Review: corsair air series fans (af120 / 140 and sp120)

Corsair in early May advanced to the news websites, which would soon launch its first range of "Air Series" fans. These are the AF series: case fans and high flow fans and the SP series for heatsinks due to their static pressure.

Product ceded by:

	AF120 Performance Edition	AF120 Quiet Edition		SP120 Performance Edition
Dimensions	12 cm	12 cm	14 cm	12 cm	12 cm
Air flow	63.5 CFM	39.9 CFM	67.8 CFM	62.7 CFM	37.9 CFM
Pressure	1.1	0.5	0.84	3.1	1.29
Noise	30 dBA	21dBA	24dBA	35dBA	23 dBA
Speed	1650 RPM	1100 RPM	1150 RPM	2350 RPM	1450 RPM
Stream	0.13 A	0.08 A	0.1 A	0.18 A	0.08 A

We have had all the Corsair fans but I have only unboxed several models, because they are all the same. I start with the 140mm fan, completely red and black case. Only one fan is included!

The box includes:

• Air Series AF-140 fan Red, white and blue rings. Instruction manual with quick guide. 4 screws and 3-pin extender.

The fan earns a lot with the rings that comes standard.

Back view.

A large number of blades to have an excellent flow of fresh air.

The corners have anti-vibration lugs. Very useful to have a silent team?

3 rings of different colors: White, Red and Blue. They will help give a personalized touch to our box, and above all it will go with our components. ROG, UD-X or Xtreme series.

Oops Now it's white, what a style it has!

3-pin cable.

Screws and thief with 3 pins.

The box includes a set of two fans. This version works at 1100 RPM which for my taste is enough to optimally cool any box.

The box includes:

• Air Series AF-120 fan Red, white and blue rings Instruction manual with quick guide 4 screws and 3-pin extender.

General view.

Back view.

Differences between the Corsair 120 and 140 mm in size. In addition to a greater number of blades.

Also composed of a pack of fans. These are ideal for liquid cooling and heatsinks.

The box includes:

• Air Series SP-120 fan Red, white and blue rings. Instruction manual with quick guide. 4 screws and 3-pin extender.

The motor remains the same, only it changes its blades, which are fewer but larger. In addition to its speed that ranges from 1650 RPM and 2350 RPM.

The back we did not find news.

General view of the fan.

Blades with larger size and corners with shock absorbers.

And the three colors available?

And now a bonus track with a triple radiator. AF120 version with blue rings…

A little closer…

The three rings available. You like it right?

Of course, a leveling second to none for today's fans.

TESTING BENCH
Processor:	Intel 2600k
Base plate:	Asus Maximus IV Extreme
Memory:	Kingston Hyperx PNP 2x4GB
Heatsink	Corsair H60 and Watercooling Phobya G-Charger 360 mm
HDD	Kingston Hyperx 120gb
Graphic card	ASUS GTX580 DCII
Power supply	Corsair GS800 V2

To test the actual performance of the fan, we stress the CPU with full memory (Linx) and prime number (Prime95) floating point calculation programs. Both programs are well known in the overclocking sector and serve to detect failures when the processor works 100% for long hours.

How are we going to measure the processor temperature?

We will use the internal sensors of the processor. For this test on Intel processors we will use the “Core Temp” application in its version: 0.99.8. It is not the most reliable test, but it will be our reference in all our analyzes. The test bench will be around 28.5ºC ambient temperature.

WE RECOMMEND YOU Core V1 is a water block for LGA 1151 processors without the IHS

Here the results obtained:

Corsair presents its first series of high-end fans. Within each series, we have two Performance Edition models and the Quiet Edition that will cover any of our needs and only in the Quiet Edition version we have a 140 mm model.

We really liked the shock absorbers incorporated in its corners that will prevent vibrations, high quality bearings and its customizable rings available in blue, white or red. We also highlight the design of the “AF series” blades, which are distinguished by having nine blades and the SP series has 7 blades and wider.

Regarding its performance I have been very satisfied, it performs similar to the fantastic Scythe Nidec GT 1850 RPM, but with an aesthetic and possibility that no other fan gives us. For example with an i7 2600k at 4800mhz + Corsair H60 I have obtained in idle: 53ºC and full: 71ºC with Prime95 Custom. And in a liquid by pieces: Phobya G-Charger 360 + 3 x Corsair AF120 2350 RPM + D5 + Aquacomputer Kryos, idle: 54ºC in full and 29º in idle.

I've also tested Quiet Edition fans in an Obsidian 800DW case and a Bitfenix Prodigy. Quietly introducing and removing air and becoming a great option for lovers of silence (Quiet PC).

I would have liked the fans to be PWM to avoid acquiring a rehobus and controlling the fans by motherboard.

The price of the fans is around € 23 for the 120 mm pack and € 15 for the 140 mm fan. An excellent price, as it is a high-end fan.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ EXCELLENT DESIGN.	- NONE.
+ VERY GOOD ENGINE.
+ CUSTOM RINGS IN THREE COLORS.
+ GREAT VARIETY OF SPEEDS.
+ OF THE BEST PERFORMANCE FANS.
+ PRICE.

The Professional Review team awards you a well-deserved Platinum medal: