Page 3 - Performance Tests
To test the performance of the fans, the APH Networks proprietary testing method invented right here at APH Networks was used. While it is by no means the most objective of tests, this allows you to test your fans at a minimum cost using a piece of tissue paper and tape. As shown by the above photos, a piece of tissue paper was attached to the top of the fan. The tissue paper should be able to naturally fall and cover the air outlet side -- the side where the motor rack is located -- of the fan. We have placed the tested fans near the edge of the desk to prevent air from the bottom surface from bouncing back, thereby masking the actual performance characteristics of it. 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.
From the photos above, we can see the SilverStone Air Slimmer 120 ARGB was able to lift the tissue paper when in operation. The tissue paper lifted quite high. The tissue paper sags a bit on the right side when viewed from the front, but still retains most of the height. When it comes to consistency, the tissue paper stayed in place quite well with only a little bit of movement, which speaks to the steady airflow that passes through the fan. The tissue paper flies with characteristics consistent with the specifications and shape of the blades, which is to say we have a strong amount of airflow and static air pressure generated by the SilverStone Air Slimmer 120 ARGB. This is also impressive considering the low-profile nature of this fan.
Perceived sound is an important factor when testing case fans, as we do want a good balance between airflow and noise. However, there is a limitation to this, as it can be quite subjective to both the listener and the environment of the fans. The noise levels of this fan were tested independently in a quiet room with all other noises from our system isolated to ensure that we are testing the fan alone. We rate the perceived noise on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is complete silence and 10 is standing next to an avalanche. At maximum speed, I would rate the SilverStone Air Slimmer 120 ARGB at about 3.5/10. The Air Slimmer 120 ARGB is not the quietest fan, but given the impressive airflow results, this is a trade-off that makes sense. In the end, the SilverStone Air Slimmer 120 ARGB provides a good balance between airflow and noise.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware
3. Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
