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SilverStone 120mm Case Fan |
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Written by RotoSequence
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Silverstone, one of the largest new manufacturers of case components and accessories, is well known here at the Moditory. Today we are reviewing their FM121 120mm case fan. With today’s ever increasing demand for quiet cooling solutions, the FM121 is equipped with a fan controller, offering speeds between 800 and 2400 RPM. Lets see what kind of performance it offers.
Product:
| Silverstone FM121 120mm Fan
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| Manufacturer:
| Silverstone
| Price:
| $15.99
Available at: Newegg.com | Details:
| - Fan Controller
- 800 to 2400 RPM
- All white frame and fan assembly
- Unique 9 blade design
- Maximum 110 CFM
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Silverstone FM121
We all need to keep our PCs cool. Machines that don’t get enough airflow through their cases or their radiators can overheat, resulting in instability, shut-downs, or permanent damage. Silverstone’s solution to the issue of cooling is the FM and FN series of fans. On our review table is the FM121.
The FM 121 is a cleanly designed fan, with virtually no flair. It is actually refreshing to see this kind of minimalism amidst this world of glowing translucent fans that draw attention like a moth to an outdoor light.
In today’s era of quiet computing, going without a fan controller is almost sacrilegious. The FM121 comes with an attractive 3.5” aluminum, adjustable fan controller.
Also included is a 120mm fan grill.
The FM121’s fan controller is a tad quirky. While it performs its job with competence, the increase in fan speed isn’t completely linear; right around the 1200 RPM area it kicks up speed rapidly, requiring very fine adjustments if you want the highest possible fan speed with the fan in as nearly an inaudible state as possible. While the fan controller will mount just fine in a 3.5” bay in most PC cases, there are no provisions provided for mounting it within a Silverstone case; as such, if you want to mount one, you will need to buy one of their 3.5” mounting devices if your case happens to use rails instead of screws.
At its lowest speed, the FM121 is very, very quiet, as you might have come to expect from a PC fan with a fan controller. However, the fan controller isn’t just for silence. At its highest speed, the FM121 can move a maximum of 110 cubic feet of air per minute at a rated 40 decibels; quite a lot of air and noise; but if your PC is in need of rapid cool down, your bases are covered.
Overall, the FM121 is a good quality fan with a clean design, lots of airflow, and a decent fan controller. However, there isn’t much room between low and high speeds, resulting in some fine tuning if you’re looking for an optimal balance between airflow and sound. With a Moditory silver, you cannot go wrong with the FM121-unless you don’t have provisions for 120mm fans.
Pros
- Clean design
- Aluminum fan controller
- 800 to 2400 RPM speed range
- Available in black as the FN121
- Dead quiet at low speeds
- Inexpensive
- Features everything you need
Cons
- Additional purchase required to mount controller w/rails
- Not much room between quiet and loud
- May be a bit too plain for some
Special thanks go out to Silverstone for making this review possible.
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