Cooling Chance of testing all 120 mm Arctic "high performance" fans

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

I just realized, as I was looking up potential fan options for my 18 - 19ish L white build, that there are also now the P12 Pro available, in white AND A-RGB versions.

And with THAT I also realized I would have like the perfect option to test out all of the current 120 mm "high performance" range of Arctic, as I already got the rest, ie.:

- 6x P12 Max
- 2x S12038-8K
- 3x P12 A-RGB (which, acc. to STS, is apparently the base for both the Max and the Pro version)

And for like more normal fans to compare to, I could use the 2 fans coming with the Thermalright 240 Frozen Edge, and maybe even the Thermaltake "no cable" magnetic connected ARGB fans (IDR the name right now, but I bought the ones with the slightly more oomph / CFM).

IDK if it makes any sense to test the server-grade S12038 as regular case fans, but maybe as intake for the Silver Soul 135? Aside of that, use them on the Thermalright Frozen Edge 240 that sits in the Mesh-mATX.

Any other fans to suggest you're interested in? (OC they have to be available in Europe)

cu, w0lf.

 

[AlexTSG]

It only seems right to throw a Noctua A12x25 G2 into the comparison, and maybe one of the Phanteks T30 120mm x 30mm ones too (I've been quite impressed with those).

 

[TheJiral]

I don't know how Arctic is delivering that kind of quality at that price point while barely anyone else is. Where is the catch? Durability? Or are the others all overcharging?

Anyhow

 

[AlexTSG]

I don't know how Arctic is delivering that kind of quality at that price point while barely anyone else is. Where is the catch? Durability? Or are the others all overcharging?

Anyhow

I've had some Arctic P12s (just regular non-ARGB ones) running for a few years and they've been fine. From what I remember the packaging was quite basic and they didn't come with any accessories. Perhaps those things do add up more than you would think.

I also used one of Arctic's USB fans to cool some USB Bitcoin miners years ago, when they were still worth running, and not only did that fan run 24/7 for over 6 years, but I also still have it. I just plugged it in to check it's working before typing this up, and it's running perfectly.

Here's an old Instagram post showing the fan and miners:

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

Re: Arctic durability - my system runs 24/7. The AP201 got an LF II installed, so it's 2x P12 A-RGB. Solid performance without any issues since building the system in .. February? or January 2023. Specs: 13700k, 64 GB RAM, no GPU, 2x SW 4 HS as intake.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

It only seems right to throw a Noctua A12x25 G2 into the comparison, and maybe one of the Phanteks T30 120mm x 30mm ones too (I've been quite impressed with those).

Firefox just decided to reload the tab instead of just opening it, so my reply is gone *sigh*

But for G2 tests, I'd rather suggest watching STS, who should offer much more compelling results:



For T30, I might consider, too, cause I'd like to see how they'd compete and compare with the P12 Pro.

cu, w0lf.

 

[AlexTSG]

Interested to see the testing when you're done. It will help with a project I have planned for later this year.

I have an EK Basic 240 AiO which I've had running completely stock for a year or so. I wanted to see how much the performance could be improved with:

- better thermal paste (probably Prolimatech PK-3) or a phase change pad.
- replacing the EK-Vardar fans (probably to whatever comes out best in your testing, or to T30s which I have already, but require custom PSU cables to fit)
- trying to top up the rad with extra coolant as I have heard some "gurgling". Not sure about this one as the AiO is not meant to be opened.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

Interested to see the testing when you're done. It will help with a project I have planned for later this year.

I have an EK Basic 240 AiO which I've had running completely stock for a year or so. I wanted to see how much the performance could be improved with:

- better thermal paste (probably Prolimatech PK-3) or a phase change pad.

I'm pondering going with the latter option, as cleaning and repasting is starting to become a bit of a hassle. Aside of that, this is already the third big tube of NT-H2 I'm opening this year. With fans, you at least can sell them later on or use them for other projects, so the money dumped into THAT gets returned somehow, but with thermal paste? Thats some fancy kind of money sink

T30s are currently only available as a triple pack in the EU / Germany, so while they're slowly getting in stock again, I'm just gonna do my lil "testing spiel"

- replacing the EK-Vardar fans (probably to whatever comes out best in your testing, or to T30s which I have already, but require custom PSU cables to fit)

why custom PSU cables? Are you running them off the PSU instead of the MB?

- trying to top up the rad with extra coolant as I have heard some "gurgling". Not sure about this one as the AiO is not meant to be opened.

good luck with that

The schematics (via geizhals) and some YT videos show a fill port, so that might be "unpluggable".

cu, w0lf.

 

[AlexTSG]

why custom PSU cables? Are you running them off the PSU instead of the MB?

I've used the stock cables from my SF750 and currently the excess (around 10-15cm of both motherboard and 2x 8-pin GPU power) is bundled up between the back of the PSU and the radiator fans, and I don't actually have the extra 5mm of space required for the T30s (I also could only find them in a triple pack btw).

The schematics (via geizhals) and some YT videos show a fill port, so that might be "unpluggable".

I haven't even peeled off the warranty/tamper sticker over the port to investigate, but I figured the very fact that there is a sticker over it gives me hope that I could either refill, or top it up. A full removal is required in either case as I'll certainly need to fill it with it running to get it completely topped off, and I don't like my chances of it not spilling everywhere during the process!

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

A few more

I've used the stock cables from my SF750 and currently the excess (around 10-15cm of both motherboard and 2x 8-pin GPU power) is bundled up between the back of the PSU and the radiator fans, and I don't actually have the extra 5mm of space required for the T30s (I also could only find them in a triple pack btw).

5 mm of space for the fans or for their cables?

If its the space for the fans, and you're building inside an A4-H2O, there are some tricks to still pull this off. Or at least I've read about it several times, some of it involving removal of the dampening / padding cushions on the fan corners, and even filing down some parts. Another option could be to cram everything in the top and leave off the mounting bracket, which would free a few more mm, but thats just a guestimate of mine.

But yeah, if all works out nicely, one might not even need that, ie. with P12 Max and P12 Pro available

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

Another bunch of fans to add to the test: 2x Silverstone Air Blazer 120 RW, as they've performed excellently on the Vida 240

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

Specs for the setup: Over at Mesh-mATX.

Overall approach: Probably gonna test during the night or in the early morning, because of summer temperatures.
Also, because its going to be relatively silent; so at best at 21 - 22 C ambient temperature.

For noise level tests, I'm using a basic run-o-the-mill DB meter, which I originally bought to measure the noise levels of the passing-by cars on the other side of the flat (yes, its loud all day long, despite the ferfent denial of my former flat mate), and the usual "normal" distance from case to myself, ie. about 40 - 50 cm.

Test itself is going to be a purely CPU-load one, as the system is an APU / iGPU-only build.
Measurable temps are: CPU, NVMe + Wifi, so its gonna be the first two.

The testing steps are:

- Temps in Idle
- Temps measured after 10 minute 100% load test
- Temps after 20 minute 100% load test

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

Arrived this morning: P12 Pro A-RGB in white.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

let's not forget: protection wrapper on the center of the fan hub. Cause if Asus can, why not also Arctic?