BlackSilentPro PL PS Fans Review

The company has sent us their portfolio of highly reputable IT series fans intended for the PC enthusiasts and users. Today, I will be taking a look at BlackSilentPro PL PS Fans Review. The fan is designed in Germany and with these fans, the Backnoise has focused on silent operations with good performance.

Related: NB BlackSilentFan XL-P Review

BlackNoise NoiseBlocker NB-BlackSilentPro PL-PS Fans Review

This series of the fan was designed with close co-operation with the HArdwareluxx community. The BlackSilentPro PL PS Fans Review is available in multiple sizes of 40x40x20mm, 60x60x25mm, 80x80x15mm, 80x80x25mm, 92x92x25mm, 120x120x25mm, and 140x140x25mm. Within each size there are more versions like in our case, the 120x120x25mm has PL-1, PL-2, and PL-PS versions. We are reviewing the PL-PS version.

• Item:                              BlackSilentPro PL PS Fans Review
• Manufacturer:                  BlackNoise
• Brand:                            NoiseBlocker
• Price:                             Check Price on Amazon

BlackSlinetPro Specifications

Size	120x120x25mm
Weight	120g
Rated Voltage	12V
Start Voltage	4.5V
Input Power	1.20W
Input Current	0.10A
Rated Speed (12V)	600-1500 RPM
Static Pressure (12V)	1.420 mmH₂O
Air Flow	40 ~100 m³/h
Sound Pressure (100CM)	8.1 ~ 23.7 dB/A
Loudness (100CM)	0.576 Sone (N)
MTBF (25°C/77°F)	18000 Std./hours
Operating Temperature	-10°C  ~ +65°C
Frame Material	PBT 30%GF
Impeller	Bayer Makrolon (PC)
Connector	4-Pin PWM

NoiseBlocker  Packaging and Unboxing

The NoiseBlocker did not have the retail versions in the stock at the time when they sent us the fans so they sent us the fans from their bulk packing. The fans from bulk packing don’t have retail boxes. Which is why we are shjowing the picture from their website with their consent. Please, note that the fan in the picture is PL-1 version with different specs but with the same design. We are reviewing the PL-PS version.

The fan comes in a cardboard box. The front side has a picture of the fan on the main section. NB-BlackSilentPro is printed in the vertical layout on the right side. Salient specifications like Sound Loudness, static pressure, airflow, speed and sound level are printed on the bottom right side. The fan is designed in Germany. The size of the fan is printed on the far bottom right side.

The backside of the packing box has BSP printed on the top left side. BSP stands for BlackSilentPro PL PS Fans Review. Noisblocker brand name and logo are printed on the top right side. This is their Ultra-Silent, Premium Class, and reliable fan. Specifications of the fan are printed in the main section. Manufacturer’s contact info is printed on the bottom left side.

The left side of the packing box has the Noiseblocker brand name and logo printed on the top side. BSP is printed under that logo. The fan has 6 years warranty which speaks for the confidence that the manufacturer has in their fans. The fans have NANO-SLI2 Bearing and P1 Drive. The fans are designed in Germany and made in China. The model and size of the fan are printed at the bottom.

The right side of the packing box has the Noiseblocker brand name and logo printed on the top side. BSP is printed under that logo. The blades are Makrolon based. The fans are designed in Germany and made in China. The model and size of the fan are printed at the bottom.

The top side has the opening cover of the packing box. The size of the fan is printed in the main section. High quality 12V IT Fan is printed on the right side. PL-PS PWM is printed on the raised part of the cover. Noiseblocker brand name and logo are printed on the right side.

NoiseBlocker Accessories

The contents are:

• 4x NB Silicon inserts for vibration free installation
• 1x NB Silicon SilentFrame
• 4x fine thread screws
• 4x knurled nuts
• 1x 20cm and 1x 50cm connection cable
• 1x Fan

Closer Look

The NB-BlackSilentPro is an Ultra-Silent, Premium-Class fan from the BlackNoise. It has been their popular and high selling fan series. The fan comes in multiple sizes. Within each category, there are more versions with varying specifications. Here is the listing of their entire BlackSilentPro PL PS Fans Review series of the fans:

• 40x40x20mm
  • PM-1
  • PM-2
• 60x60x25mm
  • PR-1
  • PR-2
• 80x80x15mm
  • PC-P
• 80x80x25mm
  • P-1
  • P-2
• 92x92x25mm
  • PE-1
  • PE-2
• 120x120x25mm
  • PL-1
  • PL-2
  • PL-PS
• 140x140x25mm
  • PK-1
  • PK-2
  • PK-3
  • PK-PS

These fans don’t fall under their Industrial Cooling Solutions and belong to the IT series of fans which are marketed for the PC users and the enthusiasts. We are reviewing the PL-PS version of the BlackSilentPro PL PS Fans Review in 120mm category. The PL-PS fans are rated at 12V DC with the input power of 1.20W using the 0.10Amperes. The starting voltage for these fans is 4.5V.

