Page 3 - Performance Tests
To test the performance of all of the SilverStone Shark Force series, 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 reflected 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. Additionally, as the non-RGB and RGB variants performed similarly from my tests, we will only be displaying the results of the SF120B-ARGB and SF160B-ARGB for simplicity.
Taking a look at the pictures above of the Shark Force fans, the tissue was raised evenly on both sides of the fan, indicating how air is evenly distributed. Further away from the fan, you can see the consistency in airflow. The 2500 RPM and 1600 RPM was noticeable for the 120mm and 160mm models respectively when looking at the tissue. The power of these fans was exceptional as I had my first experience with fans that would blow themselves over if not held down. You could say that its performance blew itself away. All of the fans performed exceptionally well thanks to the high airflow and air pressure. Speaking towards the consistency, the tissue paper did move quite a bit, indicating unsteady airflow passing out the exit for the Shark Force series.
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 were 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 silence and 10 is an explosion. For the 120mm models, I would rate these fans at about a 4.0/10. while the larger 160mm models would sit comfortable at a 3.5/10. This makes sense, as the 120mm models clock in with a significantly greater RPM, producing a greater amount of noise. With an RPM of 2500 and 1600 for the 120mm and 160mm models respectively, these noise levels are acceptable for the performance observed. With all things considered, it is unlikely to be constantly running these fans at full speed, making sound a lesser issue.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware
3. Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
