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Cooler Master Neon LED Fan Review

Author: Dennis Garcia

Published: Monday, October 07, 2002

Introduction

There are quite a few schools of thought when it comes to case modding. On one hand you have the modder who is concerned with cooling and will do just about everything they can to increase airflow though the case. On the other hand you have a modder whos only goal in life is to have a better-looking case than everyone else by adding lights, windows etc.. In both cases it is quite common to add a series of fans. The modder that is after cooling usually will complain about the added fan noise, (and if not them their housemates usually do) and the modder who is after looks will attempt to cover up the plain black fan we have grown accustomed to seeing.

This is where custom fans come into play with none so awe inspiring as the LED lighted fan. Cooler Master has come up with an innovative new LED fan design with quite a few new features that make this fan stand out from all of the rest.

Fan Features

The TLF-R82 fan from Cooler Master features:

Clear fan, of original design
80x80x25mm
4 blue neon LEDs
Patented rifle bearings
3 pin fan header w/ RPM speed detection
2500RPM
32.11 CFM
25.0 dB(a)
input power 1.80W
Life Expectancy 50,000 hours continuous

As you can see from the specs alone this fan is very unique featuring very low RPMs to keep excess noise to a minimum with a surprisingly high CFM rating. This fan also has a new bearing system called a rifle bearing; basically this new bearing serves two purposes. The first would be to ensure quiet operation similar to what you would find in a sleeve-bearing fan. The next would be increased life; if you noticed on the previous page this fan is rated at 50,000 hours continuous! That is almost as long as a similar fan with double ball bearings.