Thermaltake ToughFan 12 High Static Pressure 2000 PWM, Metal-Reinforced Motor Hub, Gen.2 Hydraulic Bearing 120mm Case/Radiator Fan (2 Pack) CL-F082-PL12BL-A Black

As someone who is budget conscious, I wanted to look for a fan that was similar in performance and quality to noctua NF-F12x25 (basically the best 25mm fan that uses the special polymer that makes the blades spin so close to the edges) but without spending $30 on a SINGLE fan. This product basically matches the Noctua fan but at a lower price point per fan. Its as quiet, and as powerful. its not as robust feeling as the Noctua fans, nor has the fancy packaging, but it gets the job done. PWM changes do not sound, to my ear, like they are buzzing or emitting a high pitch wine. The consensus online was that it happened at around 1000-1100RM (50% fan speed). But my computer has a pretty relaxed fan curve. so it transistions between speeds much slower than normal, and I cannot discern any noise other than the air going through the fan. My temperatures are excellent. in my current configuration, my CPU does not exceed 70°C and same with my GPU under full load. the airflow is from bottom to top, so the air is being exchanged in my system pretty quickly. the fans are dead silent at 30% so it keeps your system cool while staying silent. Now did they get to the lower price point by tweaking Noctua's homework? maybe, I mean the fan blades do look very similar. plus the open bearing in the middle of the fan doesn't really strike me as original. But considering that the Phanteks T30 also looks like the NFa12x25 , but fatter, I don't think it really matters all that much. To get this level of fan performance for a lower cost per fan compared to the competition is unmatched. Two of these fans for the price of one Noctua? That's crazy. However, the price is still on the high end for fans. I used to have a set of Arctic P12s that came in a 5-Pack. they were not as good, but were basically the same price as one Noctua fan. Do I recommend them? Yes. Get these fans, you won't regret it.

--Update 05.22.2024-- My first out of 6 fans failed. It's been close to 3 years and 6 months, and entire year less than the advertised MTBF and that's IF the computer is on 24/7 which this PC was not! Pretty crappy if you ask me! --Original Review-- Thermaltake doesn't exactly have the best reputation. They are known for ripping off of successful products and putting their own badge on it. Noctua announced they would be releasing a Chromax version of their best fan, the NF-A12x25, in the recent past, I can't point to the exact date. However, there are photos of prototypes being shown at CES, and it looks EXACTLY like this. What Thermaltake CAN'T copy is: 1) The motor used. It will definitely be inferior to Noctua's. 2) The overall design. The toughfan actually does not sit flush on a flat surface because of the anti-vibration pads. This creates a ~1-2mm gap between the fan and radiator that reduces static pressure. It DOES sit flat without the pads. 3) The blade tolerances. Despite them also using some sort of proprietary Liquid Crystal Polymer to manufacture the blades, I'm sure that Noctua's tolerances are way, way higher, which will reduce turbulent noise further. 4) The MTBF. Only 40k hours. That's a joke. However, that's also 4.5 years of continuous operation. Although Noctua is 150k hours which is basically forever. 5) The warranty. 2 year for Toughfan, 6 for Noctua. 6) Accessories. The 2 pack does come with a splitter and screws, but that's it. Noctua comes with anti-vibration mount, anti-vibration cover, an extension cable, a low noise cable, screws, and a splitter. However, at $35 for 2? You can't beat the value. The Noctua's will surely cost that much for ONE. Do I recommend this? HELL YES. They are QUIET. I will give this sentence it's own paragraph because it CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED HOW QUIET THESE ARE. You've read other reviews of quiet fans? NO, THESE ARE IN ANOTHER LEAGUE. They are basically INAUDIBLE below 1200 rpm, and just a minor hum at 1500. They are RIDICULOUSLY quiet. Only the Arctic p12's can be compared honestly, but those have other issues, so I can't recommend those. I'm positive that the Noctua's are just imperceivably better than these because honestly, if there is no noise, then there is no noise. They push a 'decent' amount of air, not the most, but certainly not the least. However, they have excellent directional airflow and will perform very well on heatsinks and radiators. There are other fans that are far superior in moving more air. Consider this fan more of a "sniper rifle" than a "flame thrower". Want a "flame thrower"? Get a Scythe Kaze Flex 2000 rpm. That thing moves so much air, it's ridiculous. However, it's also much much louder. I personally use the Toughfan for ALL my needs, including case fans, as I value low noise more than anything else. The only other fans that might compete in value are the Arctic p12 fans, but those let out a high pitch whine sound as the fan ramps up and down that I couldn't stand, so I returned them. Those were almost perfect. These will certainly sell out as soon as Noctua releases the Chromax version of their fans, as these are nearly identical at a fraction of the cost. They look pretty much the same too!

