ZisaLog: Beginner’s Guide to Building a Custom PC 
Have you ever wondered what kind of PC case fans other people choose for their custom-built PCs, or what specifications they consider important?
To answer these questions, data was collected and analyzed from various perspectives based on the parts selected using the “Custom PC Parts Estimation and Compatibility Check Tool” developed and managed by the author.
This article summarizes the popularity ranking, price range, manufacturers, and the selection rate by other specifications and features of PC case fans in easy-to-understand graphs. This information can help provide an overall picture of PC case fans for those researching or building a custom PC.
In addition to PC case fans, there is also analysis of other PC parts and custom PC builds, so be sure to check those out as well.
– The data is based on information from the Custom PC Tool.
– Data period: From 2024/5/9 to 2024/08/09 (about 3 months)
– Number of data entries: About 5,000
– The vertical axis of the graphs shows the selection rate by users
– For better readability, the graphs focus on the main volume zones, so the total may not add up to 100%.
Select PC parts and online stores to instantly generate an estimate, check compatibility, and calculate power requirements. You can save up to five different builds, making it easy to try out multiple configurations.
≫ Tool：PC Parts Estimation & Compatibility Check Tool
Table of Contents
Basic Data on PC Case Fans
First, the most important points such as popularity ranking, manufacturers, and price ranges will be introduced.
PC Case Fan Popularity Ranking
| 1 |  | GELID Solutions Stella Infinity FN-STELLA-03 |
6.6% | ||
| 2 |  | SILVERSTONE VISTA 120 ARGB SST-VS120B-ARGB-3PK |
4% | ||
| 3 |  | Corsair iCUE LINK RX120 RGB Starter Kit CO-9051018-WW |
3.5% | ||
| 4 |  | Corsair iCUE LINK RX120 RGB White Starter Kit CO-9051022-WW |
2.9% | ||
| 5 |  | ARCTIC P12 MAX ACFAN00280A |
2.6% | ||
| 6 |  | DEEPCOOL FC120-3 IN 1 R-FC120-BAMN3-G-1 |
2.6% | ||
| 7 |  | NZXT F120 RGB Core RF-C12SF-W1 |
2.3% | ||
| 8 |  | サイズ KAZE FLEX 120 PWM SU1225FD12M-RHP |
2% | ||
| 9 |  | be quiet！ PURE WINGS 3 140mm PWM High-Speed BL109 |
1.9% | ||
| 10 |  | ADATA XPG VENTO 120 VENTO120-BKCWW |
1.7% | ||
| 11 |  | LIAN LI UNI FAN SL120 V2 WT 3Pack SL120-3W V2 |
1.6% | ||
| 12 |  | ASUS TUF GAMING TF120 ARGB 3IN1 |
1.5% | ||
| 13 |  | COOLER MASTER CF120 ARGB R4-S2S-12AA-GP |
1.5% | ||
| 14 |  | NZXT F120 RGB Core Triple Pack RF-C12TF-W1 |
1.5% | ||
| 15 |  | Thermalright TL-C12S |
1.5% | ||
| 16 |  | JOUJYE BW-1225P-LV |
1.4% | ||
| 17 |  | DEEPCOOL FK120-3 IN 1 R-FK120-BKNPF3-G-1 |
1.3% | ||
| 18 |  | IN WIN Neptune AN120 IW-FN-AN120-3PK |
1.2% | ||
| 19 |  | LIAN LI UNI FAN TL LCD120 REVERSE BLADE BK 3Pack UF-RS-TL120-LCD-3B |
1.2% | ||
| 20 |  | NZXT F120 RGB Triple Pack RF-R12TF-W1 |
1.1% | ||
| 21 |  | DEEPCOOL FC120 R-FC120-BAMN1-G-1 |
1.1% | ||
| 22 |  | DEEPCOOL FK120 R-FK120-BKNPF1-G-1 |
1.1% | ||
| 23 |  | noctua NF-A12X25 PWM chromax.black.swap |
0.9% | ||
| 24 |  | noctua NF-F12 PWM |
