Question Igor from Igor's Lab reviews AlphaCool Apex Stealth Metal (Power) Fan

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Revolution in the case fan market: Alphacool Apex Stealth Metal (Power) Fan in an exclusive review

This could be a HUGE game changer for the Case Fan market.

This would allow for higher RPM's to reach the same dBA level with MUCH more CFM & Static Pressure on Metal Framed Fans.

This could also be the start for bringing back TMD (Tip Magnetic Drive) since you can isolate the EM coils to the 4 corners of the case fan structure and move to a Ducted Ring Fan (which is becoming ever more popular) and shrink the fan hub to be < 5 mm in Diameter like the old TMD fan, but scale it up and down in size as needed to meet the Case Fan size & thickness that you desire.

That would do wonders for so many fans IMO.

A combination of multiple factors would allow some really cool innovations that is going to be a "Game Changer" in the Case Fan world along with MagLev fans starting to become more common with some claimed MTBF from ASUS & Corsair to be crazy:
Corsair ML Fans (MTBF: 200,000 Hrs ~22.8 Yrs)
Asus ROG Strix XF120 MagLev (MTBF: 400,000 Hrs ~45.6 Yrs)

I'm looking forward to what's coming since it's going to allow HeatPipe-Fin & Radiator based cooling to drastically improve.

I'm pretty sure every Fan manufacturer is going to start copying this "Metal Fan" design and improve upon it in the coming years.

With non-standard thicker fans like the 30mm thick Phanteks T30 starting to become common, I can see "THICC-er" fans becoming popular as dedicated fans for case intake or standardizing on Dual 20 cm case fans with extra THICC-ness in the 30mm or 40mm size.

Imagine what Metal Fan w/ higher RPM's that exceed 150 CFM per fan could do for cooling all your components while maintaining similar dBA levels.

I still want somebody to make a standardized ATX Exhaust fan that is 155 mm in dimensions with a nice THICC 55mm deep that hangs out from the back of the case like a "Bay Window".

I'm one of those who prefers mounting the Rear Exhaust Fan on the outside and just slap a Standard Case-Fan Grill on the outside.

It makes PC Assembly & Repair much easier on the inside when there is no Case Fan on the inside to impede access by your hands.

If we can make that concept standard, it would make assembly / maintenance / servicing much easier.

Especially if we have cases with specialized High CFM exhaust.

 

[Unolocogringo]

Thank for the article.
I could use a few of those!

 

[Misgar]

I enjoy Igor's reviews but I hadn't spotted this one. Many thanks for the link.

30 Euros is quite expensive, but worth it when considering the higher cfm rating. The next time I'm stuck with an overheating problem, I might give one a try.

 

[Unolocogringo]

A fan that quiet and delivers volumes of air would please my wife.
Right now I am running 3 140 ml corsair for computer desk intakes. My HAF912 is inside the desk printer door hidden.
My math says that 2 of these would be quieter and move more air.
Just don't tell her what it cost!

 

[qfg77]

Note that Igor's lab review is likely incorrect. Other reviews are coming in and the Alphacool fan performs on-par or slightly worse than Noctua AF12.

 

[ReveurGAM]

der8auer kinda ripped into the fan, just like I ripped into the exaggerated marketing that was clearly making false claims, too. It's not revolutionary, and there are still other fans out there that can easily beat it in CFM, mmAq or both, although it's a struggle to find one that's also THAT quiet, so we're still stuck choosing low noise or high performance, with fans like the A12x25.

Apologies if this paragraph violates the rules. See my video on 25 (well, 26 but I had the wrong specs for the Fanner F120) fans with AF and/or SP over those of the Apex Stealth Metal and be careful because several of the reviewers of these new fans (which are not yet available to the public) used the "Power" version, instead. Or just watch those reviewers for direct comparisons.

A few examples of powerful fans:
EK Furious Meltemi (discontinued)
Iceberg Thermal IceGale Xtra
Phanteks T30
Alphacool CORE 120 24844 & 24845
Arctic P12 Max
aaawave AF12025-4P-B
Corsair ML120 (discontinued)
Fanner F120 V2
bgears b-PWM120
Delta PFC1212DE-6A50
EKWB Furious Vardar EVO 120 BB
Cooljag Everflow R121232BUAF FB1232BU

Yes, I know, there are a lot more from Silverstone and a few other companies. According to HW Buster's new release about his most powerful fans, there are a few that are rarely mentioned that really rock. He did a lot of testing to make that list and the T30 kept cropping up over and over. That said, his list is shorter than expected, which is probably partially because I believe I heard him say that he was focusing on current fans, IIRC.