5 BEST 140mm Case Fans In 2023

If you want the best possible performance out of your rig, then you have to equip it with the most optimal cooling solution. This includes using the best CPU cooler, a PC case with good airflow, and the right PC case fans. However, when it comes to case fans, there are various sizes available with the most common being 120mm and 140mm fans. While 120mm case fans are good, they don’t offer the performance or the quiet operations of their 140mm counterparts. Therefore, if you’re looking for the best 140mm case fans, then you have come to the right place.

Take a look at the best 140mm case fans compared to each other:

Last update on 2023-12-13

Using 140mm case fans might not be possible in small form factor builds. But, if you’re building an ATX gaming PC with a chassis that has 140mm fan mounts, then going with 140mm case fans should be your choice as they are considerably better than 120mm fans. For this reason, many enthusiasts and gamers prefer 140mm fans over 120mm whenever possible.

Best 140mm Case Fans

Following are the best 140mm case fans that you can purchase in 2023:

1. Noctua NF-A14 PWM chromax.black.swap
2. LIAN LI SL INFINITY 140mm
3. Corsair iCUE AF140 RGB Elite
4. Arctic P14 PWM PST A-RGB
5. be quiet! Pure Wings 2 140mm

Noctua NF-A14 PWM chromax.black.swap

Best 140mm Radiator Fan

Speed: 300-1500 RPM | Airflow: 82.52 CFM | Noise: 24.6 dB(A) | Static Pressure: 2.08 mm H₂O | Bearing: SSO2 | Connector: 4-pin PWM

There is no better way to start off our list than with Noctua. The company is known for manufacturing some of the most reliable and well-built cooling solutions that do not compromise on performance. As such, many of my test benches also use Noctua fans. Well, the Noctua fan I am recommending today is the Noctua NF-A14 PWM chromax.black.swap, it is the best 140mm Noctua fan, and it is here for having the most balanced feature set.

For a fan to be considered the best radiator fan, it needs to strike the perfect balance between high static pressure and good airflow. Well, the NF-A14 from Noctua boasts a static pressure of a solid 2.08 mm H₂O, meaning the fan can create enough air pressure to move air through your large radiator without any issues. On the topic of moving air, the NF-A14 has an airflow of 140.2 m³/h, which translates to around 82.52 CFM. Such airflow number is more than enough to easily move air even through 420mm radiators. 

To operate at such figures, the Noctua NF-A14 will be spinning at 1500 RPM, and it can be automatically toned down to around 300 RPM, depending on the cooling requirements. Furthermore, if the fan is set to the 0% PWM duty cycle, then it will come to a complete stop if the system is idle to bring down the fan noise to zero. But what about the fan noise at maximum speed? Well, the NF-A14 is rated for an acoustical noise output of 24.6 dB(A) when it is spinning at 1500 RPM, which is quite low considering its high performance. 

Being a Noctua fan, the NF-A14 chromax.black.swap uses the SSO2 bearing, which is known for its high precision and stability even at full speeds. Additionally, the SSO2 bearing also plays a huge role in reducing the overall noise output of the fan. Apart from that, the fan has a mean time to failure of more than 150,000 hours. For perspective, that’s more than 17 years. Such a high MTTF number really makes it clear to understand how reliable and durable the NF-A14 chromax.black.swap is. Plus, if that doesn’t convince you, then you should also know that the fan comes with a 6-year warranty for further peace of mind.

As for the design, being a chromax.black variant, the NF-A14 features a sleek black look. The fan comes with anti-vibration pads in red, green, blue, black, white, and yellow colors so that you can customize it in contrast to your build’s theme. Furthermore, the fan has a square frame, making it ideal for radiators, as a square frame offers the maximum possible coverage. All in all, the NF-A14 chromax.black.swap is undoubtedly the best Noctua 140mm case fan. 

What We Liked

The combination of high airflow and strong static pressure, which makes the NF-A14 ideal for radiators, is what I liked the most about this fan. Furthermore, its noise output is also commendable.

What We Disliked

As far as performance is concerned, there is nothing to dislike about the fan. However, as with most premium components, the fan carries a hefty price tag.

