REVIEW: Coolermaster Aluminum 120x38mm AAF-B12-E1

[pwnt by pat]

Coolermaster Aluminum 120x38​

AAF-B12-E1​

Today, I'm going to take a look at the sytlish "newish" Coolermaster Aluminum fan. Before I begin, let me tell you a little about myself and my computers.

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0370.jpg

Intro​

I've been building PCs for a couple years now. I've gone from full performance, noise-be-darned, to powerful enough and quiet. I like my quiet. I like my power. I wan't my cake and to eat it too.

My first computer I built was a NF7-S with a barton 2500 in a Lite-On FS020 fully watercooled. In that computer, I had three YSTech 120mm fans pushing 110cfm at approximately 40dba. It had two 36gb Raptors and three optical drives. It was loud,yes, but I could deal with it. Over time, I've grown wary of PC noise. My watercooling systems have transitioned from Power to surface area and silence tuned. My main PC is stuffed with foam to keep things quiet. My 120mm fans push a modest 37 cfm. I like things quiet.

I admire Dells. WHAT? Yes, I admire Dells because they are so quiet. It's hard to belive what they can cram into those ugly black boxes yet keep inaudible.

Currnetly, the loudest fans in my computer, Lian-LI PC7-B Plus (rear 120mm) are the dual ADDA AD1212LB-A73GL at 7 volts. While quiet, they are not inaudible and drive me nuts when I want quiet time. These ADDA fans came with my case.

I have been on the lookout for a while for a fan to replace these as they don't move a lot of air and are fairly noisy undervolted . I didn't want to replace them with similar Yate Loon or Mechatronics fans as these fans sit on my BIP2. I know the Yate Loons won't be powerfull enough and the Mechatronics will be compairable in output.

One day, Nikhsub1 brought to my attention via his "beast 3 preview" thread the Cooler Master Aluminum fans. Being 38mm thick, outperform all low power fans in static pressure, which is the major factor in cooling, not airflow. What's more, they were designed for low noise, approximatly 23 DBA. I had finally found my prize.

The only problem was these fans are kinda rare-ish. They usualy are not in stock anywhere. Luckily, I found several and purchased 4 of their last 10. I recieved them yesterday. This is where we are at today.

The Specs​

• 120x38 mm
• 1 amp
• 12w
• 1200 rpm
• 56.1 cfm
• 1.40 mm h20
• 23 dba
• 100,000 mtbf
• dual ball bearing
• auto restart

Average price: $20-25 USD​

First Impressions​

It's normal to get excited over new hardware, however, this is the first time I am actually excited to recieve a fan. Sure, the Yate Loon fans were nice to get, however, I felt like a kid in a candy shop opening the box.

When I opened the box, my jaw dropped and as my family can attest, I release a big WOW.

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0372.jpg

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0373.jpg​

The box itself is very attractive. From Cooler Master you would expect nothing less. It's plain but that's where it's draw is. According to the front, the fans are robust. On the back, all the specs are clearly listed and everything is in it's place.

Inside the package comes the usual 3-to-4 pin fan adapter as well as the mounting hardware.

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0375.jpg​

What's interesting about the hardware is that it comes with rubber rings to isolate the fan and zip ties to make neat wire management. The fan mounts with a long bolt and nut. It's not the most convenient, however for heavy fans like these, it works. I do have one grip with the mounting hardware. Included with the fan are four rubber rings to hold the bolt away from the case. I would like to have seen eight rubber rings to isolate the actual body of the fan from the case. You can tell the rings are for the bolts because the bolts are tapered at the end.

Typically mounting washers are not an effective means of solving fan vibration, however, these rubber washers are the same softness as "o-rings" in waterblocks. When I put the fan on my table on the washers, absolutely no vibrations were transfered.

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0378.jpg

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0386.jpg​

 

[pwnt by pat]

The body of the fna itself is amazingly sturdy - what one would expect from an aluminum fan. The blades are sharp and sturdy and everything is well crafted.

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0380.jpg

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0381.jpg

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0382.jpg​

One thing you notice right away is the HUGE length of the power cable. CM wasn't fooling around when they put this cable on. It's 600mm in length and can easly go from anywhere in your case to a fan controller, anywhere in the case.

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0383.jpg​

Here you can see my whole collection:

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0391.jpg​

And here is a size compairison:

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0393.jpg​

 

[pwnt by pat]

The Test​

Before I go on, one must understand the basics of sound and DB and DBAs.

he decibel (dB) is a measure of the ratio between two quantities, and is used in a wide variety of measurements in acoustics, physics and electronics. While originally only used for power and intensity ratios, it has come to be used more generally in engineering. The decibel is widely used as a measure of the loudness of sound. It is a "dimensionless unit" like percent. Decibels are useful because they allow even very large or small ratios to be represented with a conveniently small number. This is achieved by using a logarithm.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB(A)

DBA is Decibel adjusted, meaning the values have been modified to fit what we, as humans, can hear. It's complex but lets just say 3 dba=twice the sonic power (sound pressure level) where as 10 dba=twice the percieved loudness. It's not the same because of the inefficiency of the human ear. Also, each person is different and as so, we all have different tolorances to certain frequencies. Some people can detect high pitched low amplitude sounds easier than others.

Anyway....

The competition (the image sucks): Glacialtech Silentblade gt12252bdl-1

• 37cfm
• 22dba
• rebadged Yate Loon
• unknown static pressure

According to the stats, the CM fan should be approximately 10-20% louder than the Glacialtech. We'll see how it faired.

