Best Case Fans 2018 – Top Rated 120mm & 140mm PC Fans

First on the list is the Corsair AF Series. Available in 2 different model variants; First is the popular performance edition and another one is called the quiet edition. As the name suggests, the quiet edition is comparably quieter than the performance edition. The quiet edition is designed to minimize noise emission while performance edition implies better cooling. Both the models are budget-friendly and cost significantly less compared to any other fans in the similar price range.

Which one is better? Depends on the usage, No one likes loud case fans, Though it’s not the quietest one out there, It still holds the place as a minimal noise emitting fan. It comes with multiple colored rings(white, red and blue), it is a great addition as aesthetic compatibility is an important concern for most of us.

NZXT is known for their wide variety of computer cases. They are one of the highest rated brands that manufacture the best-looking computer cases. The FN V2 is nothing different than your traditional looking case fans; the black-and-white design is universal and should suit aesthetics of almost any computer.

The FN V2 delivers excellent performance while being remarkably silent. It won’t be wrong to tag this fan as the best budget-friendly fan there is. Unfortunately, it is not manufactured in any other color variant or RGB version; it is an excellent choice for your budget-friendly computer builds.

This Noctua fan also has been featured on our list of quietest case fans. Thought it doesn't have the best aesthetics, This fan leads the charts when it comes to performance. It uses an exclusive bearing technology designed by Noctua which is one of the reasons it is the one of the quietest case fan. Noctua NF-F12 can operate at a maximum RPM of 1500 while maintaining a high static pressure. With a 4 Pin connector, NF-F12 is capable of very precise speed modulation which makes it a perfect choice not only for chassis but also for radiators and CPU coolers.

The fan doesn’t come at a cheap price but it covers well for it with its performance and hardware quality. In conclusion, It is an excellent choice for any computer build, Be it a high-end gaming PC or a budget desktop.

Moving on, we have yet another case fan from Corsair. As the name suggests, SP (Static Pressure) has been explicitly designed to provide high static pressure. It delivers a much higher static pressure compared to the AF series and available in both PWM (4-Pin) and 3-Pin versions. It might not have the best static pressure or airflow but combined with aesthetic customizability and price point, are an excellent choice.

Just like the Airflow series, it also comes with a set of replaceable rings which gives you an option to easily adjust the color scheme of the fan to fit your needs. In conclusion, We recommend these fans for less ventilated cases, CPU coolers, and Radiators. Offered at almost the same price tag as Air Series, It’s essential to make the right choice, or you will lose a large piece of performance potential.

Designed exclusively for enthusiasts Corsair LL series fans are slightly on the expensive side. Featuring 16 vibrant RGB LEDs which can be easily configured to perform a wide variety of animations via Corsair Link. These not only excel in the at visuals but also set performance benchmarks that compete with the best case fans. They are a must for a high-end PC builds; You just cannot miss on their RGB customizability and visuals; Available in dual and Tripple packs which comes with a Lighting node Pro.

The Lighting note controller is required to extract the most out of fans RGB customizability feature. In case you own one already, Corsair gives you an option to purchase a single fan which comes without the node. Available in both 120mm and 140mm versions, These fans are optimized for low noise operation and great airflow. PWM controls allow you to tune the performance curve easily. They carry a hefty price tag, a perfect pick for an enthusiast and their high-end computer build.

Moving on, we have a fan from NZXT. The Aer was recently launched to compete with the best selling RGB case fans. These fans come packed with 10 lighting effects which can be configured using CAM software interface. They operate on Fluid Dynamic Bearings at maximum RPM of 1500 RPM. FDB provides great noise suppression, At the maximum RPM it emits about 33 dBA of noise.

The only downside is the necessity of HUE+ to exploit the full RGB functionality. If you already own a HUE+, These will cost lesser than other RGB fans which require controllers. Aer fans use a 4-Pin connector and feature highly customizable performance curve and aesthetics. In conclusion, they are a great choice for high-end builds.

Corsair AF are one of the best selling case fans. The 120mm version constitutes 2 variants, Performance edition, and Quiet edition. Both featuring identical hardware with different performance lockouts. The performance edition can be configured to operate at an RPM of up to 1650 RPM while the quiet edition is locked at 1150; This doesn't imply for the 140mm version. The 140mm version is only available is the quiet edition, which makes sense as it already features good enough airflow.

Cannot imagine Red rings around the fan go well with the aesthetics of your setup? No worries, These rings can be replaced easily; Furthermore, each purchase of this fan comes with a white, a red, and a blue colored rings. Corsair understands the needs of buyers; The customizability features combined with the performance earn it a spot on the round up for best 140mm case fans.

AF140 lacks behind when it comes to static pressure but considering the name of the series (Airflow 140) it is intended to perform as an Airflow fan. In conclusion, Corsair Air series is an affordable and Performance oriented fan and aren't currently available in RGB version or other color variants; Nor do they have any kind of LED illumination.

NZXT is mostly known for their computer cases, they also manufacture other affordable computer accessories. The FN V2 is the fan equipped in most of the NZXT cases; These case fans are unimaginably inexpensive. Costing about half the price of the Corsair AF140, These fans are very quiet at lower RPM. NZXT uses Rifle Bearings in FN V2, These bearings are great for silent operation but suffer lifespan.

Only available in 3-Pin version, These fans are a great choice for your chassis. FN V2 comes with a completely sleeved fan cabling and thick Fan blades that are optimized for cooling performance. The only area these fans suffer at is aesthetic customizability. Decent enough static pressure and 50 CFM airflow at 1200 RPM, NZXT FN V2 are the best budget-friendly 140mm case fan you can get.

Noctua is known for their NF series, These series is quite old, but still, one of the quietest case fans out there. The NF-A14 is a 140mm fan equipped with Noctua SSO bearings. These bearings are specifically designed to minimalize the noise production. NF-A14 also use anti-vibration pads that prevent any noise generated due to friction between case and the fan. Noctua NF-A14 is the ideal case fan but it doesn’t come at a cheap price. It is capable of operation at 1500 RPM while emitting only 24dBA of noise.

Corsair ML uses a unique magnetic levitating technology; This results in reduced friction and noise. Available in 120mm and 140mm versions. With a unique design, they are also equipped with RGB lighting. ML140 is capable of operating at a maximum of 2400RPM while producing an airflow of 97CFM. But at such high speeds, even magnetic levitating bearings cannot completely suppress the noise, they are quite noisy at higher RPM.

PWM controls allow you to operate them based on real-time temperature feed from the motherboard. They have anti-vibration dampers, which further contribute to minimizing noise. This gives you an option to run very quiet and switch to performance mode when necessary. With a static pressure of 3.0 mm H₂O. In conclusion, ML120 features great performance, yet seems to be overpriced. The high price is relative to its RGB customizability, It makes a great choice for high-end enthusiasts tier builds.

Available in 80mm, 92mm, 120mm and 140mm versions, It is very affordable and provides excellent performance. Much like the NZXT V2, Article F series fans also follow the contrast-heavy design philosophy, i.e., black-and-white design. Equipped with Fluid Dynamic bearings, These fans have a long timespan and produce minimal noise. It won't deliver the best performance, but still makes an excellent choice for budget builds.

This particular series is not manufactured in any other color variation or RGB versions; But again, that is what makes them so affordable. With almost the lowest price among the fans featured in our roundup, Arctic F series fans are a steal.