Who Is It For?

If you are building a high-end gaming PC with 140/280/420mm radiator(s), then the Noctua NF-A14 PWM chromax.black.swap is for you.

What Makes It The Best 140mm Radiator Fan?

There are many features that make the Noctua NF-A14 PWM chromax.black.swap the Best 140mm Radiator Fan, including its 2.08 mm H₂O static pressure, 82.52 CFM airflow, and square frame design.

LIAN LI SL INFINITY 140mm

Best 140mm RGB Fan

Speed: 200-1600 RPM | Airflow: 72.7 CFM | Noise: 28 dB(A) | Static Pressure: 2.88 mm H₂O | Bearing: FDB | Connector: 4-pin PWM + 3-pin ARGB

Are you a fan of RGB and love building beautiful gaming PCs with lots of lighting and other flashy bells and whistles? Well, if that’s the case and if you’re looking for the best 140mm led case fan to go along with your beautiful rig, then there is no better option out there than the LIAN LI SL INFINITY 140mm. Lian Li is known for building some of the most beautiful PC components ever, and what makes them the best is they never compromise on quality or performance. Well, their UNI FAN SL-INFINITY is no different. 

To bring the UNI FAN SL-INFINITY, LIAN LI has basically brought the best of UNI FAN SL and UNI FAN AL along with a few extra features, and the show-stopper feature is the fan’s infinity mirror design. Basically, the center of the fan is designed in such a way that it feels like you are looking into an infinite ring of RGB lights. This feature gives the LIAN LI SL-INFINITY fan a distinct and magnificent look, making gamers go head over heels for it. But, the RGB light show of the SL-INFINITY does not stop at its center. Both the frame of the fan and its blades are rigged with RGB lights in true LIAN LI fashion. In total, each SL-INFINITY fan you go for has 40 LEDs in it.

Just like the center, the top and bottom sides of the frame also give a similar 3D infinity look. Plus, LIAN LI has even lit up the rear of the fan by using a strip of circular light around the brand’s logo. In short, the LIAN LI SL-INFINITY is undoubtedly the best-looking case fan that money can buy, and if you love good-looking PC builds, then the SL-INFINITY fan will definitely strike your heart’s chord. 

But, no one would go for an all-show no-go case fan, and the best 140mm RGB fan also needs to offer adequate performance to be considered the best. Well, the LIAN LI SL INFINITY 140mm can spin from 200 to 1600 RPM, and it comes to a standstill at idle to eliminate fan noise. At its highest speed, the fan will generate around 28 dB(A) of noise, which isn’t exactly low. But, given that it will also achieve a static pressure of 2.88 mm H₂O with an airflow of 72.7 CFM, the high noise doesn’t feel bad. 

The overall performance of the LIAN LI SL INFINITY 140mm is quite up there with other high-end 140mm case fans. Therefore, if you are after high-performance case fans to cool down your rig, then SL INFINITY 140mm fans are a good option.

A good-looking case fan isn’t only about RGB; it also takes into account the overall cleanliness and maintenance of your rig. For instance, the SL INFINITY 140mm features daisy chaining, which makes it significantly easier to cable manage the fans. Furthermore, the reversible cable module can help eliminate any clearance issue that you might come across due to radiator orientation.

As for customizations, you can use the L-CONNECT 3 software to tweak your SL INFINITY 140mm fans. You can customize the RGB effects in any way you like and change the fan’s speed and other settings as well. You can also set the temperature at which your fans will come to a complete stop.  

What We Liked

I was blown away by the LIAN LI SL INFINITY 140mm’s infinity mirror design and overall looks. Furthermore, the fan achieves such beautiful looks without compromising on performance.

What We Disliked

Apart from the premium price tag, I found the L-CONNECT 3 software poorly optimized in my tests. Furthermore, the noise output is also not as low as I would prefer.

Who Is It For?

If you are an RGB enthusiast who always wants good performance, then the LIAN LI SL INFINITY 140mm fan is for you.

What Makes It The Best 140mm RGB Fan?

The 40 LEDs in each fan, infinity mirror design, RGB customizations, cable management, and great performance is what makes the LIAN LI SL INFINITY 140mm the Best 140mm RGB Fan. 

Corsair iCUE AF140 RGB Elite

Best 140mm High Static Pressure Fan

Speed: 500-1700 RPM | Airflow: 89.0 CFM | Noise: 33.8 dB(A) | Static Pressure: 2.0 mm H₂O | Bearing: FDB 

While the Noctua NF-A14 PWM chromax.black.swap is undoubtedly the best 140mm radiator fan, some gamers may not prefer it for its simple black look. If you’re one of those gamers and want something a bit more flashy that does not compromise on performance and still makes the perfect 140mm radiator fan, then the Corsair iCUE AF140 RGB Elite is for you. Being a Corsair product, you can expect the iCUE AF140 to have a solid build quality and premium feel. 

But, it is the airflow and the static pressure where the iCUE AF140 RGB Elite leaves its competitors in the dust. While the two factors are inversely proportional, it is important to go with the fan that strikes a good balance between them. Impressively, the iCUE AF140 RGB Elite manages to achieve a phenomenal airflow of 89.0 CFM along with a high static pressure of 2.0 mm H₂O. Plus, considering its square frame design and rubber seals, the fan goes along with radiators perfectly as the best 140mm high static pressure fan.

The 89 CFM airflow number is no doubt impressive, and it makes the iCUE AF140 RGB Elite one of the highest airflow fans I have tested. To achieve such remarkable figures, the AF140 has a maximum speed of an astounding 1700 RPM, which can come down to around 500 RPM, depending on the load. The max speed is definitely a plus point for performance, but it hurts the noise output of the fan quite a bit. That’s because the AF140 RGB Elite is rated at 33.8 dB(A), and not every gamer appreciates such a high noise profile. It should be noted here that the fan features a Zero RPM mode where it stops spinning completely at idle to get rid of the noise.

Another reason why the airflow of the AF140 RGB Elite is so good is that the fan uses the Corsair Airguide Technology, which basically concentrates the airflow far better than standard case fans. 

All in all, there is no doubt that the iCUE AF140 RGB Elite is the best high static pressure fan you can get. But, I also said that it offers more flashy features than other radiator fans without compromising on performance, and that’s because the fan is equipped with 8 RGB LEDs. You can use the iCUE software to customize these LEDs and get a variety of RGB effects. Furthermore, Corsair provides a 5-year warranty, so in case anything goes wrong, you can always rely on Corsair’s world-class customer service to help you out.

What We Liked

I liked the static pressure and the airflow of the Corsair iCUE AF140 RGB Elite the most. The fan is one of the best performance 140mm fans ever.

What We Disliked

The Corsair iCUE AF140 RGB Elite suffers from high noise output, especially at its peak 1700 RPM. 

Who Is It For?

If you are building an RGB gaming PC with 140/280/420mm radiator(s), and you want a flashy but performance-centric fan to go with it, then the Corsair iCUE AF140 RGB Elite is for you.

What Makes It The Best 140mm High Static Pressure Fan?

The strong static pressure of 2.0 mm H₂O, along with remarkable airflow and beautiful looks, make the Corsair iCUE AF140 RGB Elite stand out from the competitors as the Best 140mm High Static Pressure Fan.

Arctic P14 PWM PST A-RGB

Best Airflow 140mm Fan

Speed: 200-1900 RPM | Airflow: 68.9 CFM | Noise: 0.3 Sone | Static Pressure: 2.0 mm H₂O | Bearing: FDB 

Not everyone goes for an AIO to cool down their rig; some people still prefer the good ol’ air coolers. If you’re one of those gamers and you want to equip your PC with the best airflow fans, then the Arctic P14 PWM PST A-RGB is for you. It offers focused airflow, low noise, and beautiful looks, which makes it the best pick for intake/exhaust fans.

I will come back to its performance and specs later, but first, let me share my installation experience. The fan features the PWM PST functionality. This is Arctic’s way of saying that these fans can be daisy-chained to each other, eliminating the need of RGB hubs and messy wires. Plus, the fans can also be synced to a single fan curve. Therefore, the customization is quite simple and easy. 

