Many anecdotes were recorded in different research papers about the on-spree usage of a multitude of fans in a system. The reasoning was entirely plausible because when you are building a beast of an order, the chances of temperatures escalating are at an all-time high. Well, no one loves to cook their components, so out of sheer curiosity, a survey was circulated, and it turned out people were more into buying case fans without having a command over the required information. This article tags along with all the recorded problems and how to purchase case fans more professionally.
It’s known that high-end components like the latest GPU products require more TDP, which unluckily results in more power consumption. Hence, radiating more heat. Now, the role of the case fans comes in. Some of the fans are rotated 180 degrees to convert them into intake fans. Usually, the front fans are dictated as intake ones, and the rear fans are labeled as exhaust fans. You don’t have to go in-depth about intake and exhaust fans, because the subject is not even as complicated as the function of the fans.
Most of the Chassis cases are built in such a way that they can easily fit 5 to 6 fans, which has become a normalized figure in these recent times. When buying the fans, you need to keep a few bulletins in mind. Even it’s sensible to look for aesthetically pleasing RGB lightning to match with other components in the case. We’ll first discuss how noise levels, airflow, and size combine to form a decent well-working fan.
Since this article targets 140mm case fans, the products mentioned below will technically have the same size. So, stay tuned and updated!
List of 8 Best 140mm Case Fans
| Name | Design | Air Flow | Fan Speed | Static Pressure | Noise Level | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corsair Air Series AF140 |  | 66.4 CFM | 1200 RPM | 1.80 mm-H2O | 25.5 dBA | Buy on Amazon |
| Noctua NF-A14 PWM |  | 82.5 CFM | 1500 RPM | 2.08mm-H2O | 24.6 dBA | Buy on Amazon |
| Corsair HD Series 140 RGB |  | 74 CFM | 1350 RPM | 1.85mm-H2O | 28.6 dBA | Buy on Amazon |
| Thermaltake Riing 140mm premium Edition |  | 63.19 CFM | 1400 RPM | 1.53mm-H2O | 27.2 dBA | Buy on Amazon |
| Corsair LL Series 140 RGB |  | 51.5 CFM | 1300 RPM | 1.52mm-H2O | 25.0 dBA | Buy on Amazon |
| Noctua NF-A14 iPPC-3000 |  | 158.5 CFM | 3000 RPM | 1.02mm-H20 | 41.3 dBA | Buy on Amazon |
| Arctic F14 PWM PST |  | 74 CFM | 1350 RPM | 1.3 mm-H2O | 26.0 dBA | Buy on Amazon |
| Noctua NF-P14s redux 1500 |  | 78.7 CFM | 1500 RPM | 1.91 mm-H2O | 25.8 dBA | Buy on Amazon |
Corsair Air Series AF140
It’s not surprising to see the Corsair taking the first spot on the list of best 140mm case fans. Well, Corsair Air Series AF140 LED is a versatile fan providing exceptional airflow and static pressures. The fan hardly weighs 6.2 ouches, which means that they are light-weighted and portable to carry around. These fans have a voltage rating of 12 volts, which is an essential ingredient you have to follow. If your motherboard RGB headers are of 5 volts, then don’t even try inserting these fans on the headers. You might end up violating the warranty.
These fans come in an organized package with a set of connectors. You get a 3-pin connector for turning on the fans and a 4-pin connector for LED lights. The best part about the fans is that they have an efficient design with custom-molded fan blades. They perpetuate constant high-volume air winds into the case. The blades are thin and produce low noise levels when compared with other contemporary fans on the list. It also comes with a bearing that helps in reducing the vibration caused by unwanted resistance. It’s also worth mentioning that you don’t get RGB with these fans, so don’t expect that to happen.
Not to mention, these fans can easily be placed on top, exhaust, and rear sides of the case without causing constrictions and blockades for other residing fans in the vicinity. As far as the installation process is concerned, you don’t have to do much, but connect all the connectors at their respective places and screw the fans properly. That’s all and bingo; your fans are on. There’s another option you can go for, and it’s directly connecting with Molex, but that will make the run at 100 percent speed all the time.
Moreover, you can also control the LED patterns through Corsair proprietary software.
