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be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM vs Cooler Master SickleFlow 120: Comparison
What is the difference between be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM and Cooler Master SickleFlow 120?
The gap that matters here is static pressure: be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM 0.82 mmH2O against Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 2.5 mmH2O, which puts Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 67% ahead. Airflow runs the same way, 38.5 CFM on the be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM versus 62 CFM on the Cooler Master SickleFlow 120, another win for Cooler Master SickleFlow 120. Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 also leads on max speed, 1100 RPM on the be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM versus 1800 RPM on the Cooler Master SickleFlow 120. be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM also leads on warranty, 3 years on the be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM versus 2 years on the Cooler Master SickleFlow 120.
Which should you buy, be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM or Cooler Master SickleFlow 120?
Buy the be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM for mid-tier builds wanting be quiet!'s acoustic reputation and cases with thinner panels prone to fan buzz/resonance, though it is not built for absolute-lowest noise floor (step up to Silent Wings 4) and RGB builds. The Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 is the one to take for budget builds without a case window and filtered intake positions on a tight budget, though it is not the pick for showcase builds wanting lighting and premium quiet-first builds. Our rating of the be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM (7/10): A solid mid-tier be quiet! fan for builders who want better tonal quality than budget fans without flagship pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Do the be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM and Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 differ on noise level?
Yes. Noise Level reads 15.9 dBA on the be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM versus 27 dBA on the Cooler Master SickleFlow 120.
Is the Fan Size the same on the be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM and Cooler Master SickleFlow 120?
It is. Both are listed at 120 mm, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Fan Size
- be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
- 120 mm
- Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
- 120 mm
Brand
- be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
- be quiet!
- Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
- Cooler Master
Model
- be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
- Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
- Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
- SickleFlow 120
Bearing Type
- be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
- Rifle
- Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
- Rifle
Lighting
- be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
- No RGB
- Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
- No RGB
Fan Thickness
- be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
- 25 mm
- Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
- 25 mm
Static Pressure
- be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
- 0.82 mmH2O-67%
- Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
- 2.5 mmH2OBest
Max Speed
- be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
- 1100 RPM-39%
- Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
- 1800 RPMBest
Airflow
- be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
- 38.5 CFM-38%
- Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
- 62 CFMBest
Noise Level
- be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
- 15.9 dBABest
- Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
- 27 dBA
PWM Control
- be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
- Yes
- Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
- Yes
Rated Life
- be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
- 80000 hours
- Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
- 160000 hours
Max Power Draw
- be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
- 1.44 WBest
- Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
- 1.8 W
Connector Type
- be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
- 4-Pin PWM
- Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
- 4-Pin PWM
Weight
- be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
- 132 gBest
- Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
- 156 g
Warranty
- be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
- 3 yearsBest
- Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
- 2 years-33%
Positioning
- be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
- Mainstream
- Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
- Budget mainstream
Which one should you pick?
Choose be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM if you want the lower noise level (15.9 dBA vs 27 dBA) and the higher warranty (3 years vs 2 years).
Choose Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 if you want the higher static pressure (2.5 mmH2O vs 0.82 mmH2O), the higher max speed (1800 RPM vs 1100 RPM) and the higher airflow (62 CFM vs 38.5 CFM).
Price comparison
| Retailer | be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM | Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 |
|---|---|---|
| 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
be quiet! Shadow Wings 2 120mm PWM
7 / 10 Expert Rating
A solid mid-tier be quiet!
Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
6 / 10 Expert Rating
A dependable budget fan that performs identically to its pricier RGB sibling for less money.