However, there is one negative part about the P14 PWM PST A-RGB’s installation. Since the fan has RGB lighting, it has two cables coming out of it, one for power and the other for A-RGB. This is normal, but both of these cables come out from different sides of the fan, which I found very inconvenient. It does not only disturb cable management but if you have a tight space, then dealing with cables coming from different sides can be a hassle.

The PST feature is a true lifesaver, as without it, my installation experience would have been very different. Anyways, apart from one minor hiccup, the P14 PWM PST A-RGB sailed the rest of my tests smoothly. The fan boasts a solid airflow of 68.9 CFM accompanied by a static pressure of 2.0 mm H₂O. While you can equip these fans with radiators, they shine the best because of their airflow. In my tests, the P14 PWM PST A-RGB had no issues cooling down my test bench. These fans can reach a whopping 1900 RPM speed, and that’s why their airflow is so good that I am recommending them as the best 140mm exhaust fan. 

The 1900 RPM figure might worry you about the acoustics, but fear not, as the Arctic P14 PWM PST A-RGB actually has quite a low noise output. Arctic has rated these fans for 0.3 Sone, which comes out to be around 24 dB(A). I measured the noise output, and Arctic’s claim turned out to be true as my measurements also showed a 24 db(A) number. Plus, just like most other 140mm fans I have reviewed, these also come with a Zero RPM Mode to eliminate any noise.

What We Liked

The airflow, looks, and overall performance of the Arctic P14 PWM PST A-RGB is definitely what I liked about this fan. 

What We Disliked

Since the RGB and Power cables come out from different sides of the fan, installation can be tricky. Otherwise, there isn’t anything to dislike about it. 

Who Is It For?

If you are using an air cooler in your gaming PC, then you should go for the Arctic P14 PWM PST A-RGB, as it can run at 1900 RPM to provide excellent airflow.

What Makes It The Best Airflow 140mm Fan?

The Arctic P14 PWM PST A-RGB looks really beautiful because of its RGB lighting. Furthermore, it can be daisy-chained with more fans to make cable management easier. But, what makes the Arctic P14 PWM PST A-RGB the Best Airflow 140mm Fan is its concentrated airflow of 68.9 CFM thanks to the 1900 RPM speed. 

be quiet! Pure Wings 2 140mm

Best Budget 140mm Fan

Speed: 1000 RPM | Airflow: 61.2 CFM | Noise: 18.8 dB(A) | Static Pressure: 0.76 mm H₂O | Bearing: Rifle

My list of the Best 140mm Case Fans would be incomplete if it didn’t include any offering from be quiet!. After all, the German company is known for manufacturing some of the most well-built cooling solutions with an emphasis on low acoustic profile. Similarly, their Pure Wings 2 140mm fans are no different, either. If you’re on a tight budget and don’t want any flashy features like RGB, then going with the Pure Wings 2 140mm is your best option. These fans, despite being very budget-friendly, offer great cooling. Furthermore, they can even be considered the best quiet 140mm case fans.

Let’s talk about their performance first because you might think a budget-orient case fan might compromise on it. Well, be quiet! has managed to pack the Pure Wings 2 140mm with great airflow and static pressure, making them the best bang for the back 140mm case fans. These fans have a maximum speed of 1000 RPM, and at their max speed, they can move 61.2 CFM of air with a static pressure of 0.76 mm H₂O. Sure, these numbers are not as high as the other case fans I have reviewed. However, they did a great job at keeping my test bench cool. 

With that said, you can go ahead with the Pure Wings 2 without worrying about any performance issues. These fans will keep your components away from thermal throttling, and they will do it silently. That’s because since the max speed is only 1000 RPM, the noise output of the Pure Wings 2 is just 18.8 db(A). I use an open-layout test bench, and despite that, these fans were basically inaudible.

As for the design, the be quiet! Pure Wings 2 140mm look pretty simple. The fan features a simple black look without any RGB effects. It has 9 blades with a wavy surface to support focused airflow and less turbulence. Furthermore, the fan uses the rifle bearing, which is known for its durability. be quiet! has rated the lifespan of Pure Wings 2 140mm at 80,000 hours, which is more than 9 years. For such a budget-friendly option, the rated durability is really impressive.

