NZXT or Corsair Fans?

[BasicallyNuclear]

Which fans are more quiet, last longer, warranty?

 

[Aeacus]

I can give you info about the fans that i have in my Skylake build (full specs in my sig). I have: NZXT AER RGB140, Corsair ML120 PRO red LED and Corsair ML140 PRO red LED.

AER RGB specs: https://www.nzxt.com/products/aer-rgb
ML120 specs: http://www.corsair.com/en/ml120-pro-led-red-120mm-premium-magnetic-levitation-fan
ML140 specs: http://www.corsair.com/en/ml140-pro-led-red-140mm-premium-magnetic-levitation-fan

Depending on which RPM you run the fans, Corsair ML series can be quieter or louder than NZXT AER RGB fans. Mostly because the huge RPM range Corsair ML series fans have (400-2400 RPM for ML120 and 400-2000 RPM for ML140).

By performance, Corsair ML series fans have about same airflow as NZXT AER RGB fans:
AER RGB120: 17.48 - 52.44 CFM
AER RGB140: 30.39 - 91.19 CFM
ML120: 12 - 75 CFM
ML140: 20 - 97 CFM

While having much better static pressure:
AER RGB120: 0.15 - 1.35mm H2O
AER RGB140: 0.17 - 1.52 mmH2O
ML120: 0.2 - 4.2 mmH20
ML140: 0.2 - 3.0 mmH20

As far as warranty goes, NZXT gives it's AER RGB fans 2 years of warranty while Corsair gives their ML series fans 5 years of warranty.

For eyecandy, Corsair ML series fans have 4 LEDs inside the fan hub that doesn't change it's brightness depending on the fan RPM. NZXT AER RGB fans are all about eyecandy since you have 8 individually controllable LEDs around the outer rim of the fan that you can control with NZXT HUE+.

Here are few pics of my Skylake build as well: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-3272328/show-newest-system-upgrade-components/page-2.html#19277195

 

[BasicallyNuclear]

Planning on using the HD120/140 or the AER RGB 120/140.

 

[Aeacus]

As far as i know, Corsair only offers HD120 fans. At current time, there are no HD140 (140mm) fans made.
specs: http://www.corsair.com/en/cooling/hd-series-fans

Performance vise, HD120 is better than AER RGB120:
AER RGB120: 17.48 - 52.44 CFM
HD120: 54.4 CFM

While having twice as better static pressure:
AER RGB120: 0.15 - 1.35mm H2O
HD120: 2.25 mmH20

With lower noise levels:
AER RGB120: 22 - 33 dB(A)
HD120: 18 - 30 dB(A)

At higher RPM:
AER RGB120: 500 - 1500 RPM
HD120: 800 - 1725 RPM

When buying HD120 or AER RGB120, don't forget to buy the LED controller as well.

Corsair HD120 needs LED controller: http://www.corsair.com/en/corsair-hd-rgb-fan-led-controller
and LED hub to operate: http://www.corsair.com/en/corsair-rgb-fan-led-hub
Controlling the LEDs is manual by pressing the appropriate buttons on LED controller. LED hub supports up to 6x Corsair RGB fans.

For AER RGB120, you need HUE+: https://www.nzxt.com/products/hue-plus
Controlling the LEDs is via NZXT CAM software. HUE+ has 2 channels, each channel is supporting up to 5x AER RGB fans. With HUE+, you can also go with HUE+ extension kit: https://www.nzxt.com/products/hue-plus-extension-kit
Where you can have up 5x AER RGB fans on one channel while having up to 4x LED strips (10 LEDs per one LED strip) on second channel.

Since i already have HUE+ and 2x AER RGB140 fans, i'm planning to get LED strips to illuminate my Skylake internals even further. Also, i love that i can control all my LEDs from 1 source and via software.

Do note that when going with Corsair HD120 fans, you can't connect them to Corsair Link when you have Corsair AIO. With AER RGB fans, you can sync lighting effects with your NZXT AIO (e.g x62 Kraken) for more unified looks thanks to the CAM software.

Video reviews too:
Corsair RGB fans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-ayn9MIs4k
NZXT AER RGB fans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGtO2-V3VIU

 

[huppilaila]

Do note that when going with Corsair HD120 fans, you can't connect them to Corsair Link when you have Corsair AIO.

So i can't connect the pump+ f.e. 3 HD140 fans to the hub and then controll the with Corsair Link?

 

[Aeacus]

So i can't connect the pump+ f.e. 3 HD140 fans to the hub and then controll the with Corsair Link?

Actually, when you connect HD140 fans into your Corsair AIO (provided that you have Corsair AIO that supports 4-pin PWM fans and Corsair Link), you can control fan speeds via Corsair Link. But what you can't control via Corsair Link are the fan LEDs since Corsair HD-series fans have separate wires for LEDs.

If you have Corsair Commander Pro or Corsair Lighting Node Pro, then you can control HD-series fans LEDs via Corsair Link as well.