Phanteks is justly famous for its PH-TC14PE, a large tandem tower heatsink that has become the top-cooling heatsink. How will it compare to a large field of fans?
Product on Review: Phanteks PH-F140TS
Manufacturer and Sponsor: Phanteks
Street Price: £18 / $20 (At time of review)
From the computer enthusiast’s point of view, Phanteks seemed to leap into existence on 1 September 2011 with the announcement of its new heatsink, the PH-TC14PE. The PH-TC14PE is a large tandem tower heatsink that has since shown itself to be the best-cooling of all the heatsinks.
Contributing to the PH-TC14PE’s cooling power are a pair of 140mm fans, the PH-F140TS. This is the fan reviewed today. This fan comes in an octagonal white frame with your choice of Black, White, Blue, Orange or Red blades. How will the PH-TC14PE compare to a large field of fans?
About Phanteks
Phanteks, is a company with more than 20 years international experience in providing thermal solutions. From specialists in providing thermal solutions we have now expanded to a company offering multiple product solutions. With our thorough technical skills and marketing expertise, we fully optimize the products with thermal possibilities and capabilities. We have always been able to achieve the maximum due to our passion in finding and discovering new technical developments. Phanteks design team which has a base in Europe situated in Holland, consists of creative researchers, designers and developers have always been successful in spotting the exact needs of gamers. This results in our quality products.
Phanteks on the PH-F140TS
Phanteks PH-F140TS 140mm premium fans are designed using the unique Maelström concept technology. With its’ nine blades and MVB feature, it’ll produce a powerful yet silent downdraft airflow. Long lifespan and rotation stability is made possible with the UFB bearing, composed by MOSS and SSC systems. Speed adjustments can be done by using the QSA adaptors. The stylish octagon frame fits 120mm screw holes. PH-F140TS is setting a new standard of performance and compatibility.
The PH-F140TS reviewed here was provided by Phanteks.
Technical Specifications
Phanteks provides a comprehensive set of specifications for its PH-F140TS, including specs for the fan on its Quiet Speed Adapter (QSA) and its Ultra Quiet Speed Adapter (Q2SA), including speed (RPM), airflow (CFM), noise (dBA) and static pressure (mmH20). Those along with a maximum current draw (Amps) are really all you need to know from the manufacturer.
Product page here.
Packaging & Bundle
The PH-F140TS comes in a cardboard box that has a fold-out panel on the back. The fan and its accessories are ensconced in a clear plastic tray.
The accessories themselves are interesting. In the picture below you can see the QSA, the Molex adapter (no RPM reporting line), the Q2SA, four standard fan screws, four vibration isolators, or “Anti-Vibration Compensators,” a black pad, two silicone washers, two machine screws and a “Patented Thermal Bracket.” The black pad contains the eight vibration pads. The silicone washers and machine screws go with the bracket. More on that later.
A closer look
The intake side of the Phanteks PH-F140TS shows the rounded octagonal frame shape quite nicely. The square sides mean the fan will fit in those square spaces where a 140mm fan is anticipated. The screw holes are 105mm apart along the sides – that’s the standard for 120mm fans, so this fan can be used in any 120x120mm fan window where there is a little clearance along the sides. The advantage to that is that a 140mm fan fills up the entire 120x120mm window, so you can get the same airflow as a 120mm fan but more quietly. Another advantage is that this fan can be used in heatsinks where other 140mm fans go; those heatsinks also use 140mm fans with 120mm screw holes. The eight pockets bracketing the four screw holes also have a function.
You can also see three notches on each blade. These seem to be part of the Phanteks MVB system:
MVB (Maelström Vortex Booster)
The nine blades are positioned in a way that it provides a powerfully controlled airflow. The MVB produces a downdraft vortex allowing air passage through the surface to produce a significantly better performance while keeping the noise level down.
The nine blades are positioned in a way that it provides a powerfully controlled airflow. The MVB produces a downdraft vortex allowing air passage through the surface to produce a significantly better performance while keeping the noise level down.
The exhaust side of the Phanteks PH-F140TS shows three split struts. Somehow this looks as if it would put up more resistance than a traditional four-strut solution, especially since the struts are wide where the meet the frame.
Under the label is the Phanteks UFB bearing:
UFB bearing (Updraft Floating Balance bearing)
Phanteks’ UFB bearings are composed by MOSS and SSC system. MOSS has an effective fan hub-blade ratio to achieve a dynamic balance, thus floating the axis for minimal air noise. SSC increases the bearing life span to ensure that the fan axis is consistently operating without mechanical noise.
Phanteks’ UFB bearings are composed by MOSS and SSC system. MOSS has an effective fan hub-blade ratio to achieve a dynamic balance, thus floating the axis for minimal air noise. SSC increases the bearing life span to ensure that the fan axis is consistently operating without mechanical noise.
Phanteks also wants you to know of its electrical protection circuitry:
Polarity Auto-Restart Protection
Phanteks’ unique fan circuit design provides a Fan Polarity Auto-Restart feature. The sensor inside of the fan will constantly send a series of rectangular signals to your PC M/B indicating that the fan is working correctly. The unique restart feature provides optimal support and protection.
Phanteks’ unique fan circuit design provides a Fan Polarity Auto-Restart feature. The sensor inside of the fan will constantly send a series of rectangular signals to your PC M/B indicating that the fan is working correctly. The unique restart feature provides optimal support and protection.
Finally, push those little pads out of their rubber block, install them on the fan (they are sticky on one side) and you get this:
Thermal Exhaust Bracket
Phanteks includes a “Patented Thermal Bracket” with its PH-F140TS. According to Phanteks:
Patented Thermal Bracket
The Thermal Bracket enhances the thermal convection inside of the PC case and helps reduce the dust gathering on the GPU, MB and other components. Phanteks Thermal Bracket with the PH-F140TS fan is the only solution for the GPU thermal convection issue. The Thermal Bracket is designed to fit any expansion slots with washers for silent and solid uses.
The Thermal Bracket enhances the thermal convection inside of the PC case and helps reduce the dust gathering on the GPU, MB and other components. Phanteks Thermal Bracket with the PH-F140TS fan is the only solution for the GPU thermal convection issue. The Thermal Bracket is designed to fit any expansion slots with washers for silent and solid uses.
So how do you mount this bracket? You take two standard fan screws, push them through the slot and screw the bracket to the fan. Then you take the machine screws and put them through the slot at the end of the bracket, put on your two silicone washers, and then screw the bracket into the frame above the backplane slots in your case. Like this:
So how well does it work? “Your mileage may vary.” What is nice about this bracket is that the position on the case frame is somewhat adjustable. If you mounted the bracket one slot higher than in the picture, it might interfere with an extra-wide heatsink. However, the adjustable mounting allows you to back it off so it will not interfere. If your case has a side panel fan that interferes with your heatsink, this fan would avoid that. If your case is too narrow and you try this, your PH-F140TS might be starved for air.
It’s a nice idea, though. Especially if you have a mesh side panel and no side panel fan.
Test Setup & Methodologies
In this picture the PH-F140TS is held by two pairs of clips, showing the versatility of the design: with its 120mm screw holes it handles standard heatsink clips. With its straight sides it provides solid anchors for 140mm side clips. Mounting hardware provided by Prolimatech.
The Phanteks PH-F140TS was tested on the same Megahalems setup as the recent Ultimate Cooling Fan Grouptest 2012 Review.
Test Setup
CPU Intel Core i7 860 at 4GHz and stock
Cooling Prolimatech Megahalems
Motherboard GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3P
Memory G.Skill 8GB 1600MHz low profile RAM
Storage Kingston SSDNow V+100 64GB SSD
PSU Seasonic X-750
Sound Level Meter Tenma 72-942
Stress software and CPU temp logger OCCT 3.1
Cooling Prolimatech Megahalems
Motherboard GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3P
Memory G.Skill 8GB 1600MHz low profile RAM
Storage Kingston SSDNow V+100 64GB SSD
PSU Seasonic X-750
Sound Level Meter Tenma 72-942
Stress software and CPU temp logger OCCT 3.1
The fan was tested three times at each of its three settings: at 12 Volts, with the QSA and with the Q2SA. The results were averaged for each setting.
The fan was also tested in open air. At 12 Volts the PH-F140TS ran at 1053 RPM, making an equivalent one-meter sound pressure level (SPL) of 25.5 dBA. Phanteks specifications are 1200 rpm and 19 dBA.
With the QSA it ran 846 RPM and 20 dBA. Specs are 900 RPM and 15.2 dBA.
With the Q2SA it ran at 724 RPM and 17 dBA. Specs are 750 RPM and 13.4 dBA.
The next three pages will show the fan performance on the heatsink, arranged by name, by temperature over ambient, and by sound pressure level. A fourth page will show performance on the non-overclocked system.
Performance: Overclocked System (Arranged by Name)
Performance: Overclocked System (Arranged by Temp/Ambient)
Performance: Overclocked System (Arranged by Sound Pressure Level)
Performance: Non-Overclocked System
Conclusion
The performance chart arranging fans by temperature over ambient (TOA) shows that when compared with fans of similar cooling power, the Phanteks PH-F140TS is an ordinary fan at 12 Volts, but when it has its QSA or its Q2SA connected it is a relatively quiet fan. Versatile.
With its speed-reducing adapters and its other accessories the PH-F140TS could be a good choice as a case fan. It has already proven itself as a heatsink fan.
Pros
+ A most versatile fan:
+ Choice of five elegant colors
+ Choice of three speeds
+ Quiet for its airflow when speed reducers are employed
+ Vibration-absorbing pads and pegs are included
+ Thermal bracket included for cooling graphics cards
Cons
– none
+ A most versatile fan:
+ Choice of five elegant colors
+ Choice of three speeds
+ Quiet for its airflow when speed reducers are employed
+ Vibration-absorbing pads and pegs are included
+ Thermal bracket included for cooling graphics cards
Cons
– none
Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net.
