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Arctic P12 Max vs be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM: Comparison
What is the difference between Arctic P12 Max and be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM?
Static pressure is where these two genuinely part company, Arctic P12 Max 4.35 mmH2O against be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM 0.96 mmH2O, a 78% lead for Arctic P12 Max. Add airflow to that, 81.04 CFM on the Arctic P12 Max versus 57.4 CFM on the be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM, and the pattern holds. Arctic P12 Max also leads on max speed, 3300 RPM on the Arctic P12 Max versus 1200 RPM on the be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM. Warranty runs the same way, 6 years on the Arctic P12 Max versus 3 years on the be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM, another win for Arctic P12 Max.
Who each one is for
Take the Arctic P12 Max for radiator and dense heatsink applications needing high static pressure at a budget price. It is not the one for silent-first builds that never need the fan's higher speed range, a quieter-tuned fan may suit better at low RPM. The be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM suits budget builds needing basic 140mm airflow and front or rear case fan replacement, though it is not the pick for radiator or high-restriction duty and long-term 24/7 workstation use. Our rating of the Arctic P12 Max (8/10): the highest static pressure in our case fan lineup at a budget price, ideal for radiators and dense heatsinks.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Arctic P12 Max and be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM differ on fan size?
Yes. Fan Size reads 120 mm on the Arctic P12 Max versus 140 mm on the be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM.
Is the Connector Type the same on the Arctic P12 Max and be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM?
It is. Both are listed at 4-Pin PWM, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Fan Size
- Arctic P12 Max
- 120 mm
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM
- 140 mm
Brand
- Arctic P12 Max
- Arctic
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM
- be quiet!
Model
- Arctic P12 Max
- P12 Max
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM
- Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM
Bearing Type
- Arctic P12 Max
- Fluid Dynamic
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM
- Rifle
Fan Thickness
- Arctic P12 Max
- 25 mm
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM
- 25 mm
Static Pressure
- Arctic P12 Max
- 4.35 mmH2OBest
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM
- 0.96 mmH2O-78%
Max Speed
- Arctic P12 Max
- 3300 RPMBest
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM
- 1200 RPM-64%
Airflow
- Arctic P12 Max
- 81.04 CFMBest
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM
- 57.4 CFM-29%
PWM Control
- Arctic P12 Max
- Yes
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM
- Yes
Start Voltage
- Arctic P12 Max
- 3.9 V
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM
- 5 V
Connector Type
- Arctic P12 Max
- 4-Pin PWM
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM
- 4-Pin PWM
Cable Length
- Arctic P12 Max
- 400 mm
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM
- 460 mm
Warranty
- Arctic P12 Max
- 6 yearsBest
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM
- 3 years-50%
Which one should you pick?
Choose Arctic P12 Max if you want the higher static pressure (4.35 mmH2O vs 0.96 mmH2O), the higher max speed (3300 RPM vs 1200 RPM) and the higher airflow (81.04 CFM vs 57.4 CFM).
Choose be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | Arctic P12 Max | be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $17.99 View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
| Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Arctic P12 Max
8 / 10 Expert Rating
The highest static pressure in our case fan lineup at a budget price, ideal for radiators and dense heatsinks.
be quiet! Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM
6 / 10 Expert Rating
A perfectly adequate budget 140mm fan, but the rifle bearing means it's not the one to buy for a decade of runtime.