The Thermaltake ToughFan is a high-performance case fan designed to deliver exceptional cooling performance and durability. This fan is built with high-quality materials and features a unique design that maximizes airflow while minimizing noise. One of the key features of the ToughFan is its high static pressure. With speeds of up to 2000 RPM and a maximum airflow of 119.91 CFM, this fan can quickly move large amounts of air through your case, helping to keep your system cool even under heavy loads. Additionally, the high static pressure of the ToughFan makes it an excellent choice for use with radiators, as it can efficiently push air through the dense fins of a radiator. Another great feature of the ToughFan is its durability. This fan is built to last, with a high-quality bearing that ensures smooth operation and minimal noise. Additionally, the ToughFan features a sturdy frame and vibration-dampening pads that help to reduce noise and extend the lifespan of the fan. The ToughFan also features a unique modular design that allows you to customize the fan's appearance and functionality. With interchangeable color rings and an optional PWM fan controller, you can easily tailor the ToughFan to your specific needs and preferences. Overall, the Thermaltake ToughFan is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-performance case fan. With its exceptional cooling performance, durability, and customizable design, this fan is sure to meet the needs of even the most demanding users. Whether you're a gamer, a content creator, or a professional, the ToughFan is a reliable and efficient solution for keeping your system cool and running smoothly.

They look better than my Noctua NF-A12-25 and perform about the same. The amount of air these 120mm fans push with such little noise is impressive. A star was removed due to 1/4 of my fans began squeaking, slowing down and stopping about 2 weeks after purchasing. Not Noctua quality that’s for sure.

I did read many reviews, of people having trouble of these not lasting long or breaking down. As of a week of using two of these as exhaust fans running to to the full 2,000 + RPM --- these fans are the best Acoustics I have ever experienced in Fans, and I mean that. They are so smoothly quiet in my opinion. They are really kicking air out of my NR200 case. I previously experimented with them in my air cooler --- and they also were very quiet. Excellent Fans for me as of now.

Fans are pretty much clones of the NF-A12, I've had a set in another system, they preform pretty much identically, until they start acting up. I built a new system with 13 of these fans on 3x 360mm rads, with 4 just being for ventilation, this build was brought online about 6 months ago. in that time 3 of them have acted up in a weird way. the fan will strangely begin to make a LOUD vibrating sound. this made me think that the bearings had failed, but that didnt seam to be the case since the hub spins freely, stopping the blades and letting the fan reset fixes the problem for a few seconds then the sounds comes back. The only way to fix the issue seams to be popping the hub from the frame and relubricating the axel with light oil then snapping it back into place.. my Noctua fans ran for 3 years without any of them being touched, an almost 25% failure rate for these TT fans is kind a unacceptable in my book. therefor i sadly can no longer recommend these fans as an alternative for the Noctua fans...

Easy to strip the outer casing although it doesn’t affect functionality. Good looking and temps were good.

I set it to 1000rpm for my rear and top fans and 1200rpm for front fans. It runs quiet and cool my i9 12th and RTX 4070. I know it's not recommend for case fans but it does push a lot of air.