- Comes with dedicated packing and manual
- High CFM
- Easy to direct
- Selective power cords
Noctua NF-A14 PWM
Noctua fans are known for bringing simplicity into role play. Most of their fans are simple, ancient, and efficient in providing top-notch performance. If you are aiming at getting the best results, then Noctua NF-A14 PWM is just for you. These fans still air at a higher rate, blessing your case with ample airflow, so the temperature remains below the given threshold. It’s worth mentioning that these fans work at relatively low noise levels. Although they will be running at 100 percent, you’ll hear nothing. That’s the charm of Noctua NF-A14 PWM.
The only thing which stops the users from buying this fan is the color coding and scheme. As I said, Noctua loves simplicity. You don’t get RGB or LED at all. Most of the gamers in this age, want their casings and system to stand out in the pool of users so they can flaunt and look extravagant. But with Noctua, you are not even getting close to being flamboyant. In my opinion, you shouldn’t care about looks. What matters is the price and how efficiently the product is working. And Noctua excels in providing the best for the customers.
Not to mention, the static pressure is relatively average when compared with other models in the list of 140mm case fans. The fans are also renowned for anti-vibration mode because of the bearing used. These bearings are especially inserted to stop any sort of vibrations because they can send uninterested pulses all around the motherboard, which is detrimental to the lifeline of the components. Well, per fan will cost you around $20, which is cheap, to be honest.
All in all, Noctua is a go-to fan if getting performance is your ideal aim.
- Exceptionally high airflow
- Reduced noise levels
- Outdated color coding and scheme
Corsair HD Series 140 RGB
It is what it is. Corsair products are very demanding, and people usually root for them because of the top-notch performance and efficiency. These fans produce severe gusts of winds into the case, which simply leads to the temperatures plummeting down. Corsair has a reputation for providing users to have 100 percent control over the products, and so is the case with Corsair HD series 140 RGB. You can control the dancing lights as you will, by either tweaking the BIOS settings or through third-party software. The fan weighs 7.8 ounces, which is relatively low, making it another portable and light-weighted fan in the category.
Not to mention, you get an on-fleek design and layout, which is a feast to the eyes of the beholder. Notably, the RGB is rhythmically breaking down and rising with slow tides. It’s just spell-bounding. So, installing these fans simply co-relates to your case being more aesthetically active.
The features like noise levels, airflow, and static pressure are quite a thing for the corsair lineage. You get around 28.6 decibels bearable noise levels. Surprisingly, you also get a controller through which you can control the modes, speed, and lightning as per your will, externally. Explicitly speaking, controllers create a long-lasting fuss in the stability, so it’s better to tune up and down the settings through software, but yeah, the choice is still yours.
Speaking of modes, you get around seven lighting modes with 12 independent color spectra. Notwithstanding, the fans come with incredible blade designs that propel air in the case at a significant rate. You must be curious about the turmoil and vibration caused by spinning. It’s not much. You get bearings installed, which lowers most of the quake, which is a good thing.
As far as the cords and cables are concerned, you get a 3-pin RGB cord with a 4-pin connector for turning on the fans. The process of installing them is quite intricate. You have to put in all the 3-pin RGB connectors on the RGB hub. The rest of the cords will either go to the Molex or on the RGB headers on the motherboard.
- Quiet fans
- Durable
- Efficient
- Have RGB boost
- Not significant as radiators
Have you heard of 2-way fans? Well, Thermaltake Riing 140mm premium Edition has taken its first step to provide new technology. 2-way directly addresses both sides for functioning. The blade system is quite complex and beyond the scope of the article, but let me remind you that a single fan will act as exhaust and intake equally. You don’t have to divide them disproportionately to cater to either the input or exhaust structure. Simply install the fan in the case, and it will do its job correctly.
Note: A single fan can be used for both purposes. It has been recorded that one side of the fan is usually ugly. Thermaltake has made it possible to make both sides look equally attractive and can be placed in any direction/position.
The fans have a way of producing proportionately fewer sounds than average fans out there, and still not comprising the airflow. You get high winds into the case, leading to a complete reduction of temperatures, which is beneficial for the seated components. The static pressure is decent and helps in making the fan stay stable. You can also control these fans with software known as “Alexa“. Surprisingly, you can turn on RGB for both sides. As mentioned above, you can use both sides equally for intake and exhaust purposes, so now enjoy the dancing lights from the rear and front blades. This further leads to intense illumination of RGB in the case, which is aesthetically pleasing.
