Best RGB Fans for 2023 [Only First-Hand Reviews] | RealGear

Looking to add some color to your PC build?

Hey, gamers! If you’re planning to level up your gaming setup and embrace your true gamer style, then we have two words for you: RGB fans. Stock fans are cool but not as cool as customized RGB fans. They add a pop of color to your build to elevate your rig’s aesthetics. With advanced RGB lighting control, you can customize the lighting to match your setup and create a harmonized, fine-synced look that will leave you in awe. Led App Controller

Moreover, high-quality RGB fans also keep your valuable gaming equipment nice and cool. That’s important because computing components, including the motherboard, processor, and graphics card, tend to generate a lot of heat. Proper ventilation is absolutely essential to avoid system overheating, which can shorten the lifespan of your valuable components and also affect performance.

Which company makes the best RGB fans? What are the best-value RGB fans available in the market? Which RGB fans offer the best performance? In this guide, we’ve covered everything you need to know to make an informed decision. So, let’s get right into it!

TL;DR – Top RGB Fans 2023

●        Corsair LL120 RGB – Best RGB Fan Overall: 16 independent RGB LEDs, Hydraulic bearing. PWM fan control for dynamic speed adjustment, Low-noise operation.

●        Cooler Master MF120R ARGB – Best Budget RGB Fan: Addressable RGB color, Silent cooling technology, Smart fan sensor for jam protection. Top-quality fans at an affordable price.

●        Thermaltake’s Riing Plus 12 RGB Fan 3-pack – Best RGB Fan 120 mm: 12 separately controlled RGB LEDs, 9-blade, high-static pressure design. Anti-vibration mounting system. Low-noise design.

●        NZXT AER RGB 2 – Best RGB Fan 140 mm: Performance engineered to boost overall airflow and pressure. Fluid dynamic bearing. Near-silent operation. ARGB elegant lighting.

●        Thermaltake Riing RGB – Best RGB Fan 200 mm: Trio LED rings with 60 addressable RGB LEDs. Alexa-enabled control. Hydraulic bearing for quiet operation. Excellent airflow.

●        Deepcool CF120 – Best ASUS Aura Sync Compatible RGB Fan: Support ASUS Aura Sync. Two A-RGB extension cables for compatibility with various motherboards. Excellent thermal performance.

●        The upHere RGB Series Case Fan – RGB Fan with Best Airflow: High-airflow and large volume cooling. Super quiet. Two-way installation.

YES! If you’re a gamer who values the aesthetics and performance of your gaming setup, RGB fans are totally worth it. There’s a misapprehension that RGB fans are just for looks, which isn’t entirely true! While using RGB fans does help create a cohesive and integrated look for your gaming system, especially if you have compatible casing and peripherals, they have plenty to offer in terms of performance.

Top-quality RGB fans have advanced control features, for instance, the ability to control fan speed through software, offering greater control over the cooling performance. If you’ve got a high-end PC that generates a lot of heat, having more control over the fan speed will help you keep temperatures down and guarantee stable performance during processor and GPU-intensive tasks.

RGB fans manufactured by reputed brands are more reliable and longer lasting than traditional fans. Since gamers like to buy top-of-the-line products, brands invest in a lot of research and development to make these fans. They use high-quality components, so you can consider these as a long-term investment to ensure the consistent performance of your gaming system.

Are you wondering what fans have the best RGB? You’re in luck!

Our team has curated a list of top RGB fans by conducting extensive research, including testing several of the RGB fans ourselves. When we were initially scouting the best RGB fans, Reddit was a great help. We also reached out to pro gamers in our community to learn about their experiences with different RGB fans.

During testing these fans and doing our research, we realized that RGB fans have become popular in the gaming industry for a reason. They are more than vibrant and dynamic lighting systems—designed with performance in mind, including optimized airflow, low noise levels, and long lifespan.

Whether you’re building a new gaming setup or upgrading your existing one, whether you’re looking for RGB fans that look good from the back or ones with the low-noise operation, we’ve got you covered. Our trustworthy and reliable list of the best RGB fans for 2023 will help you make an informed buying decision with confidence.

Corsair LL120 RGB is our top pick! As soon as we unboxed and tried this fan, we became fans (pun intended, ofc). No, but in all seriousness, it’s the best RGB fan in terms of aesthetics, performance, and—most importantly—value for the money.

Let’s talk about performance first. The thermal performance of these Light Loop (LL) series fans was incredible—even better than we expected. We tested the fans on 50% and 100% of their speed:

●        On 3.6GHz, these fans managed to maintain temps of 27.6°C and 23.9°C on 50% and 100%, respectively.

●        On 4.3GHz, the temps reached 49.6°C and 42.8°C at 50% and 100%, respectively.

Overclocking the systems raised the temperature between 4°C and 6°C. Moreover, we were impressed with the acoustic performance of these fans as they operated rather quietly.

Corsair LL120 RGB fans are really cool—not just in terms of performance but aesthetics as well. The LL Series RGB fan kits come with an RGB Fan LED Hub and a Lighting Node PRO that allow endless customization. Using the Corsair LINK software, you can configure amazing RGB presets.

