Page 4 - Conclusion
With our fourth look at the Thermaltake SWAFAN lineup, I can say the EX14 ARGB Sync brings many things we have seen in the past and combines it with a few up-to-date expectations. For one, we have the same physically well-constructed and thought-out design. The translucent frame and impeller ensure the addressable RGB lighting shines brightly through. Furthermore, we have easy daisy-chaining of both lighting and speed control through the use of pin and pad contacts with strong magnets. In addition to reducing the number of cables, this design uses standard headers, which means we do not need to use any proprietary controller. As true with all of the other SWAFANs, the EX14 ARGB Sync feature swappable blades, allowing users to change the direction of airflow while keeping the illumination more visible in your build. Finally, I like the appearance of a different colored frame rather than the standard black or white. When it comes to the Thermaltake SWAFAN EX14 ARGB Sync's performance, the results are a bit more mixed. On one hand, the fan generates sufficient airflow to keep components cool. However, the airflow is not necessarily the most consistent and can output with a bit of turbulence. Furthermore, the noise generated when operating at full speed is quite high. While it is understandable given its performance numbers, I think the noise to performance ratio is too high. At the time of the review, the Thermaltake SWAFAN EX14 ARGB Sync retails at $90 for a pack of three, which is a pretty penny to pay. While you are definitely paying a premium for its magnetic interface and aesthetic advantages, I think Thermaltake could tune these fans a bit better for its performance and noise metrics to make it a strong offering in both form and function.
Thermaltake provided this product to APH Networks for the purpose of evaluation.
APH Networks Review Focus Summary:
7/10 means Great product with many advantages and certain insignificant drawbacks, but should be considered before purchasing.
6/10 means A product with its advantages, but drawbacks should not be ignored before purchasing.
-- Final APH Networks Numeric Rating is 6.5/10
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 EX14 ARGB Sync is a mesmerizing set of cooling fans that could be refined for a quieter and more consistent output.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware
3. Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
