Performance Testing

Please refer to the dedicated test setup page, as it applies to this review as well and I did not want to go over it separately to save on review space.


Cooler Master rates the RPM range of the Mobius 120 from 0 to 2050 RPM, which means there is clearly a zero RPM mode that allows for the fans to turn off to lower system noise. Of course, there will be variations between samples, and airflow resistances will play a big role, too. But I am happy to report that all three samples went from an average 1954 RPM at 100% PWM down to a really low 236 RPM at 11%, following which the fans actually turned off as promised. Needless to say, this is a long RPM range of control and the numbers match the rated values well enough. I will also mention that it's a fairly linear response too and the standard deviation between the two samples is also quite low. The fans turning off meant it was the ambient 19 dBA of the anechoic chamber that's being measured at 0 RPM, for those wondering. I did not experience any bearing noise either, so things are looking good! Context is needed to talk more about the fan's relative performance and noise, so I have below comparison charts for some fans tested at set RPM values, or as near as they can get to those.


The charts above help put the Mobius 120 in better context with the chosen RPM values reflecting usage scenarios most popular with watercooling, although some fans go higher as is the case here. The charts are to be considered for comparison within this result set only and are not to be compared with results from another test elsewhere owing to different testing conditions. Note that these are average values for all samples of each fan and do not reflect any sample variation, and I will also place another caveat here given these are intended by Cooler Master to be hybrid fans and not necessarily optimized for use as radiator fans. This explains the relatively weak performance at lower fan speeds where the Mobius 120 is on the louder side of average but can't push as much air through the radiator as most others. Things get better thereafter for a while but then the more performance-oriented fans take over again. It is likely that the Mobius 120 will be better suited as a case fan or even installed on air coolers though!


Instead of having CFM/dBA charts that can potentially be taken for more than they really offer, I am going to show three fans as a comparison for further context. These include the subject of this review—the Cooler Master Mobius 120—in addition to two other such hybrid fans released recently in the form of the CORSAIR AF120 ELITE as well as the be quiet! Silent Wings Pro 4—all 120 x 120 x 25 mm fans without LEDs too—to show you that the Mobius 120 does well at relatively low fan speeds but then gets bested more the faster the fans spin by the Silent Wings 4 which also competes very favorably from a performance/noise basis to the likes of the Phanteks T30-120 and the Noctua NF-A12x25. Cooler Master does do better over the CORSAIR offering here though!