Page 3 - Performance Tests
To assess 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 evaluate 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 on top of a 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 our tests, the Thermaltake CT120 EX ARGB Sync was able to lift the tissue paper when in operation. The area of the tissue paper near the fan lifted high while the rest of the tissue dipped down noticeably at the end. It was good to see the CT120 EX ARGB Sync produced enough airflow and static air pressure to pick up the tissue paper at a good height, which was also consistent with the airflow specifications. The tissue paper held in place well for the most part, and only flapped around a little bit with no dramatic movements. The tissue paper also sagged slightly on the right side when viewed from the front. Both the airflow and static air pressure have good numbers on paper that translated well with these tests.
Perceived sound is an important factor when evaluating these 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 assessed independently in a quiet room with all the 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 complete silence and 10 is loud. At maximum speed, I would rate the Thermaltake CT120 EX ARGB Sync at about 3.0/10. The CT120 EX ARGB Sync proved to be a quiet fan. In the end, the Thermaltake CT120 EX ARGB Sync provides a good balance between airflow and noise with dazzling RGB LEDs.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware and Software
3. Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
