I analyzed the best 140mm case fans to produce my top-seven PC fans for the article. I am an avid gamer who constantly looks for the best pro gaming components and software to develop an unbeatable gaming rig. Here I’ll guide you through the best 140mm case fans for your PC.
Undeniably, the name Noctua NF-P14s stands out as my favorite pick for the best option on my list. Taking into account an expected life span of more than 150,000 hours and a top CFM of 110.3 cm/m, the Noctua can produce a lot of air flow for a long time.
With a 6-year warranty, Noctua stands behind the build quality of its products. The best thing about this fan is the sound. At just 19.6 at the max RPM of 1200, this fan makes just a whisper while keeping your overclocked processors chilled out.
Another great choice from the list has the name be quiet! Pure Wings Two. With a 37.3 dBA at 1600 RPM, this fan is a little louder, but also is super powerful. It can move a ton of CFM.
If RGB LED lighting is a priority criteria for your aesthetic, then the Corsair LL140 fan is another household name and a good go-to option for enthusiasts. With 16 RGB LEDs distributed in two loops, you’ll get a rainbow of lights that has compatibility with the ground-breaking Corsair iCUE software.
Check out the table below to see all of my top picks for this article.
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Having the name Noctua NF-P14s redux-1200 PWM ,these quiet, high-performance 140mm case fans are great for venting your heatsink or as CPU coolers. Great for use in a multi-fan pack set-up, you can arrange Noctua 140mm case fans in a series or in parallel to create flow acceleration channels by using a PWM hub.
The Noctua fans have a thin 25mm thickness which works well in the front portion of cases.
With a standard connector and a 1200 RPM top fan speed, this 140mm case fan moves over 110 cubic meters per minute to your CPU, GPU or graphics cards, and other electronics to amply supply your cooling needs.
The Noctua fans are also so quiet that their sound will be something that you won’t mind. With a maximum dBA rating of just 19.6 and a minimum fan speed of 350 RPM, these computer case fans operate quietly, being almost inaudible at 50% fan speed.
The Noctua fans use a self-stabilizing oil-pressure (SSO) bearing type to increase self-stabilization, thus reducing noise levels. In addition, vortex-control notches help to widen the frequency emission spectrum of these premium computer case fans, making them less abrasive to the human ear.
For a more quiet sound, customization pads from an available add on pack of anti-vibration pads can be fitted onto all of the corners of the 140mm fan. These pads are available in a few colors to match your aesthetic.
The be quiet! Pure Wings Two fan is another top-seven best 140mm case fan with pulse width modulation (PWM), a quiet performance, and a long expected lifetime. The 9-blade fan is optimized for aerodynamics, emitting one of the most pleasant, broad frequency-spectrum sounds that you won’t mind.
A German design, the 140mm case fan has an expected lifetime of up to 80,000 hours and can produce 94 cubic meters per minute.
A standard controller can perform speed control for this premium 140mm case fan. This 140mm case fan also comes with large screws for easy installation from the manufacturers. The black Pure Wings 2 can be used as a replacement fan or be purchased in a multi-fan pack at a budget price.
The Corsair LL140 RGB LEDs brings lights to your tower rig. With RGB LEDs distributed in a couple of LED rings, the LL140 looks great with any color tone, while chilling the electronics that you want to keep cool. In the Corsair LL140, 16 RGB LEDs are divided into two LED-ring light loops in each RGB case fan.
With a RGB hub, a LL140 RGB kit, or a Node PRO (not included), the light loops can be configured to emit custom RGB patterns, thus lighting your computer case and surrounding space in the way you want as you game.
The premium Corsair iCUE software provides an all-in-one solution for users to control everything like light configurations in the BIOS or a sidebar app.
This 140mm case fan has a range of 7 - 13.2 Volts while running between 600 and 1300 RPM. An efficient design, the Corsair LL140 can push 51.5 cubic feet per minute through a compact form factor that is less than an inch thick in size.
The fan is also engineered for a low noise level. At top speed, it provides quiet operation to reduce distractions for important gaming moments.
The LL140 also features several parts, such as quality hydraulic bearings, a standard wireless 802.11a connection for online software access thorough your browser, and two connection cables for the fan system and a RGB lightning hub.
The NZXT AER F gaming computer fan employs the Matsushita fluid dynamic bearing technology which has won many awards. It lowers noise and extends fan lifespan.
