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!


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.

WARNING: If absolute silence is a top priority, be prepared to set up custom fan curves, as these fans can be audible at full speed.
DeepCool FC120 Fans
Interconnected fans (Image By Tech4Gamers)

 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:

PRO TIP: Take advantage of the daisy-chain capability and efficient cable management offered by DeepCool’s FC120 A-RGB White fans for a streamlined setup with synchronized A-RGB lighting.

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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Nauman Siddique
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