0.9% | ||
| 25 |  | noctua NF-A12x25 PWM |
0.9% | ||
| 26 |  | Corsair iCUE LINK QX120 RGB WHITE Starter Kit CO-9051006-WW |
0.9% | ||
| 27 |  | LIAN LI UNI FAN TL120 BK 3Pack UF-TL120-3B |
0.9% | ||
| 28 |  | Corsair iCUE LINK RX120 RGB Expansion Fan CO-9051017-WW |
0.8% | ||
| 29 |  | DEEPCOOL FC120 WHITE-3 IN 1 R-FC120-WHAMN3-G-1 |
0.8% | ||
| 30 |  | オウルテック OWL-FE0625M-BK |
0.8% | ||
| 31 |  | Corsair iCUE LINK RX120 RGB White Expansion Fan CO-9051021-WW |
0.8% | ||
| 32 |  | IN WIN Jupiter AJ120 FN-AJ120-3PK |
0.7% | ||
| 33 |  | LIAN LI UNI FAN SL-INFINITY 120 BK 3Pack UF-SLIN120-3B |
0.6% | ||
| 34 |  | noctua NF-A12x25 LS-PWM |
0.6% | ||
| 35 |  | ARCTIC P12 PWM PST ACFAN00120A |
0.6% | ||
| 36 |  | Corsair iCUE LINK RX140 RGB Starter Kit CO-9051020-WW |
0.6% | ||
| 37 |  | NZXT F140 RGB Core RF-C14SF-W1 |
0.6% | ||
| 38 |  | COOLER MASTER SickleFlow 120 MFX-B2NN-18NPK-R1 |
0.6% | ||
| 39 |  | Corsair iCUE AR120 RGB WHITE Triple Fan Kit CO-9050169-WW |
0.6% | ||
| 40 |  | サイズ KAZE FLEXII 120 PWM KFS1225FD20-P |
0.6% | ||
| 41 |  | NZXT F120 RGB DUO Triple Pack RF-D12TF-W1 |
0.6% | ||
| 42 |  | noctua NF-A14 PWM |
0.5% | ||
| 43 |  | IN WIN Sirius Loop ASL120 ASL120FAN-3PK |
0.5% | ||
| 44 |  | サイズ KAZE-FLEX 140mm PWM KF1425FD18-P |
0.5% | ||
| 45 |  | GELID Solutions SILENT 14 BLACK FN-PX14-11 |
0.5% | ||
| 46 |  | noctua NF-F12 industrialPPC-3000 PWM |
0.5% | ||
| 47 |  | COOLER MASTER MasterFan MF120 Halo2 White Edition MFL-B2DW-21NP2-R2 |
0.5% | ||
| 48 |  | LIAN LI UNI FAN TL LCD120 BK 3Pack UF-TL120-LCD-3B |
0.5% | ||
| 49 |  | Thermaltake TOUGHFAN 14 Pro 2Pack CL-F160-PL14BL-A |
0.5% | ||
| 50 |  | COOLER MASTER Mobius 120 MFZ-M2NN-21NPK-R1 |
0.5% |
PC Case Fan Manufacturers
There are many PC case fan manufacturers, but the top-ranked ones are well-known brands in the PC case fan market.
Brands like Corsair, NZXT, LIAN LI, DeepCool, Noctua, Scythe, Cooler Master, and Thermaltake handle various PC parts and are also popular for PC case fans.
PC Case Fan Price Range
In terms of price range, fans under 5,000 yen are overwhelmingly popular, followed by those in the 5,000 to 15,000 yen range.
Fans priced over 5,000 yen are often sold as sets of three.
PC Case Fan Size
The most common and popular PC case fan size is 120mm.
Although it was expected that 140mm fans would also be popular from a quiet operation perspective, the results show that their selection rate is surprisingly low.
The number of 140mm case fan products is about half to one-third compared to 120mm, but the selection rate is even lower than that, so they are simply not as popular.
Number of PC Case Fans per Product
About 95% of products are sold as either single fans or sets of three.
This is natural since most products are available in these quantities.
Those who choose a single fan may be adding it to the fan that comes with the PC case to strengthen cooling, or they may buy multiple single fans if a three-pack is not available.
For three-packs, it seems likely that users want to unify the design and not use the included case fans.