These 9-blade case fans each use the same winglet design to bolster the directionality and force of airflow through your case, while reducing noisy turbulence.
In addition, the intake and exhaust of the gaming fan is chamfered and does a good job of producing directional airflow and reducing back-propagation. This improves airflow by case fans in multi-fan installations.
In addition, the premium AER F comes with cable sleeves and dampeners to lower noise and vibrations, while improving system performance and life expectancy across fan speeds.
With a CFM rating of up to 103 and a ton of RPM at up to 2,000, the AER F silently pushes much air through your computer case, keeping your electronics cool during intensive gaming moments.
The AER F is available with a trim customization to match any aesthetic. This fan pack also includes a standard 4-pin PMW set-up.
The Kingwin CF-014LB 140mm case fan delivers cool air flow to your processors with a quiet, efficient performance. In a compact form factor, the premium Kingwin black fan is less than an inch thick.
The compact fan size is suitable as both intake-category fans and exhaust-category fans. In addition, this version of the Kingwin includes an RGB LED lighting system.
As one of the best options for affordability, the Kingwin is an excellent CPU cooler for a budget build. The provided 6-7 inch cabling may require a few extenders for installation into your computer case.
The 11-blade design uses a high-profile aerodynamic contour both to increase airflow and to reduce the noise ratio, enabling it to push 40 CFM through your PC case. In addition, this same 140mm case fan has exceptional durability with an expected lifetime of up to 100,000 hours.
The Kingwin can use either a three or four-pin PWM connector option for the power supply and is available at an affordable price.
The Arctic P14 PWM fan uses a news-worthy Neodym-Iron-Boron Magnet ring in the fan motor to improve efficiency in converting input current into the drive frequency of the case fan. Using a fluid dynamic bearing, the rotational friction is dropped to increase rotational frequency and fan efficiency.
In addition, this kind of 140mm fans is designed to produce focused airstreams which works well in multi-fan set-ups, enabling concentrated airflow throughout the core electronics components of your build.
Producing up to 1700 RPM, these Arctic-brand CPU coolers rotate quickly to propel lots of cool air throughout your PC case. With a 72.8 CFM, the Arctic does a good job of cooling heatsinks and radiators.
Using a 4-pin PMW connector to the motherboard, this Arctic 140mm case fan can be dynamically adjusted to as low as 200 RPM to provide efficient power consumption for variable needs.
An important consideration for enthusiasts, the premium, white Arctic 140mm fans look great anywhere with your PC color scheme. This is a top-seven best 140mm case fan choice that is affordable, making it an ideal choice for budget computers.
The Thermaltake Pure A14 radiator fan design provides RGB lights while cooling radiators and heatsinks. With 9 RGB lights, the Thermaltake looks great, providing lighting for your PC case. These 140mm case fans can produce a CFM of 93.15 and can run for 40,000 hours.
With a high-quality hydraulic bearing which reduces friction with the chassis, the Thermaltake RGB case fan converts input current into high rotational speed. This 9-blade, 140mm case fan design can be controlled by a PWM controller to run at speeds from 500 to 1500 RPM.
This version of the Thermaltake case fans come with rubber padding which covers the case fan corners, thereby helping to reduce vibrations as all of the propellers rotate.
The Theremaltake 140mm case fans have an operational noise level of 32 dBA and are powered by a PWM connector to the motherboard. Available in many colors, you can choose between any of blue, green, red, and white designs to match your PC aesthetic.
In addition, the Thermaltake-brand cooler comes with a two-year warranty from the manufacturers.
Case fans provide a way to circulate cooling air in your computer tower in order to remove heat from all of your electronic components. This circulation provides one of the best cooling solutions, while reducing the need for thermal throttling and increasing the life expectancy of most of your electronics.
Most front fans draw large amounts of cool air from the outside environment into the case, while fans at the end expel heated air from within the computer case back out to the surrounding environment.
In addition, many fans may all be distributed within a case for circulating much more cool air to all core electronic components and heatsinks.
Here are some of my priority recommendations for identifying fans with the best build quality across several categories.
Revolutions per minute account for the speed at which the fan rotates. A higher RPMs means that the fan blades are pushing air faster, while a lower RPMs indicates that air is moving much more slowly.
