Passport characteristics and prices
| Manufacturer | cooler master | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model name | MasterFan SF120R | MasterFan SF120R ARGB | MasterFan SF120R RGB |
| Model Code | MFX-B2NN-20NPK-R1 | MFX-B2DN-20NPA-R1 | MFX-B2DN-20NPC-R1 |
| Abbreviation in the article | SF120R | SF120R ARGB | SF120R RGB |
| Size, mm | 120×120×25 | ||
| Weight, g | 173 | 191 | 191 |
| Bearing type | slide with screw thread (Rifle Bearing) | ||
| PWM control | there is | ||
| Rotation speed, rpm | 650-2000 | ||
| Airflow, m³/h (ft³/min) | 100 (59) | ||
| Static pressure, Pa (mm H 2 O) | 21 (2.1) | ||
| Noise level, dBA | 8-30 | ||
| Operating voltage, V | 12 | ||
| Starting voltage, V | there is no data | ||
| Rated current consumption, A | 0.16 | ||
| Backlight | No | addressable multicolor | multicolor |
| Mean time to failure (MTTF), h | 160 000 | ||
| Warranty | 2 years | ||
| Contents of delivery | fan + 4 fixing screws | ||
| Average price at the time of publication of the review | out of stock | 1380 rub. | 1470 rub. |
MasterFan SF120R
The fan is packed in a colorful cardboard box. The design uses a corporate dark purple color.
On the sides of the box, a fan is depicted, the main features are listed, and the technical characteristics of the product are also given. The text is mainly in English, but the enumeration of the main features is duplicated in several other languages, including Russian. The delivery set is minimalistic – in addition to the fan itself, there are 4 more screws.
The fan impeller is made of transparent tinted plastic with a partially matted surface.
The fan frame is made of black durable plastic. It has stiffening ribs, which eliminates possible resonant phenomena that can lead to vibration and increased noise during fan operation. With a less rigid framework, this is possible and we have already met.
Vibration-isolating rubber pads of medium hardness are glued into the lugs in the corners of the frame. When uncompressed, the pads protrude approximately 0.5 mm from the maximum frame height.
As conceived by the developers, this should provide vibration decoupling of the fan from the attachment point. However, if we estimate the ratio of the fan mass to the stiffness of the linings, it becomes clear that the resonant frequency of the structure is very high, that is, there can be practically no effective vibration decoupling. In addition, the sockets where the mounting screws are screwed into are part of the fan frame, so the vibration from the fan will be transmitted through the screws without interference to what the fan is mounted on. As a result, such an eyelet design can be considered as a fan design element. Note that the height of the frame decreases slightly towards the center of the sides of the frame square in the plan. This and slightly protruding pads lead to a small gap between the fan and the flat surface on which it is fixed. This gap is small, but still can reduce the efficiency of the fan. The marking on the fan allows you to determine that the model DF1202512RFMN is used.
The cable from the fan is encased in a braided sheath made of slippery plastic. For some reason, there is a warranty sticker on the cable, which can be easily torn off during the most common manipulations with the fan. According to Russian laws, the absence of a sticker is not a reason to refuse warranty service, but still. The fan supports PWM regulation.
MasterFan SF120R ARGB
The next two fans are very close in design to the MasterFan SF120R described above, so we will limit ourselves to photos and a description of what the differences are.
Package:
Contents of delivery:
Frame lugs with rubber pads:
The impeller of this fan is made of transparent plastic with a partially matted surface.
Under the central hub of the impeller are eight addressable RGB LEDs. Two cables leave the fan, one with a four-pin connector, the second with a three-pin connector. The first cable connects the fan, for example, to standard 3(4)-pin connectors on the motherboard. The second cable connects the fan to the power source and backlight control signals, for example, to a separate backlight controller or to the corresponding connector on the motherboard. To daisy-chain ARGB-illuminated devices, a short flat cable with a male connector extends from the female connector, the contacts of which, when not in use, are closed by a plug made of elastic plastic.
The power cable and backlight cable up to the first connector are enclosed in a braided sheath made of slippery plastic. The fan supports PWM regulation.
To demonstrate the operation of the backlight, we used the controller from the Cooler Master Masterliquid ML360P Silver Edition liquid cooling system . It seems to be obvious, but still, let’s clarify that the backlight control device to which the fan is connected is responsible for the effects. You need to evaluate the nature of the glow, although the video still does not quite adequately convey what is visible to the eyes.
MasterFan SF120R RGB
Package:
Contents of delivery:
Frame lugs with rubber pads:
The impeller of this fan is made of transparent plastic with a partially matted surface.
Under the central hub of the impeller there are four RGB LEDs. There are two cables coming out of the fan, both with four-pin connectors. With one cable, the fan is connected, for example, to standard 3(4)-pin connectors on the motherboard. The second cable connects the fan to a source of backlight control signals, for example, to a separate backlight controller or to the corresponding connector on the motherboard. To daisy-chain RGB-lit devices, a short flat cable with a male connector extends from the female connector, the contacts of which, when not in use, are closed by a plug made of elastic plastic.
The power cable and backlight cable up to the first connector are enclosed in a braided sheath made of slippery plastic. The fan supports PWM regulation.
