Thermaltake SWAFAN EX12 RGB Computer Case Fans Review

Case Fans are a necessity if you want to keep your system in good working order and properly air conditioned to keep the temperatures in safe parameters. If you want some RGB fans with easy cable management ThermalTake has you covered.  It’s their SWAFAN EX12 RGB fans. They come in a set of 3 fans for the price of $109.99.

 

Features and specs:

 

P/N: CL-F143-PL12SW-A

FAN DIMENSION: 120 x 120 x 25 mm

INTERFACE: USB 2.0 connectors (9 Pin)

SYSTEM COMPATIBILITY: Windows 10 /11

STARTED VOLTAGE: 9.0 V

FAN STARTED VOLTAGE: 12 V & 5V

FAN RATED VOLTAGE: 12 V & 5V

RATED CURRENT: 12 V - 0.21 A , 5 V – 0.7 A (only one fan)

POWER INPUT: 12 V – 2.52 W , 5 V – 3.5 W (only one fan)

FAN SPEED: 500 ~ 2000 R.P.M (2510-4Pin)

MAX. AIR PRESSURE: Standard Fan Blade : 2.39 mm-H2O (only one fan). Reverse Fan Blade : 2.02 mm-H2O (only one fan)

MAX AIR FLOW: Standard Fan Blade : 57.11 CFM (only one fan). Reverse Fan Blade 2 : 56.26 CFM (only one fan)

NOISE: Standard Fan Blade : 30.6 dB-A (only one fan). Reverse Fan Blade : 32.5 dB-A (only one fan)

BEARING TYPE: Hydraulic Bearing

LIFE EXPECTATION: 40,000 hrs,25℃

 

The packaging is nice and compact with the 3 fans, 3 reverse fan blades, and a box that has the controller, wires, and the necessary bolts and screws for assembly for most scenarios, as well as some lubricant for the fans. The box is a nice black main color with a picture of the fan on with the RGB on the front. The specifications of the fans on the side. Then on the back there are design features such as swappable fan blades, daisy-chain capabilities, and magnetic quick connection. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic, with some metal.  Quality of materials used, as well as the fit and finish, were very good. Also included along with the reversible fan blades, was the manual.

 

The SWAFAN EX12 has a nice design look that is simple and pleasing to look at. One of the key features that this fan has is being able to daisy-chain up to three fans using one cord to connect them to the controller. With this feature you can have more fans with less cords to manage, which is a win in my book. They can connect to each other and the power cord through magnetic connections. Another nice design feature that they have is the swap-able fans, being able to take the fans off, clean them easily, then being able to put them in again afterwards makes maintaining clean air intake really easy. 

 

The controller has 5 fan connections to be able to control up to 15 fans, a micro-USB plug in to connect to your motherboard through a 9-pin USB 2.0 slot. Next to that there is a 4-pin plug to be able to daisy chain your controllers. On the opposite side of the controller there is a 4-pin plug that connects to a Molex connector to plug into your PSU. In the box with all the cables and controller they include screws to be able to install everything as well as some Velcro to be able to place your controller where you want inside your case.

The method I have used to test them outside of a case is to tape a piece of paper towel on the fan and see how consistent the fan is pushing the air. With this I tested the fans in a single and as a daisy-chain to see how the results might change with the daisy-chain. With the single I observed that the fan was blowing at a constant speed and was lifting the paper towel when I added another fan into the chain, I noticed a very small change in the towel’s behavior. Then I changed one of the fans into the reverse blade and noticed that the results were more consistent than the intake. All my tests were done with the default settings.

 

Another part of the fans is the RGB feature, once it is connected and you can view the fans in the ThermalTake software you are able to adjust the colors and customize the looks. The Software is easy to navigate and personalize your RGB items. You can select from a wide range of effects and colors to really make your set up customized to your preference.

 

In conclusion the SWAFAN EX12 is an excellent set of fans to have if you are going for easy cable management with RGB. They performed very well, moving a good amount of air, being able to keep your PC components cool. It is a little more expensive but the convenience of easy maintenance for the fans makes it worth it. Being able to pop out the fan and get rid of those dust balls is just way too cool! The power connector is a little outdated for a new product by using a Molex, but most power supplies come with a Molex connector. Based on it’s design, features, quality, and performance, the SWAFAN EX12 has earned our Highly Recommended Award. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.thermaltake.com.