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be quiet! SilentWings 3 PWM FansSo is it time for another review. As a continuation of my review of the be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 casing, there should of course follow the review of their SilentWings 3 fans. So it comes here.
This time we are going to take a look at their brand new SilentWings 3 fans in PWM versions. PWM is a more accurate way to control the fans in relation to control them on the voltage. It requires a 4-pin connector instead of 3-pin. PWM fans are backwards compatible, so that you also can control them with a three pin connector, and thereby control the voltage on them instead. I've got both 120 mm and 140 mm models to review, and not only that, then be quiet! expanded their product line with some High Speed models that I'm also going to take a look at and listen to.
Before we move on, you should not be cheated of a little introductory video from be quiet!.
The technical specifications. Because be quiet! as usual, have a VERY long specification list, I have made a PDF print of them, as you can see on the links below: SilentWings 3 120mm PWM Specifications SilentWings 3 140mm PWM Specifications The following features are common for all fans.
What do you get with the fans. Let's take a look at the package and what you get with the fans. When opening the box, you get a good description of the features on the inside of the lid. The fan is located in one box and accessories in a separate box. It is nicely divided, and again the be quiet! product oozes quality.
Beneath the boxes is a little guide that tells how to assemble the product. But that I'll show below.
A look at the accessories. You get some different accessories with the fans. There are various corner pieces, so you can use the fans for different purposes. On the left is the vibration damping mounts. They give the fans a very free mounting, and all vibrations remain in the actual fan instead of being transmitted into the casing. The bracket can be turned differently, I explain why below. On the right is the fixed mounts, where the fan is mounted more firmly to the casing or to the radiators. These fans can namely be used for radiators (High speed) as well as airflow (normal).
For the assembly, there are the normal fan screws. Then there are pins and a rubber washers, which is used for mounting with the vibration damping corners.
As you can see, there are a few letters on the side of the bracket. It is because you can choose how tight you want the fan to be mounted to the casing. If you choose to turn the 'L' in against the casing, the fan will hang with 1 mm clearance against the casing. And if you select 'S' the fan will sit tightly against the casing. That way you can choose yourself. The pin is pushed all the way through from the outside of the casing and hold the fan firmly. Simple and easy.
A closer look at the fans. The fans have the well-known be quiet! design. The wings have an optimized surface design that should reduce wind noise. And then there's the frame, which should provide an optimal airflow.
The corners can be installed by sliding them over a locking system. You can always remove the corners, or reverse them if you should have the need.
The outer edge of the frame itself is of rubber. So it can seamlessly connect close to the casing and create a wind tunnel without transmitting vibrations to the casing.
Finally a picture of the cable itself. The cables for these fans is 500 mm long, and not only that, they are sleeved and have a black connector at the end.
Let's move on to the test. I have chosen to make the test of these fans a little dynamic. In the sense that I've made a little video of how much each fan is regarding noise. Not only that, I have also made a dB measurement of the fans. The measurement is made with a mobile app, at 30 cm. distance. It is not made with doubting the specifications in mind, but more to show how much noise the fans make compared with other fans I tested the same way. There is a playlist on my YouTube channel, where I have tested a few other fans in the same way and more will be added all the time. As you can see, and hear, the High Speed models have a somewhat higher level of sound pressure. It will not surprise anyone, since it was what we saw in the specifications. You must also remember that the fans are running fairly fast, and move a lot more air, it will all in all make some more noise. I think, however, that it is a pleasant noise, and I could easily find other fans which have a more irritating kind of noise. If you put these fans in a good soundproof casing like the be quiet Dark Base Pro or Silent Base, you will hardly notice these fans.
My opinion: I have pronounced my enthusiasm about products from be quiet!, and I'm certainly not disappointed with these products either. These fans are of such quality that you might be able not find anything better. Not only that, I actually think they look really good too. The noise level and performance is certainly at the top, and that you can install these fans in different ways depending on the needs you have is just awesome. Now you would think that you should pay a half or a whole farm for these fans, but again you will be pleasantly surprised. The fans can be acquired from approximately 155 DKK for the 120 mm models and about 165 DKK for the 140 mm models. It looks like they cost the same whether it is normal PWM or the high speed models. As the price level is fair and especially the quality is top notch in these products, I will give them a great GOLD star rating. There is really nothing to complain about these products is state of the art.
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