Epilogue
The high-speed version of the be quiet! Silent Wings 4 120mm fan has top-notch build quality and also features a silent operation, although not as silent as be quiet! claims since I measured 5 dBA higher noise output at full speed than the manufacturer’s claims. The overall performance doesn’t stand out from the crowd and there is no daisy-chain option, although the fan’s power consumption is not that high to require a special power adapter for daisy-chaining several fans of this model.
Let’s look now at 25 dBA noise normalized performance. I chose 25 dBA because it is low enough not to annoy most users, while it is high enough to allow for speeds that offer decent performance in airflow and static pressure.
 |
 |
The Phanteks T30-120 remains the best overall option in the 120mm category, but it is expensive and has an increased thickness, at 30mm, vs. the typical 25 mm. For increased static pressure without breaking the bank, the Arctic P12 Max is a fine choice. Another good choice is the XPG Nidec Vento Pro, which achieves higher airflow and static pressure at 25 dBA normalized noise output than the Silent Wings fan. Lastly, with around the same money, you can also get the Scythe Grand Tornado, which has about the same performance and promises an even higher lifetime.
For reference, at the time of the review, the following prices applied:
- Phanteks T30-120: $32
- XPG Vento Pro 120mm: $26
- Thermaltake Toughfan Pro 12: $25
- Scythe Grand Tornado 120mm: $20
- be quiet! Silent Wings 4 120mm High-Speed: $20
- Arctic P12 Max: $10
The Arctic P12 Max shames all other fans with its bottom-low price, good performance, and increased lifetime of its bearing. The Grand Tornado and Silent Wings 4 high-speed fans have double the price. Still, someone can argue here that their build quality is top, with both fans promising a super-extended lifetime since they feature true fluid dynamic bearings, while the P12 Max has a rifle bearing, which is inferior.
Given the current prices, the Silent Wings 4 High-Speed is a decent choice if you are not after top performance but care about build quality and support if you need it.
Below, you will find several 120mm fan reviews to get more insights about this product category.
- Arctic P12 Max Showdown – Black (DBB) vs White (FDB)
- Arctic P12 Max (Black – Double Ball Bearing) Fan Review
- Phanteks T30-120 Cooling Fan Review – ReCheck!
- XPG Nidec Vento Pro 120 PWM Fan Review
- Thermaltake TOUGHFAN 12 Pro Fan Review
- Scythe Grand Tornado 120mm Fan Review
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.
- Fair price (in the US market), given its specs
- Top build quality
- Not noisy
- High lifetime bearing
- PWM control
- Two different mounting options: rubber and hard-plastic ones
- 5-year warranty
- No daisy chain option
- The claimed static pressure is far from what I measured
Why would the white version have a higher noise normalizing RPM than the black version with the same aerodynamic profile? That is, the white version is significantly quieter than the black version?