One size bigger: be quiet! Light Wings 140 mm PWM and PWM High Speed Review

1 - Introduction and technical Data 2 - Test Methods, Equipment and Chamber 3 - Voltages, Controller, Speed and Wattage 4 - Volumetric Airflow 5 - Static Pressure 6 - Noise Emission, Audio Samples, Frequency Analysis 7 - Summary, Conclusion and final Words

Volume flow vs. sound pressure level

At this point we have to differentiate and consider both fans separately. The normal Light Wings 140 mm PWM is just as quiet as the reference fan at maximum speed when it comes to identical airflow. However, the reference fan can turn much further and also manages much more throughput at full speed than the Light Wings. However, as a case fan, the Light Wings 140 mm PWM is unbeaten here, especially at lower speeds. Because then it is even quieter than the reference with the same airflow. However, it is not really suitable as a radiator fan due to the lack of motor power.

However, the High Speed would always be acoustically significantly behind the reference as a pure case fan with comparable airflow, which makes it seem not useful for this task. However, it can show its strengths on the radiators, where it can even beat the reference to some extent. However, the diagram shows the insert free in the case, so I would refer you to the individual measurements of airflow and static pressure on pages 4 and 5.

Whoever installs the fan should pay attention to the structure-borne noise and vibrations despite the decoupling, especially at high speed and speeds above 1700 rpm.

Volume flow and speeds

We can see that the volume flow (in reverse to the graph above) requires significantly higher speeds in some cases for both Light Wings, but this is put into perspective, at least in terms of the operating noise of the normal fan. Only the High Speed has to give way here.

The High Speed also generates a certain amount of humming for a short time at one speed position, the interference frequency of which is around 258 Hz. However, the humming only occurs in a free setup and almost completely disappears when the fan is on a radiator.

Conclusion

Both Light Wings, whether in the normal speed range or as High Speed, have a clearly defined target group. While the somewhat weaker Light Wings 140 mm PWM is a good case fan, but rather weak on radiators, the Light Wings 140 mm High Speed is more on the thick guys on the road and there also in good hands. Here he even buys the guts of the reference to some extent, which certainly makes him a real option for many.

Of course, you have to be fair and not fall into blind euphoria. Both models have a clear focus and can convince there respectively. On the other hand, the lower power consumption of the drive compared to the 120 mm fans is not understandable and certainly prevents an even better performance. The normal 5V ARGB control makes both fans compatible with all current motherboards or fan controllers with a matching connector. However, it’s not quite enough for an explicit purchase tip, because the normal case fan lacks a bit of throughput and with the High Speed, the (even if only very narrow-band) humming can’t be explained away.

The fact that the 3-pack includes the hub as a free bonus naturally tempts the user to buy it more than once, which is certainly intended. A fan alone usually makes no sense anyway. The approx. 24 Euro RRP for the single fan is actually more than fair, because there are many fans that are up to 10 Euro (and above) more expensive and can even do less. From this point of view, price and performance fit together perfectly.

The fans were developed by be quiet! provided in advance free of charge under NDA. The only condition was the earliest possible publication date, there was no obligation to publish and there was no possible influence on the tests or the results.

be quiet! Light Wings PWM, 140mm (BL074)

	Zentrallager: 5 Stück lagernd, Lieferung 1-3 WerktageFiliale Wilhelmshaven: 5 Stück lagerndStand: 01.05.24 18:57	23,15 €*Stand: 01.05.24 19:02
	sofort lieferbar	23,16 €*Stand: 01.05.24 04:52
	Ware lagernd - versandfertig - Lieferzeit 1-3 Werktage	23,59 €*Stand: 01.05.24 19:02

*Alle Preise inkl. gesetzl. MwSt zzgl. Versandkosten und ggf. Nachnahmegebühren, wenn nicht anders beschriebenmit freundlicher Unterstützung von geizhals.de

be quiet! Light Wings PWM, LED-Steuerung, 140mm, 3er-Pack (BL078)

	Zentrallager: 5 Stück lagernd, Lieferung 1-3 WerktageFiliale Wilhelmshaven: 5 Stück lagerndStand: 01.05.24 18:57	61,89 €*Stand: 01.05.24 19:02
nullprozentshop.de	siehe Shop	61,90 €*Stand: 01.05.24 18:43
	Onlineshop: lagernd, Lieferung 2-3 WerktageFiliale Berlin, Filiale Dortmund, Filiale Düsseldorf, Filiale Hannover/Laatzen: lagernd (keine Online-Reservierung möglich)Filiale Hamburg, Filiale München, Filiale Stuttgart: nicht lagerndStand: 01.05.24 18:45	61,90 €*Stand: 01.05.24 18:49

*Alle Preise inkl. gesetzl. MwSt zzgl. Versandkosten und ggf. Nachnahmegebühren, wenn nicht anders beschriebenmit freundlicher Unterstützung von geizhals.de

be quiet! Light Wings PWM High-Speed, 140mm (BL075)

	Zentrallager: 5 Stück lagernd, Lieferung 1-3 WerktageFiliale Wilhelmshaven: 5 Stück lagerndStand: 01.05.24 18:57	22,17 €*Stand: 01.05.24 19:02
	Ware lagernd - versandfertig - Lieferzeit 1-3 Werktage	22,18 €*Stand: 01.05.24 19:02
nullprozentshop.de	siehe Shop	23,69 €*Stand: 01.05.24 18:43

*Alle Preise inkl. gesetzl. MwSt zzgl. Versandkosten und ggf. Nachnahmegebühren, wenn nicht anders beschriebenmit freundlicher Unterstützung von geizhals.de

be quiet! Light Wings PWM High-Speed, LED-Steuerung, 140mm, 3er-Pack (BL079)

	Zentrallager: 1 Stück lagernd, Lieferung 1-3 WerktageFiliale Wilhelmshaven: 1 Stück lagerndStand: 01.05.24 18:57	62,27 €*Stand: 01.05.24 19:02
	Ware lagernd - versandfertig - Lieferzeit 1-3 Werktage	62,28 €*Stand: 01.05.24 19:02
	sofort lieferbar	62,34 €*Stand: 01.05.24 04:52

*Alle Preise inkl. gesetzl. MwSt zzgl. Versandkosten und ggf. Nachnahmegebühren, wenn nicht anders beschriebenmit freundlicher Unterstützung von geizhals.de