The 16 addressable RGB LEDs on these fans are an absolute game-changer. These LEDs run across two separate light loops that allow you to create stunning effects. Turn off the lights, and you’ll be mesmerized by the bright, creative RGB animations.

Attention to detail on these fans is incredible. The outer ring and the fan blades are frosted, so you don’t have a light spill and get consistent lighting across the setup. Moreover, Corsair has done a fabulous job creating effects for popular fan orientations, so you get amazing built-in presets.

So, how much do Corsair LL120 RGB fans cost? Well, these fans are a tad expensive. A set of three with lighting Node pro will cost you around $120. This isn’t an outlandish price, but comparatively higher than its counterparts. Perhaps a justifiable price to help avid gamers take the RGB game to the next level.

Cooler Master MF120R A-RGB is a solid option for gamers who don’t want to splurge a lot of money on RGB fans. It’s a great product that not only keeps components running cool but adds new dimensions of aesthetics to a build. It’s not a regular RGB but an ARGB fan, which allows for greater customization.

With Cooler Master MasterPlus software, you can simply drag and drop fans to the interface and customize the lighting using in-built ARGB presents, like mystic light, RGB fusion, etc., or customize a preset yourself.

This budget-friendly fan isn’t just a pretty face—it does a fantastic job keeping the temps low. We swapped our stock fans with these ARGB fans and noticed a considerable drop in temperatures. It pushed a good amount of air, and the noise was not distracting at all.

Though when we ran demanding applications, and the fans ran at 2000 RPM, we found the operating noise a bit high, so we’d recommend keeping the fan speed under 1500 RPM.

A single fan will cost you around 20 bucks. You can also get a bundle box that comes with three ARGB fans, a mini-ARGB controller, 3 ARGB splitters, and even a 3-pin RGB controller if you want to connect it in a different way—which, BTW, is amazing considering we’re talking about budget RGB fans.

When we’re talking about the best RGB fans, Thermaltake is absolutely hard to ignore. Thermaltake’s Riing Plus 12 RGB Fans are a top-notch choice in the 120 mm category, mainly due to their decently quiet operation—thanks to the hydraulic bearing that helps keep the noise down.

For testing purposes, we created multiple profiles, including a gaming profile with 80% fan speed. Given it’s a 120 mm fan, we expected it to be noisy. But it performed exceptionally well, pushing tons of air without making noticeable noise. At lower speeds, these fans were almost inaudible—almost ‘be quiet!’ low.

Thermaltake’s Riing Plus 12 RGB fans come with 12 single controllable LEDs, allowing great customization. The frosted rings do a great job diffusing the light to ensure beautiful aesthetics.

While TT RGB PLUS isn’t the best RGB control software, it’s decent enough for users to seamlessly adjust the fan speeds and customize lighting effects without much trouble.

NZXT AER RGB 2 fans are quite amazing. While they are also available in 120 mm size, the 140 mm ones have a slight edge as they make less noise and offer greater performance.

While they’re not regarded as the most popular RGB fans in terms of aesthetics, they tick all the boxes of things you’d expect from a high-quality RGB fan performance-wise. They deliver quiet airflow, keep components’ temperatures down, and last long.

Don’t get us wrong when we say they’re not popular for aesthetics. The lighting is not just Corsair LL120 level. With 8 ARGB LEDs per fan, you can be really creative with the RGB lights. The LEDs are very bright and can easily be controlled by NZXT CAM, which comes with beautiful presets.

NZXT claims 60,000 hours of fan life and offers a two-year warranty. One of our pro gamer friends has been using these fans for a long time, and we’ve heard nothing but good things about cooling performance and noise levels. My man overclocks his processor and blasts Total Warhammer 2 in UHD, so we’ll take his word for it.

Overall, it’s a great product to provide good accent lighting and give your gaming PC that extra bit of radiance while ensuring low temps during intensive workload.

Thermaltake Riing RGB fan tops our list for the 200 mm variant. It’s an excellent option for gamers looking to improve both the aesthetics and performance of their setup. We’ll tell you why. Let’s start with the design. It has a high static pressure design, so it can push air through tight spaces.

In terms of performance, the fans are also highly efficient and quiet. They don’t make loud noise while you’re performing resource-intensive tasks. The PWM-controlled fans allow you to adjust fan speed at will. The unique 11 blades and anti-vibration mounting system maximize airflow and minimize noise.

In terms of aesthetics, they inherit all the features of their 120 mm counterpart. 16.8 Million Colors LED Design, different light mode schemes, and TT AI Voice Control gives absolute control over the RGB lighting.

All these performance and aesthetical features make this Thermaltake Riing RGB fan definitely worth considering.

Deepcool CF120 fans are the best ASUS Aura Sync Compatible RGB fans. Aura is ASUS’ RGB control software that allows the interaction of lighting effects between PC games and compatible hardware devices. These fans are available in 120 mm and 140 mm variants. The thermal performance of these fans is beyond excellent. During the stress tests at 3.6GHz and 4.3GHz, the temps didn’t go above 25°C and 45°C, respectively.

