Phanteks T30 - The 120mm Fan to Beat in 2021

TT158 · 10 Oct 2021 at 08:23

Can someone please help me to understand this Igor's lab review? He seems to show lower airflow through the radiator vs the NF-A12X25 at the same rpm. He only tests 500, 1000, then max rpm, which is not equivalent between the two.

https://www.igorslab.de/en/phanteks-t30-fan-in-test-surprise-on-the-dark-side-of-power/4/

This is at odds with reviews I've seen such as the one from Optimum tech who showed significantly lower temperatures when testing on a radiator at equivalent speed.

It's quite hard to tell with the igor review given it's machine translated, but he seems to praise the T30s overall despite their high price. But I can't see how lower airflow at the same rpm as a thinner fan is praise worthy. I also don't see how this reconciles with the data I've seen elsewhere that shows the T30s giving better performance.

Grim5 · 10 Oct 2021 at 08:42

The T30 seems to be amazing for radiators

TT158 · 10 Oct 2021 at 08:54

Grim5 said:
The T30 seems to be amazing for radiators

That's what I'm reading and seeing everywhere, except on Igor's lab, but he recommends it, so I'm perplexed.

doyll · 10 Oct 2021 at 13:19

doyll · 10 Oct 2021 at 16:30

TT158, I noticed same thing in Igor testing. Might have something to do with specific rpm his tests are ran at. I think 750rpm and 1250 rpm results would give a better overall view of fan peformance. That said I understand why he doesn't have more data points in his tests .. more points mean more time spent testing, and time is money.

I have 3 mates running T30s on radiators with lots of praise and no compaints. I'm running 3 as front intakes in Evolv mATX case and really like them. I did have problems setting up fan curves with MSI Command Center with T30s in Advanced mode, but switching them to Performance mode solved it. Besides, Command Center on MSI mobo isn't very good. I'm sure I would have no problems using Advanced mode if I hooked up my aquacomputer aquaro 5 using their aquasuite X software. It gives infinitely 'mo-betta' fan control.

TT158 · 10 Oct 2021 at 17:47

doyll said:
TT158, I noticed same thing in Igor testing. Might have something to do with specific rpm his tests are ran at. I think 750rpm and 1250 rpm results would give a better overall view of fan peformance. That said I understand why he doesn't have more data points in his tests .. more points mean more time spent testing, and time is money.

I have 3 mates running T30s on radiators with lots of praise and no compaints. I'm running 3 as front intakes in Evolv mATX case and really like them. I did have problems setting up fan curves with MSI Command Center with T30s in Advanced mode, but switching them to Performance mode solved it. Besides, Command Center on MSI mobo isn't very good. I'm sure I would have no problems using Advanced mode if I hooked up my aquacomputer aquaro 5 using their aquasuite X software. It gives infinitely 'mo-betta' fan control.

Yeah it is interesting, eh. I still think I'll combine them with my NF-A12X25s, replacing the P12s that I have on my radiators, as those just aren't good across the entire rev range for me. I'll finally install the Aquacomputer Octo I bought at the same time. Probably a winter project

doyll · 10 Oct 2021 at 19:53

TT158 said:
Yeah it is interesting, eh. I still think I'll combine them with my NF-A12X25s, replacing the P12s that I have on my radiators, as those just aren't good across the entire rev range for me. I'll finally install the Aquacomputer Octo I bought at the same time. Probably a winter project

Please let us know how it all works out. Always good to hear what others learn.

TT158 · 10 Oct 2021 at 20:55

doyll said:
Please let us know how it all works out. Always good to hear what others learn.

Will do

Ross Thomson · 11 Oct 2021 at 11:59

TT158 said:
Yeah it is interesting, eh. I still think I'll combine them with my NF-A12X25s, replacing the P12s that I have on my radiators, as those just aren't good across the entire rev range for me. I'll finally install the Aquacomputer Octo I bought at the same time. Probably a winter project

Do you not just run the fans at a set speed? Run my P12's @ 900rpm constant.

TT158 · 11 Oct 2021 at 13:35

Ross Thomson said:
Do you not just run the fans at a set speed? Run my P12's @ 900rpm constant.

I have them ramp up to keep the water temp sub 30 degrees, but have a couple of backup profiles in case it's a really hot day and they get stuck in an annoying range

Ross Thomson · 12 Oct 2021 at 08:36

TT158 said:
I have them ramp up to keep the water temp sub 30 degrees, but have a couple of backup profiles in case it's a really hot day and they get stuck in an annoying range

I'd just run them at a set RPM or by pass any rpm that is giving you any issue.

clone · 12 Oct 2021 at 09:52

Do phantek plan on a 140mm fan version of this?

Jay85 · 12 Oct 2021 at 13:09

clone said:
Do phantek plan on a 140mm fan version of this?

Apparently they are, last time i asked on reddit a rep said they would but no ETA.

Jay85 · 12 Oct 2021 at 13:11

TT158 said:
Can someone please help me to understand this Igor's lab review? He seems to show lower airflow through the radiator vs the NF-A12X25 at the same rpm. He only tests 500, 1000, then max rpm, which is not equivalent between the two.

https://www.igorslab.de/en/phanteks-t30-fan-in-test-surprise-on-the-dark-side-of-power/4/

This is at odds with reviews I've seen such as the one from Optimum tech who showed significantly lower temperatures when testing on a radiator at equivalent speed.

It's quite hard to tell with the igor review given it's machine translated, but he seems to praise the T30s overall despite their high price. But I can't see how lower airflow at the same rpm as a thinner fan is praise worthy. I also don't see how this reconciles with the data I've seen elsewhere that shows the T30s giving better performance.

What radiator was he testing it on? Is this another case of different radiators working better with certain fans etc?

TT158 · 12 Oct 2021 at 22:28

Jay85 said:
What radiator was he testing it on? Is this another case of different radiators working better with certain fans etc?

He tested on 25, 45 and 65mm radiators, all showing the Noctua with much higher airflow at 1,000 rpm.

Ross Thomson · 13 Oct 2021 at 08:11

TT158 said:
He tested on 25, 45 and 65mm radiators, all showing the Noctua with much higher airflow at 1,000 rpm.

but what about the cooling?

TT158 · 13 Oct 2021 at 11:14

Ross Thomson said:
but what about the cooling?

I don't think that he actually does water temperature testing, but more air through the radiator would surely always mean lower temps? Hence why increasing the rpm of the same fan lowers temps.

Ross Thomson · 13 Oct 2021 at 14:21

TT158 said:
I don't think that he actually does water temperature testing, but more air through the radiator would surely always mean lower temps? Hence why increasing the rpm of the same fan lowers temps.

you’d think that but unless you are seeing cpu temps lower airflow through the rad doesn’t tell you much.

doyll · 13 Oct 2021 at 16:21

Probably best to test fans for airflow and not CPU or water temp.
Independent fan testing airflow and pressure data gives us a general idea of how well they perform against each other. I've searched Igor site and find nothing about what radiators they use, only the thicknesses are listed. To use a bunch of different brands and model of radiators (or on different coolers or in different cases) would mean testing a fan could take days instead of a few hours. Would be nice if he said what radiators they used, but at the end of the day his testing is much more detailed than most.

momo56 · 13 Oct 2021 at 16:34

Has anyone tried these fans with the EK coolstream radiators ? Will the included screws work ?

edit: can confirm the screws that come with the fan work on EK rads