Building your own PC is more accessible than ever, and many people tend to lean toward customizable options as personal design preferences can range from more form-over-function builds to those that are built around a singular goal in mind: raw performance. However, as CPUs and GPUs continue to grow more demanding in their power requirements (and subsequent heat generation), it does warrant the need for more adequate cooling options that keep things running smoothly, without forcing the system to under-perform.
The longevity of a PC directly depends on the operating temperatures of its components, and cooler is always better as a rule of thumb. While most CPUs and GPUs can easily take a beating at 150–200 degrees Fahrenheit, which temperatures are well within their design rating, higher temps can directly impede their reliability over time. Running at higher temps can also prevent your build from reaching peak performance as the system will throttle to prevent further spikes in temperature.
Given this, PC cooling fans are nearly always a welcome addition to most high-end computers, gaming rigs and workstations that can benefit from the lower temperatures inside the case. Thanks to extensive experience with PC building, the Team at GameRant is able to guide you when it comes to which fans you should get for your gaming PC, focusing on performance, noise, and lighting, but not necessarily in that order.
Note: We have limited the scope of this guide to a minimum of 120 mm or 140 mm three-pack case fans. We feel this both levels the playing field and also takes into account the hardware-specific features like cable management solutions, modularity, and the availability of a controller for RGB & PWM (or lack thereof).
Lian Li UNI FAN SL-INFINITY
Infinite RGB Cooling
The Lian Li UNI FAN SL-INFINITY is a sight to behold when it comes to PC case fans. What is arguably the best-looking cooling fan to ever come from the Taiwanese case maker is also packed with plenty of features such as daisy-chaining, an infinity mirror, and a cable-less design.
- Brand
- Lian Li
- Dimensions
- 120 X 122.1 X 25 (mm)
- Voltage
- DC 12V (FAN) & 5V (LED)
- Wattage
- 5.16W
- Compatible Devices
- PCs with 4 pin fan headers, ARGB headers/USB 2.0 headers
- Noise Level
- 29 DMA
- Maximum Rotational Speed
- Up to 2100 RPM
- Air Flow Capacity
- 61.3 CFM
- Lian Li's modular, daisy chained design is a first in the market and makes installation easy and prevents cable clutter
- One of the best looking case fans money can buy; The Infinity Mirror RGB look is a class apart from the competition
- Offers high CFM and an excellent quiet mode for users that have changing needs; With PWM support, the SL Infinity can do both, quiet and performance modes with ease
- As premium fans that focus on aesthetics, these are also one of the most expensive fans you can buy and if you stock a case with these, you could pay more than the case's value for the fans alone
There are multiple reasons the Lian Li UNI FAN SL-INFINITY is an excellent case fan option for gaming PCs. Its chief advantage over much of its competition is its completely modular design. A single Lian Li adapter cable can power as many as four daisy-chained fans with ease. The provided controller can handle as many as 16 fans in a 4x4 configuration while pushing cable clutter to a minimum.
It also happens to be an excellent performer with superb airflow, decent noise levels, and acceptable fan speeds, that include PWM support to boot. This is completely ignoring the fact that the Lian Li SL Infinity is one of the most beautiful sets of PC fans that we have ever seen, with its Infinity Mirror RGB look showcasing some of the most polished design decisions to grace a PC. The bundled Lian Li 'L-Connect' software platform has its quirks but given that it provides the ability to directly sync the fans to the motherboard with a touch of a button, that is an acceptable tradeoff for what is pretty much a middle-ground RGB software experience.
Update Aug 2023: While the Lian Li UNI FAN SL-INFINITY sees little price movement with just a $4 discount on its previous price, it still happens to be one of the most beautiful set of PC case fans that are simple to set up while minimizing cable clutter thanks to their focus on daisy-chaining their solution.
With a more mature L-Connect 3 software solution over time in addition to being one of the most pricey, yet highest-rated RGB fans in the business, the SL Infinity continues to command a large following and deservedly so, making them our pick for the best overall case fans for gaming thanks to them pioneering and pulling off their unique look with a capable controller in tow. They are currently on sale for nearly $10 less on Amazon if you decide to go for the equally (and in some cases more) appealing white version of the same.
Thermaltake Pure Plus 14 RGB TT Premium Edition
The Thermaltake Pure Plus 14 RGB fans are 140mm radiator fans that also make ideal case fans. The Pure Plus 14 fans utilize a proven 9-fan blade design for a powerful maximum airflow of over 70 CFM. Low-noise hydraulic bearings are self-lubricated to reduce noise levels to 30.4 dBA.
