Hence, installing case fans is one of the most affordable ways to keep the temperatures of your gaming PC maintained. That being said, in this article, you will find some of the best 120mm case fans that you can get from the market. So, if you are interested in buying one, make sure to check these few important things beforehand:
Fan Speed: For faster and more efficient cooling, you should be looking out for a case fan that runs at a decent speed. For that, you can simply check the maximum speed of any case fan option as it’s generally given in the terms of RPM. A fan with a higher RPM rating will rotate fast as compared to a fan that has a low RPM rating. Noise Level: While you lookout for a fast-running fan, don’t forget to check its noise levels. Generally, fast fans produce more sound which might feel unpleasant and disturbing while you work on your PC. The noise level of a case fan is generally mentioned in terms of decibels (dB). So, you should note that a case fan with a lower dB will work more quietly. Airflow: The rate at which your PC is cooled down by the case fans depends on the efficiency of the case fans. With case fans that offer high airflow, the air is drawn out or sucked in faster which helps in maintaining the temperatures more easily. That said, the airflow of case fans is usually given in terms of CFM, you can compare that between multiple options to find the best one for your PC case.
Apart from these things, if you are curious to know more about 120mm case fans, we have also included a short and simple buying guide later in this article that will help you out. The buying guide includes all the essential information that a customer should care about checking before spending their hard-earned money. So, we definitely recommend every reader go through the Buying Guide once. Until then, let’s start checking the case fan options that we have shortlisted for you.
Best 120mm Case Fans 2023
Best 120mm Case Fans Reviews
1. Corsair ML120 120mm Premium Magnetic Levitation Fan
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Corsair is known to be one of the most popular and trustworthy brands in the gaming industry as it sells almost every PC part that a gamer would ask for. When it comes to PC case fans, Corsair also offers in this segment as well. The Corsair ML120 is one of the most premium case fan options that you will find on this list. It uses a unique magnetic bearing mechanism that allows it to function as fast as 2000 RPM while delivering a quiet performance with noise levels up to 35dB only. In this package, Corsair offers 2 case fans, and the overall build quality and the design of these fans is absolutely top-notch. Thanks to its custom rotor design, each fan offers an airflow of about 75 CFM which is quite commendable. Moreover, these fans use a 4 pin connector, which means the speed of the fans is also controllable. Apart from that, you will be glad to know that Corsair offers a 2-year warranty for these PC case fans. Best Features:
Max Rotational Speed is 2000 RPM Noise level is 35dB Uses a 4-pin connector Delivers an airflow of 75 CFM Comes with a 2-year warranty
Pros:
Superior design and build quality Performs very quietly Fan speed and airflow efficiency is great
Cons:
Expensive
2. ARCTIC ACFAN00119A P12 PWM
Arctic is quite a decent brand that is highly popular for making affordable PC cooling parts such as case fans, CPU coolers, and even monitor mounts as well. If we talk about the ACFAN00119A P12 PWM case fan from Arctic, we personally like its design and build quality as it comes in a completely black color which can match any PC rig very easily. Since it comes with a 4-pin connector, the fan’s speed can be easily adjusted from 200 RPM to 1800 RPM whenever needed. Thanks to the latest generation PWM IC, this fan is best at controlling power usage without compromising on its performance. Thus, it delivers a max airflow of 56.3 CFM while running at its max speed of 1800 RPM. Even at such high speeds, it only makes noise up to 10.64 dB which is surprisingly good. Talking about its warranty, Arctic offers a 6-year manufacturer warranty on all its offerings. Best Features:
Max Rotational Speed is 1800 RPM Noise level is 10.64 dB Uses a 4-pin connector Delivers an airflow of 56.3 CFM Comes with a 6-year warranty
Pros:
Highly affordable Efficient and powerful Long service life
Cons:
Expensive
3. be quiet! Pure Wings 2 120mm PWM
