Capsule Evaluation: Sunon Maglev 120mm Fan
Based in 1980 and headquartered in Taiwan, Sunon (aka Sunonwealth Electrical Machine Business Co., Ltd.), stands out as a outstanding world producer of followers, blowers, and thermal administration techniques. The corporate has made a reputation for itself within the fan trade with a complete product line that features DC brushless followers, micro blowers, CPU coolers, and numerous different cooling applied sciences. They’re one of many oldest and most famous fan producers on the world – and never only for PC functions, however for absolutely anything in want of one thing smaller than a ceiling fan, spanning from IT to automotive and industrial sectors.
Throughout the PC area, the corporate is finest recognized for its proprietary MagLev (Magnetic Levitation) know-how, which makes use of magnetic forces to levitate the rotor shaft, drastically lowering friction and put on. This progressive design improves the sturdiness and efficiency of their followers, notably in lowering operational noise and bettering high-temperature efficiency. Sunon launched the patent and their first MagLev merchandise all the way in which again in 90s.
The 120mm Sunon MagLev fan that we’re reviewing at the moment – MFC0251V2-1Q02U-S99 – is a brand new, high-performance fan engineered primarily for PC functions, with an emphasis on longevity and performance. It options Sunon’s superior Vapo-Bearing MagLev Engine, which allegedly ensures a quieter operation and longer lifespan by minimizing friction. This explicit fan has a most pace of 1900 RPM and the entire bells and whistles of superior cooling followers, together with a variety PWM pace management (10-100%).
Distinguished by its crisp white shade and distinctive body design, this fan is aimed PC builders going for a clear and fashionable aesthetic. The “gaming” designation by the producer clearly divulges their intentions concerning their focused viewers. By default, these followers have each a 4-pin connector and likewise a Molex connector for his or her direct connection to the PSU.
Fan Testing Methodology
We’re testing followers utilizing an Extech HD350 differential manometer, an Extech AN200 velocity meter, and a customized 3D printed equipment designed for this particular objective. The equipment includes a easy however efficient shutters mechanism that permits us to check the unobstructed (most) quantity stream of a fan, the absolutely obstructed (most static) stress of the fan, and a number of factors in between, permitting us to compose the precise P-Q efficiency chart of any fan. The RPM studying is taken with the fan unobstructed (most stream), because the fan pace varies relying on the airflow impedance along side the design of the fan’s blades.
For noise measurements, we’re utilizing an Extech HD600 excessive sensitivity SPL meter. The noise of the fan is measured from 15 centimeters away, not one meter as IEC certifications require, as that may be far too nice a distance to measure variations between almost silent merchandise. Notice nevertheless that we’re measuring the noise degree of a fan with its stream unobstructed and the fan, to the very best diploma, uncoupled from the setting. The addition of fan grills, the set up on a cooler, and some other type of obstruction will improve the generated noise, as each aerodynamic and vibration noise can be added into the setting.
Check Outcomes & Conclusion
The Sunon MFC0251V2-1Q02U-S99 is a sturdy performer throughout the whole lot of the efficiency chart. At its most pace of 1900 RPM, it presents an airflow of 58.9 CFM and a static stress of two.48 mmH2O. Nevertheless, that efficiency comes with a noise output of 41.3 dB(A), which is sort of noticeable and, normally, not likely forward of its competitors. When in comparison with the Corsair ML120, one other fan with a magnetic levitation engine, the Sunon mannequin tends to supply considerably higher efficiency by operating about 300 RPM sooner whereas producing about the identical degree of noise.
Total, Sunon’s 120mm MagLev fan stands out as a high-quality half, and higher nonetheless it is priced competitively at round $11, providing substantial worth for these in search of sturdy cooling options inside price range constraints. When it is used accurately, the fan simply competes with, and usually outperforms, one of the best 120 mm merchandise presently obtainable – albeit not immensely so.
Nevertheless “used accurately” is the operative time period, because the MagLev engine makes the fan explicit about its orientation. In brief, these followers aren’t meant to be put in with the engine going through upwards, as this could jeopardize the integrity of the Vapo mechanism. Because of this, Sunon’s MagLev fan is de facto solely good for horizontal makes use of – back and front air consumption/exhaust – and should not be used for vertical configurations on the high and backside of pc instances.
Regardless of that, the 120mm MagLev fan does excel when it is in its area of interest, particularly at its worth. The most important hurdle, in that case, is simply buying a fan, as Sunon is primarily geared as much as goal the majority OEM market and would not promote their followers in particular person retail items. So potential consumers might want to skip the Neweggs and Amazons of the world, and look as an alternative at digital and industrial suppliers like Digikey and Mouser.