What We Liked

Apart from the inaudible noise, the pricing is what I love the most about the be quiet! Pure Wings 2 140mm. The fans are a dream come true for budget gamers.

What We Disliked

At such a low price point, it is really difficult to complain about anything. Therefore, I did not dislike anything about the Pure Wings 2 140mm.

Who Is It For?

If you are looking for the best bang for the buck 140mm case fans that still offers great performance and does not cost a ton, then you should go with the be quiet! Pure Wings 2 140mm. These fans are very budget-friendly.

What Makes It The Best Budget 140mm Fan?

You might find other 140mm case fans at a similar price tag to Pure Wings 2. However, none of them will come even close to its performance, reliability, and low noise profile, and that’s what makes the be quiet! Pure Wings 2 the Best Budget 140mm Fan.

Important Case Fan Terms

When you are researching for the best 140mm case fans, you will come across many terms that might not make sense. Here’s what they mean:

• Airflow: Measured in CFM or m³/h, airflow refers to the amount of air the fan can move.
• Static Pressure: Measured in mm H2O, static pressure refers to the amount of air pressure generated by the fan to push the air through restrictions and obstacles like radiators, dust filters, and/or mesh panels. 
• Noise Level: Measured in dB (dB(A) or Sone), the noise level of a fan refers to the amount of noise the fan will make at its maximum speed.
• RPM: The RPM refers to how many revolutions the fan will make in a minute. It basically tells us the speed of the fan. The higher the speed, the more noise a fan will generate.
• Bearing Type: Bearings are used to reduce friction between the fan shaft and the bearing itself. There are several types of fan bearings, like sleeve bearings, ball bearings, and fluid bearings. Bearings help improve the fan’s efficiency, lifespan, and noise.
• PWM (Pulse Width Modulation): PWM is used to control the fan’s speed. This way, you can customize your fan’s speed for improved performance, noise, and overall energy consumption. PWM-enabled fans offer more flexibility to users.

140mm Vs. 120mm Case Fan

140mm Fan	120mm Fan
Offers more airflow and static pressure than 120mm fans.	Offers less airflow and static pressure than 140mm fans.
They run at low RPMs, making low noise.	They run at high RPMs, making high noise.
They are less compatible with small form factor PC cases.	They are far more compatible with a variety of PC cases, including small form factor builds.
They are relatively expensive.	They are relatively affordable.

Deciding which fan size to go for is very important in PC building. It can have a great impact on your system’s cooling, which will ultimately lead to better (or worse) performance. So, which case fan is better? And which one should you go for?

As far as cooling goes, there is a general rule of thumb around case fans: the bigger the size, the better the fan will perform. Therefore, when it comes to 120mm Vs. 140mm case fans, 140mm fans will always have an edge in performance over their 120mm counterparts. That’s because since 140mm fans have bigger fan blades, these blades can pull and push more air compared to 120mm fans. This improves not only the overall airflow but also the static pressure, both of which are core factors of a case fan. 

Another great thing about 140mm case fans is that they can achieve far better airflow and static pressure by spinning at lower RPM than their 120mm variants. Since 120mm fans have smaller blades, they have to spin a lot faster to achieve optimal cooling performance. On the other hand, 140mm fans can spin at a relatively lower RPM and still maintain adequate performance. The result? Low noise operations. 140mm are far quieter than 120mm fans because they don’t spin as much.

Dimensions-wise, 120mm fans are smaller than 140mm. Therefore, the compatibility of 120mm fans is unparalleled. Sure, 140mm fans are the second-most common PC case fans, but you can easily come across a PC chassis that does not support 140mm fans. On the other hand, coming across a case that’s incompatible with 120mm fans is quite rare.

Apart from compatibility, another factor that drives gamers towards 120mm case fans is their price. These fans offer the best value for money because they are significantly more budget-friendly than high-performance 140mm fans. Furthermore, yes, 120mm fans don’t perform as well as 140mm fans, but that doesn’t mean these fans can’t cool down your rig. 120mm fans still pack solid performance, which is more than enough to cool down even the hottest of rigs. Therefore, 120mm fans are more compatible with small rigs, and they offer more value for money.

