
But with them being addressable, you can pretty much do whatever you like, any combination of colours, brightness and effects.
NZXT F120 RGB Core Recorded Fan Speed
- 50% PWM – 1034 RPM
- 100% PWM – 1530 RPM
NZXT F120 RGB Core Airflow Performance
- 50% Fans Speed – 64.56 CFM
- 100 % Fan Speed – 108.31 CFM
NZXT F120 RGB Core Acoustic Output
- 50% – 36 dBA
- 100% – 47 dBA
Performance Overview
Until our new fan testing results are complete, I’m resorting to a bit of a cheeky screenshot of my spreadsheet. The 50% PWM performance did seem a little high, sitting at 1034 RPM rather than the expected 750ish. However, that seems to be a good spot for these fans. At around 1000 RPM, they’re pushing 64.56 CFM, which is way higher than the NF-A12X 25 fans at a similar speed. Sure, Noctua is quieter, but at just 36 dBa the F120 are pretty darn quiet too!
At 100%, they’re sitting at a fairly noticeable 47 dBa, but well, if you want to move a lot of air, 108.31 CFM is the second highest we’ve scored here, that’s a LOT of airflow.