The fans are rated at 600 to 1500 RPM at 12V. The static pressure is rated at 1.420 mmH₂O at 12V. The air flow is rated at 40 to 100 m³/h. The sound pressure is rated at 8.1 to 23.7 dB(A) at 100CM. The loudness level is 0.576 Sone (N) at 100CM. The MTBF is 180000 Std./hours. Operating temperature for the fans is -10°C to +65°C.

Let’s take a look at the fan itself. We have a black color frame of the fan in a classic or traditional design. The frame is made of the reinforced fiberglass PBT material and build quality is top notch. There are no anti-vibration pads on the corners of the frame. It has a standard 120mm mounting clearance. The mounting holes have raised surface whereas there are insets on their left and right sides. The inner side around the corners has more inset than the middle.

There are no arrow indicators showing the spin direction of the fan blades and airflow direction through the fan. The middle portion of the outer frame has a 14mm straight surface followed by the curvature design on both sides. The frame has a cutout on its right edge on the top side from where the 4-pin power cable is routed. Note that the opposite side of the frame also has the same cutout design. It seems like it is done to have a symmetrical design on the frame.

The fan has Makrolon 7 transparent blades in the black color though they give the hint of light brown shade. They are made of a high-quality synthetic material by Bayer with an anti-dust surface. Build quality is good and there is no flex in the blades. The motor hub has a black color sticker pasted on it.

The backside of the fan has a large sticker in black color covering the motor hub. The Noiseblocker brand name and logo are printed on the top. NB-BlackSilentPro is printed under it. PL-PS is printed under it. 600-1500 RPM is printed under it. Company’s website is printed under it. CE and ROHS confirmation are printed at the bottom. 12V DC is printed on the top.

There is a 4 arm assembly holding the motor hub and connecting it with the frame. The 4 wires are nicely routed on one of the arms which has an inset for that purpose. Overall build quality is very good and rock solid. The Blacknoise are using NB-Nano SLI2 bearings. I was not able to find specific information on these bearings. They are using NB-EKA P2 motor.

Noiseblockers have provided NB Silicon SilentFrame in addition to the Silicon inserts to ensure the maximum noise reduction due to the vibration. This BlackSilentPro PL PS Fans Review frame is mounted on the backside of the fan. The silicone inserts are used on the mounting holes on the front side. The long screws are passed through the mounting holes and secured using the knurled nuts to make the assembly procedure tool-less.

Please note that this mounting mechanism won’t work on the radiators. You would have to pass the screws through the holes after inserting the silicon inserts and placing the silent frame and secure the fans using the screws only without the knurled nuts.

Testing

Much thanks to the Blacknoise for sending us 3 fans in each category which has enabled us to test them on the Alphacool Eisbaer 360 which is a 360mm CLC. It is a standard on my test bench that I do check the fan for the thermal performance even if they are rated for high airflow than static pressure ones. The NB-BlackSlientPro PL-PSs were tested against the Alphacool Eiswind 12 fans.

The Eiswind 12 fans operate on the 12V DC. They are 4-Pin PWM fans with the rated speed of the 55-1700 RPM with ±10%. Airflow rating is 63.85 CFM with the static pressure rating of the 1.66mmH₂O. Sound rating is 29 dBA per fan.

My testing consists of the three areas. I have checked the airflow on each of the profiles. Next, PWM range of the fan along with air flow reading against each point of the speed was checked. Next, thermal performance of the fans on 50% and 100% of their rated speeds were checked along with the acoustics. I have used Reeven Polariz fan controller for the testing.

NoiseBlocker Airflow Testing

In our first testing, we try to validate the stated/rated airflow value by the manufacturer. The rated airflow value is 75.3 CFM at full speed. In our testing, the airflow value comes to the 78.3 CFM validating the rated airflow value.

PWM Range

Next up, is the PWM range of the fan and the corresponding airflow values.

