Friday, October 6th 2023
Alphacool Announces Apex Stealth Metal Fan
Performance you can't hear! Alphacool presents the new Apex Stealth metal fan, a powerful and extremely quiet fan that knows how to impress. High-quality, elegant as well as timeless design and technical innovation - that's what the Apex Stealth stands for. With the patent-pending decoupling technology, the robust metal frame and a special rotor, it remains the quietest on the market at any speed.
The fan technology represents a groundbreaking new development. The fan blades, the motor and its suspension are completely decoupled from the metal frame. For this purpose, a special damping system was placed between the metal frame and the fan, which absorbs all vibrations. This type of decoupling is an absolutely new system, which is brought to the market by Alphacool for the first time with the Apex fan.
As a true all-rounder, the Apex Stealth sets completely new standards. Due to the very high airflow and static pressure, it is not only ideal for mounting on radiators, but also works perfectly as a case fan with its excellent airflow. The Stealth metal fan can be controlled via the 4-pin PWM connector between 400 to 2000 rpm, the power fan variant even up to 3000rpm. As usual with Alphacool, several fans can be effortlessly connected in series via daisy chain. The design of the frame allows clever hiding of the cable in the corners. The 6-pole motor in combination with the HDB (Hydro Dynamic Bearing) ensures exceptionally quiet running and high durability.
The Apex product line from Alphacool represents the highest perfection. First-class materials and innovative technologies guarantee a unique premium product. Consisting of high-quality metal, the curved frame gives the Apex Stealth its distinctive design and fits perfectly into any PC build.
The Alphacool Apex Stealth metal fan is available for pre-order in Matte Black, Chrome, White and Gold color options at 2,000 RPM each or as a Power fan at 3,000 RPM in our store.
Features:
The fan technology represents a groundbreaking new development. The fan blades, the motor and its suspension are completely decoupled from the metal frame. For this purpose, a special damping system was placed between the metal frame and the fan, which absorbs all vibrations. This type of decoupling is an absolutely new system, which is brought to the market by Alphacool for the first time with the Apex fan.
The Apex product line from Alphacool represents the highest perfection. First-class materials and innovative technologies guarantee a unique premium product. Consisting of high-quality metal, the curved frame gives the Apex Stealth its distinctive design and fits perfectly into any PC build.
The Alphacool Apex Stealth metal fan is available for pre-order in Matte Black, Chrome, White and Gold color options at 2,000 RPM each or as a Power fan at 3,000 RPM in our store.
Features:
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 120 x 120 x 25 mm
- Frame Material: Die-cast zinc
- Zero RPM control, Tacho signal, Auto-restart
- Speed: 400 - 2000rpm
- Power Consumption: 2.64 Watt
- Air Flow: 76.81 CFM
- Static Air Pressure: 3.88 mmH2O
- Noise Level: 24.6 dBA
- Speed: 400 - 3000rpm
- Power Consumption: 6.60 Watt
- Air Flow: 116.89 CFM
- Static Air Pressure: 6.22 mm H₂O
- Noise Level: 40.2 dBA
116 Comments on Alphacool Announces Apex Stealth Metal Fan
those kind of parts arent really needed to start with LC, even a 100$ Arctic AIO is better in lowering case air temp/dumping heat externally,
than any air cooler will ever do.
i have no problem with experienced ppl using more expensive parts, but especially ppl using LC for the first time,
should start with something like an AIO (maybe with G1/4), and later swap/add parts.
i have the parts i mentioned earlier, running a 2080S on the loop as well, and short of doubling rad/pump etc,
i havent seen meaningful lower temps on more expensive loops.
and thats with the cpu block alone costing as much as Arctics 240 AIO.
i would never swap the cooler on a gpu, as you are always paying "more" (vs if it was not having a HS at all),
and usually the blocks are still more expensive than buying a WB gpu, ignoring for a moment that most brands
that offer WB, are usually binning the chips, with the LC units getting the best ones.
and you dont have to deal with (possible) warranty loss, or even the additional "work" of swapping the coolers.
I hope @EddyAlphacool will chime in to say that they (especially Cybenetics) have tested the fans wrong and double down on the BS.
Differences between the tested models are nicely shown in numbers/values, but in real live are merely marginal.
I'm again amused by how peeps get upset and want to roast Alphacool marketing for over-qualifying their product before launching it.
It's the nature marketing, they have to sell their product and just want a piece of the pie in a flooded product segment.
Like lots of experienced forum members always say; wait for independed tests and then form an opinion, based on facts.
In terms of fan evolution, I would rather like to see the central fanhub/motor disappearing and have some sort of mag-lev motor around the outside of the impellor. That way you create a bigger impellor surface where the air can get through and no mechanical friction (except for the pushed air) :laugh:.
I'm not going to say that Cybernetic, STS, Igor or even DerBauer or all those who follow are testing something wrong. Because if you're honest, you can dissect any test and accuse it of a wrong approach to testing. Why is one measuring device used and not the other? Why is the radiator or the air cooler used for testing? Why is the volume measured on a radiator and not on a case? The list goes on and on.
Everyone has their own test setup and draws their own results from it. We could also have blocked all reviews to show only the best test results for us. But we sent fans to everyone who wanted to test them.
Regardless of whether we had a good or bad standing with the reviewers or had already done something with the reviewers.
For example, STS is someone we have never worked with directly before, so that we get as many results as possible.
And over 250 fans was sent out to reviewer. These will also come in the next few weeks or months.
Either way, with the Stealth fan, everyone gets an excellent fan that is extremely quiet and offers a unique feel.
Btw STS video:
As well, STS' review (and Jayz' review) mention how straight the flow path and throw distance appears to be relative to the two top rivals, which brings to mind server-grade fans (and the old Silverstone Air Penetrators), thanks to the counter-vanes that also serve to hold the hub to the frame body, which are used to help straighten the airflow for more a tighter projection, and depending, penetration rate, of air. Seems like it'd be great for intake, but would probably do well with a small spacer or shroud to allow some air to build-up and flow past the dead spot directly behind the hub and to the corner spots on radiators (unlike the two competitors where the air is flung out in a cone, hitting the corners). Especially since Der8auer's tests show some issues in the radiator tests.
That said, I am curious if the Stealth Metal Fan is optimized on high FPI radiators or low FPI radiators. Are those still even a thing nowadays? I recall it used to be a big deal even after custom watercooling became mainstream in the 2010s since Europe used to prefer low FPI rads and lower-RPM fans vs America using high FPI rads and higher RPM fans to get enough air through it. As well, what radiator thicknesses it's ideal for, as the radiator's thickness can affect performance too. Here's hoping GN can do a deep dive with them covering all that, like they did in one of their past fan reviews. Although I don't think they'll cover performance with a shroud/spacer, since that's still apparently too niche for mainstream watercooling (I still do it, space permitting).
hwbusters.com/cooling/alphacool-apex-stealth-metal-power-120mm-fan-review/
YT Summary of his review:
As more reviews trickle in, I'm reconsidering my position on these for now. They look great, and perform somewhere in the upper-middle depending on review and use-case, but I'll probably end up sticking with the Phanteks T30s, the Super Flower MEGACOOLs, or the SanAces I currently have.
At this point there are multiple reviews that all point in the same direction, that this is a big flop.
There is no test setup where the results below can be achieved, and yet you told everyone that these results are real.
Notably, it runs in a clockwise manner, so one could do novel things if paired with a counter-clockwise fan to straighten out the airflow (tweaking the RPMs to adjust the conical air throw), similar to server-grade 76mm fans that use two fans to both straighten and send the air a long ways.