Epilogue
The Alphacool Apex Stealth Metal 120mm has the same price as its 3000 RPM variant in the online stores I looked at, which doesn’t make much sense. Since the Power (3000 RPM) version is also PWM controlled and everything else is the same, build quality-wise, there is no point in getting the lower speed version at the same money. Moreover, airflow is among the lowest in this category (120mm fans with 25-27mm thickness), while static pressure as a max value is low, but at 20 dBA and 25 dBA, noise normalized tests is decent.
What troubles me the most is depicted in the following two charts.
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The Arctic P12 PWM PST costs around $6.8 per piece or $34 in a five-pack package, so the Apex Stealth Metal 120mm has a close price tag with 5x Arctic P12 PWM PST fans! I know that the build quality of the Apex Stealth fan is top-notch and that the metallic frame that isolates the noise’s vibrations helps keep noise output low, but it is also expensive to make. However, you cannot call the P12 PWM fan as noisy. On the contrary, it is among the quietest in the 120mm category.
To the bottom line, the Alphacool Apex Stealth Metal 120mm is hugely overpriced, and its performance doesn’t justify the high price. Alphacool should improve this fan’s performance, especially airflow, and lower its price if it wants to be competitive. On the other hand, fans like the Arctic P12 PWM PST show that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get good performance and quiet operation.
To check all alternative fan offerings, read my Best Cooling Fans article before investing in new cooling solutions. You help me a lot by using my affiliate links, which don’t increase the product’s price. I get a commission from Amazon every time you do it, which can make a difference for me, especially now that I am on my own, working exclusively for my media and not for someone else.
- Top build quality
- Hydro dynamic bearing
- Dead silent
- Decent static pressure in the 20-25 dBA noise output range
- Metallic frame
- PWM control
- Daisy-chain option
- Rich bundle
- 5-year warranty
- Too expensive
- Poor performance compared to similar spec fans, especially airflow
- Lack of ARGB lighting might let down some users
- The fan’s controller gets confused at 10% PWM (but there is no need to go that low anyway)
Buy ARCTIC F12 PWM PST
Buy Thermaltake SWAFAN EX 12 RGB
Buy be quiet! Silent Wings 4 140mm PWM
Buy Thermaltake TOUGHFAN 12 Pro
Buy XPG Vento Pro High Performance PWM
Buy Corsair LL Series, LL120 RGB
Buy NZXT AER P – RF-AP120-FP – 120mm
Buy Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 V2 RGB
Hello and thank you for the detailed review of the new Alphacool Apex Stealth Metal 120mm.
After reading your old articles I bought 3× Thermaltake TT TOUGHFAN 14 Pro and 3× Thermaltake TT TOUGHFAN 12 Pro to replace Be Quiet! SILENT WINGS PRO 4 140mm PWM and 120mm (Airflow in a MSI MPG Quietude 100S).
I find the framework to be of higher quality, more mature. I like the wiring without a sleeve, easier to fold and store.
For the same dB noise there is a vastly superior CFM and Static Pressure, and all this for almost a quarter of the price less (in Europe).
I was impatiently waiting for the Alphacool Apex Stealth in 120mm (and 140mm in 2024?) but your rigorous testing proves that there is a problem in the design of the blades.
I saved time and money thanks to you