Moreover, Deepcool CF120 fans are very quiet. We blasted 7 of these fans at full speeds, and the noise levels remained super slow. In terms of aesthetics, these fans offer immersive and vibrant lighting effects. The bright RGB lighting is highly customizable and can display a variety of effects.

If you want to put ASUS’ lighting ecosystem to good use, this Deepcool fan is surely an option to consider.

The upHere RGB Series Case Fan is a premium-quality RGB fan that provides both performance and aesthetics. It features bright, customizable RGB lighting that can be controlled via a controller (included in the box) or motherboard through a compatible RGB lighting header.

What makes it a standout choice in the crowded case fan market is its excellent airflow performance. The fan is tuned for high-airflow and large volume cooling, thus can move a decent amount of air efficiently. The noise reduction pads are great for noise reduction.

This fan comes with hydraulic bearings that provide quiet operation and a longer lifespan. Moreover, the high air flow rate helps keep your PC cool and running smoothly. The installation is fairly simple, as the 120 mm fan can easily fit into standard case fan mounts.

RGB fans can definitely add colorful flair to your build. But with so many options, it can be tough to pick the best one. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing RGB fans for your gaming setup:

●        Brand Reputation: Before anything else, it’s important to consider the brand you’re buying from. We highly recommend getting high-quality fans from a reputable and well-established brand, as they offer the best value for money and last longer.

●        Compatibility: You must ensure the RGB fans are compatible with your setup. Check for an RGB header on your motherboard to check if the fans you want to buy are compatible with it—especially if you plan to buy the ARGB fans.

●        Fan Size: RGB fans are generally available in three sizes: 120 mm, 140 mm, and 200 mm.The size determines how much room it takes up in your case. Larger fans have a higher airflow rate, which can help keep your PC cool. However, if your casing has limited space, you must opt for smaller fans.

●        Performance: RGB fans aren’t just about bells and whistles. They must keep your components cool and preferably be as quiet as possible while they’re doing their job. Consider factors like fan speed as well as airflow rate when choosing fans, as they influence the performance and noise levels.

●        RGB Lighting Effects: Last but not least, RGB fans should be evaluated for their aesthetical value. You must be able to customize the lighting to your liking. Additionally, you must check the lighting software to ensure you’re able to customize the RGB fans the way you want.

Yes, Razer produces high-quality RGB fans. In fact, Razer Kunai Chroma is one of the most popular options among gamers—especially Razer fans as it’s powered by Razer Chroma™ RGB software that syncs the lighting with their Razer Chroma-enabled peripherals. Available in 120 mm and 140 mm, Razers’ aRGB fans are also a first choice for gamers with Razer Tomahawk gaming cases.

You can check the motherboard manual to find out if your motherboard supports RGB fans. Almost all the latest motherboards have RGB headers labeled “RGB” or “Addressable RGB.” Alternatively, a quick search on Google will do the trick for you.

For instance, simply search “Does MSI B450 support RGB Fans?” and you’ll get the answer. Even if your motherboard doesn’t support an RGB fan, you can easily connect it using an external controller.

RGB (Red Green Blue) fans and ARGB (Addressable RGB) fans differ in terms of control and price. RGB fans use a single RGB header on your motherboard, which means you get a limited number of color presets. Conversely, ARGB fans use an addressable RGB header, allowing you control over individual LEDs on the fan and giving you more control over lighting presets. Of course, this added customization comes at a comparatively higher price.

Corsair fans are ARGB fans. Like Razer, Corsair fans are available in 120 mm and 140 mm. Moreover, the LL series fans have two RGB Light Loops, so you can customize lighting effects at will and ignite your creativity.

No. RGB and ARGB are incompatible. RGB fans are regulated via three channels (“R” “G” and “B”), while ARGB connections are regulated via one channel (“Data”). In most cases, this simply wouldn’t work. In fact, there are chances that it can overload and damage the connection, so it’s better not to mix RGB and ARGB fans.

No. In terms of airflow and cooling, most RGB fans perform similarly to non-RGB fans. This banter that RGB improves performance is quite popular in the gaming community and is more of a hyperbole. That being said, RGB fans are highly popular. Therefore, brands produce high-quality RGB fans, which—due to superior built quality—provide better performance.

On average, high-quality RGB can last you at least 50,000 hours, assuming they’re running continuously. Their life expectancy varies depending on several factors, including fan quality, usage conditions, and the manufacturer’s design specifications. Typically, they last even longer—even more than 10k hours—when maintained properly.

The right RGB fans will definitely elevate your gaming setup’s aesthetics and performance. You have plenty of options for RGB fans from top brands, each offering its own unique features and specifications. Whether you prioritize silence, high-performance, or unique lighting effects, our list of top RGB fans will help you find the right RGB fans for your system.

Ultimately, the key to finding the right fans is to consider your specific gaming preferences and requirements. With the right RGB fans, your PC setup is sure to stand out and perform at its best.

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