Sometimes even an inconspicuous device plays a crucial role in the operation of a computer. It may seem that it’s possible to do without it, but it’s not that simple. Today, I’ve prepared a review for you on a rather ordinary case fan. Although it’s not as common as the ID-COOLING WF-14025-XT ARGB WHITE, it’s still interesting due to its modern design solutions and technologies. And, by the way, this cooler is far from inconspicuous like most – it’s bright and incredibly attractive. So brew some coffee, and I’ll tell you about it. I’ll also share my thoughts on the microclimate inside the case. Plus, you can expect an exciting fan testing in very challenging conditions. Let’s go!
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Price and market positioning
Coolers that I’ve encountered on my life journey ranged from $1 to $20, and each of them performed its functions perfectly. Only the cheap models tended to fail after a year or two. So what do we get for the higher price? The answer is: reliability, performance, and silence. Honestly speaking, a fan for $10 will be 15% more effective than a $5 cooler. The thing is, if you have 5 or even 10 of them installed in the case, the increase in cooling efficiency becomes significant. Because it’s only when there are many coolers that all their advantages are fully revealed.
That was quite a lengthy preamble, please forgive me for that. Let’s get back to the cost, which for the ID-COOLING WF-14025-XT is $10. Is it little? No, not at all. One fan won’t be enough for excellent cooling, and 5 fans would be costly. So, is it a lot? Again, you missed the mark. What you’ll get is a golden mean. The WF-14025-XT has all the qualities of a top-tier cooler. It’s quiet, technologically advanced, and capable of lighting up. Moreover, it does so in all the colors of the rainbow – ARGB, if you will. So, the price is entirely justified and absolutely appropriate.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 140 mm
- Power supply voltage: 12 В
- Power consumption: 3 W
- Bearing type: hydrodynamic
- Rotation speed: 500-1600 rpm
- Air flow: 81 CFM
- Lighting: ARGB
- Noise level: 31 dB
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Package contents
It’s a pleasant surprise that ID-COOLING WF-14025-XT ARGB comes in a complete package. Let me remind you that this is not even a system of several coolers, but a lone fan. Despite this, the manufacturer did not skimp on a thick cardboard box. The high-quality image of the product on the front and the specifications on the back are in the best traditions.
We were a bit shortchanged on accessories. Besides the cooler itself, the box only contained a bag with mounting hardware. And it was at this point that a question arose for me. Take a look at the promotional images from the official ID-COOLING website. Have you ever seen similar screws? Well, I haven’t, and I really wanted to see them in person.
But my intrigue was not destined to be fulfilled – the mounting turned out to be quite ordinary. Of course, it won’t affect the device’s performance, but if you’ve already depicted something nice, include it in the package.
Key features and design
It’s time to get hands-on with the fan. The first thing that catches your eye is its stunning appearance. The milky-white color has a simply enchanting look! Although there’s also a version available in black. The decorative stiffening ribs set the overall style – a bit aggressive, but not overly so.
And with the RGB lighting turned on, the light-colored fan is simply enchanting. What can I say, the WF-14025-XT ARGB is capable of transforming any case with quality. The beauty is incredible, without irony.
The anti-vibration pads are an important element on the cooler. They are installed on each side and made of durable rubber. