We really didn’t make it easy for ourselves with the test of the Corsair AF Elite Series AF140 Elite and even tested the white and the black fan several times. I have to state that the measured values do not match the data sheet on the homepage or the data printed on the packaging in any way, which had to influence our rating in the end. We also informed the manufacturer about these circumstances quite some time ago, but unfortunately no clarifying statement has come so far. Therefore, we publish our state of knowledge in full today, especially since at least the data were reasonably congruent in throughput with other reviews despite different methodology. It’s just that no one seems to have noticed the discrepancy between marketing and reality.
The starting position is quite exciting: White and black for the optimal adaptation to the case and thankfully no annoying ARGB stuff as a side-kick. If the fan performance were really solid, then you could maybe even somehow forgive its MSRP of over 30 Euros. Brand labels always cost extra, that’s nothing new. The street price is now around 25 Euros or just under, which is still a board. Well, you can do everything, if at least the value is right. But that’s exactly where I have to be a little clearer today and look twice.
Introduction
You have to hand it to Corsair, but they have once again consistently managed without a lamp drawer in the AF140 Elite. RGB is not even available here for an extra charge, and that’s a good thing. The hub (weight) and electronics (noise) are unencumbered and there is also no annoying illuminated ring that could negatively affect the radiator meter. The fan should actually be able to concentrate on what it is primarily supposed to do: realize good, but quiet ventilation. And that’s where wishful thinking and reality collide, even though I don’t want to spoil anything at this point. Even with the street prices, you are already in the upper class or premium segment in terms of price, which naturally sets the bar very high. With a fan for under 10 euros, I would also not have whined if something does not quite fit…
The white frame is functional and simple and has a useful decoupling in the corners. The rotor with its 9 moderately steeply pitched blades is not a great innovation in purely visual terms, but is puristically designed for static pressure. The fan relies on a good hydrodynamic plain bearing (FDB), which does exactly what it’s supposed to. As for the engine and bearing noises, we still have the tests in all speed ranges and installation variants, but I may already spoil that everything was free of humming. Only a cascading of the ports is not available, here you have to use the motherboard or a hub if you want to couple many fans, which is a bit of a pity.
The weight of 223 grams is well below that of many comparable fans in this price range. The manufacturer specifies the thickness (installation depth) as 25 mm, which is even true. The gaps are extremely good and the surface finish is definitely not objectionable. So up to this point, there have been no defects or complaints.
The specified power consumption of around 4.5 watts for the fan at maximum speeds would certainly be plausible if the rest of the technical data were correct. But this is exactly where my criticism begins. This time it is not only in the conclusion, because I would like to make you aware of the measurements. So please note the values for the throughput and read the review carefully.
Either Corsair really doesn’t know what the OEM has delivered there or they hope that no one notices. I therefore searched, which I usually never do, for other reviews of these fans. Their results, as long as the measurements are reasonably accurate, are pretty much the same as our findings with the airflow. But no one seems to have noticed that they didn’t test the advertised product, but something completely different. For whatever reason.
32 Antworten
Kommentar
Lade neue Kommentare
Urgestein
Urgestein
Mitglied
Veteran
1
Urgestein
Veteran
Veteran
Veteran
Mitglied
1
Urgestein
Urgestein
Urgestein
Veteran
Urgestein
Mitglied
Urgestein
Alle Kommentare lesen unter igor´sLAB Community →