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Arctic P14 Max vs Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM: Comparison

What is the difference between Arctic P14 Max and Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM?

The gap that matters here is static pressure: Arctic P14 Max 4.18 mmH2O against Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM 0.97 mmH2O, which puts Arctic P14 Max 77% ahead. Add airflow to that, 95 CFM on the Arctic P14 Max versus 52.94 CFM on the Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM, and the pattern holds. Add max speed to that, 2800 RPM on the Arctic P14 Max versus 1200 RPM on the Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM, and the pattern holds.

Which should you buy, Arctic P14 Max or Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM?

The Arctic P14 Max is the one to take for server and NAS builds prioritizing airflow over noise and extreme overclocking and test-bench cooling, though it is not the pick for quiet daily-driver builds and bedroom or office PCs. The Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM suits quiet mainstream case airflow and Non-RGB builds, though it is the wrong buy for high static pressure radiator duty and show-window RGB builds. Our rating of the Arctic P14 Max (7/10): genuinely excellent cooling capacity for the size, but too loud at full speed for most home builds. Our rating of the Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM (7/10): A dependable, quiet mainstream fan with nothing flashy about it, which is exactly the point.

Where the two are identical

Where they agree, they agree completely, bearing type, connector type, lighting and pwm control included, so the decision does not turn on any of those.

Frequently asked questions

Do the Arctic P14 Max and Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM differ on fan size?

Yes. Fan Size reads 140 mm on the Arctic P14 Max versus 120 mm on the Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM.

Specs and benchmarks

  • Fan Size

    Arctic P14 Max
    140 mm
    Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM
    120 mm
  • Brand

    Arctic P14 Max
    Arctic
    Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM
    Scythe
  • Model

    Arctic P14 Max
    P14 Max
    Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM
    Kaze Flex II 120 PWM (1200RPM)
  • Bearing Type

    Arctic P14 Max
    Fluid Dynamic
    Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM
    Fluid Dynamic
  • Lighting

    Arctic P14 Max
    No RGB
    Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM
    No RGB
  • Fan Thickness

    Arctic P14 Max
    27 mm
    Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM
    26 mm
  • Static Pressure

    Arctic P14 Max
    4.18 mmH2OBest
    Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM
    0.97 mmH2O-77%
  • Max Speed

    Arctic P14 Max
    2800 RPMBest
    Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM
    1200 RPM-57%
  • Airflow

    Arctic P14 Max
    95 CFMBest
    Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM
    52.94 CFM-44%
  • PWM Control

    Arctic P14 Max
    Yes
    Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM
    Yes
  • Min Speed

    Arctic P14 Max
    400 RPMBest
    Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM
    300 RPM
  • Connector Type

    Arctic P14 Max
    4-Pin PWM
    Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM
    4-Pin PWM
  • Positioning

    Arctic P14 Max
    Performance
    Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM
    Mainstream

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose Arctic P14 Max if you want the higher static pressure (4.18 mmH2O vs 0.97 mmH2O), the higher max speed (2800 RPM vs 1200 RPM) and the higher airflow (95 CFM vs 52.94 CFM).

    Choose Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    Price comparison

    RetailerArctic P14 MaxScythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM
    AmazonView on Amazon
    ScytheView on Scythe

    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 P14 Max

    7 / 10 Expert Rating

    Genuinely excellent cooling capacity for the size, but too loud at full speed for most home builds.

    Scythe Kaze Flex II 120 PWM

    7 / 10 Expert Rating

    A dependable, quiet mainstream fan with nothing flashy about it, which is exactly the point.

    More comparisons in Case Fans