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Arctic P14 Max vs Thermalright TL-C12C: Comparison
Arctic P14 Max vs Thermalright TL-C12C static pressure compared
On static pressure the spread is 63%, Arctic P14 Max 4.18 mmH2O against Thermalright TL-C12C 1.53 mmH2O, so Arctic P14 Max takes it. Airflow runs the same way, 95 CFM on the Arctic P14 Max versus 66.17 CFM on the Thermalright TL-C12C, another win for Arctic P14 Max. Fan size is not the same on both, 140 mm on the Arctic P14 Max versus 120 mm on the Thermalright TL-C12C. Add max speed to that, 2800 RPM on the Arctic P14 Max versus 1550 RPM on the Thermalright TL-C12C, and the pattern holds. Fan thickness is not the same on both, 27 mm on the Arctic P14 Max versus 25 mm on the Thermalright TL-C12C. The weight figures are near enough to ignore, 245 g on the Arctic P14 Max versus 120 g on the Thermalright TL-C12C. They differ on positioning too, Performance on the Arctic P14 Max versus Value ARGB on the Thermalright TL-C12C.
Arctic P14 Max vs Thermalright TL-C12C: which one fits your build
The Arctic P14 Max suits server and NAS builds prioritizing airflow over noise and extreme overclocking and test-bench cooling, though it is the wrong buy for quiet daily-driver builds and bedroom or office PCs. Buy the Thermalright TL-C12C for single or small-quantity ARGB fan purchases and budget filtered-intake positions, though it is not built for bulk multi-fan purchases where the -S pack is cheaper and premium/quiet-first 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 Thermalright TL-C12C (7/10): excellent value ARGB fan; buy this version over the -S when you want the full controller bundle.
Where the two are identical
The common ground is wider than the gap: bearing type, connector type and pwm control are identical here.
Specs and benchmarks
Fan Size
- Arctic P14 Max
- 140 mm
- Thermalright TL-C12C
- 120 mm
Brand
- Arctic P14 Max
- Arctic
- Thermalright TL-C12C
- Thermalright
Model
- Arctic P14 Max
- P14 Max
- Thermalright TL-C12C
- TL-C12C
Bearing Type
- Arctic P14 Max
- Fluid Dynamic
- Thermalright TL-C12C
- Fluid Dynamic
Fan Thickness
- Arctic P14 Max
- 27 mm
- Thermalright TL-C12C
- 25 mm
Static Pressure
- Arctic P14 Max
- 4.18 mmH2OBest
- Thermalright TL-C12C
- 1.53 mmH2O-63%
Max Speed
- Arctic P14 Max
- 2800 RPMBest
- Thermalright TL-C12C
- 1550 RPM-45%
Airflow
- Arctic P14 Max
- 95 CFMBest
- Thermalright TL-C12C
- 66.17 CFM-30%
PWM Control
- Arctic P14 Max
- Yes
- Thermalright TL-C12C
- Yes
Connector Type
- Arctic P14 Max
- 4-Pin PWM
- Thermalright TL-C12C
- 4-Pin PWM
Weight
- Arctic P14 Max
- 245 g
- Thermalright TL-C12C
- 120 gBest
Positioning
- Arctic P14 Max
- Performance
- Thermalright TL-C12C
- Value ARGB
Which one should you pick?
Choose Arctic P14 Max if you want the higher static pressure (4.18 mmH2O vs 1.53 mmH2O), the higher max speed (2800 RPM vs 1550 RPM) and the higher airflow (95 CFM vs 66.17 CFM).
Choose Thermalright TL-C12C if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | Arctic P14 Max | Thermalright TL-C12C |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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.
Thermalright TL-C12C
7 / 10 Expert Rating
Excellent value ARGB fan; buy this version over the -S when you want the full controller bundle.