Coming up next, you can also check the PC case fans range from be quiet! which is quite a wonderful and popular brand known for selling high-speed affordable fans. Talking about the Pure Wings 2 120mm case fan, this fan features a total of 9 fan blades which are engineered to deliver fantastic airflow at all speeds. The power connector of this fan is a 4-pin connector which means that its speed is fully controllable while the max it can reach is 2000 RPM, which is great! Although it runs at a pretty fast speed, it creates noise up to 36.9 dB which is quite standard as there are many other options out there that perform better. However, the noise is not disturbing at all and you’ll rarely be distracted by it. Apart from that, we personally like its build quality a lot, and it’s even rated to work for more than 80,000 hours, thanks to the long-life rifle bearing that it uses. As far as the warranty is concerned, be quiet! offer a 3-year warranty on its PC case fans. Best Features:
Max Rotational Speed is 2000 RPM Noise level is 36.9 dB Uses a 4-pin connector Operating lifetime of 80,000 hours Comes with a 3-year warranty
Pros:
Excellent build quality Easy to clean design Deliver fantastic airflow
Cons:
A little extra noisy as compared to other options
4. Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM
If you want to pick the case fans for your PC rig from an absolutely premium brand, Noctua offers a wide range of top-notch options to choose from. Although this fan option is quite premium and efficient, it’s not at all too expensive which is a great fact about this one. Noctua has been in this industry for a long time now and they have perfected their way of making fans as this fan has an exceptional build-quality and operational working hours of more than 150,000. Thanks to its pressure-optimized blade design, this fan can operate as quiet as 25.1 dB which is absolutely impressive. In fact, this is the maximum noise level it produces while running at its full speed of 1700 RPM. Speaking of the speed, this case fan uses a 4-pin connector, hence, the fan’s speed can be adjusted very simply. If we talk about its warranty, Noctua offers a 6-year warranty for it. Best Features:
Max Rotational Speed is 1700 RPM Noise level is 25.1 dB Uses a 4-pin connector Operation working time of 150,000 hours Comes with a 6-year warranty
Pros:
Low noise performance Build quality is very good Easy to install
Cons:
Colour is a bit odd
5. Uphere 3-Pack Long Life Computer Case Fan
Coming to the next PC case fan option on this list, if you are on a budget and want to purchase multiple fans for an affordable price, uphere is one of the best brands that will offer what you exactly need. In this pack from uphere, there are three 120mm case fans, all of which are built from environment-friendly materials and are well-constructed to make them last for years. If we talk about their performance, these fans use a wear-resistant hydraulic bearing which lets them offer a noiseless performance, as quiet as 19 dB only. In fact, the fans rotate pretty fast at a pace of 1200 RPM, while the overall airflow offered by each fan is 38 CFM which is quite good. The overall weight of the fans is very light, yet they are quite strongly built and are tested to work perfectly for over 40,000 hours. Speaking of the connectors, these fans come with a 4-pin MOLEX connector that can be directly connected to the PSU. On the other hand, an additional 3-pin connector option is also there in case you want to plug them directly into the motherboard. Apart from that, uphere has quite a good reputation in the market and offers a 1.5 years long warranty. Best Features:
Max Rotational Speed is 1200 RPM Noise level is 19dB Uses a 3-pin connector and 4-pin MOLEX connector Delivers an airflow of 38 CFM Comes with a 1.5-year warranty
Pros:
Can function properly for over 40,000 hours Lightweight design Highly affordable
Cons:
Slightly difficult to clean
6. Antec 120mm Case Fan
Next up, we have yet another affordable PC case fan option coming from Antec, which is one of the most popular and trustworthy brands in the PC accessories category. You will be glad to know that this package includes a total of 5 PC case fans which means you can properly ventilate your gaming rig with the help of this fan kit. What’s more special about this package is its pricing as it comes at a very cheap price and offers you a very high value for your money. Coming to the performance of these fans, each fan has 7 blades that optimally deliver an airflow of 30.5 CFM at their max rotational speed of 1000 RPM. Even at their highest rotational speed, these fans barely make a noise which makes them quite a good option to pick. The noise level of these fans is measured to be 21.5 dB only which is really very impressive. Apart from that, you will find all the installation accessories in the package already. Moreover, since Antec also provides a 1.5 years warranty for these PC case fans, you can definitely go for this deal. Best Features:
