This review is intended to explain why you should purchase the NZXT AER RGB Fans instead of the Thermaltake Plus RGB 12 Premium edition fans. And, this is from experience with both brands,as I bought the Thermaltake fans initially.
If you think that my comments are made out of disgust for the TT fans then just go to the TT community forums and look under case fans. You will see I a not the only one with issue. You will even see that TT's software is incompatible with Corsair Link. Take the advice on how to get the software running with a grain of salt when it comes to solutions, as what works for some won't work for others.
And, not to say that I haven't had issues with NZXT products before mainly fan controllers and I now own a Kraken X62. Despite what other may say the CAM software is not that bad and ha come a long way since the days of my GRID+ fan controller. I am still waiting on my AM4 bracket for my Kraken X262, which I had to make a temporary bracket to mount until it arrives, which according to NZXT has finally shipped.
Well, After a week of trying to get the TT software for their fans to run, I discovered that it crashes the CAM software from NZXT repeatedly. I cannot get the two running at the same time for more than 5-10 seconds.
The TT software not only has compatibility issues with everything from hardware to software, including the operating system it is also unstable.
The TT software corrupts the settings of my ASUS AURA hardware. Once the TT software is running I have to go back to the AURA software to reset the LED functions every time that the TT software is accessed or restarted. It has even crashed my Trident Z RGB memory LEDs. Once, it changed them from the default rainbow mode to all red flashng and then prevented me from changing them to any setting. Even tried turning them off. Which caused the LEDs on one to stay on, at least it quit flashing, regardless of whether they were turned on or off, I was affraid that it had gotten damaged when I lost all control over it. Even a system restart would not get the LEDs on the RAM sticks functioning. I had to do a complete power-down of the system to revive my RAM LEDs control. But, as soon as the TT software ran the RGB LEDS on my memory would go crazy again, never doing the same thing two times in a row. I had never had this issue without the TT software installed. The G.SKILL software that controlled these RGB RAM was really bad (Thank God the ASUS AURA software would control these) but, G.SKILLS software looks like a finely polished diamond compared to the rotting corpse of the TT software.
And, the TT software continually crashes my computer. With a selective boot, only loading default windows drivers and the TT software my system will not run for more that 30-45 minutes before crashing. If I boot the same way without the TT software I do not get a system crash. The system ran without the TT software on, just base default windows drivers, for 48 hours, but as soon as I started up the TT software had a system crash within 5 minutes. Tried re-downloading and and reinstalling several times with no change to this
I would return the TT fans to Amazon, but am unable to, as the time line for returning these expired while waiting on my CrossHair VI Hero motherboard to arrive off of back order. I guess I will try to sell the TT fans with a no return or refund policy and try to get back some of $250 that I paid for them. Just have to find a sucker who is too stupid to know what he is buying.
I liked the TT fans because they had more RGB LEDs (than their competitors product) that also reflected off the fan lades a little and the specs showed them having a higher static pressure and CFM than their competitors version as well. The YouTube videos of theses showed modes that were not in the downloaded software and was not able to achieve through custom settigs. I do not even think that the software was the the same as what TT offers for download. But if I cannot control them and have to deal with constant crashes they are worthless paper weights. Never though I would pend $250 for paper weights.
I have exhausted all the the patients that I have with TT over these. TT Tech Support, if they even exist, has no concern for their customers. If they did, they would either respond to the repeated requests for assistance or at least post comments to the people who are experiencing issues on their own forums. Reports of software issues going back to the very first release of the TT fans have still not yet been addressed. And for that matter, why in heck are they selling their fans with software that is basically non-functional?
I have purchased and just received the NZXT equivalent fans. The NZXT fans function right out of the box and I have had no Issues with them, hell NZXT has even released updates for their software and firmware, which is something that I have yet to see from TT in the 5 and a half weeks that I have owned these TT fans. As I stated earlier the specs stated that the TT fans had higher static pressure and CFMs than those from the NZXT version. Well you can forget about that, either TT posted fraudulent numbers or NZXT understated their specs, with the total lack of concern for their customers that TT is showing here I am will to believe that they did in fact over state their specs. As well as NZXT under stating theirs. As a designer of controls for automated equipment, I go by the specs when determining what components to use, as I am sure many other do as well. The specs were aboy 6% of the reason I initially chose the TT fans over the NZXT fans. The NZXT fans actually have what appears to be twice the CFMs compared to what I was getting from the the TT fans when I was able to get the TT fans to full speed. (By the way the TT fans would never reach the stated RPMs, the closest I could get was about 200 RPMs below their rated speed.1300 for the 120mm and 1200 for the 140mm as apposed to the stated 1500 for the 120mm and 1400 for the 140mm) And, I honestly believe that the Static Pressure is much higher on the NZXT version, as well. And, the NZXT fans were much quieter at full speed than the TT fans, which about once every 5-10 seconds would make a loud thump sound as if the blade were stopping and starting back up, kind of like if a servo motor that had no deceleration curve programmed came to a complete and sudden stop, basically going from 2000 RPMs to 0 in less that 0.1 sec. or less. And no the fan blades were not hitting anything. they even did this when I was holding them out side the case away from all obstructions.
I have owned many TT products from the old VENUS 12 air cooler to Liquid coolers and lighting kits, and 6 different full tower and one mid tower cases. And have been reasonably happy with them all, but these fans are a complete disaster. I think that after spending over $250 on paper weights that strangely resemble RGB fans and total disregard for their customers that I would have to seriously reconsider buying any more TT products.
NZXT Is by far the King here and may have gained a new loyal subject.
| Brand Name | NZXT |
|---|---|
| Series | RF-AR140-T1 |
| Item model number | RF-AR140-T1 |
| Item Weight | 1.35 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 5.5 x 1 x 5.5 inches |
| Item Dimensions L x W x H | 5.5 x 1.02 x 5.5 inches |
| Color | Black |
