Those of you who’ve been building PCs for a long time will be well aware of the leaps and bounds made in the last couple of decades. This advancement is particularly noticeable when it comes to case fans and the control of those fans.
In 2023 we debuted our iCUE LINK ecosystem. One cable, up to 24 devices, all controlled from a diminutive System Hub that could be secreted anywhere within your PC. It’s fantastic, easy to install, and tidy. However, it’s a premium product with a correspondingly premium price tag. This means that it might fall outside the budget of a prospective PC builder.
Today, we’re announcing the CORSAIR RS ARGB fans, just because you’re on a tight budget, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to create and control a dazzling light show. Let’s take a look.
| RS120 ARGB | RS140 ARGB | |
| Dimensions | 120 x 120 x 25mm | 140 x 140 x 25mm |
| Rated Current | 0.40A | 0.45A |
| Speed | 0, 420–2100 RPM ±10% | 0, 330–1700 RPM ±10% |
| Airflow | 13.3–72.8 CFM | 14.6–95.5 CFM |
| Static Pressure | 0.2–4.15 mm-H2O | 0.11–3.46 mm-H2O |
| Sound Level | 10–36 dBA | 10–36 dBA |
| Connection Cable | PWM | PWM |
| PWM Control | 0%, 20–100% | 0%, 20–100% |
| Bearing Type | Magnetic Dome | Magnetic Dome |
| Cable Length | 600mm | 600mm |
| Available colors | Black, White | Black, White |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
The chief benefit of ARGB fans is the ease of control. Provided that your motherboard has a +5V ARGB header and a 4-pin PWM header, then ARGB fans can be controlled via those. Depending on the brand of your motherboard, the accompanying software might allow some fancy effects. This is handy for those who are hesitant about installing additional software. We’ve written a dedicated article explaining ARGB control you can read for a more detailed explanation.
Daisy Chain control is a nominally similar to our iCUE LINK system, albeit less robust. However, it’s still a handy technology for those with budget limitations as it allows your fans to be controlled from a single port, connected from one to the next. This makes cable management a lot easier, in addition to making them easier to install overall.
ARGB is all well and good, but only if the fans can perform. Luckily, this is certainly the case here. Both the 120mm and 140mm options are capable of a zero RPM mode for total silence at low loads, and a maximum of 2100 RPM/1700 RPM, respectively.
Additionally, the RS ARGB fans utilise a magnetic dome bearing, almost entirely eliminating contact between the parts. Less friction allows for faster speeds, and a longer lifespan, which is why all CORSAIR RS ARGB fans are offered with a 5-year warranty.
Additionally, these fans are outfitted with our AirGuide fan blades. These basically keep the airflow from spiralling out too much, concentrating it instead. As an aside, this also makes the RS ARGB fans more effective when paired with radiators or other similarly obstructive components.
The COSRAIR RS ARGB fans will be available soon, so if you’re after simplified software-light fan control, consider them for your next build. In the meantime, be sure to browse through our other fans, in addition to our considerable collection of PC gaming offerings over on our main website.
