Corsair Air Series Fans Review SP120 AF120 Review

[jamesriley94]

Molex, Fan Controllers, Motherboard Headers: All fine options.

Some fan controllers.

 

[Vicey]

Some fan controllers.

Well I doubt people like us are buying rubbish ones are we?

I don't see many budget builds around these forums period. :lol:

 

[jamesriley94]

Not about budget or not, its about how they control the fans.

The Scythe ones like yours work by decreasing the voltage which is perfect for it.
Others, such as the NZXT Sentrys (which are hardly budget) work by rapidly switching the fans on and off. This is what causes the fans to click or buzz.

The only 2 that I know to definitely work the voltage reducing way, is yours and the Lamptron controllers, so I'd be very careful if I was buying one myself

 

[Vicey]

Like everything you need to do your research before you buy anything. Just because something is more pricey doesn't mean it's going to be a good purchase (3960X as an example of something overpriced with mediocre gains over the 3930K).

But this is just like an accepted fact of being a consumer in general.

 

[airdeano]

i cant stand fan controllers for the fact that running wires back and forth (more sleeving) and
a cluster in the opti-bay to mention. i'd prefer trying to run the proper fan and if necessary use
a gang box or junction to tie them all together for the 12-volt, 7-volt and 5-volt power taps.
so instead in the viewing area in the front, place it behind the motherboard tray where it
cannot be seen. just my opinion.

airdeano

 

[jamesriley94]

i cant stand fan controllers for the fact that running wires back and forth (more sleeving) and
a cluster in the opti-bay to mention. i'd prefer trying to run the proper fan and if necessary use
a gang box or junction to tie them all together for the 12-volt, 7-volt and 5-volt power taps.
so instead in the viewing area in the front, place it behind the motherboard tray where it
cannot be seen. just my opinion.

airdeano

I completely agree with that.

I do have a hole in the side of my optical bays though where I have all my fan cables going through. As I dont use optical bays, it's fine, and nothing's visible through the window. Keeps things neater on the back too

 

[Vicey]

i cant stand fan controllers for the fact that running wires back and forth (more sleeving) and
a cluster in the opti-bay to mention. i'd prefer trying to run the proper fan and if necessary use
a gang box or junction to tie them all together for the 12-volt, 7-volt and 5-volt power taps.
so instead in the viewing area in the front, place it behind the motherboard tray where it
cannot be seen. just my opinion.

airdeano

You can buy fan controllers that don't go in a bay and are instead designed to be hidden behind a motherboard tray. I can't remember the name of the one I like but it features I think two Molex and it's very tiny and has tons of power delivery for fans with a USB port for managing it on your PC with software.

EDIT:// This is not the one I remember but this is one of this type http://www.quietpc.com/products/casefanaccessories/hfx-112

 

[airdeano]

T-Balancer/Big NG by Mcubed i am a fan and owner of a couple of them. i've tested and played
with them for a couple of years now. currently i'm testing the Corsair Link for the H-series and
fan/lighting control.
still i am not a devoted controller user. i prefer the molex under-volt.

airdeano

 

[drunkenvalley]

What I felt was missing from the review was a quick test as to what they actually sound like...

So let's fix that.

http://youtu.be/zReHwGmG92A

 

[Lollipop]

T-Balancer/Big NG by Mcubed i am a fan and owner of a couple of them. i've tested and played
with them for a couple of years now. currently i'm testing the Corsair Link for the H-series and
fan/lighting control.
still i am not a devoted controller user. i prefer the molex under-volt.

airdeano

Do you own a Link? If so, do you also own the light kit? I have considered getting one, but that depends on the quality of the LED's and the software.

 

[airdeano]

lollipop, i have the kit (CL-9011106-WW). i haven't played with the lighting side of the package.

airdeano

 

[Lollipop]

lollipop, i have the kit (CL-9011106-WW). i haven't played with the lighting side of the package.

airdeano

How well does the software work?

 

[drunkenvalley]

I figured out it was the fan controller being shit. Sooooooooo... nevermind that last video unless you want to hear what they sound like on less ideal fan controllers, lol.

I've got the fans installed now, and I have to admit they really look sweet. And are rather quiet.

 

[Lollipop]

You got the Alphacool rads?

 

[drunkenvalley]

You got the Alphacool rads?

Yes. A 45mm thick 240 in the front, and a 30mm thick 360 in the roof.

 

[King Damager]

Right, so bought a couple of these (one AF140 (quiet), one dual pack of AF140's (performance))....

Figured I'd get them over the NF-F12's and run them off the fan controller built into my v354.

Must admit they are pretty quiet...

Biggest problem though... Where's the extension cable?

Can't believe they overlooked this one...

The V354 is hardly a big case... but with the fan controller at the rear of the case, the front fans can't reach, at all, nevermind if I tried to route them nicely...

Now any other fans I've experienced, they tend to either provide you with an extension, or make the cables long enough that you don't have to worry. I'm pretty sure Noctua's cables are pretty short, but provide you with a decent length extension?

Have to admit to being slightly miffed by that really...

The 140 is certainly also at a noticeable volume at 12V. Whilst I haven't heard louder, I've heard quieter....

But yeah, just really wanted to make people aware about the complete lack of extensions, which I could certainly see being an issue if you're doing something like the Elysium, Switch, TJ11 etc.. where fans might have to go a long way to the fan controller at the front of the case...

kd

 

[Lollipop]

I don't know about the NF-F12's but the older noctua fans do not come with extensions.

 

[King Damager]

They do...

Extensive Cabling Options
The fan’s short 20cm primary cable minimises cable clutter in typical applications while the supplied 30cm extension provides extended reach when necessary. Both cables are fully sleeved and a 4-pin y-cable allows to connect a second NF-F12 fan to the same PWM fan header for automatic control.

(The NF-F12's)

kd

 

[Lollipop]

But they are also double the cost of a single AF/SP fan.

 

[FuzzyLogic]

I sure hope Corsair decides to make larger fans in the "Air Series". I need some 230mm fans. I'd like to go with a full set, but the size restrictions prevent me from doing so.

They also need to make SF in all sizes to deal with filters, and especially 140mm fans for newer rads.