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0397.jpg

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0398.jpg

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0400.jpg​

 

[pwnt by pat]

I do not have awesome testing equipment so here's how I tested:

I placed a dvd parallel to the shelf of my desk.
I put the fan on one side.
On the other side, I used a digital camera to record the fan during power-up and used the camera's mic to record the sound.
I recorded both blowing on to and away from the camera. The "on-to"'s are not so good as the mic detects the wind noise, however, you'll be able to tell the pressure difference between them by the noise.

Each fan was run at 12v. I do not have a fan controller or else I would have tested with it, also. As unscientific as this is, it does a fairly accurate job at portraying the noise of the fan. I'm sorry about the high pitch whistle. I have no idea what that's from.

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0404.jpg


First up was the Glacialtech:

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0405.jpg
http://pat8703.endofinternet.net/Web/OC mod/Fan test/HPIM0412.MPG

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0406.jpg
http://pat8703.endofinternet.net/Web/OC mod/Fan test/HPIM0413.MPG

Walkaround of the Glacialtech

In the same order is the coolermaster fan:

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0407.jpg
http://pat8703.endofinternet.net/Web/OC mod/Fan test/HPIM0410.MPG

http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0408.jpg
http://pat8703.endofinternet.net/Web/OC mod/Fan test/HPIM0411.MPG

Walkaround of the Cooler Master​

 

[pwnt by pat]

Conclusion​

All in all, I am very impressed with this fan. Impressed but slightly disappointed.

PROS:

1. High airflow for a low powered fan
2. Very quiet
3. Super-high quality level of construction
4. Highest static pressure for an axial fan in it's range
5. Vibration dampening hardware included

CONS:

1. DBA rating is probably inaccurate. My guess is actually about 25
2. Motor makes a slight tic - inaudible unless your ear is literally on the fan
3. pricy in quantity
4. only four rubber mounts per fan - needs 8 to be effective

Like I said, I was slightly disappointed. I had expeted near-glacialtech silence however I shouldn't have assumed that a large gain in performance can be had for no gain in noise. The noise level isn't awful, or noticable at about 2' distance - about 30-40% louder than the Glacialtech. If the fan is run at about 10-10.5v, it should keep above 45cfm and be completely inaudible while still having the high static-pressure characteristics.

Ideally, this fan is perfect for uber-quiet watercooling systems. With this fan, you can get the best performance/noise out of your system (when you plan on having no noise!). This fan would also be a good candidate for a large heatsink. I would not recommend this fan as a case fan as cheaper solutions can be found.

After writing the majority of this review, I compaired the fans to my dual ADDA on my BIP2. I did not take a sound recording however, rest assured these Cooler Master fans move more air at about 1/3 the volume of the ADDA at 7v.

My only REAL gripe is the ticking noise, which, like I said, is inaudible unless you are super close to the fan.

I am very pleased with my purchase and I know it'll make me happy for a long time.

My rating: 9.5/10



Here's some more fun compairison stuff - delta 92mm 150cfm AFC0912DE
http://pat8703.kicks-***.net:3097/Web/OC%20mod/Fan%20test/mini-HPIM0418.JPG
Movie
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[Tyreal]

NICE REVIEW MAN!

Looks good. i would love to get these fans but unfortunately i can't find them anywhere near me. Neither NCIX nor my local store carries them. Instead they go for these LQ aerocool fans which are anything but cool.

Great review.

 

[Shadowknight281]

For the record, I've been able to mount 25mm Aluminum Evercools using some rubber fan isolators by Verax. The fan "snaps" into place and is secure enough to not come off unless you pull it off. I'm guessing it should be okay with a 38mm fan as well. I mention this as washers aren't really effective, though fan isolators are in minimizing fan vibration transferred to the case.

 

[pwnt by pat]

The rubber mounts included with the fan are actually very similar to the rubber o-rings in waterblocks. It did a stopped all vibration when I set the fan on them on full bore on my desk.

 

[Electron Chaser]

Very nice review. I know this fan I have seen this exact same frame before. As a matter of fact the fans you buy at Radio shack have an identical aluminum frame housing. Now if I can just remember who makes them. I will post back later once I remember.

 

[pwnt by pat]

My Radioshack only carries plastic fans at $10 over retail pricing

 

[nikhsub1]

RE the ticking, I noticed the ticking too, but only when the fans were not in an upright position... if i leaned my rad against the wall at say a 30 degree angle, the fans made some bad noises. Once the rad is vertical, they stop making the noise. I got really lucky and found the fans when they first had them at clubit.com, $10.99 each with a $10.99 rebate, lmao... So I got one free and bought 5.

 

[citronym]

Excellent, excellent write up pat. Thx for the info.

 

[pwnt by pat]

Nik, I noticed the same problem, however I feel that no matter what position the fan is in, the ticking won't be "noticable" if it's properly isolated in the case. In fact, it's not even noticible to me within 2'. The air noise though...

You got a steal at that price. Why didn't you let us know you fithly mongrol. PS, where do you live?

 

[Time4aMassiveOC]

$10.99 each with a $10.99 rebate, lmao... So I got one free and bought 5.

its things like this that make me never ever want to do a rebate. because you know for a fact that they dont plan on you ever getting the rebate if they plan on making money.

 

[darksparkz]

Wow, lengthly and detailed review, love the pictures. Not recommended as a case fan? Looks nice though, sturdy and well designed.

 

[pwnt by pat]

Thank you, thank you.

The only reason I would NOT use this as a case fan is because of the price.

 

[veryhumid]

great job on the review, I hope you have time and interest in the future to do more of these. Also check out www.silentpcreview.com , you might get some ideas on test equiptment/environments

 

[pwnt by pat]

I am very fond of spcr

I don't really have the sort of money required to do official tests, though... *sad face*

 

[ShaDrag]

It might just be me, but the pics are dead for me :-(

 

[pwnt by pat]

I host my own files, one sec.