Test – Silverstone FQ141 & FW141 : Specs | CPU | Hashrate | Review | Config

Yo everyone!

We continue the tests of Silverstone products with today the big brothers of the last fans tested (FQ122 and FW121 here) I named the FQ141 and the FW141! Both with a diameter of 14 cm the FQ141 is a model with standard dimensions (25 mm thick) while the FW141 makes it in the “slim” format with only 13 mm thick. Let’s see what today’s two little ones have in store for us!

We are here in the presence of 2 completely different fans, the FQ141 is a 14 cm “traditional” fan of 14 cm side and 2.5 cm thick powered by 4-pin PWM while the FW141 opts for a 14 cm side. , another of 15 cm and a thickness of 1.3 cm. As for the bearings, we are dealing with a “PCF Bearing” for the FQ141 and a “Sleeve” type bearing for the FW141, the latter generally has a shorter life than the ball bearings which is affects the MTBF which is 150,000 h for the FQ141 but “only” 40,000 h for the FW141.
The RPM range is also different between the two models, from 500 to 1000 RPM for the FQ141 while the FW141 operates from 800 to 1300 RPM, this affects the noise pollution which is higher on the FW141 with 34.2 dBA at maximum against 20.7 dBA for the FQ141.
Due to its thinness the FW141 weighs only 85g against 133g for the FQ141.
The prices of the 2 fans are 12 € HT for the FQ141 and 9.2 € HT for the FW141 and the warranty is 2 years.

Silverstone FQ141

The FQ141 is sold in a plastic box like all other Silverstone fans, easy opening and direct access to the product, we find the main characteristics on the front face (“ultra quiet”, PWM etc.) and a more technical description to the rear as the 4-pin connection, maximum RPMs, maximum noise etc.

The bundle consists of:

• 1 fan FQ141
• 4 vis
• 4 anti-vibration rubber mounts
• 1 adapter lowering the rotation speed to 630 RPM
• 1 adaptateur 4-pin molex -> 4-pin PWM
• 1 rubber plate to be glued to the frame

The bundle just like the Silverstone fans, everything is present to be able to connect the FQ141 in peace, rubber mounts, classic screws, a molex adapter -> 4-pin, an adapter allowing to lower the maximum speed to 630 RPM (12V -> 7V) as well as a plate of white rubbers which are to be glued on the frame of the fan helping to isolate the fan a little more from the case!

The FQ141 has a slightly atypical design, no more square fans and room for a more elaborate design! The build quality is still very good and the FQ141 is very robust. You can see the small triangles around the fixing holes which are the places to place the white rubbers delivered in the bundle.

The cable is black sheathed to hide these ugly colored wires.

Silverstone FW141

No need to draw you a drawing, the box is like the plastic FQ141 with easy access to the fan and to the various accessories, on the front the main strengths such as the thinness of 1.3 cm, the PWM connection and a low noise level . At the rear as usual the technical characteristics, dimensions etc.

The bundle consists of:

• 1 fan FW141
• 4 vis
• 4 anti-vibration rubber mounts
• 1 adaptateur 4-pin molex -> 4-pin PWM

The FW141 bundle is reduced compared to the FQ141 but offers the essentials, rubber mounts in addition to normal screws and a molex -> 4-pin adapter.

The format of the FW141 is atypical, in fact it is not square but rectangular with 14 cm on one side for 15 cm on the other, these dimensions are due to the fact that the fan is fixed on a location 12cm and not 14cm . The build quality is good and the fan feels solid. The colors are just like what Silverstone does with a mix of blue and white which is sure to please fans of these colors, or modders.

On the other hand, a small black point in the wiring which is unfortunately not sheathed, black wires could at least have been used, even if this does not change the performance of the fan.

The Silverstone fans have been tested on the Prolimatech Megalahems radiator on the configuration below:

• Processor: Intel Core i7 875K @ 3,2 Ghz
• Ventirad: Prolimatech Megahalems
• Motherboard: Asus P7P55D
• Memory: Kingston HyperX 4 x 2 Go 1600Mhz
• Hard disk: WD Raptor 150 Go
• Graphic card: Sapphire Toxic 5850
• Food: Seasonic X650

The core i7 875K has been slightly overclocked to 3.2Ghz. The temperatures under load are an average of all the cores for 3 tests of 30 minutes on OCCT, the temperatures at rest were taken after 15mins on the desktop (still an average of the 4 cores).

As we can see the results of today’s Silverstone fans are not bad, for the FQ141 whether in 5V or in 12V it is able to cool the test processor well with 66 ° in 5V and 54 ° in 12V, everything is in order! On the other hand at the level of the FW141 and even if it is as powerful as its brother in 12V with 54 ° for the processor it is not the same in 5V with a temperature of 84 °, one can well see that the fan ” slim ”does not really stir a lot of air at low revs, so it will be better to leave it in PWM mode if it is ever used to cool a processor.

At least the 2 fans tested today are quite good in terms of noise pollution with 32 dB for the FQ141 and 33 dB for the FW141, nothing that cannot be heard once the case is closed. In 12V, on the other hand, the FQ141 with 40 dB and even if it is noisier than the other fans in the comparison behaves very well, the noise only reflects the air flow generated, no parasitic noise (coming from the motor for example ) to deplore. Regarding the FW141 and its 42 dB, it is clearly noisier than its brother without being in the hair dryer, on the other hand it will be clearly heard in a configuration designed for silence.
Note that for the 2 fans in 5V a slight noise of the motor is heard with the glued ear, which disappears once the fan turns faster.

Here we are at the end of this test, given that there are 2 types of fans present I will split the conclusion, one for the FQ141 and the other for the FW141.

Silverstone FQ141

Like its little brothers FW122 and FQ122 already tested here, the FQ141 is a versatile fan, able to be really quiet at a minimum and have a sound level contained to the maximum without sacrificing performance which is quite good.
The build quality is very good, all looking very sturdy and made to last. The rubber stickers as well as the rubber fixings of the bundle will erase any vibrations generated by the motor, which will always be a plus if you use a case that promotes the propagation of vibrations.
Offered at a price of around € 12 excluding VAT, it ranks well against its competitors for those who do not want to spend more than € 20 on a “premium” fan which in the end will not necessarily change the situation, the performance / price ratio / noise pollution is quite good for the FQ141 and can be installed without problems in a PC configuration, whether silent or “gamer”.

The FW141

Particularly designed for people with limited space, the FW141 even if it is less swift at the same speed as a fan with a “normal” thickness of 2.5 cm can quite cool a processor or a box, despite performance rather in withdrawal at low speed. The build quality is good without being exceptional and the rubber mounts will allow the fan to be fixed to the case without transmitting vibrations, which is always good to take.
Offered at a price of 9.20 € HT and even if it is not the best fan that I have been given to test, it will perfectly fulfill its role, as a case fan for example using 12cm fan mounts .

A big thank you to Marie from Silverstone who allowed me to do this test.

Where to find Silverstone Fans?

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