Consumercarts is reader-supported. Learn more
EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120 vs Thermalright TL-B12: Comparison
EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120 vs Thermalright TL-B12: the airflow difference
Airflow is where these two genuinely part company, EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120 77 CFM against Thermalright TL-B12 69 CFM, a 10% lead for EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120. There is a split on lighting as well, D-RGB on the EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120 versus No RGB on the Thermalright TL-B12. They differ on fan thickness too, 27 mm on the EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120 versus 25.6 mm on the Thermalright TL-B12. Colors is not the same on both, Black on the EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120 versus All black on the Thermalright TL-B12.
Who each one is for
Buy the EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120 for custom water-cooling loop radiators and thick, high-FPI radiator duty, though it is the wrong buy for general case intake or exhaust duty and quiet-first builds. The Thermalright TL-B12 suits budget builds that specifically want no RGB and filtered intake or radiator duty on a budget, though it is not the pick for showcase builds wanting lighting and ultra-quiet-first priorities. Our rating of the EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120 (8/10): A strong purpose-built fan for custom loop radiators, less relevant outside that use case. Our rating of the Thermalright TL-B12 (8/10): excellent value for a non-RGB static-pressure fan, undercutting pricier options with little real performance loss.
What EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120 and Thermalright TL-B12 have in common
Everything else lines up. Fan size, bearing type, connector type and pwm control read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing.
Frequently asked questions
Do the EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120 and Thermalright TL-B12 differ on static pressure?
Yes. Static Pressure reads 2.7 mmH2O on the EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120 versus 2.87 mmH2O on the Thermalright TL-B12.
Specs and benchmarks
Fan Size
- EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120
- 120 mm
- Thermalright TL-B12
- 120 mm
Brand
- EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120
- EK
- Thermalright TL-B12
- Thermalright
Model
- EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120
- EK-Loop Fan FPT 120
- Thermalright TL-B12
- TL-B12
Bearing Type
- EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120
- Fluid Dynamic
- Thermalright TL-B12
- Fluid Dynamic
Lighting
- EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120
- D-RGB
- Thermalright TL-B12
- No RGB
Fan Thickness
- EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120
- 27 mm
- Thermalright TL-B12
- 25.6 mm
Static Pressure
- EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120
- 2.7 mmH2O-6%
- Thermalright TL-B12
- 2.87 mmH2OBest
Max Speed
- EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120
- 2300 RPMBest
- Thermalright TL-B12
- 2150 RPM-7%
Airflow
- EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120
- 77 CFMBest
- Thermalright TL-B12
- 69 CFM-10%
Noise Level
- EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120
- 36 dBA
- Thermalright TL-B12
- 28.1 dBABest
PWM Control
- EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120
- Yes
- Thermalright TL-B12
- Yes
Connector Type
- EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120
- 4-Pin PWM
- Thermalright TL-B12
- 4-Pin PWM
Weight
- EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120
- 227 g
- Thermalright TL-B12
- 205 gBest
Colors
- EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120
- Black
- Thermalright TL-B12
- All black
Which one should you pick?
Choose EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120 if you want the higher max speed (2300 RPM vs 2150 RPM) and the higher airflow (77 CFM vs 69 CFM).
Choose Thermalright TL-B12 if you want the higher static pressure (2.87 mmH2O vs 2.7 mmH2O) and the lower noise level (28.1 dBA vs 36 dBA).
Price comparison
| Retailer | EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120 | Thermalright TL-B12 |
|---|---|---|
| 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
EKWB EK-Loop Fan FPT 120
8 / 10 Expert Rating
A strong purpose-built fan for custom loop radiators, less relevant outside that use case.
Thermalright TL-B12
8 / 10 Expert Rating
Excellent value for a non-RGB static-pressure fan, undercutting pricier options with little real performance loss.