The Pure Plus 14 RGB fans include a Digital Lighting Controller to connect multiple fans and coordinate RGB lighting effects. 9 addressable LED lights on each fan generate 16.8 million colors with Thermaltake's TT RGB Plus Software support to switch between 10 preset lighting schemes.
- Brand
- Thermaltake
- Dimensions
- 140 x 140 x 25 mm
- Voltage
- 12V – 8.28 W , 5V – 4.8W (Fan*3)
- Noise Level
- 30.4 dB-A
- Maximum Rotational Speed
- 1500 rpm
- Air Flow Capacity
- 70.32 CFM
- The bundled controller handles both, fan speed and lighting as part of its offerings
- Comes with integration for Alexa and other voice assistants
- Offers excellent airflow at low RPM with low noise generation
- Bundled software does seem to have issues for some users
- Cables are too long and might cause issues with cable management, especially on compact PC builds
The Thermaltake Pure Plus 14 RGB TT Premium Edition Tri-pack offers a great set of 140mm fans, complete with a bundled controller at a price that isn't too bad to consider for those looking for a value-oriented fan set. Despite the budget price, the 140mm fans offer all the extras most users want from a premium set of fans. With excellent airflow, low noise, and great lighting control with plenty of options, Thermaltake's offering is head and shoulders above all but the most premium cooling options currently in the market.
It does, however, suffer from a few issues. Primarily its software, which has plenty of users complaining about compatibility issues on Windows. Users concerned about cable management might also have issues given the fact that the longer cables in play require some space to tuck away.
All in all, the Thermaltake Pure Plus 14 RGB TT Premium Edition is a great set of fans that runs quieter than most of its ARGB competitors. Its ability to be controlled via voice assistants is a novel idea with limited practical applications, but is still a nice bonus feature to showcase. For a set of fans that offers good value in the 140mm segment, while delivering on all the basics one would want from cooling fans for their gaming PC, players could do a lot worse than this RGB fan set from Thermaltake.
Corsair LL Series LL120 RGB
Beautiful, Comprehensively-lit Cooling
The Corsair LL Series LL120 RGB fans are an excellent set of ARGB fans that can be customized via the Corsair iCUE software. This comes with Corsair's dedicated Lighting Node PRO device which handles the RGB end without a hitch for the dual loop RGB fans
- Brand
- Corsair
- Dimensions
- 120 mm x 120 mm x 25 mm
- Voltage
- 7V - 13.2V
- Wattage
- Not Specified
- Compatible Devices
- 4-pin PWM Fan connector, 9 pin USB 2.0 header
- Noise Level
- 24.8 dBA
- Maximum Rotational Speed
- 1500RPM
- Air Flow Capacity
- 43.25 CFM
- One of the better-looking RGB fans in the market that offers great aesthetic value
- The LL120 RGB works quietly compared to the competition at 24.8 dBA
- Corsairs iCUE software allows for multiple customizations and extends 3rd party support
- Because the Corsair LL 120 RGB fans use 2 cables for each fan, it means extensive cable management is key when it comes to handling 3 or more of these in small cases or cases without cable management solutions
The Corsair LL120 RGB 120 mm Case Fans for PC are decent performers that run quietly while delivering on their promise to optimize design. While they can be cheaper than some of the more premium options we look at, they also tend to be slower. However, this is a fair tradeoff for most gamers, excepting those who want to eke out as much performance as possible from these fans.
Backed by the excellent iCUE software suite from Corsair, these fans do rank highly on our list for their stellar RGB performance, good looks, and PWM fan control. The LL120 RGB fans are a solid choice when it comes to building an excellent and highly aesthetic PC build without pushing your budget too far.
Update Aug 2023: The Corsair LL120 RGB 120mm case fans saw a price cut on both platforms we tracked with Newegg's current offer, making it considerably more appealing than some of the most popular RGB PC case fans out there. The bundled Lighting Node Pro controller, coupled with Corsair's proprietary iCUE software and better prices across the board, makes the Corsair LL120 RGB 120mm case fans a great option for both lighting up PCs and keeping temperatures low.
Be quiet! Silent Wings 4 Pro
Airflow Master Race
The Be quiet! Silent Wings 4 Pro is an excellent Performance-grade PC case fan that offers one of the highest potential PC case fan airflow capacities thanks to its capacity of pushing as much as 3000 RPM while offering as much as 300,000 hours of run time.