There’s only one downside for the Thermaltake Riing 140mm premium Edition fans. They are expensive. You get a 3-pack fan at $150, which is significantly higher. This means that a single fan will cost you $50. But it does make sense. You are getting a premium Fan-build, which can function from both sides, and this feature is not present in every fan-build. So yeah, that’s the catch.
- Quiet fans
- Can be used from both the sides
- High airflow system
- Expensive
Corsair LL Series 140 RGB
Here we go again. Corsair making it’s the third-time entry in the list of best 140mm case fans. What can we conclude from this? Corsair LL Series is what you should be rooting for if you are looking for performance. Well, Corsair LL series 140 RGB comes with a dual light loop that illuminates the case intensely. Comparatively, these fans are heavier than most of the flagship models and require 13.2 volts (+1.2-extra), so yeah, these fans are power-hungry, and need durable case fittings to sustain their mega weight.
The fans have 16 discrete lightning patterns and color spectra. You can switch between different modes by accessing corsair third-party software or maybe through tweaking the BIOS. The choice is yours. The size of 140mm gives you an edge to control the fan speeds between the range of 600 RPM to 1300 RPM. Surprisingly, the noise levels are below the average threshold: 25.0 decibels. It’s worth mentioning that these fans provide top-notch airflow that reduces the soaring temperatures within a few minutes. Even the static pressure provided by the fans is even and decent. You can expect bearings to minimize vibration pulses, which is another trait of Corsair LL series 140 RGB.
With the fans, you get an RGB hub and controller. Simply connect the 3-pin RGB with the hub and the four pins with the motherboard or Molex. The rest of the tuning you can do through the software or the controller. The only disadvantage of buying these fans is the high price tag. It’s even more expensive than the Thermaltake Riing 140mm premium edition. You have to pay around $95 to get the expansive kit. So, it’s up to you.
- Relatively quiet fans
- High CFM
- Expensive
Noctua NF-A14 iPPC-3000
Welcome back, Noctua! What else can we expect from Noctua? Regardless of dull color schemes and color spectra, Noctua has been grounding its roots everywhere. Noctua NF-A14 iPPC-3000 is a high-speed fan with an ample airflow system to it. It has been recorded that users experienced a significant drop in temperatures because of the 158.5 CFM, which is the highest on the list. Imagine the fans spinning with that speed. It’s well-optimized and with acoustic acceleration properties. It has an excellent entrance protection quality and can sustain its lifeline for a more extended period without breaking it.
The fan requires 12 volts to function. It’s worth mentioning that the fans can reach up to 3000 RPM, which is significantly higher than most of the fans on the list. The 4-pin connector turns on the fans, so you get only one connector to turn on the fans. No RGB, and it’s quite evident with Noctua. They don’t care about lighting and aesthetics.
Surprisingly, the ruggedized fiberglass on the fans helps in protecting them from dust and water. It also harbors SSO2 bearings that can last over 150,000 hours. You also get around six years warranty on the product. Moreover, the use of polyamides has made the blades and the material harder and more brittle. So, yeah, you can expect them to withstand soaring temperatures. But I don’t think they will ever experience it because of the tempestuous gusts of winds sent inside the case by the fans.
All in all, if you are looking forward to having mid-range fans, then Noctua NF-A14 iPPC-3000 is just made for you. Go and buy them already!
- Works best in soaring temperatures
- Exceptional airflow and static pressure
- No RGB solution
- High noise levels
Arctic F14 PWM PST
It’s time to welcome someone new to the list of best 140mm case fans. Well, the Arctic is known for producing a plethora of thermal pastes, and usually, they aim to provide products that promote cooling solutions. They started releasing Arctic Fans, and Arctic F14 PWM PST is one of them. It offers controlled PWM technology, with ultra-fast-moving fans and extended performance rates. What’s surprising about the product is that it comes with a 4-pin connector that can be inserted in two different ways. If one of them doesn’t work for you, you can always go for the other one.
