I recently picked up a bunch of Thermalright fans for a new PC build, specifically the TL-G12 (120mm) and the TL-C14 (140mm). At the time, they were pretty inexpensive, and the promise of fluid dynamic bearings (FDB) along with PWM control sounded like a great deal on paper, so I bought quite a few of each. In this article and related video I go into detail about their installation and use.
Check out the video on YouTube for a lot more information:
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| Boxes for the Thermalright TL-G12 and TL-C14 fans. |
Thermalright TL-G12 120mm CPU Fan:
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hYLST5
- eBay: https://ebay.us/RJSReQ
Thermalright TL-C14 140mm Fan:
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CHEooI
- eBay: https://ebay.us/1k7jgD
As an affiliate of these shops, I earn from qualifying purchases! Keep in mind that it's not about what I link but rather time from the click, which is usually 24 hours.
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| Specifications listed on the TL-G12 fan box. |
Specifications for the 120mm TL-G12:
- Speed: 1500 RPM (+/- 10%)
- Noise: Rated 23.6 dBA or greater.
- Airflow: Up to 62.6 CFM
- Connector: 4-pin PWM with a daisy-chain feature.
- Extras: Includes rubber pads on the corners for vibration dampening and standard case screws.
- One thing I noticed on the G12 frame is the lack of an airflow direction indicator, but it's a standard fan design, so it's easy enough to figure out.
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| Specifications shown on the TL-C14 fan documentation. |
- Speed: 1500 RPM (Max)
- Noise: Rated 26.6 dBA or higher.
- Airflow: Up to 74.3 CFM (Max)
- Connector: 4-pin PWM (no daisy chain, unlike the G12)
- Extras: Comes with both standard case screws and rubber pull-through connectors, giving you options that could made a difference with sound profile.
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| Included mounting hardware for the TL-C14 fan (screws and rubber connectors). |
In my specific build (using a Fractal Focus G case), I often had to use custom screws that came with the case, especially the long ones for the front fans, but standard screws worked elsewhere.
The Good Stuff
There are definitely things to like about these fans.
- Aesthetics: I appreciate the simple, clean gray look. No RGB, no unnecessary extras.
- Functionality: They're PWM fans, they connect easily to the motherboard, and they just work.
- Bearings: The claimed fluid dynamic bearings should offer quieter operation and longer life compared to basic sleeve bearings.
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| Holding up the Thermalright 120mm TL-G12 fan. |
The Not-So-Good (The Quirks)
Now, let's get into the negatives. While they claim FDB, my experience wasn't entirely smooth.
Noise Issues: The very first 120mm fan I installed as a rear exhaust had a persistent, weird, scrapey noise right out of the box. I swapped it with one of my extras, and the replacement sounded fine. This suggests there might be some manufacturing variability, which could mean the hassle of returns.
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| Pointing out the rear exhaust fan location in the PC case. |
Intermittent Ticking... One of the 140mm front fans developed an occasional slight scraping/ticking noise. It happens rarely now, and I haven't noticed it for a few days. It's possible that the long screws required for my case might be warping the fan frame just slightly, causing this intermittent noise. Hard to say for sure, but it's something I encountered.
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| Front intake fans installed in the PC case; one made occasional noises. |
PWM vs. DC Control: I found that these fans seemed more prone to making odd noises when running in PWM mode via the motherboard BIOS. Switching them over to DC voltage control mode actually resulted in quieter, more consistent operation for me. I set a minimum voltage floor of around 5 volts in the BIOS, and they've been pretty good since. This means you might need to play around with your motherboard settings to find the sweet spot.
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| Configuring fan curves in the motherboard BIOS settings. |
Aesthetic Inconsistency: This is a personal preference, but I was a bit disappointed that the 120mm (TL-G12) and 140mm (TL-C14) fans don't look identical.
The TL-G12 blades have a matte finish, and you can see some metal on the back of the hub. The rubber pads seem integrated.
The TL-C14 blades are shinier, the back hub has a full sticker covering it, the blade shape is different, and the rubber corners are removable pieces.
The frames are also constructed differently.
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| Comparing the visual differences between the TL-G12 (left) and TL-C14 (right). |
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| Demonstrating the removable rubber corner piece on the TL-C14 fan. |
It would have been nice if Thermalright maintained a consistent design language across the different sizes in the same product family (or maybe I just bought from two different lines that happened to be gray?). Since I also have black fans in my case, it's not like I'd have a uniform setup even if they were the same design style.
Installation and Configuration
Aside from needing specific screws for the front fans of my case and dealing with that one noisy 120mm fan in the back initially, the physical installation was straightforward. Configuring them took a bit more effort due to the noise tendencies and trying to get it as quiet as my previous build. This PC potentially generates a lot more heat than the older computer.
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| More adjusting of the fan curve points in the MSI X670E Gaming Plus WIFI motherboard BIOS. |
Being able to control the fans via the motherboard (whether PWM or DC) is a huge plus. Setting minimum and maximum speeds and defining ramps based on temperature works really well with these fans once you dial them in.
A Note on Quiet Fans
If your absolute top priority is silence, especially at very low speeds, you might want to look specifically for fans rated below 20 dBA at their standard operating RPM and voltage. Fans like these, even with FDB, can sometimes make slight noises at very low voltages/RPMs where they aren't operating optimally.
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| Comparing specifications of the Thermalright fan (left) and a Noctua fan (right). |
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Thermalright TL-G12 and TL-C14 are a bit quirky. They offer good features like PWM (though I preferred DC mode) and fluid dynamic bearings at a low cost. However, be prepared for possible manufacturing inconsistencies leading to noise, and expect to spend some time in your BIOS tweaking settings to get them running quietly and reliably.
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| Holding the Thermalright TL-G12 fan towards the camera. |
Once configured, they do the job... they move air, they look decent (if you don't mind the G12/C14 differences), and they can be controlled precisely. Installation is easy. Long-term durability? Only time will tell, but so far, after the initial setup, they're working fine in my system.
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| Comparing the TL-G12 (bottom) and TL-C14 (top) fans side-by-side. |
So, that's my experience with these Thermalright fans thusfar. If you're considering them, hopefully, this gives you a better idea of what to expect. Check out the full video for a closer look at the installation and the fans themselves!