Types of 140mm PC Fans

Airflow Fans	Static Pressure Fans
These fans offer more airflow.	These fans offer high static pressure.
They work best in places with no restrictions, like exhaust.	They work best with restrictions, like radiators, mesh panels, and dust filters.
Their blade style is generally less wide but more in number.	Their blade style is generally wider but fewer in number.

When it comes to PC case fans, regardless of their size, you have two options to pick from; static pressure fans or airflow fans. Both of these fans have their specific use cases, and equipping your rig with the right type of PC fan can make a night and day difference. 

Airflow refers to how much air the fan can move unrestricted. Therefore, the higher the airflow, the more air the fan will blow onto your PC. However, airflow fans cannot stand restrictions like mesh design, dust filters, and, most importantly, radiators. Meaning that if you equip an airflow fan with a radiator, its performance will degrade significantly, and your radiator will not be cooled on time. 

On the other hand, static pressure fans account for the resistance that these fans must push against to obtain optimal cooling. Therefore, static pressure fans are perfect to use with radiators, mesh panels, and dust filters. If you’re building a gaming PC, then going with an airflow fan as the exhaust and a high static pressure fan as the radiator fan will provide ideal performance.

Also Read: Push Vs. Pull Vs. Push-Pull Radiator Configuration

How We Selected The Best 140mm Fans

It is very important that you make the right purchase decision and buy the best 140mm fans. Therefore, I scrutinized my recommendations based on the following factors to ensure that my list is truly the best. If you are looking for other size case fans, then you should also consider these factors.

Performance

The performance of a case fan relies on two important factors, airflow, and static pressure. These two are inversely proportional, but many fans offer the perfect balance between the two. A fan with high airflow is meant to be used as an exhaust fan or in a place where there are not many restrictions. On the other hand, a fan with strong static pressure works best with restrictions like radiators, mesh panels, and dust filters. 

In order to select the best 140mm fans, I gauged my recommendations based on both airflow and static pressure.

Speed

I can’t review a case fan without testing its speed. It affects not only the performance but also the acoustics of the fan. Therefore, for every 140mm case fan I recommended, I made sure to scrutinize its speed as well. If a fan is PWM-enabled, then I also tested how reliable it is at different speeds and how much its noise changes as I customize the speed.

Noise Output

Noise is one of the most important factors to consider when reviewing PC case fans. If a fan has high noise output, then it can completely tarnish the user experience. On the other hand, a low-noise fan can bring comfort and peace. I use dedicated instruments to test a fan’s acoustics to check whether it comes true to the manufacturer’s claim or not.

Aesthetics

While looks are not nearly as important as the other factors I have listed, they can still affect your purchase decision a lot. Many gamers love to build themed gaming PCs with an all-white or all-black color contrast. Similarly, full-blown RGB rigs are also loved by gamers all over the world. As such, in my tests of the best 140mm case fans, I also evaluated my recommendations based on their visual appeal. 

Why Should You Trust Us

With over a decade of experience in the tech and PC building industry, Tech4Gamers has built a team of tech enthusiasts who are highly passionate and well-versed in the world of PC gaming. As such, every product review and recommendation goes through a rigorous testing process based on several key factors. For instance, when I tested the best 140mm case fans, I evaluated their installation experience, performance, noise, customization, looks, and pricing to make sure my recommendations were top-notch with the best possible products.

To ensure authenticity and reliability, the same strategy is followed in all of our buying guides and reviews. As a result, several famous hardware manufacturers like Aerocool, ARCTIC, ASRock, ASUS, be quiet!, Cooler Master, Corsair, DeepCool, EKWB, Fractal, Gamdias, GIGABYTE, Kingston, MSI, Noctua, Orico, Razer, Sabrent, and Thermaltake have collaborated with Tech4Gamers so our hardware experts can review their latest and greatest products.

As such, our readers also rely on us with their gaming PC builds because they know Tech4Gamers is a one-stop technological hub that offers the most up-to-date and authentic content. Similarly, I hope this guide on the best 140mm case fans will also help you purchase the right case fans for your rig.