What does "Noise Level (Max.)" mean on a Montech spec table?
The fan's noise at full speed, in dBA. Nothing beside it names a distance or a standard.
The row sits below "Airflow (Max.)" and "Static Pressure (Max.)", which are top-speed values too, and two pages spell out the meaning. On the AX120 PRO page the fan "runs at just approximately 25.4 dBA under full load", and the AX120 PWM page says "Even at it's highest RPM, the noise level is under 27 dB(A)". That second line is worded as a ceiling. This page ranks the table figure, 27dBA, and quotes the sentence.
One maker, one label: the figures rank fairly against each other. Against another brand's numbers they are on shakier ground, as our ARCTIC fan page shows with its sone ratings.
Is the Montech AX120 quiet?
By Montech's tables, yes. The original AX120 PWM lists 27 dBA at 1600 RPM and the newer AX120 PRO 25.4 dBA at the same top speed, second only to the GF120 V2 ARGB's 25.3.
They differ in more than noise. The PRO moves 72.3 CFM against 59 CFM for the PWM, and its PWM range starts at 600 RPM rather than 800. Both use a rifle bearing and a 25 mm frame.
The reverse-blade twins follow suit. The RX120 PWM matches the AX120 PWM at 27 dBA and 59 CFM, while the RX120 PRO lists 27.8 dBA, 2.4 dB more than the AX120 PRO.
Every current 120mm Montech fan, ranked
Lowest figure first, with top speed and airflow.
| Fan | Noise (max.) | Top speed | Airflow |
|---|
| GF120 V2 ARGB | 25.3 dBA | 1600 RPM | 73.1 CFM |
| AX120 PRO | 25.4 dBA | 1600 RPM | 72.3 CFM |
| AX120 PWM, RX120 PWM | 27 dBA | 1600 RPM | 59 CFM |
| GF120R V2 ARGB | 27.6 dBA | 1600 RPM | 70.8 CFM |
| RX120 PRO | 27.8 dBA | 1600 RPM | 72.3 CFM |
| METAL PRO 12 ARGB PWM | 29.1 dBA | 2200 RPM | 76.2 CFM |
| E28 PWM, E28 ARGB | 34.17 dBA | 2000 RPM | 85.09 CFM |
The two thick fans at the bottom are the ones built for pressure. The METAL PRO 12 reaches 3.81 mmH2O and the E28 3.35, roughly double the 1.5 to 1.85 of the 25 mm fans, and a radiator needs exactly that.
The 140mm fans list 27.9 to 29.2 dBA
| Fan | Noise (max.) | Top speed | Airflow | Static pressure |
|---|
| AX140 PWM | 27.9 dBA | 1600 RPM | 90.5 CFM | 2.9 mmH2O |
| RX140 PWM (reverse blades) | 27.9 dBA | 1600 RPM | 90.5 CFM | 2.9 mmH2O |
| HP140 ARGB PWM | 29.2 dBA | 1600 RPM | 95.61 CFM | 2.95 mmH2O |
All three share a 600 to 1600 RPM range and a rifle bearing, so the HP140 trades 1.3 dB for about 5 CFM more air. Our 140mm case fan comparison sets them against other makers.
All four print "Noise Level (Max.)" 34.17dBA, the E28 fan's figure, and none gives a number for the whole cooler.
| Cooler | Fans | Heat pipes | Height | Bearing |
|---|
| NX400, NX400 ARGB | One | Four | 156 mm | FDB |
| NX600, NX600 ARGB | Two | Six | 160 mm | HDB in the table |
There is a mismatch on the NX600. Its page names the fans as "2× MONTECH E28 PWM performance fans", yet its table lists an HDB bearing while the E28 PWM page lists FDB. On a dual-tower cooler two fans run at once, and Montech prints no figure for that.
Every NX fan reaches 2000 RPM. For towers whose makers rate the complete cooler, see our CPU cooler guide.
Which Montech AIO cooler is quietest?
The HyperFlow Silent, in 240 and 360 sizes, listing 23 dBA for its pump and 24.8 dBA for each fan. Every other Montech AIO lists a 28 dBA pump, which leaves the fans to decide the order. Montech gives no combined figure for pump and fans on any of them.
| AIO (240 and 360) | Pump | Fans |
|---|
| HyperFlow Silent | 23 dBA | 24.8 dBA |
| HyperFlow ARGB | 28 dBA | 29.1 dBA |
| LightFlow ARGB | 28 dBA | 34.3 dBA |
| PureFlow ARGB | 28 dBA | 34.5 dBA |
| CyberFlow ARGB, CyberFlow Core | 28 dBA | 36.2 dBA |
| HyperFlow Digital | 28 dBA | 36.25 dBA |
The CyberFlow pump block also carries a small VRM fan, rated 1200 to 3500 RPM, without a figure. AIOs from other makers are compared in our AIO cooler guide.
Two older models have dropped off the site
The METAL 120 PWM fan and the Metal DT24 Premium air cooler no longer have working product pages. On November 8 both addresses led to Montech's 404 page.
A "METAL 120 PWM" option still shows on the METAL PRO 12 page, but the link goes nowhere, and neither model appears in the fan or cooler menus. Without a Montech end-of-life list, there is no telling when either was dropped.
Thin case fans sit lowest
The 25 mm case fans are the quiet end, 25.3 to 27.9 dBA, and the thick pressure fans and AIO fans run higher.
Speed and thickness set the order. At 1600 RPM the case fans sit lowest, the 2200 RPM METAL PRO 12 lands at 29.1, and the 28 mm E28 at 2000 RPM reads 34.17. Because every figure is a top-speed value, a fan held well under full speed by its curve should run below the printed number, which makes the fan curve the biggest lever an owner has. Our PC fan quieting explainer covers curves and mounting.
