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Perfect For White Builds!
Review Summary
The DeepCool FC120 A-RGB White fans offer a distinctive design with square frames and efficient cable management through daisy-chaining. Ideal for users seeking visually appealing PC case ventilation and AIO cooling with synchronized A-RGB lighting.
Hours Tested: 4.5
Overall
-
Design - 8/10
8/10
-
Features - 7.5/10
7.5/10
-
Performance - 9/10
9/10
-
Value - 8.5/10
8.5/10
Pros
- The square design which is elegant
- Minimal Cable Management for daisy-chaining
- Beautiful A-RGB Lighting
- No dependency on hub/controller
- Adequate thermal performance
Cons
- A bit noisy
- The cable length on two fans could have been shortened for clean cabling
DeepCool’s latest AK620 cooler with 2x square frame fans has caught our attention in the crowded tech market. Square frame fans might not be the hottest trend, but DeepCool brings something unique with their FC120 A-RGB White edition fans. Designed for PC case ventilation, we’ll also be putting them to the test on the DeepCool Castle 360EX A-RGB White. The rugged white frame and translucent blades give these fans a distinctive look. Let’s dive into the review and see how they perform!
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Key Takeaways
- DeepCool FC120 A-RGB White fans are Square frame fans with daisy-chainable cables, designed for PC case ventilation and AIO cooling.
- It is ideal for users seeking a distinctive, visually appealing cooling solution with efficient cable management and synchronized A-RGB lighting.
- It is not suitable for users who prioritize absolute silence, as the fans can be audible at full speed, requiring custom fan curves for optimal noise levels.
Below are the specified requirements.
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Fan Dimensions | 120 x 120 x 25 mm |
| Fan Rated Current | 0.134 A |
| Net Weight | 452.9 g |
| Fan Power Consumption | 1.58 W |
| Fan Speed | 500~1800 RPM ±10% |
| Fan Airflow | 61.91 CFM |
| Fan Air Pressure | 1.83 mmH2O |
| Fan Noise | 28 dB(A) |
| Fan Connector | 4-pin PWM |
| Bearing Type | Hydro Bearing |
| Fan Rated Voltage | 12VDC |
| LED Type | Addressable RGB LED |
| LED Connector | 3-pin (#5V-D-G) |
| LED Rated Voltage | 5VDC |
| LED Power Consumption | 1.05W |
Packaging and Unboxing
The fans are shipped inside a cardboard box.
Design
The FC120 fans by DeepCool have 9 translucent blades made of high-quality PBT for increased durability. The large center houses A-RGB LEDs, and the narrow bezel provides more space for efficient fan blade operation. Square mounting corners with white anti-vibration pads complete the design.
A dotted arrow shows how air flows through the fan. Another arrow shows the direction in which the blades spin.
The fan has a 4-arms assembly with a latch to hold cables. It has a DepeCool sticker with the fan’s power rating. Made in China, it has a slope downward design on the frame sides. The magic to avoid cable clutter happens at the 5-pin header on the frame. Fans can be daisy-chained, connecting one fan’s cable to the header. No special hub is needed. DeepCool’s FC120 fan simplifies cable management by daisy-chaining RGB and power functions, eliminating the need for a hub and making control easy for up to 4 fans.
A-RGB Lighting
The A-RGB lighting is compatible with:
- ASUS AURA SYNC
- RGB FUSION 2.0
- MSI MYSTIC LIGHT SYNC
- ASROCK POLYCHROME SYNC
We have tested the fans on the GIGABYTE Z690 AERO G using the RGB Fusion app and found the LEDs working fluently. Here are a few pictures:
Testing
The following test benches have been used:
- GIGABYTE Z690 AERO-G
- Intel i7 12700k
- DeepCool Castle 360EX A-RGB White cooler
- Sabrent Rocket 2x16GB DDR5 @ 4800MHz
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 FE
- Sabrent Rocket Q 500GB NVMe SSD
- be quiet! Straight Power 11 1000W Platinum PSU
- Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open-frame layout
Here is the settings table for testing:
| Voltage | 1.183V |
| P-Cores Clock | 4800MHz |
| E-Cores Clock | 3800MHz |
| Turbo Boost | Disabled |
| C-States | Disabled |
| Speed Step | Disabled |
| Thermal Paste | Noctua NT-H1 |
| Test Run Time | 30 minutes |
| Idling Time | 15 minutes |
| Fan Speed | 100% PWM Duty Cycle |
| Pump Speed | Connected to the AIO Pump header to run at 100% speed |
Stress tests may give different results due to pressure, thermal paste, and temperature. We tested DeepCool FC120 White A-RGB fans on DeepCool Castle 360EX A-RGB white cooler, comparing them to CF120 reference fans.
