1. Introduction
Antec, Inc. is the global leader in high-performance computer components and accessories, founded in 1986. Antec has maintained its position as a worldwide leader and international provider of quiet, efficient and innovative products. Antec has also achieved great success in the distribution channel, meeting the standards required by its customers.
Official product link:
http://www.antec.com/product.php?id=706509&pid=56&lan=nz
2. Packaging and accessories
The fan is packaged in a transparent plastic box.
The front side is transparent, the only graphical element present is positioned on the top part where there are the name & Antec logo, on the right there is the name of the fan.
The back side presents the features of the fan in 8 different languages. On the upper side there are printed the Antec logo and the name of the fan.
Accessories
The product comes with the following accessories:
– 1x Manual
– 5x Rubber screws
3. Specifications
Model: TrueQuiet 120 UFO (Blue)
Size: 120 mm x 120 mm x 25 mm
Number of blades: 9
Weight: 138,9g
Input Power:
– High – 0.12A
– Low – 0.06A
Input Power:
– High – 1.4 W
– Low – 0.7 W
Rated Speed: High 1000RPM / Low 600RPM
Air Flow: (Low) 21.1 / (High) 46.3CFM
Acoustic Level: (Low) 8.9 / (High) 19.9dB
Connector: 3 Pin
Features:
2-way switch to select fan speed
Blue/White/Green/Red LED
Uniquely-designed fan blades increase air flow while reducing turbulence and noise
Silicone grommets to reduce vibration
Toolless mounting pins for quick and easy installation
Included 3-pin to Molex adapter
4. Visual inspection
The TrueQuiet UFO fans use 9 smoked blades made out of plastic.
The main feature of the TrueQuiet UFO fans is the LED illuminated ring attached on the inner edge of the fan, this lighting system combined with the smoked blades give the fan an unique look.
The TrueQuiet UFO mode is available in four variants, with red/blue/green/white LEDs. This review features the blue LED variants.
On the front side of the fans in the middle we find the manufacturer’s logo, behind it thanks to the transparent plastic we can see the mechanism of the fan.
The transparent ring is attached to the fan using four plastic clamps, one in each corner. The ring is directly illuminated by the four LEDs placed in the corners of the fan.
The back side of the fans feature 4 plastic curved beams to focus the airflow. In the middle there is a label with the manufacturer’s logo.
The blades of the TrueQuiet UFO model are designed to increase the airflow while reducing the noise and air turbulences.
The corners of the fan are covered by rubber squares to prevent any vibrations.
For power the fan uses a 3-Pin Molex connector. Also the fan features a RPM switch with two modes, Low and High.
5. Testing
The following system was used to test the fans:
– Processor: Intel i5 4690K @ 3.9 GHz and overclocked to 4.5 GHz
– Motherboard: MSI Z97 Gaming 9 ACK
– RAM: Crucial Ballistix Tactical 8GB DDR3 @ 2133MHz
– GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 970 Armor 2X 4G
– SSD: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB
– HDD: WD Blue 1TB / Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB
– PSU: Antec Edge 550W Gold
– Display: AOC i2769VM
– Case: Phanteks Enthoo Luxe White
– Thermal compound: Arctic Cooling MX-4
The TrueQuiet UFO model has been tested using a 240mm CPU liquid cooler, the Silverstone Tundra TD02 at max. RPM.
The noise level was measured at two RPMs and at three different distances from the fans (10cm, 20cm, 30cm.) the noise was measured with a margin of error of ± 5 db.
6. Final thoughts
The unique look and silence operation make the TrueQuiet 120 UFO model a good choice for anyone looking for a case fan with a unique look. The LED illumination is not strong to cover all other colors in the system also the transparent ring helps with diffusing the light uniformly.
The inclusion of a RPM switch is a welcomed feature, also the RPM change does not affect the LED intensity.
While testing the fans behaved like expected, offering a good airflow and a low noise.
We must keep in mind that these fans are oriented towards air flow and not static pressure.
