Although often overlooked , cooling is one of the most important panorama ofbuilding a data processor . You want a beefyCPU ice chest — or an all - in - one liquid tank — but you should yield attention to the world-wide airflow in your vitrine , too . To check that everything moves along as swimmingly as potential , we ’ve round off up the best personal computer fans for your flesh .
Here are our favorite PC fans for 2024 .
Best fan overall
Noctua NF-S12B Redux
Noctua has been get some of the undecomposed fans and coolers for almost 20 eld and it is n’t showing any signs of slowing . Its NF - S12B Redux-1200 fan is an excellent example of that . It ’s high - power , still , and features a unique blade design to maximize airflow without introducing additional noisy turbulence .
For those who do n’t care Noctua ’s distinctive dark-brown and cream vividness scheme , this fan ditch that in favor of a uniform grey aesthetic that can be accented by colourful anti - vibration mount ( sold separately ) if you choose .
It ’s not quite as smooth ( say that three time tight ) as Noctua ’s good fans , but they ’re so much more expensive than this that it is far easier to recommend .
Best RGB fan
Corsair LL120
If you want a personal computer that lights up on the dot how you want it , picking RGB fans like the Corsair LL120 is a bully idea . These give you complete restraint over your lighting setup , letting you peck from infinite colouring , choose coloring material brio and approach pattern , and synchronise up with other division of your personal computer ’s firing .
Each fan has 16 RGB LEDs , so the potential for color changing and model is much high-pitched than with most other RGB buff . You also get PWM ascendence , so you may manage the fan ’s stop number minutely yourself or with a detailed sports fan curve through companion software program .
you’re able to control these with your own sports fan controller , but they work better with Corsair ’s Lightning Node Pro , which can contend several devotee at once and offer consistent public presentation and lighting throughout your personal computer . If you have other compatible Corsair RGB products , you may also use Corsair ’s iCUE system .
Best fans for watercooling
Thermaltake ToughFan EX12 Pro
If you want a fan for your new watercooling loop to help cool the radiator down , you need fans with high static pressure . While there are a compass of splendid devotee for that job , the new hot tyke on the stop is the Thermaltake Toughfan EX12 Pro . These fuse the telling cooling operation and static force per unit area delivery of the Hellenic Toughfan conception , with the latest innovations in fan technology for a unfeignedly innovative , advanced devotee .
It fall with work up - in silicon dampening to further reduce dissonance levels , and has a simple-minded connect mechanism for its PWM fan coping using a magnetised grip . The lover blades themselves are magnetic , too , which lets you switch the direction of your fan ’s airflow in just a few second by turning the lover blades around . This is far easygoing than taking out the entire fan , and can make it much easier to work with in compact systems .
The fan blades are made from a liquid crystal polymer , further cut down noise level and quiver . It ’s a little expensive at over $ 30 per fan , but if you want a passing silent urine - cooling setup , they ’re well worth the cost .
Best slim PC fan
Noctua NF-A12x15
Noctua makes another appearing with an unassuming cooling machine that proves you could get high - quality components even if you ’re building a tiny microcomputer . Smaller computing equipment have less caloric headroom , so their office must be as effective as possible . Noctua ’s NF - A12x15 does an splendid caper of keeping the cool atmosphere in while pushing the hot air out . And it carry off to complete the transference in a shorter package .
The 120 mm sports fan is only 15 mm thick , making it the idealistic root for microATX and mini - ITX type and other builds short on space .
The Noctua NF - A12x15 is stalwart while being relatively muted , and it ’s affordable as well .
Best quiet fan
be quiet! Silent Wings Pro 4
The be quiet ! Silent Wings Pro 4 fan is the perfect option if you want a unruffled , efficacious fan for cooling a high - performance organisation . This fan is tuned to spin up to 3,000 revolutions per minute , so you may get some serious air moving if you need to , but its genuine strength is in its silent operation . At low speeds , it ’s whisper placid , thanks to its long , effective fan blade , and fluid - active mien motor for rock-bottom palpitation . Silicon mounts aid weed out the last of them , too .
It ’s a little more expensive than some fan , but it works well as both a standalone and radiator devotee , thanks to its high motionless pressing . It look good , too , with a sporting black paint chore and rough-textured rooter leaf blade that help it endure out from the competition without the pauperization for garish RGB firing .
Best cheap RGB fans
Thermalright TL-C12C-S
If you just postulate a cluster of good enough rooter to accommodate in your PC to make it bet honest , cool well , and not get too flashy , then Thermalright has you covered . Its TL - C12C - S are very , very affordable — so much so that we had to double - learn the price elsewhere to make certain this was n’t some third - party reseller trying to scam us . But , nope — you really can get these fans for less than $ 10 each , and they still offer strong performance and pretty RGB inflammation .
They do n’t have fancy magnetic connections or sophisticated polymer blade you could swop out and reverse , nor do they have an RGB lighting setup that is as fancy as some of our other choice . But they offer effective cooling capabilities , do n’t get particularly tawdry unless they ’re really crank up up to mellow speed , and attend great thanks to classy RGB lighting . It ’s the entire blade , too , not just some side - mount LED .
These are the best fans to install in a new PC to improve cool . you may always swop them out for something gamy - close afterwards .
