Page 3 - Performance Tests
To test the performance of both the Cooler Master Mobius 120 OC, our testing method invented right here at APH Networks was used. Although this test may not be the most comprehensive of tests, the results are qualitatively displayed at a minimum cost by using a piece of tissue paper and tape. As shown in the above photos, a piece of tissue paper was attached on the top of a fan. The tissue paper should be able to naturally fall down and cover the air outlet side -- the side where the motor rack is located -- of the fan. The fan is placed on the edge of a table to prevent air from reflecting off any other surface to not skew results. Once the fans were powered on, the airflow, airflow consistency, and the amount of static pressure can be evaluated by observing the behavior of the tissue paper. Note that the images above were taken using the high setting on the fan speed toggle.
Taking a look at the picture above, the tissue was slightly raised evenly on both sides of the fan, indicating how air is evenly distributed. Further away from the fan, you can see some consistency in the airflow, being on par with the be quiet! Silent Wings 4, if not better. The 3200 RPM was very noticeable when looking at the tissue. I found the fan produced sufficient airflow or static pressure to pick up the paper. Speaking towards consistency, the tissue paper held in place well and did not move erratically. This indicates decently steady airflow passing out the exit side of the Cooler Master Mobius 120 OC. Having tested all toggles, I found that the low toggle offered performance similar to the high toggle at 50% speed. The medium toggle offered good performance in the middle between low and high, as you may expect.
Sound is another important factor when testing fans, as we want a good balance between performance and noise. There are limitations, as sound can be quite subjective to both the listener and the environment of the fans. The noise levels of this fan are tested independently in a quiet room with all other noises from our system isolated to ensure we are testing the fan alone. We rate the perceived noise on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is absolute silence and 10 is an explosion. For the Cooler Master Mobius 120 OC at maximum speed, I would rate these fans at about 2.5/10 at low, 3.0/10 at medium, and 4.0/10 at high. The sound results are within expectations. You may find the high setting to be quite loud, but thankfully you can always move down to the medium toggle. I personally preferred the medium toggle as offered good performance and decent sound levels. You may find it odd for a PWM fan to have these types of controls, but I personally enjoyed it as I thought of it as a way to better control my fans in addition to PWM capabilities.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware
3. Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
