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iCUE LINK RX120 MAX Unboxing by Zafiast

We asked one of our Insiders, Zafiast, to take a look at our new iCUE LINK RX120 MAX RGB fans and write up his thoughts. The following is entirely his own words. Enjoy.

CORSAIR has finally released its RX MAX fans, which were announced at Computex. I was provided with a few to test, along with the newest iCUE LINK TITAN AIO. The RX MAX is a 30mm version of the RX fan and can also be seen as the LINK version of the existing RS MAX fans.

RX MAXs come with special radiator screws in the box to accommodate their increased length. The screws with threads only on the end bit are for regular AIO radiators, while the screws that are threaded the entire length are for CORSAIR’s Hydro X radiators. Other standard items for LINK fans, such as QuikTurn screws, iCUE LINK connectors/cables, and an iCUE LINK SYSTEM HUB for the triple pack, are also included.

Expansion Kit Accessories

Starter Kit Accessories

The RX MAX looks very similar to the existing RX fans. However, CORSAIR has really tried to maximize the fan area on these – the fan blades are just 1.5mm from the edge, while the RXs are about 2.1mm from the edge. Coupled with the extra thickness, there is significantly more fan.

RX vs RX MAX - side view

RX vs RX MAX - top view

RX vs RX MAX – back view

RX vs RX MAX – edge thickness

Testing

I have compared the RX MAX and LX fans quickly using two benchmarks: Cinebench 2024 with a CPU-only all-core load and Folding@Home with a CPU (P-Cores only on a 14700K) and GPU load. In both cases, the benchmarks were left to run for one hour, and the temperatures during the run were recorded via iCUE’s sensor logging function every 30 seconds.

Full parts list here: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Rk98db

Results:

Temps are in °C, ambient temp = 25
	RX MAX	LX
CInebech 2024 (CPU only)
Cinebench Fan Speed%	Rad = 60, Case = 25in/40out	Rad = 60, Case = 25in/40out
Cinebench CPU Max Temp	75	75
Cinebench CPU Average Temp	69.9	70.6
Cinebench Coolant Max Temp	36.2	36.3
Cinebench Coolant Average Temp	35.7	35.9

Folding@Home (CPU and GPU)
Folding Fan Speed%	Rad = 65, Case = 100	Rad = 60, Case = 100
Folding CPU Max Temp	75	73
Folding CPU Average Temp	69.8	68.1
Folding Coolant Max Temp	35	35.6
Folding Coolant Average Temp	34.7	35.0
Folding GPU Max Temp	74	73
Folding GPU Average Temp	69.33	64.5

With roughly the same curve, the temp difference in the system was within 1-2C. Coolant temps were lower overall on the RX MAX, but not by much. That said, lower coolant temp is always beneficial in so many different PC setups, especially in custom water-cooled PCs.

I noticed the RX MAX are much quieter than the LXs, which themselves are decently silent while idling. However, at certain RPMs, the infamous humming issue (last seen on AF RGB ELITEs) has regrettably made a return.

Looks-wise, the RX MAX fans could use better diffusion, as the glare from the LEDs is obvious. The lack of the integrated temp probe on the RGB version of the fans feels like an oversight, considering these are marketed as performance fans and the fact that they ARE present on the non-RGB version of these fans.

RX MAX spinning vs at 0 RPM

Glare is obvious when mounted as bottom fans…

Conclusion

iCUE LINK fan lineup	What I like	What I don’t
QX	Brightest, integrated temp sensor, Time Warp	Expensive, weakest performance, poor diffusion
LX (and LX-R)	Performance, diffusion, Time Warp	Dimmer than QX
RX	Cheapest while still maintaining good performance	Only 8 LEDs
RX MAX	Extremely quiet, great airflow and performance	Can hum at certain RPMs, glare

I highly recommend the RX MAXs for top-notch performance from CORSAIR, especially if RGB isn't a priority for you. Adjusting your fan curves can help prevent humming. The LXs are an excellent alternative if you're looking for RGB and can tolerate a bit more noise and a slight dip in performance.

In the future, I hope CORSAIR will introduce the MAX version of the LX and QX series. This would provide consumers with a broader selection of performance-oriented fans that prioritize functionality without compromising on aesthetics.