600 is the lowest RPM achieved on this fan which is exactly the rated minimum RPM of 600. The maximum speed of the fan comes to 1530 RPM. Rated maximum speed is 1500 RPM. The fan stops spinning below 4.5V and starts spinning at 4.5V validating the rated starting voltage.

Thermal Testing

Thermal performance of the fan was tested on this test bench:

• Intel i7 6850k
• Asus Rampage V Edition 10
• Ballistix Elite 4x4GB @ 3000MHz
• Alphacool Eisbaer 360
• Samsung 840 EVO 250GB
• Corsair AX 1200i

Testing was performed on the Microsoft Windows 10 x64 Professional edition build version 1709. Noctua NT-H1 thermal paste was used. The fans were put on 50% and 100% of their speed. The pump of the CLC was put on 100% of the speed. Asus RealBench v1.44 was used to stress test the CPU. RealTemp was used to monitor the temperatures. First, the stress test was run on the stock clocks of 3.6GHz with a turbo boost of 38GHz and Turbo Boost II of 4.0GHz at 1.16V VCore. XMP was loaded all the times.

Reported temps are delta ones which are calculated by subtracting the average of each core’s maximum temps from the ambient temp. The benefit of using delta temps is that it covers the variation in the temperatures under uncontrolled environment. Next, the Chip is overclocked to 4.3GHz at 1.350V VCore. XMP is loaded as well. The stress test is run again using the same methodology as described above and delta temps are noted.

Here are the results.

At 50% of the speed, all the fans were in same performance delta with neck-to-neck performance. At 100% speed, these fans lead over the Eiswind 12 fans by 1.17°C. But they were in same performance delta against the NB-BlackSilentFan XL-P.

Next, we overclocked the i7 6850k to the 4.3GHz. On 50% of the rated speeds, The BlackSilentPro, BlackSilentFan and Eiswind 12 were in same performance delta. At 100% speed, the NB-BlackSilentPro PL-PS took the lead over the NB-BlackSilentFan XL-P and Eiswind 12 with performance ratio closer to the NB-eLoop.

Acoustics

26 dBA was the reading of our Fonseo Digital sound meter showing the better acoustic performance of these fans.

Conclusion

The BlackSilentPro PL PS Fans Review is an Ultra-Silent Premium-Class fan from the BlackNoise. It has been their quite popular and high selling fan series. The fan comes in multiple sizes. Within each category, there are more versions with varying specifications.

These fans don’t fall under their Industrial Cooling Solutions and belong to the IT series of fans which are marketed for the PC users and the enthusiasts. We are reviewing the PL-PS version of the BlackSilentPro in 120mm category. The PL-PS fans are rated at 12V DC with input power of 1.20W using the 0.10Amperes. The starting voltage for these fans is 4.5V. The fans are rated at 600 to 1500 RPM at 12V. The static pressure is rated at 1.420 mmH₂O at 12V.

The air flow is rated at 40 to 100 m³/h. The sound pressure is rated at 8.1 to 23.7 dB(A) at 100CM. The loudness level is 0.576 Sone (N) at 100CM. The MTBF is 180000 Std./hours. Operating temperature for the fans is -10°C to +65°C.The frame is made of the reinforced fiberglass PBT material and build quality is top notch.

There are no anti-vibration pads on the corners of the frame. It has a standard 120mm mounting clearance. The fan has Makrolon 7 transparent blades in the blue color. They are made of high quality synthetic material by Bayer with anti-dust surface. Build quality is good and there is no flex in the blades.

Noiseblockers have provided NB Silicon SilentFrame in addition to the Silicon inserts to ensure the maximum noise reduction due to the vibration. This frame is mounted on the backside of the fan. The silicon inserts are used on the mounting holes on the front side. The long screws are passed through the mounting holes and secured using the knurled nuts to make the assembly procedure tool-less.

Please note that this mounting mechanism won’t work on the radiators. You would have to pass the screws through the holes after inserting the silicon inserts and placing the silent frame and secure the fans using the screws only without he knurled nuts. The Blacknoise is providing 6 years of warranty on these fans which shows the manufacturer’s confidence in their fans.

BlackSilentPro PL PS Fans Review offer perfect blend of performance with value. In our testing these fans were neck to neck against the likes of the Alphacool Eiswind 12 fans, NB-BlackSilentFan XL-P and even taking the performance level to the NB-eLoop under stress test with full load on the overclocked i7 6850k at 4.3GHz. The acoustic performance is right on the money though everyone has different standing with respect to the sound level.

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