- Brand
- Be Quiet
- Dimensions
- 120 mm x 120 mm x 25 mm
- Voltage
- 12V
- Wattage
- 3.6W
- Compatible Devices
- 4 Pin PWM Fan
- Noise Level
- 36.9 dBA
- Maximum Rotational Speed
- 3000RPM
- Air Flow Capacity
- 83.9 CFM
- Come backed by an extensive 5-year warranty
- Despite the no-nonsense approach to the fan, it feels premium in terms of build quality
- High airflow thanks to its ability to push as much as 3000 RPM
- High durability thanks to its Fluid-dynamic bearing
- No RGB and no direct RGB alternatives on offer either. While this is the premise of most performance fans, given the price point the Silent Wings 4 Pro comes at, having an RGB SKU would have helped
- Somewhat pricier than what we feel it should be
The Be quiet! Silent Wings 4 Pro is a unique value option. It is a part of the Be Quiet! lineup's design philosophy of no-nonsense, performance-first PC case fans. Backed by an extensive 5-year warranty, the Fluid Dynamic Bearing-based fans can push as much as 3000 RPM using the motherboard's 12V fan header, pushing, at full load, a massive amount of air through a system. This power makes them ideal for performance PCs or workstations, as well as performance-centric gaming PCs, truly earning them the 'Pro' moniker.
At most speeds, the Silent Wings 4 Pro live up to the 'Silent' aspect of their name, pushing extremely low noise levels at all but the highest RPMs. When a fan running at 3000 RPM makes noise levels that are equivalent to some of the premium options that cap out at 2000 RPM, that's a sure sign of a winning case. Be quiet! has no real competitors in this space apart from Noctua, which offers a similar design approach, although there is no RGB option for these fans. With the German brand's core focus being on performance instead of aesthetics, there may not be an RGB option coming in the near future.
Update Aug 2023: There are no notable price changes to report on the Be quiet! Silent Wings 4 Pro. However, they continue to impress with low noise at even the highest RPMs, maintaining impressive airflow specs and making them the best, if slightly pricey, no-nonsense coolers for gaming PCs in 2023.
ARCTIC P12 120 mm Case Fan
Inexpensive Quiet Performance
The Arctic P12 isn't out to win any performance or aesthetics awards - but it doesn't have to. Its value proposition is delivering acceptable performance without breaking the bank. The fact that it does so while exceeding performance expectations while selling for under $6 a pop does however tip the scales considerably in its favor.
- Brand
- Arctic
- Dimensions
- 120 mm x 120 mm x 25 mm
- Voltage
- 12V DC
- Wattage
- 2.4W
- Compatible Devices
- 3-pin/4-pin fan connector
- Noise Level
- 22.5 dBA
- Maximum Rotational Speed
- 1800 RPM
- Air Flow Capacity
- 56.3 CFM
- The simplistic design makes it fit in both gaming and designer PCs from an aesthetic point of view
- Extremely quiet operation with a rated 22.5 dBA noise rating at 1800 RPM
- Extremely sturdy design; backed by a comprehensive 6-year warranty by Artic
- Has above average airflow capacity, clocking in at 56.3 CFM at 1800 RPM
- Lacks PWM which means it does not have the fine-grained speed control that most of its competition posses
- Lacks any sort of lighting that could make it more aesthetically pleasing
The ARCTIC P12 120 mm Case Fan is a stellar performer at an approachable price point, coming in at just under six dollars per fan in the five-pack. Having one of the lowest operating noise levels and power consumptions, coupled with above-average airflow, and offered at an excellent price point, there isn't much to complain about when it comes to the P12 case fans. With excellent value for the money being a core focus, and getting five fans for the price of one of the more premium performance options, the P12 offers plenty of airflow at the cost of a singular case fan that would arguably perform only slightly better.
The lack of PWM on this fan is a small concern, meaning there is limited control when it comes to fan speeds. These limited speeds make choosing the P12 a slightly questionable decision for the radiators and heat sinks that Artic tends to market, but given the low noise profile, the presence of ample, cheap spares and excellent airflow, the benefits outweigh the consequences on this particular choice.
Update Aug 2023: The Arctic P12 Case fans are even cheaper since we last tracked their pricing, registering a 10-20% discount on its price point. This brings it to under $5 per case fan in the 5 pack, if you purchase it from Amazon.
