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be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM vs Thermalright TL-C12C-S: Comparison
be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM vs Thermalright TL-C12C-S: the airflow difference
The gap that matters here is airflow: be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM 49.9 CFM against Thermalright TL-C12C-S 66.17 CFM, which puts Thermalright TL-C12C-S 25% ahead. Rgb lighting is not the same on both, No on the be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM versus Yes on the Thermalright TL-C12C-S. They differ on lighting type too, None on the be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM versus ARGB 5V on the Thermalright TL-C12C-S.
Which should you buy, be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM or Thermalright TL-C12C-S?
The be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM is the one to take for budget builds wanting a quiet reputation without premium pricing and case intake/exhaust duty, though it is not built for radiator or high-restriction mounting and multi-year unusual-orientation mounting (rifle bearing limits). Take the Thermalright TL-C12C-S for budget builds filling multiple fan mounts without a premium per-fan cost. It is equally the pick for anyone who wants Noctua-adjacent quiet performance at a fraction of the price. It is not the one for enthusiasts chasing the absolute best noise-to-airflow ratio, premium fans still win there. Our rating of the be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM (7/10): A genuinely improved budget fan that punches above its price on quietness. Our rating of the Thermalright TL-C12C-S (7/10): Noctua-adjacent quiet operation at budget pricing, which is exactly what a six-fan build needs.
Where the two are identical
Everything else lines up. Fan size, connector type, pwm control and positioning read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing.
Frequently asked questions
Do the be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM and Thermalright TL-C12C-S differ on static pressure?
Yes. Static Pressure reads 1.45 mmH2O on the be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM versus 1.53 mmH2O on the Thermalright TL-C12C-S.
Specs and benchmarks
Fan Size
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
- 120 mm
- Thermalright TL-C12C-S
- 120 mm
Brand
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
- be quiet!
- Thermalright TL-C12C-S
- Thermalright
Model
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
- Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
- Thermalright TL-C12C-S
- TL-C12C-S
Bearing Type
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
- Rifle
- Thermalright TL-C12C-S
- Fluid Dynamic
Static Pressure
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
- 1.45 mmH2O-5%
- Thermalright TL-C12C-S
- 1.53 mmH2OBest
Max Speed
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
- 1600 RPMBest
- Thermalright TL-C12C-S
- 1550 RPM-3%
Airflow
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
- 49.9 CFM-25%
- Thermalright TL-C12C-S
- 66.17 CFMBest
Noise Level
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
- 25.5 dBABest
- Thermalright TL-C12C-S
- 25.6 dBA
PWM Control
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
- Yes
- Thermalright TL-C12C-S
- Yes
Connector Type
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
- 4-Pin PWM
- Thermalright TL-C12C-S
- 4-Pin PWM
Lighting Connector
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
- None
- Thermalright TL-C12C-S
- 3-Pin 5V ARGB
RGB Lighting
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
- No
- Thermalright TL-C12C-S
- Yes
Lighting Type
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
- None
- Thermalright TL-C12C-S
- ARGB 5V
Weight
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
- 148 g
- Thermalright TL-C12C-S
- 120 gBest
Positioning
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
- Budget
- Thermalright TL-C12C-S
- Budget
Colors
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
- Black
- Thermalright TL-C12C-S
- White, Black
Which one should you pick?
Choose be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM if you want the higher max speed (1600 RPM vs 1550 RPM) and the lower noise level (25.5 dBA vs 25.6 dBA).
Choose Thermalright TL-C12C-S if you want the higher static pressure (1.53 mmH2O vs 1.45 mmH2O) and the higher airflow (66.17 CFM vs 49.9 CFM).
Price comparison
| Retailer | be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM | Thermalright TL-C12C-S |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
| Newegg | View on Newegg | |
| Best Buy | View on Best Buy |
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
be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
7 / 10 Expert Rating
A genuinely improved budget fan that punches above its price on quietness.
Thermalright TL-C12C-S
7 / 10 Expert Rating
Noctua-adjacent quiet operation at budget pricing, which is exactly what a six-fan build needs.