Best Case Fans in 2023

Everyone can agree that poor airflow is undesirable. It will cause your PC to run at unfavorable temperatures, which will undoubtedly have an impact on the functionality and longevity of key components of your system. The best case fans will silently increase cooling in your system.

We've chosen some of the best case fans we evaluated and gathered them together, emphasizing the key features and reviewed below.

• Best Overall Case Fan: Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM

• Best Affordable Case Fan: NZXT Aer RGB 2 120mm

• Best Purchased Case Fan: be quiet! Light Wings 120mm PWM high-Speed, Premium ARGB Cooling Fan

• Best Value Case Fan: Cooler Master MF120 Halo

• Best Premium Case Fan: Corsair LL120 RGB

 

1. Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 4.72 x 4.72 x 0.59 inches

• Brand: Noctua

• Power Connector Type: 4-Pin

• Compatible Devices: Desktop

• Noise Level: 23.9 dB

• Material: Fibre-glass reinforced PBT

• Maximum Rotational Speed: 1850 RPM

Our top option is the Noctua SF-12B, which is a terrific fan. This is significant since, while operating at lower RPMs, the NF-A12x25 was the quietest fan we tested. It makes less noise at 1200 RPM than some fans that spin at a slower speed.

Noctua's distinctive brown fans may stand out in whatever PC you build. The NF-A12x25 comes with a lot of accessories, including a Y-splitter, a 12-inch extension cable, and many rubber vibration dampers.

Pros:

• Remarkably high airflow

• Several accessories are provided

Cons:

• Not everyone will like the styling.

• High cost

2. NZXT Aer RGB 2 120mm

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 4.7 x 1 x 4.7 inches

• Brand: NZXT

• Wattage: 24

• Cooling Method: Air

• Compatible Devices: Personal Computer

• Noise Level: 35 dB

• Material: Copper

NZXT creates stunning hardware. The Aer RGB 2 moves a surprising amount of air at its maximum speed of 1500 RPM, but it is also noisier than almost every other fan we tested.

The Aer RGB 2's LEDs are restricted to the outer ring, which casts a diffuse glow across the rotating fan blades rather than directly illuminating them and casts a lot of light outward into the case. While objectively as garish as any other RGB configuration, it has a cleaner appearance that somehow manages to come off as more upscale. Additionally, the Hue 2 controller is more appealing than any of the other boxes we examined, so you won't mind putting it in your all-glass cabinet with the fans.

Pros:

• Nice appearance

• There are several accessories available.

Cons:

• More loudly than most

3. be quiet! Light Wings 120mm PWM high-Speed, Premium ARGB Cooling Fan

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 4.72 x 4.72 x 0.98 inches

• Brand: Be quiet!

• Power Connector Type: 4-Pin

• Voltage: 12 Volts

• Cooling Method: Fan

• Compatible Devices: Radiator

• Noise Level: 31 dB

• Maximum Rotational Speed: 2500 RPM

Be quiet! is all about keeping things quiet and staying up to its name. We've tried other RGB fans before, but the Light Wings are the quietest. Each of the 20 LEDs in the 140mm version and the 18 LEDs in the 120mm version is controllable by the motherboard software.

It offers both airflow and high-speed Light Wings models, allowing you to choose the best AIO cooler, in addition to 120mm and 140mm versions. However, if you decide to purchase one fan at a time, you can connect it to the loop utilizing a built-in daisy chain mechanism, keeping your cords organized.

Pros:

• Fantastic RGB lighting

• Enough airflow to RPM

Cons:

• Pricey

4. Cooler Master MF120 Halo

Specifications:

• Item Dimensions: 4.72 x 4.72 x 0.98 inches

• Brand: Cooler Master

• Power Connector Type: 3-Pin

• Voltage: 12 Volts

• Cooling Method: Fan

• Compatible Devices: Radiator

• Noise Level: 30 dB

• Maximum Rotational Speed: 1800 RPM

The Cooler Master MF120 Halo has two lighting rings that shine regardless of whether you set it as an intake or exhaust, making it addressable RGB by design. The fan's face may be customized using Asus Aura Sync, MSI Mystic Light, ASRock Polychrome, or Gigabyte RGB Fusion. It smartly uses white fan blades to better reflect the RGB throughout the full fan's face.

If you don't mind a little extra noise, the most impressive thing about this is that Cooler Master offers superior fans for less money than the majority of other brands. On compatible motherboards, any addressable Gen 2 RGB header is compatible with MF 120 Halos.

Pros:

• RGB with value

• Great construction

Cons:

• Unsatisfactory with AIO cooling

5. Corsair LL120 RGB

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 4.72 x 4.72 x 0.98 inches

• Brand: Corsair

• Cooling Method: Fan

• Compatible Devices: Desktop

• Noise Level: 24.8 dB

• Maximum Rotational Speed: 1200 RPM

The LL120s include a large number of RGB LEDs. Each one contains an equal number of LEDs that shine out from the rotor and spread light along the length of the blades as they rotate. Then the perimeter of the housing is surrounded by a different ring of light. The LL120s are the most colorful and eye-catching fans we tested as a consequence, making them the ideal choice for any RGB enthusiast.

The LL120s are also reliable fans. They tend to be a little louder than the competition at mid-range speeds, but when under stress, they are virtually silent compared to all other non-Noctua fans we tested.

Pros:

• High-end RGB lighting

• At full speed, it is quite

Cons:

• A little bit louder at medium speeds

1. How can I increase the airflow in my PC?

Different people have different ideas on where to put fans and how to get the optimal airflow. Avoiding a neutral pressure environment is a smart place to start because heated, stagnant air accumulating around your equipment won't benefit any PC.

In order to ensure that air is moving inside your PC case, you should essentially have fans for intake and exhaust. Both positive and negative air pressure setups will work well and make sure that heated air is being released while cool air is being drawn into your case.

2. How Can I Adjust The Fan(s)' Speed?

The two main methods for managing fan speed are as follows:

• Software
• Digital/Analog Controller

Your fans must, however, have four pins or it won't matter. Three-pin fans CANNOT have their speed controlled. Pulse Width Modulation can only be used to control 4-pin fans (PWM).

What you require from the cooling system for your PC will have a big impact on which case fans are appropriate for your setup. Some fans increase fan speeds to pump as much air as possible to feed your hot, power-hungry PC components regardless of noise, while others thrive at nearly silent operation. In conclusion, finding the best case fans is crucial for your PC system.