Page 4 - Conclusion
When it comes to the purpose of the Thermaltake SWAFAN 12 RGB, it actually serves two purposes: One is to make your system look good, and the other is to move air. As for its first point, the Thermaltake SWAFAN 12 RGB does indeed look quite good, utilizing its RGB LED lighting to its fullest potential. I do appreciate the appearance, and the ring design is something that will never be overlooked. The lights were quite bright on this fan. Thermaltake has put a big emphasis on appearance as they implemented the inclusion of additional fan blades to change the SWAFAN 12 RGB to become a reverse fan. Rather than flipping the fan over, you can swap the fan blade to avoid showing off the fan’s arms on the output side. Unfortunately, the looks seem to be the highlight of the SWAFAN 12 RGB. When it comes to usage, the performance was mediocre at best. Yes, the fan can move air, but when comparing it to other RGB LED fans, it simply did not perform as well. The SWAFAN 12 RGB will do its job, but there are better alternatives. Adding insult to injury, the installation process seemed simple at first, but when it came to software, I experienced many issues. TT RGB PLUS has had several issues in the past and they still prevail. The controller was recognized by the system, but the fans connected to them were not. For the people who are not a fan of the default rainbows blasting from their computer, this is a relatively big issue as appearance is a big component of the SWAFAN 12 RGB. Mix in the fact that we have only proprietary connectors so users must use the included controller, and you really have no other option. All in all, the performance and post-installation can be better optimized. Currently, the Thermaltake SWAFAN 12 RGB sells for about $120 for three fans, which is a bit pricey even for RGB lighting-enabled fans. If you are looking for good looking fans with the flexibility of a reverse fan, the Thermaltake SWAFAN 12 RGB is an innovative choice, but there are much better performing options available.
Thermaltake provided this product to APH Networks for the purpose of evaluation.
APH Networks Review Focus Summary:
6/10 means A product with its advantages, but drawbacks should not be ignored before purchasing.
5/10 means An average product with no real advantages; drawbacks and advantages just seem to cancel each other out.
-- Final APH Networks Numeric Rating is 5.8/10
Please note that the APH Networks Numeric Rating system is based off our proprietary guidelines in the Review Focus, and should not be compared to other publications.
The Thermaltake SWAFAN 12 RGB is an beautiful fan with mediocre performance.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware; Installation
3. Test Results
4. Conclusion