| Property | CF120 White | FC120 White |
| Rated Speed | 500 ~ 1800 RPM ±10% | 500 ~ 1800 RPM ±10% |
| Airflow | 69.34 CFM | 61.91 CFM |
| Static Pressure | 2.42 mmAq | 1.82 mmAq |
| Noise | ≤30 dBA | ≤28 dBA |
Thermals
Overall, we have roughly a 1°C or so difference between both types of fans, suggesting that the FC120 can also be employed on the coolers.
Airflow
Here is a table showing the RPM range and corresponding airflow measurements of the FC120 White. The manometer was placed closer to the fans.
| PWM (%age) | Speed (RPM) | Airflow (CFM) |
| 20 | 459 | 11.29 |
| 30 | 655 | 21.10 |
| 40 | 865 | 30.91 |
| 50 | 1054 | 38.79 |
| 60 | 1247 | 45.56 |
| 70 | 1394 | 54.25 |
| 80 | 1555 | 61.19 |
| 90 | 1699 | 66.84 |
| 100 | 1844 | 72.67 |
Acoustic
The fans at full speed are audible, and setting up a custom fan curve or Auto PWM is in order.
Should You Buy It?
By conducting a careful evaluation of DeepCool FC120 White 3-in-1 A-RGB Fans, I find that:
Buy It If
✅ You’re Looking for a Distinctive Design: If you are in the market for square frame fans that offer a unique design to enhance your PC case ventilation and AIO cooling, this product could be a good fit.
✅ You Prioritize a Visually Appealing Cooling Solution: If aesthetics matter to you and you prioritize a visually appealing cooling solution, especially with efficient cable management and synchronized A-RGB lighting, these fans might be the right choice.
✅ You Appreciate Daisy-Chain Capability for Simplified Cable Management: If you value simplified cable management, the option to daisy-chain fans using the 5-pin header can be a significant advantage. This eliminates the need for a hub and streamlines the setup.
Don’t Buy It If
❌ You Prioritize Absolute Silence: If your primary concern is achieving absolute silence, these fans might not be the best choice, as they can be audible at full speed. Custom fan curves may be required for optimal noise levels.
Final Words
DeepCool’s new FC120 and FK120 fans come in black and white, with A-RGB and non-RGB options. The FC120 White A-RGB 3-fans pack we tested has a dimension of 120x120x25mm, a square frame, and Hydro bearings. They look sleek in white with 9 durable blades and 6 A-RGB LEDs in the hub.
These fans interconnect with a 5-pin header, daisy-chaining, and a single cable with PWM, A-RGB, and SATA connectors. No hub is provided, reducing risk. The FC120 White fans have an airflow rating of 61.91 CFM, an air pressure rating of 1.83 mmAq, and a sound rating of ≤28 dBA. They are compatible with ASUS Aura Sync, RGB Fusion 2.0, MSI Mystic Light Sync, and ASRock Polychrome Sync.
They performed well in our test on a GIGABYTE Z690 AERO G motherboard and Intel i7 12700k CPU with a DeepCool Castle 360EX A-RGB White cooler.
Thanks to DeepCool for providing FC120 3-in-1 White fans for the testing.
Recent Updates
- February 27, 2024: A few text changes to improve readability. Added image galleries.
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[Hardware Reviewer & Editor]
Meet Nauman Siddique, a highly experienced computer science graduate with more than 15 years of knowledge in technology. Nauman is an expert in the field known for his deep understanding of computer hardware.
As a tech tester, insightful reviewer, and skilled hardware editor, Nauman carefully breaks down important parts like motherboards, graphics cards, processors, PC cases, CPU coolers, and more.
- 15+ years of PC Building Experience
- 10+ years of first-hand knowledge of technology
- 7+ years of doing in-depth testing of PC Hardware
- A motivated individual with a keen interest in tech testing from multiple angles.
- I majored in Computer Science with a Masters in Marketing
- Previously worked at eXputer, EnosTech, and Appuals.
- Completed Course in Computer Systems Specialization From Illinois Tech
Get In Touch: nauman@tech4gamers.com
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