The 120mm fan is a quieter version of the 140mm, and provides better airflow.
The “120mm vs 140mm fans reddit” is a question that has been asked many times. The answer to the question is that it depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for more airflow, then go with the 120mm fan. If you’re looking for less noise and lower power consumption, then go with the 140mm fan.
There’s a lot of discussion about whether to use 120mm or 140mm fans. If you’re new to PC gaming, deciding between the two may be difficult. We can’t overlook the significance of PC case fans, which are an essential component of every gaming PC. We’ll explain the kind of PC case fan you should choose and why in this tutorial.
Let’s get started!
PC Case Fans 120mm
These are the most common types of PC case fans on the market. The majority of prebuilt gaming PCs and laptops use 120mm fans for cooling. If you’re constructing a gaming PC on a budget, a 120mm case fan should be your first choice.
Cooler Master is the source of this image.
A 120mm PC fan has a size of 120x120mm and a thickness of 25mm. A 120mm case fan with RGB lights, on the other hand, may be a little bulkier. A 120mm fan can spin at speeds of up to 1200 RPM.
PC Case Fans 140mm
The 140mm fans outperform the 120mm fans significantly. In comparison to a 120mm fan, a 140mm fan has a faster spinning speed and produces greater airflow. These are the case fans you’ll find on high-end gaming computers and laptops.
NZXT is the source of this image.
A 140mm fan is also bigger in size, making it an excellent option for full-ATX PC chassis. A standard 140mm fan is 140x140mmx25mm in size.
Comparison of 120mm and 140mm Fans
The following are the most crucial considerations:
Airflow
A PC case fan’s airflow is measured in cubic feet per minute, or CFM. The higher a case fan’s CFM, the more airflow it has to cool down your computer. When compared to 140mm fans, 120mm fans have a lesser CFM.
A 140mm case fan, on the other hand, has a greater CFM rating than a 120mm case fan. The rule of thumb here is that a larger fan will remove more heat from your computer casing. A 140mm fan allows for more ventilation, reducing heat buildup within your case.
Speed of Rotation
To remove heat from your PC case, the case fan must obviously spin at a certain speed. A fan’s rotational speed is measured in RPM. A 120mm case fan has a maximum rotational speed of 1200 RPM.
This is an excellent amount of RPMs to cool down your PC for low-budget gaming setups that don’t have any power-hungry components inside. In general, a case fan spinning at 800 RPM is sufficient to keep a mid-range gaming PC cool.
The 140mm fan, on the other hand, can achieve RMPs of up to 1000. When compared to the 1200mm fan, these figures are very low. The 140mm fan, on the other hand, has a small advantage in heat dissipation over the 120mm fan.
The Level of Noise (dB)
Case fans that are quieter in operation are a priority for PC gamers. And there isn’t much of a difference between the dB ratings of 120mm and 140mm case fans.
Despite their greater RPMs, the 1200mm fans are quieter. The 140mm fans are a little noisier than the 120mm fans. Again, the 120mm case fans outperform the 140mm case fans in terms of noise level. However, the amount of noise produced by the 140mm under high load is hardly audible.
There are also some 140mm case fans from reputable manufacturers like as Cooler Master and Noctua that are whisper quiet even when under heavy load.
Keep in mind, however, that a greater number of RPMs may shorten the life of a case fan. It’s also conceivable that a 120mm that is quieter now may begin to make noise in a few months. A 140mm fan, which spins at a slower speed and is extremely robust for a longer run, is an option.
Price
If you’re on a limited budget, your only choice is to use a 120mm fan. The reason for this is because 120mm fans are less expensive than 140mm fans.
Despite their high price, 140mm fans seem to be a fantastic bargain for high-end gaming PCs. Furthermore, for a few dollars extra, you can buy a 140mm fan that produces more airflow and lasts longer than a 120mm fan.
There’s little doubt that 140mm PC case fans are the way of the future. A 140mm case fan would be ideal for cooling down a PC for intense gamers.
Without a doubt, the 120mm fans are less expensive than their 140mm counterparts. However, when it comes to durability and performance, the 140mm fans provide the best value for money.
120mm | 140mm | |
Airflow | Low | High |
Speed of Rotation | 1200 RPM | 1000 RPM |
The Level of Noise (dB) | Low | It is dependent on the brand. |
Price | Cheaper | Expensive |
120mm versus 140mm PC Case Fan Comparison Table
Conclusion – The Winner
Overall, the 120mm and 140mm fans provide the greatest value for money when it comes to cooling your PC. However, we discovered that 140mm case fans are more dependable than 120mm case fans in our comparison. This isn’t to say that the 120mm fans aren’t good. Without a doubt, if you want a less expensive and quiet case fan, 120mm fans are the best option. The 140mm fans, on the other hand, have better airflow, lower noise levels, and longer durability than the 120mm fans.
The “140mm fan shootout” is a benchmark that compares the performance of 120mm and 140mm fans. The results were quite surprising, as the more expensive 140mm fans performed better than the cheaper 120mm fans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are 140mm fans better than 120mm?
Are 140mm fans louder than 120mm?
A: The answer to this question depends on what you are trying to accomplish with your PC. If you want the maximum amount of air flow through your system, then a 120mm fan will be better than a 140mm fan since it has more blades. However, if sound is important for you and/or noise pollution needs to be kept at an absolute minimum, then the extra 3-4 inches of diameter may make up for that in terms of louder noise levels.
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