In the world of cooling, there is life beyond RGB LED lighting, and the Corsair RS120 MAX is a clear example of that. We face some high performance fans in 120 mm format, which are aimed at demanding users who, for one reason or another, prefer sober and discreet configurations without lighting effects.

Corsair has gone for moderation with these fans, but that doesn’t mean they’ve neglected aesthetics or build quality, in fact the opposite is true. The Corsair RS120 MAX has a profile minimalist yet elegant which allows them to fit well into any chassis and are manufactured with premium materialswhich ranks them at the top of the American manufacturer’s catalog.

Thanks to Corsair Spain, I received three units of these new fans, which I also had the opportunity to see at the brand’s booth at Computex, and after several days of testing, I am now ready to share my analysis with you. Make yourself comfortable because I have many things to tell you and as always remember that if you have any questions after reading this article You can leave it in the comments.

Corsair RS120 MAX: external analysis

The Corsair RS120 MAX fans are positioned as high-performance solutions in their category, their airflow and static pressure values ​​indicate this. To achieve such a large improvement in performance compared to previous models, Corsair made the decision increase the thickness of this row by 5 mm, this gives them a total width of 30 mm (3 centimeters).

This increase in thickness is noticeable as soon as we take the fans out of the box, but does not have a significant impact in aesthetics or installation process that is the same as any Corsair fan. And speaking of installation, the Corsair RS120 MAX series is compatible with Commander Pro and Commander Core XT, allowing us to control the rotation speed (rpm) in a simple and direct way through iCUE.

If we return to the external analysis, the Corsair RS120 MAX is manufactured in liquid crystalline polymer, a strong and very durable material that reduces the vibrations produced by the blades. The blades have a larger size and an optimized line to be able to move a larger flow of air even in cases where we find relatively dense obstacles. This makes the Corsair RS120 MAX a highly recommended choice used in radiators.

The blades of the Corsair RS120 MAX series are also made of glass fiber reinforced liquid crystal polymer which improves structural strength and increases their life, preventing them from bending or deforming when passing through the highest levels of static pressure. In short, this means that they can work at full power on the radiator without a problem.

The Corsair RS120 MAX has soft rubber pads in the screw mounting area to reduce vibration for quieter operation. In the back part we find a structure of seven anti-swirl blades that help concentrate the airflow in a more closed cone, which helps to improve the cooling capacity when the fan acts as a dispersion system integrated into the chassis or heatsink.

The Corsair rallied magnetic dome bearings, success because they reduce friction and noise and achieve an excellent balance between performance and sound. It’s also important to note that lower friction means less wear, and as you might have guessed, this means longer fan life.

The Corsair RS120 MAX comes with all the necessary hardware to install both in the chassis and on the heatsink, and each fan uses 4 pin connector. To get the most out of them, it’s ideal to connect them to Commander Pro or Commander Core XT. These are not included in the three-pack, so we will have to purchase them separately.

Corsair RS120 MAX specifications

• High performance 120mm fan made of liquid crystal polymer and reinforced with fiberglass.
• Airflow between 16.5 and 72 CFM.
• Static pressure between 0.22 mm and 4.2 mm H2O.
• Spin speed between 425 and 2000 rpm.
• Noise level: between 10 and 29.5 dBA.
• Compatible with zero rpm mode.
• CORSAIR magnetic dome bearings.
• AirGuide technology with seven anti-swirl blades that better concentrate the air flow.
• Full integration into iCUE.
• Simplified fastening with Quikturn (not available with all supplied fasteners).
• Connection via a 4-pin cable.
• Compatible with Commander Core XT and Commander Pro.
• Price: 99.90 euros for a pack of three, 34.90 euros for a fan.

Installation and usage experience

The installation process of the Corsair RS120 MAX is very simple, as it is practically the same as other fans of the brand. Depending on where we want to use them we will have to resort to some screws or otherand we only have one 4-pin connection cable per fan, so you can’t go wrong.

For example, if we want to place the Corsair RS120 MAX on a radiator, we will have to use long screws partial thread, while if we want to mount them directly on the chassis we will have to use short screws, which have the Quikturn screw system. This reduces the number of turns we have to make to complete the screwing and speeds up the assembly process a bit.

It has no mystery, the only thing with which We have to be careful about cable routing, because depending on where we want to run the cables, we will have to prefer one position or another. As I said before, having only one cable per fan makes it easier because traditional Corsair fans with RGB LED lighting have two cables, one for power and one for said lighting.

Have very little cabling to manage, so it won’t be difficult to achieve a clean and well-profiled assembly. If you already have a Commander Core XT or Commander Pro installed, you will only need to run the cables through the corresponding area of ​​your chassis to connect them to the listed hubs.

Also keep in mind that these fans are slightly thicker than normal, so they offer a higher level of performance and of course They take up a little more space in the chassis. This shouldn’t be a problem in most cases, but I understand that in those chassis that are smaller it can end up determining factor in determining compatibilityespecially when mounted on the radiator located in the upper part of the chassis.

In this analysis I connected a Corsair RS120 MAX ka Commander Core XT and they worked without problems. The iCUE software recognized them perfectly and through this application we can precisely control the rotation speed and with a few clicks create completely personalized curves, both fixed and variable. The interface is simple and intuitive, as you can see in the attached images.

It is within the predefined options balanced mode It is the best choice because it dynamically adjusts the rotation speed of the fans depending on the temperature and the needs of the system, balancing the performance and the noise level. If we choose an extreme profile, we will have the highest possible dissipation capacity, but the noise will be high.

The static pressure values ​​achieved by the Corsair RS 120 MAX are very good and of course scale with rotation speed. At 60% we already have the optimal value, although it is true that it grows exponentially when we go to 80%, which brings the fan to a speed of 1,600 revolutions per minute.

Airflow, measured in cubic feet per minute, also registers very positive readings and scales perfectly in the first four sections. We should again have the new one more balanced at a rotation rate of 60%, where we find 48 cubic feet per minute, which corresponds to 1.36 cubic meters per minute.

In terms of noise, the “Zero RPM” mode completely shuts down the fans when operating at certain temperature thresholds, which completely eliminates the noise they make. Despite the high level of performance, the Corsair RS 120 MAX Register quite reasonable noise levelsand this gives them a much more interesting value when it comes to integration into equipment where performance matters, but without the noise level getting out of hand.

Final remarks

The Corsair RS 120 MAX has a high price, but in return they offer premium build quality, excellent performance levels and balanced noise levels. The use of liquid crystalline polymer reinforced with glass fiber and magnetic dome bearings guarantee a lifetime. Not only They are built to last, but also to offer optimal performance throughout its lifetime.

The installation and configuration process is very simple, so we can complete it in a few minutes and they have a full integration with iCUE if we have a command core

These fans They look their best mounted on a radiator due to high static pressure. That would be the main use I would recommend, although they will also offer excellent performance installed in any space in the chassis, whether it’s exhausting hot air or bringing in cold air. They also come with the necessary screws to mount them in a “push” configuration.

If you’re moving from RGB LED lighting, performance is your priority, and you want to keep your rig low-noise, be clear, the Corsair RS 120 MAX are an option to consider. They are also available in a 140mm version, which has a slower rotation speed but can create an airflow of up to 104 cubic feet per minute.