The PWM speed controls most of the activity of the fan, leading to them providing accurate feedback through sensors. Some transistors and sensors come with the fans. When the temperature rises, the fans start rotating at their maximum speed to lower down the rising temperatures. These fans have passive cooling mode, which means that they won’t kick in until and unless temperatures are high enough. It’s all because of PWM technology used in the fans. The maximum noise level produced is 0.3 sone, which is equivalent to 26.0 decibels. Not to mention, these fans are made from cutting-edge technology for the reduction in noise levels, so while gaming, you will not experience little to no noise levels. Surprisingly, the fans have a fluid dynamic bearing that helps the fans successfully live up to their prescribed lifeline. If you are looking forward to having something out of the box, then these are the fans you should be rooting for.
- Low noise levels
- Two-way installation
- Fluid dynamic bearings
- Single fan cooling technology
- Doesn’t work efficiently at low system loads
Noctua NF-P14s redux 1500
It’s their 3rd entry, right? It’s not even surprising, in the first place. Noctua is all over all the places for their performance charts. Noctua NF-P14s redux 1500 brings something unique into the play. The square frame of the fans allows them to work as a radiator. As far as the cooling system is concerned, it’s of top-notch. You get high gusts of winds, meandering inside the case, without causing conflict between the components. It’s also worth mentioning that it’s another PWM fan, which uses passive cooling mode. Hence, the fans won’t kick in until the temperatures exceed a certain threshold.
You can make them work on 12V with a 4-pin header. This means that you get zero RGB options. These fans have no LEDs installed. It’s okay to have non-RGB fans as long as they are reducing the temperatures. Performance should be your main priority, which is sufficiently entailed by these high-end revolving fans. The maximum noise level you get is 25.8 decibels, which is relatively low when compared with other flagship models.
This is one of the cheapest fans you can hold, without degrading the performance ratio of your system. If you think you can withstand the spooky design of the fans, then sure go ahead and buy them already!
- Cheap
- Wide range of optional accessories
- Can only work on limited CPUs (as a radiator)
- Can be noisy at times
What are the different attributes of a Fan?
Noise Levels
The noise levels are calculated in decibels (dB), which vary from fan to fan. Manufacturers always mention the noise level rating on the fan, so at least the buyer had an idea about the after-effects of running the fans in the system. The ratings fall in the range of 10 to 36 dB, any score above that simply means you are conceding for letting the jets run in your room. But here, there’s a trade-off. More sound equates to fans performing at their peak, whereas lower noise equates to them performing at their lowest possible performance level. You need to find the middle ground before purchasing the fans.
Size
It’s ideal to go for bigger fans because if your computer is working under heavy stress, then you need an accurate airflow system inside the case. That’s only possible if you root for the right size. Usually, the sizes fall in the range of 80mm, 100mm, 120mm, 140mm, and 200mm, but they can differ from manufacturer to manufacture. For this, you have to choose between two options. Getting more fans means you will need to use the smallest size to accommodate them. Whereas, if you are rooting for bigger fans, you can only fit a few. The choice is yours.
Airflow
Airflow is calculated in CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute), and it again varies from product to product. Installing case fans means that you are looking forward to expelling warm and hot air out of the system. As long as the CFM is higher, you don’t have to worry about compromising your components. On manuals and guides, you can find the written CFM rating easily. Read it and then make your ultimate choice.
Static Pressure Fans
Static pressure is notable for producing tempestuous winds inside the case. As long as the fans are feeding your components with enough air, they are in good hands. You have to assure yourself that the fans you are getting have good static pressure ratings.
Final Take On
Balancing between performance and price tag should be your primary concern. It has been noted that not many expensive fans provide efficient results, hence only making you suffer from financial losses. I will recommend you to go for Corsair Air Series AF140, because it’s one of those fans which doesn’t cost much, and still provide better performance results at the end of the day. Well, if you are looking forward to buying something out of the box, and with the best airflow system, then Noctua NF-A14 PWM should be your shot. Because it’s one of those fans that provide 100+ CFM, which is highly exceptional. All in all, the ultimate final decision is yours. Keep everything in mind before making the decision.
I hope this guide must have cleared all your doubts!
Frequently Asked Questions
Hey, I’m Muhammad Bilal. I’m a tech fanatic (also read: Gamer), who loves scrutinizing fine details. I aim to strive hard in my respective fields (as a writer and software programmer). Before pursuing my majors in a university (right now in A-levels), I want to spend time exploring and reviewing the latest technology.