Max Rotational Speed is 1000 RPM Noise level is 21.5 dB Package includes 5 Case Fans Delivers an airflow of 30.5 CFM Comes with a 1.5-year warranty
Pros:
Premium build quality Installation accessories included Performs silently
Cons:
Fan speed is not adjustable
7. Kingwin 120mm Silent Fan
If we speak about affordable brands, Kingwin is typically one of the best brands out there that is highly popular for selling affordable PC case fans. Despite its lower price tag, you will barely find any compromises made on its build quality as it looks absolutely solid and will definitely last for years. That said, even its life expectancy is mentioned to be over 100,000 hours which makes it one of the most reliable PC case fan options on this list. One of the best parts about this PC case fan is that it comes with both a 4 pin MOLEX connector and a 3-pin connector as well which lets you install these fans in your PC rig very conveniently. Talking about its performance, this fan uses special high-profile blades which offer a decent 40 CFM airflow and do a great job to keep your PC cool. Although the speed of this fan is not adjustable, it rotates at 950 RPM constantly without making any distracting noise. In fact, the noise levels are measured to be 19 dB only which is quite impressive. Speaking of its warranty, Kingwin provides a 1-year warranty for it. Best Features:
Max Rotational Speed is 950 RPM Noise level is 19 dB Uses a 4-pin MOLEX connector or a 3-pin connector Delivers an airflow of 40 CFM Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Quality of the blades is brilliant Life expectancy is quite good Wallet-friendly
Cons:
Design is not attractive
8. PCCOOLER 120mm Case Fan
Now, coming to the premium 120 case fans, you should definitely check out this 3 pack of case fans from PCCOOLER as it’s one of the most-selling options out there right now. The reason why this case fan option is so popular is that it comes with RGB lighting which makes it stand out. The lighting looks absolutely brilliant, and even the design of the fans is quite attractive which can easily match up with any PC case. In terms of performance, these fans offer a 31.68 CFM airflow which is quite decent. In fact, the max speed of this case fan can reach up to 1200 RPM, and since it uses a 4-pin connector, it’s adjustable too. If you are concerned about the noise levels, you will be glad to know that this case fan only produces 18 dB noise which makes it one of the most silent-performing case fan options. Apart from that, this case fan comes with a life expectancy of more than 40,000 hours, thus, it is also reliable and going to last for a long time. The best part is that you will be getting a total of 3 fans in this package, thus, the pricing is quite justified as well. Moreover, if we talk about the warranty, this PC case fan option is backed up by a 3-year warranty. Best Features:
Max Rotational Speed is 1200 RPM Noise level is 18 dB Uses a 4-pin connector Delivers an airflow of 31.68 CFM Comes with a 3-year warranty
Pros:
Has an effective shock absorption design Uses efficient hydraulic bearings Installation is quite simple
Cons:
Airflow could have been better
9. Aigo AR12 Pro 120mm PWM Case Fans
Moving on to the next PC case fan option, Aigo is yet another popular brand that offers some of the best and most reliable RGB fan options in the market. Thus, if you are interested in buying a set of 3 RGB case fans for your PC rig, this is the best deal for you. Starting with the performance of these fans, each fan is capable of delivering airflow of 74 CFM which is quite commendable. In fact, thanks to the 4-pin connector, the speed of these fans can be adjusted between 800-1600 RPM as required. While running at the slowest pace, these fans can be as quiet as 14 dB, and even at the fastest rotational speed, the noise levels only hike up to 25.8 dB which is still very quiet. Thanks to the solid construction and build quality of these fans, they operate pretty quietly without any vibrations. In addition, it uses a separate 3-pin 5V ARGB connector which allows you to control the RGB light via your motherboard. Thus, you can adjust the RGB lighting and match it up with your other PC peripherals for creating an aesthetic look. As far as the warranty is concerned, Aigo PC case fans are backed by a 1-year warranty. Best Features:
Max Rotational Speed is 1600 RPM Noise level is 25.8 dB Uses a 4-pin PWM connector Delivers an airflow of 74 CFM Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Features addressable RGB lighting Silent performance Offers effective cooling with high airflow
Cons:
Costly
10. KEYFANCLUB 2-Pack 120mm Fan
Last but not the least, here’s another budget-friendly high value for money option left to discuss which is offered by KEYFANCLUB. Apart from its attractive pricing, one thing about it that impressed us very much is its performance. This case fan can run at a max rotational speed of 1500 RPM while blowing out or drawing in the air into the case at an airflow capacity of 58 CFM. Thus, there are no issues regarding its performance as it does its job quite well. However, if we talk about its design, it looks pretty standard which might not fit everyone’s taste. But, if you are looking for a reliable and effective cooling fan for your PC case, this is not at all a bad option. In fact, it’s pretty simple to install which barely takes about 10 minutes. On top of it, this fan from KEYFANCLUB doesn’t even make much noise. The max noise level offered by this fan is 23 dB which is not at all a problem. Moreover, this fan is quite reliable as it comes with a life expectancy of 35,000 hours which is very good. Well, you will be glad to know that KEYFANCLUB offers 2 PC case fans in this package which are both backed by a 1-year warranty. Best Features:
Max Rotational Speed is 1500 RPM Noise level is 23 dB Uses a 2-pin connector Delivers an airflow of 58 CFM Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Offers optimal cooling performance Affordable Long lasting
Cons:
Blades are a bit flimsy
Buying Guide for the Best 120mm Case Fans
Every PC owner understands very well how important it is to have a well-ventilated PC case. In case the PC has bad airflow, it will eventually lead all the components like GPU, CPU to heat up a lot when used for longer sessions. And, overheating of these kinds of components is not a good sign. That being said, you should make your PC as ventilated as possible to keep the temperatures under control as it will increase the overall life of your PC. You can simply do it by installing case fans in your PC rig. Thus, if you are thinking of buying some new case fans for your PC, here are some things that every customer should keep in mind to buy the best case fans for their PC rig.
1. Max Rotational Speed
First of all, if you look into the market, you will come across hundreds of 120mm case fan options to choose from. However, you should note that not all of them work the same. So, the best and easiest way to compare them is by checking their max rotational speed. The speed of a fan is measured in RPM which is also called rotations per minute. Hence, it should be pretty clear to you that a fan with higher RPM will work faster and will offer better airflow. Any fan option that is able to deliver rotational speed over 1200 RPM can be considered good.
2. Noise Level
Although we suggest you go for a fast speed fan, you must take care of the fact that it’s not too noisy. Generally, if a fan’s speed is high, it is assumed to create more noise. And, from our personal experience, we can tell that the noisy fans do not offer a pleasant experience. That’s where the build quality and the design of the fan come into play as a well-designed fan can definitely perform quietly without lacking any speed. The noise level of a case fan is usually mentioned in terms of decibels (dB). Hence, if you want to compare different options, you can easily do it as a case fan with a lower dB noise level will perform more quietly. Thus, you should go for a fan that is fast, but also quiet as well.
3. Airflow
Another important thing that you can consider checking is the amount of air displacement that the fans offer. The Airflow offered by case fans is generally mentioned in terms of CFM. Thus, a fan with a higher CFM capacity will have more power and displace more air from your computer’s cabinet. For instance, a 40 CFM fan will not perform as well as a fan that offers 60 CFM airflow. But, you must note that a fan with higher airflow capacity will have a faster speed as well which can become one reason for it to be loud and noisy.
