EK launches EK-Vardar X3M 120ER fans with aRGB options

[HEXUS]

These high-static pressure 7-blade fans include removable coloured dampers.

Read more.

[Ttaskmaster]

StatPress isn't bad and airflow is at the lower end of on-par at that level... but they can get stuffed with that volume rating, though!!
Seriously, for those stats even NB eLoops get almost 50% more airflow, while most other fans are a lot quieter.... and EK's wibble about noise, optimised airflow and all that is just wibble, as it depends greatly on what you're making the airflow flow through.
Unless they've optimised these fans for specific radiators, I don't believe a word of their marketing guff and refer people to the Vardar F4-120ER fans, which perform better on all counts.

LED-wise, again other fans offer more, especially in terms of number and addressability. It looks like they've ignored performance in favour of appearance and ended up fluffing both!!

I remain unimpressed.

[Gentle Viking]

Well my 4 intake fans, if i let them rip at 2000 RMP will each move much more air ( 182 qM/h ) but then its at a 31 DB noise level and 4.18 mm static pressure.
Okay my fans are also a bit larger
https://noctua.at/en/nf-a14-industri.../specification

But i have no plans for letting them rip, somewhere between the startup speed of 500 ROM and 1200 i recon will be fine, i am still debating weather to run them at a fixed speed or let the MOBO regulate them according to CPU or the slower fluctuating coolant temperature.
All my 4 radiators are low noise, though the 2 intake ones, well maybe not really low noise as that to me is down around 20 DB, the 2 vent radiators will be 0 DB as they are just venting the air out of the case, and in the process taking a little of the CPU heat with them, before the water head off to the GFX card.

[globalwarning]

Hmmm.... no info on their actual noise levels. I do like their cross compatibility with control system. I'm so tired of proprietary RGB systems.

[Gentle Viking]

well many things do that, but just don't get high hopes of you have a gigabyte motherboard.
I have tried for many many months to get it to work ( with compatible hardware and even the on board LED's, and its just garbage ) So i have disabled it in bios.

And before i put this motherboard in its new home, i will also mod the motherboard itself.
Not in a attempt to get the light to work that i have dropped and i will just use a controller and a few RGB light strips though i will probably stick to one color.

And no RGB or lighted fans, this is a Dane building, so will have to be nice and clean.

[Ttaskmaster]

Hmmm.... no info on their actual noise levels.

Company's own website, as linked in the article:

Performance characteristics:

- Max air flow: 67 CFM = 114 m³/h
- Static pressure: 2.75 mm H2O = 27 Pa
- Noise level: 34.2 dBA


That's just the fan noise wide open, so it's guaranteed to be even louder when you try forcing that airflow through a restriction of any kind.

[Gentle Viking]

"through a restriction of any kind."
That's just what i plan to do with my new case, but i have designed in options to regulate the flow / restriction, but i assume at MAX fan speed there will be issues, but i don't plan to ever go that high.
I don't think i will restrict the flow much, though to make sure it go where i want to, and give me 3 uses of the same air, then it will of course not be totally free flowing after it leave the fan blade.
So some degree of pressure build up i do expect in my case project, but it should be very minimal as otherwise it will just impact performance of the front fans and the 2 radiators there.
1: front radiators behind fans ( 2 X 140 mm rads)
2: component cooling on MOBO by aimed flow and not just air going around the case as it please.
3: Exiting case at the top thru 2 radiators with no fans on them. ( 3 X 120 mm rads )

I have also gone to great length to do a custom install of the fans to make sure any vibrations don't go into the case, and that's beyond fancy smancy colored silicone corners and other factory solutions.

[Ttaskmaster]

"through a restriction of any kind."
That's just what i plan to do with my new case, but i have designed in options to regulate the flow / restriction, but i assume at MAX fan speed there will be issues, but i don't plan to ever go that high.

Anything your airflow passes through will create noise. Even your ULN 9-19dB fans blowing 800rpm or lower through a normal fan grille can result in 25-30dB, just from that airflow. Performance will be fine, but they will be noisy. This is why the Mfr's stats are just a starting point.

Plus 'noise' is highly subjective.