Cooler Master Turbine Master Mach 0.8 fan review
Fans of silent computing may be interested in Cooler Master's Turbine Master Mach 0.8, a new 120mm case fan that promises strong airflow at a low noise rating. The Turbine Master delivers an unconventional design and promises to excel in terms of airflow, low noise and ease of cleaning.The fan arrives in a plastic box, it's easy to open and gives an overview of the fan's unusual blade design. The Turbine Master series features three fans; the Mach 0.8, the Mach 1.2 and the Mach 1.8. The difference between the three versions is the RPM, the model I'm testing in this review spins at 800RPM and should be the quietest model. The other two versions rotate at 1200RPM and 1800RPM, respectively.
A first look at the fan reveals it has a quite unusual design, it has sixteen blades and uses an open, round frame. The fan is modeled after a strong turbine engine, and according to Cooler Master the semi-frameless design enables the Turbine Master to intake extra air from the side.
Before we move on to the rest of the review, here's a look at the Turbine Master Mach 0.8's specifications:
Tucked away in the box are several accessories, including four regular fan screws, four rubber fan screws to reduce vibrational noise, rubber pads to further reduce noise, and a 3-pin to 4-pin Molex adapter. In the picture you can also see the fan's nose cap, more about that later.Dimension: 120 x 120 x 25 mm Speed (R.P.M.): 800 R.P.M. ± 10% Air Flow (CFM): 35.07 CFM ± 10% Air pressure (mmH2O): 0.42 mmH2O Noise: 13.83 dBA Bearing Type: Barometric Ball Bearing Fan Life Expectancy: 100,000 hours Voltage: 12 V DC Current (Ampere): 0.08A (0.2A MAX) Power Consumption: 0.96W (2.4W MAX) Weight: 123.7 g
A manual isn't included but the inside of the piece of cardboard in the box provides instructions on how to install the fan using the rubber screws. The rubber screws work well but the disadvantage is that you can't use it in combination with a fan grill.
The Turbine Master uses Barometric Ball Bearing, which promises a longer life span and lower noise level than traditional fan bearings. The fan's noise rating of only 13.83dBA is pretty impressive but other than that the specifications are pretty lackluster, it moves just 35.07CFM of air at 800RPM and the static pressure is just 0.42 mmH2O, making it unsuitable for heatsinks or radiators.
The Mach 1.2 model spins at 1200RPM and moves 56.5CFM of air at a noise level of 21.1dBA and static pressure of 0.91 mmH2O, while the 1800RPM Mach 1.8 does 80.3CFM at a noise level of 30.5dBA with static pressure of 1.96 mmH2O.
The fan's cable length is about 50 centimeters.
Added: April 15th 2011
Product reviewed: Cooler Master Turbine Master Mach 0.8 fan
Reviewer: Thomas De Maesschalck
Score: 7.5/10
Page: 1/3
