be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM
Expert rating7 / 10
- Fan Size:
- 120mm
- Bearing Type:
- Rifle
- Lighting:
- No RGB
- Airflow:
- 49.9 CFM
- Static Pressure:
- 1.6 mmH2O
- Max Speed:
- 1600 RPM
- Noise Level:
- 25.5 dBA
- PWM Control:
- Yes
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Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Manufacturer: be quiet! Last updated: 2026-09-12
be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM (120mm/49.9 CFM/1.6 mmH2O Static Pressure/1600 RPM Max/25.5 dBA/Rifle Bearing/No RGB/PWM) Review
be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM 120mm case fan, 49.9 CFM airflow, 1.6 mmH2O static pressure, 1600 RPM max, 25.5 dBA, Rifle bearing, No RGB, PWM control. be quiet!'s entry-level fan line, refreshed with a new blade design for better airflow-per-dBA than its predecessor.
Pure Wings 3 is be quiet!'s budget tier, sitting below the Shadow Wings and Silent Wings lines, but the '3' generation brought a redesigned blade profile that measurably improves airflow efficiency over the older Pure Wings 2 at the same price point. It won't match the brand's premium fans on outright silence, but for a sub-premium fan it's unusually well-mannered.
What Changed in Gen 3
be quiet! reworked the blade curvature and trailing edge for the Pure Wings 3 refresh, which independent testing shows delivers more airflow at a given noise level than the outgoing Pure Wings 2 — a meaningful upgrade within the same budget tier rather than just a rebrand.
Rifle Bearing Trade-offs
The rifle bearing keeps cost down versus be quiet!'s fluid dynamic bearings used higher in the lineup, and while it's fine for typical fan orientations, rifle bearings generally have a shorter service life in unusual mounting angles than FDB designs.
Comparison to Alternatives
Against the Thermalright TL-C12C-S already in this catalog, the Pure Wings 3 is quieter at matched airflow and carries be quiet!'s acoustic reputation, though the Thermalright is typically the cheaper multi-pack option. Versus the Arctic P12 PWM PST, the Pure Wings 3 lacks PST daisy-chaining but matches it closely on core airflow-per-dBA performance.
Specifications
Identity and packaging
| Brand | be quiet! |
|---|---|
| Model | Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM |
Design
| Fan Size | 120 mm |
|---|---|
| Bearing Type | Rifle |
| Lighting | No RGB |
Performance
| Static Pressure | 1.45 mmH2O |
|---|---|
| Max Speed | 1600 RPM |
| Noise Level | 25.5 dBA |
| PWM Control | Yes |
Performance at maximum speed
| Airflow | 49.9 CFM |
|---|
Motor and bearing
| Rated Life | 80000 hours |
|---|
Power and control
| Max Power Draw | 2.4 W |
|---|
Connection and daisy chain
| Connector Type | 4-Pin PWM |
|---|---|
| Lighting Connector | None |
Lighting
| RGB Lighting | No |
|---|---|
| Lighting Type | None |
Physical and finish
| Colorway | Black |
|---|---|
| Cable Length | 460 mm |
| Weight | 148 g |
Market
| Warranty | 3 years |
|---|---|
| Positioning | Budget |
| Connector | 4-pin PWM |
|---|---|
| Colors | Black |
| Source URL | https://www.bequiet.com/en/casefans/4606 |
Expert Review
Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.
Expert rating7 / 10
A genuinely improved budget fan that punches above its price on quietness.
Best for
- Budget builds wanting a quiet reputation without premium pricing
- Case intake/exhaust duty
- Buyers upgrading from stock case fans
Not for
- Radiator or high-restriction mounting
- Multi-year unusual-orientation mounting (rifle bearing limits)
- RGB builds
FAQs
What are the key specifications of the be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM (120mm/49.9 CFM/1.6 mmH2O Static Pressure/1600 RPM Max/25.5 dBA/Rifle Bearing/No RGB/PWM)?
The be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM (120mm/49.9 CFM/1.6 mmH2O Static Pressure/1600 RPM Max/25.5 dBA/Rifle Bearing/No RGB/PWM) is a case fan from be quiet!. Key specs: Fan Size 120, Bearing Type Rifle, Lighting No RGB, Airflow 49.9, Static Pressure 1.6.
Will the be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM (120mm/49.9 CFM/1.6 mmH2O Static Pressure/1600 RPM Max/25.5 dBA/Rifle Bearing/No RGB/PWM) work with my current setup?
The be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM (120mm/49.9 CFM/1.6 mmH2O Static Pressure/1600 RPM Max/25.5 dBA/Rifle Bearing/No RGB/PWM) lists Fan Size is 120. Check that against the hardware you already own before buying, since this is the field that most often decides whether a part fits.
Who is the be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM (120mm/49.9 CFM/1.6 mmH2O Static Pressure/1600 RPM Max/25.5 dBA/Rifle Bearing/No RGB/PWM) best suited to?
It suits budget builds wanting a quiet reputation without premium pricing, case intake/exhaust duty, buyers upgrading from stock case fans.
What are the drawbacks of the be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM (120mm/49.9 CFM/1.6 mmH2O Static Pressure/1600 RPM Max/25.5 dBA/Rifle Bearing/No RGB/PWM)?
It is a poor fit for radiator or high-restriction mounting, multi-year unusual-orientation mounting (rifle bearing limits), rgb builds.
Compare and read more
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM (120mm/49.9 CFM/1.6 mmH2O Static Pressure/1600 RPM Max/25.5 dBA/Rifle Bearing/No RGB/PWM) vs Phanteks M25-140 D-RGB (140mm/74.5 CFM/1.9 mmH2O Static Pressure/1600 RPM Max/26 dBA/Fluid Dynamic Bearing/D-RGB/PWM)
- Arctic P14 Max (140mm/105.9 CFM/3.15 mmH2O Static Pressure/3300 RPM Max/35 dBA/Fluid Dynamic Bearing/No RGB/PWM) vs be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM (120mm/49.9 CFM/1.6 mmH2O Static Pressure/1600 RPM Max/25.5 dBA/Rifle Bearing/No RGB/PWM)
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM (120mm/49.9 CFM/1.6 mmH2O Static Pressure/1600 RPM Max/25.5 dBA/Rifle Bearing/No RGB/PWM) vs Corsair AF120 Elite (120mm/63.1 CFM/1.85 mmH2O Static Pressure/2100 RPM Max/33 dBA/Fluid Dynamic Bearing/No RGB/PWM)
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM (120mm/49.9 CFM/1.6 mmH2O Static Pressure/1600 RPM Max/25.5 dBA/Rifle Bearing/No RGB/PWM) vs Corsair SP140 RGB Elite (140mm/68 CFM/1.6 mmH2O Static Pressure/1400 RPM Max/25 dBA/Hydraulic Bearing/RGB/PWM)
- be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM (120mm/49.9 CFM/1.6 mmH2O Static Pressure/1600 RPM Max/25.5 dBA/Rifle Bearing/No RGB/PWM) vs Fractal Design Dynamic X2 GP-12 PWM (120mm/44.7 CFM/1.08 mmH2O Static Pressure/1200 RPM Max/18.6 dBA/LLS Bearing/No RGB/PWM)