4. RGB Lighting
Although fans are used to maintain the temperature levels inside the PC rig. However, if you think of it in another direction, case fans can also be used to decorate a PC rig as well. In the market, there are case fan options available that come with in-build RGB lighting as well. Thus, if you are a fan of RGB lighting, like most other gamers, you will definitely like those options. However, the addition of RGB lighting in a case fan increases its power usage, as well as hikes up its cost too. Thus, these kinds of case fans fall into the premium category and would be slightly pricier than other case fan options.
5. Connector Type
While buying a new case fan, you have to keep an eye on the type of connector that they use. Well, some case fans generally use a 3 pin connector, while there are such options available too that use a 4 pin connector. In general, a 3 pin connector is used for case fans. However, a 4 pin connector case fan is more advanced as the 4th pin allows your computer to adjust the fan speed as per the requirements. That means, your computer can manage the speed according to the situation which can make your computer highly power-efficient and also increase the overall life of the case fan.
6. Warranty
Apart from all the specifications, one must also not forget to check for the warranty information of the case fan. If we look at the top brands, almost all of them offer a 1-year warranty for their case fan options. Thus, it is highly important to pick a case fan from a popular brand only so that you can get the benefits of the warranty. It is due to the fact that even if the fans go faulty after a few months of usage, or come damaged out of the box, you can get a new one as a replacement without spending any extra money on it.
1. How is a 4 pin connector different from a 3 pin connector?
Ans. A 4-pin PWM connector is much more advanced as compared to a 3 pin PWM connector as it adds the functionality to control the fan rotational speed. In the case of the 3 pin PWM connector, the case fan will keep running at a constant speed. On the other hand, case fans with 4 pin connectors are fully controllable and their RPMs can be adjusted as required. 2. What is the best size for a case fan? Ans. The 120mm case fans are typically the standard and the best size as they are universally compatible with almost all kinds of PC rigs. Although, if you have other plans in mind, there are case fans of other sizes also available in the market such as 80mm, 92mm, 140mm, and even 200mm. 3. How fast should a case fan be? Ans. It depends on what type of tasks you do on your PC. If you are a gamer or do other heavy tasks like video editing on a regular basis, 1400-1600 RPM fans will deliver optimal cooling. On the other hand, if you are a casual user and just use your computer for light tasks, fans with 900-1200 RPM fan speed will do good enough.
Conclusion
We have tried to include all sorts of case fan options in our list so that everyone can find a suitable one as per their taste. Thus, we hope you have gone through the article and have already picked the best one for yourself. However, if you haven’t been able to decide yet, you can also consider going through the buying guide as it contains a lot of information that might help you out. On the other hand, if you are not able to decide to pick a good case fan from this list, we have a few personal recommendations for you that you should check out: For those who want to install a pair of premium PC case fans in their PC rig, the Corsair ML120, 120mm Premium Magnetic Levitation Fans are the best option to pick. The best part about them is their superior build quality and powerful airflow of 75 CFM. Moreover, the fans are powerful enough to run at 2000 RPM while maintaining a balance between performance and silence. Moreover, Corsair even offers a 2-year warranty for it. In case you are looking for an affordable PC case fan option, you should pick the Antec 120mm PF12 Series Case Fans as the package includes a total of 5 case fans. The deal is pretty affordable and each of the fans offers amazing cooling performance with 30.5 CFM airflow while running at a max speed of 1000 RPM. Moreover, the fans operate very quietly and come with a 1.5-year warranty too. If you are looking for a fan option that delivers a high value for your money, we personally like the Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM, High-Performance Cooling Fan. This fan has a brilliant build quality as it works at a max speed of 1700 RPM which is also adjustable. Moreover, its life expectancy is over 150,000 hours and operates very quietly at only 25.1 dB. In addition, this Noctua PC case fan is backed up by a 6-year warranty as well. Comment * Name * Email * Website
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