PC Case Fan Data by Specifications and Features
Next, the data is summarized by specifications and features.
However, when choosing a PC case fan, the main criteria are usually fan size, airflow, price range, and manufacturer. Therefore, it is likely that users selected parts based on performance, and the resulting specifications and features were a coincidence.
In other words, it is difficult to distinguish whether users chose a part for a specific feature or simply ended up with that feature by selecting based on other main criteria. Please keep this in mind when reviewing the data.
Maximum Fan Speed of PC Case Fans
The main volume zone is 1,000 to 3,000 rpm, with some fans selected above that range.
Fans with speeds over 4,000 rpm are mostly small case fans for servers, which are not compatible with most PC cases and are not practical due to noise.
Therefore, for general custom PCs, 1,000 to 3,000 rpm is the recommended range.
Maximum Airflow of PC Case Fans
The maximum airflow of most fans is between 60 and 80 CFM, with over 90% falling between 40 and 100 CFM.
Maximum Noise Level of PC Case Fans
Most products have a maximum noise level of around 20 to 40 dB, which is considered quiet to normal.
Guide to Noise Levels| Decibels (dBA) | Guide 1 | Guide 2 | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | Loud | Very loud; conversation is not possible unless speaking very loudly | - Noisy street - Cicadas (2 m) |
| 60 | Sounds very loud; conversation is possible if voices are raised | - Normal conversation - Washing machine, vacuum cleaner, TV | |
| 50 | Normal | Sounds loud; normal conversation is possible | - Home air conditioner (outdoor unit) - Ventilation fan (1 m) |
| 40 | Clearly audible; conversation is not affected | - Quiet residential area ・Library | |
| 30 | Quiet | Heard very softly | ・Suburbs at midnight ・Whispering voice |
| 20 | Barely audible | ・Whisper ・Sound of rustling leaves |
After reviewing about 50 PC reviews and measuring noise levels, it was found that 40 dB is actually quiet.
The fan noise is audible but not unpleasant or distracting for work.
If focused on a task, the noise is hardly noticeable at all.
On the other hand, from around 50 dB, the noise becomes uncomfortable or loud, and 60 dB is considered very loud for a PC.
Durability of PC Case Fans
The main volume zone for durability is under 200,000 hours, which means about 23 years of continuous operation.
It is unclear if they actually last that long, but case fans have a simple structure compared to other PC parts, as they just spin when powered.
Therefore, they rarely break, so it is not necessary to focus too much on the rated hours when choosing.
PWM Support for PC Case Fans
About 80% of users choose PWM-supported case fans.
PWM is a technology that allows precise control of fan speed by adjusting the amount of power sent to the fan.
The PC changes the fan speed based on temperature information it monitors, increasing speed for better cooling under heavy load and lowering speed for quieter operation under light load.
Therefore, case fans with PWM support are generally recommended.
≫ Related article: What is a PWM Fan? High-Precision Fan Speed Control
LED Lighting for PC Case Fans
There is a clear split between those who like and dislike LED lighting, but about 60% of users choose case fans with LEDs.
It was expected that the ratio would be about half or even less for LED fans, so it was surprising that LED fans were slightly more popular.
Color of PC Case Fans
When it comes to color, black and white are the most common and popular for case fans.
Other colors are less common among products, so their selection rate is also lower.
Summary: PC Case Fan Statistics
The popularity ranking, price range, manufacturers, and selection rates by specification and feature for PC case fans have been summarized in graphs.
The most popular case fan manufacturers are well-known brands in the custom PC world, such as Corsair, NZXT, LIAN LI, DeepCool, Noctua, Scythe, Cooler Master, and Thermaltake.
While 120mm is the dominant fan size, 140mm is recommended for users who want quieter operation.
Most PC cases support 140mm fans, making them easy to use and providing better quietness.
In addition to PC case fans, there is also analysis of other PC parts and custom PC builds, so be sure to check those out as well.
Select PC parts and online stores to instantly generate an estimate, check compatibility, and calculate power requirements. You can save up to five different builds, making it easy to try out multiple configurations.
≫ Tool：PC Parts Estimation & Compatibility Check Tool