To demonstrate the operation of the backlight, we used the controller from the Cooler Master Masterliquid ML360P Silver Edition liquid cooling system . It seems to be obvious, but still, let’s clarify that the backlight control device to which the fan is connected is responsible for the effects. You need to evaluate the nature of the glow, although the video still does not quite adequately convey what is visible to the eyes.
Testing
Measurement data
| Parameter | MasterFan SF120R | MasterFan SF120R ARGB | MasterFan SF120R RGB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions, mm (on the frame, including overlays) | 120×120×25 | ||
| Weight, g (with cables) | 173 | 195 | 196 |
| Fan power cable length, cm | thirty | thirty | 30.5 |
| Length (A) RGB cable, cm | — | 30+5 | 30.5+5 |
| Start voltage, V | 2.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 |
| Stop voltage, V | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.6 |
For a better understanding of how the results below are obtained and what they mean, we recommend that you read the following material: Fan Testing Methodology .
The dependence of the rotation speed on the PWM duty cycle
A good result is a smooth increase in the rotation speed when the duty cycle changes from 20% to 90%. The course of the graphs at points 90% – 95% – 100%, apparently, is due to the fact that the fan controller does not recognize a signal with a short circuit of more than about 95%. Note that at a short circuit of 0%, the fans do not stop, therefore, in a hybrid cooling system with a passive mode at minimum load, such fans will have to be stopped by reducing the supply voltage.
Dependence of rotation speed on supply voltage
The nature of the dependence is typical: a smooth and slightly non-linear decrease in the rotation speed from 12 V to the stop voltage. Note that the adjustment range is slightly wider than when using only PWM.
Volumetric efficiency vs. rotation speed
Recall that in this test we create some kind of aerodynamic drag (all the air flow passes through the anemometer impeller), so the obtained values differ downward from the maximum performance in the fan characteristics, since the latter is given for zero static pressure (no aerodynamic drag).
Volumetric efficiency at minimum resistance against rotational speed
Without resistance, the fan pumps much more air per unit time. The maximum performance in this mode is higher than the value specified by the manufacturer.
Noise level from rotational speed
Note that below about 18 dBA, the background noise of the room and the noise of the measuring path of the sound level meter are already much higher than the noise from the fan. Judging by the absence of pronounced kinks, there are no obvious resonant effects – the rigid frame design works.
Noise level from volumetric performance
Note that the noise measurements, in contrast to the performance measurements, were performed without aerodynamic load, so the fan speed was slightly higher during the noise measurement at the same input parameters (supply voltage). The lower and to the right the point on the graph is higher, the better the fan is – it works quieter, it blows harder.
Noise level from volumetric performance at minimum resistance
Determination of performance at 25 dBA
It is inconvenient to operate with a whole graph to compare fans, so we will move from a two-dimensional representation to a one-dimensional one. When testing coolers and now fans, we apply the following scale:
| Noise level, dBA | Subjective assessment of the noise level for a PC component |
|---|---|
| over 40 | very loud |
| 35-40 | bearable |
| 25-35 | acceptable |
| below 25 | conditionally silent |
In modern conditions and in the consumer segment, ergonomics, as a rule, take precedence over performance, so we fix the noise level at 25 dBA. Now, to evaluate fans, it is enough to compare their performance at a given noise level.
Let’s determine the fan performance at a noise level of 25 dBA for the case of medium and low resistance:
| Model | Productivity, m³/h | |
|---|---|---|
| Medium resistance | Low resistance | |
| MasterFan SF120R | 24.5 | 87.5 |
| MasterFan SF120R ARGB | 24.8 | 93.5 |
| MasterFan SF120R RGB | 25.2 | 93.8 |
In terms of performance for the medium resistance case, let’s compare these fans with other 120mm fans tested under the same conditions:
Given the large gap between the two outsiders, these fans are in the middle position.
Let’s also compare the performance for the case of low resistance.
In this case, these fans are also in the middle position, and if we exclude the result for the 140 mm fan, then they are generally in the lead.
Maximum static pressure
The maximum static pressure was determined at zero air flow, that is, the magnitude of the rarefaction was determined, which was created by a fan operating for exhaust from a sealed chamber (basin). Note that we needed to use non-linear extrapolation, since the pressure sensor used after about 25 Pa switched to a non-linear mode and did not give a value above 27 Pa.
Maximum static pressure:
| Model | Maximum static pressure | |
|---|---|---|
| Pa | mm w.c. Art. | |
| MasterFan SF120R | 32.7 | 3.33 |
| MasterFan SF120R ARGB | 29.1 | 2.96 |
| MasterFan SF120R RGB | 28.8 | 2.94 |
Let’s compare these fans with others:
Note that a high static pressure will keep the air flow at an acceptable level in the case of a large aerodynamic load created, for example, by dense dust filters in the housing. These fans are at the forefront of this category. Recall that this parameter is given for the maximum rotation speed, at which the noise is maximum. That is, the diagram above allows you to choose the best fan if you need to pump air through something dense, regardless of the noise level.
findings
If we focus on the results of the most revealing test with moderate aerodynamic resistance, then the tested Cooler Master fans of the MasterFan SF120R series confidently occupy the middle positions. Being almost identical in design and very similar in parameters (the discrepancies can be attributed to the experimental error and the natural variation between the samples), the fans differ in the presence or absence of backlighting, as well as its type in the case when it is. This gives the user the opportunity to choose the degree of decoration, if there is confidence that these fans fit the really important parameters.