Razer Kunai Chroma - 120 mm
A Premium Razer Cooling Experience
Razer's Kunai Chroma Fans are an excellent premium fan set that offers above-average aRGB support on a very capable design that Razer states was inspired by military aircraft. Priced at a high price even without its dedicated aRGB or PWM controller makes this one of the most expensive fans we have seen.
- Brand
- Razer
- Dimensions
- 120 mm x 120 mm x 25 mm
- Voltage
- 12V DC Fan, 5V LEDs
- Wattage
- 3.36W (Fan)
- Compatible Devices
- 4 Pin Fan Header, ARGB Header
- Noise Level
- 35 dBA
- Maximum Rotational Speed
- 2200 RPM
- Air Flow Capacity
- 65.5 CFM
- Excellent looking case fans with support for Razer's Chroma software suite for added customizability and sync potential with Razer Hardware
- Excellent RGB lighting on the fans somewhat justifies its premium pricing
- Extremely solid build quality versus some of the competition
- The controllers cost extra for an already premium set of fans
- The fans, though meeting expectations for standard case fans do not offer much more than most $10 PWM PC case fans in terms of performance
The Razer Kunai Chroma - 120 mm Case Fans are Razer's first attempt at building case fans for its eager customer base. While they are quite expensive standalone, they get prohibitively expensive when you bundle them with Razer's RGB and PWM controllers. Thankfully, these fans do not need these controllers to function properly, making them a slightly more palatable choice. They are solidly built and have excellent looks to boot, with a great if somewhat subtle design look thanks to the 18 aRGB lights in each fan.
Regarding software, Razer's Chroma compatibility, coupled with its excellent Synapse software, does allow more fine-tuned control over the PWM fans' RGB settings. All in all, while the Razer fans do not outperform any of the other fans on our list in terms of performance, they are still decent and operate quietly. Although, the noise can pick up a notch if they are running at the maximum capacity of 2200 RPM. Overall, as some reviewers aptly put it, the Kunai are premium fans, but the bulk of their pricing seems to have gone into ensuring that the Razer badge is clearly visible, making them a difficult recommendation for one to make unless Razer is your go-to PC components supplier.
Update Aug 2023: The Razer Kunai are some of the best-looking fans you can get, but they also continue to be one of the most expensive on offer for what they deliver, making them a somewhat niche purchase for gamers looking to go Razer over other brands with equally appealing options, something many PC gamers refer to as the "Razer Tax" for hardware. Despite a price markdown on Amazon, if you are interested in buying a set of these, the Razer web store continues to be the best place to grab them at $90 for a set of 3.
What To Look For In A Case Fan for A Gaming PC?
Gaming PCs tend to use case fans for both aesthetics and functionality, allowing users to not only make their PCs more visually appealing, but to also contain thermals that ensure optimal performance. In the age of letting boost clocks dictate the performance of most new PC hardware solutions, being thermally tied down by components that increasingly push temperature limits is something many gamers want to avoid.
When considering a case fan for a gaming PC, you might want to consider the following:
- Airflow
- Noise During Operation
- RGB Lighting
- PWM Support
- Maximum Rotational Speeds
- Cable Management Solutions
- Custom Controller Requirements
Other Considerations and Upgrades
If you have already taken your pick of PC Case Fans from the list above or otherwise, head over to our comprehensive guide on which PC Cases are the best-in-class for 2023. If building a PC is too much of a hassle, or you would prefer a professional build it for you, consider our detailed guide pertaining to which prebuilt PCs would be the best to purchase for gaming in 2023.
FAQ
Q: What is the standard PC Case Fan dimension?
The standard PC case fan dimension is 120 mm. While 140 mm and 200 mm options are also popular, the bulk of gaming PCs support the 120 mm configuration as a staple. This also reflects in the choices of CPU coolers and radiators that come in the 120 mm, 240 mm, and 360 mm configurations generally of late, all of which are a multiple of the 120 mm cooling fan specification.
Q: Does RGB Lighting affect PC Fan Performance?
No, it does not affect it positively or negatively. Most RGB lighting on PC case fans comes from the 5 volt rail which is independent of the fans that rely on the 12 volt rail for power.
Q: Should I invest in high-end PC case fans?
Most case fans can do the job just fine. We have listed the case fans that we feel are the best-in-class, but generally paying more allows you better quality fans that have better airflow, aesthetics, lower noise, and excellent durability.