In most pulse-width modulated (PWM) fans, the RPM is controlled by the input current. Most of the best 140mm case fans are designed to operate at a range of RPM, such as 500 - 2,000 RPM.
Usually, using fans at a lower blade speed is a way to draw less current and make less noise. Using fans in a series or in parallel may allow you to use each fan with a voltage reducer to conserve more amperage in some budget builds.
Most designs allow you to increase the blade speed to account for a higher load on the GPU or when overclocking your 10th-generation Intel CPU. This can help to maintain the best operating temperature and avoid thermal throttling in some budget builds.
It’s a good idea to account for both the maximum and the minimum RPM of case fans and make sure to look to see that they will adequately meet all of your needs.
Air pressure is a way to measure the force generated by air flow accelerated by fans. Fans draw much air from the surrounding environment. Airflow is accelerated by passing through rotating blades. All of the accelerated air is then pushed into the computer tower.
The more force generated by the air, the further this air will travel before decelerating, sometimes even producing a similar amount of force as produced in magnetic levitation.
In addition, if the output is incident on a surface, such as a heatsink or a radiator, then airflow with a higher air pressure can push more heat from the surface and thermal paste back into the surroundings, thereby increasing the effectiveness of radiative and convective cooling solutions.
If you plan to use a 140mm case fan with a heatsink or a radiator, make sure to look for the options with the best static pressure rating possible.
Cubic feet per minute (CFM) is a measure of the amount of air flow that a 140mm case fan can accelerate per minute. CFM is the best criteria for measuring overall efficiency and performance.
Even if a fan has a high RPM, the CFM may still be quite low, whereas some budget fans with lower blade speeds can still have a high CFM.
CFM is controlled by a combination of factors, such as the shape, orientation, and position of the intake part and exhaust part of the case fans. In your computer case, you want to keep as much airflow circulating as possible, while taking into account noise and amperage.
Choosing high CFM fans is the best way to achieve these performance goals. High CFM fans work well in parallel and provide a variety of set-up options and usage alternatives.
The fact is that the best 140mm case fans aren’t purely functional. They enhance your aesthetics by providing a way to illuminate a budget computer case with LEDs, while making Pro gaming a much more dramatic show.
The combination of visuals and each color transition are fun to look at, providing the best visual experience.
There are some special function controllers, such as the Corsair iCUE software, that provides the best way to achieve all-in-one integration to control everything like your case fans, RGB lighting, and other peripherals such as your mouse, a Cooler Master keyboard, and thumb drives from a Cooler Master hub.
Some things to consider are that RGB systems may be powered using a separate input connector (e.g., a Molex-type adapters).
Most RGB systems can be coordinated with RPM to provide an at a glance look at cooling fan utilization and performance, or the RGB lighting can be a more decorative design that produces the best color scheme options for your computer cases.
One of my most important recommendations to take into account in choosing your 140mm case fans is sound production and noise. While 140mm case fans may deliver peak performance for hours at a time, hearing some combination of grinding noises while you game can be a problem for people, becoming way more distracting than you may realize at first.
However, one thing to consider is that the quietest 140mm fans are not always the best fans for sound performance or noise profile. In terms of sound quality, a louder rotor with a tolerable noise profile that you don’t mind may be less distracting than another one with a softer, but high-pitch whine.
Typically, high-end fans are designed to emit multi-frequency noise over a broad frequency spectrum to produce gentler, more pleasant auditory aesthetics. Budget blades without this engineering hack are another matter, producing mono-frequency noise which can be grating for consumers.
In terms of design categories, don’t just check the volume production range of the CPU cooler, but also make sure that the blades of the 140mm case fans are all engineered to produce a pleasant sound. These are important recommendations to get the best auditory experience and performance.
Case fans are an essential component to look at in your gaming rig. They keep your electronics cool and functioning at an optimal temperature for best performance and 140mm case fans can be used throughout much of your budget build to improve airflow, expelling hot air from computer cases.
In conclusion, the Noctua fan is my favorite pick for the best 140mm option. With its quiet operation and high CFM, you’ll have plenty of cooling air for any task without being disturbed by things like the sound of the Noctua fans operating.
The Noctua has a long life-expectancy which makes a huge difference in terms of value for money. With this cooler product, you know that you have the best quality assurance for your money.
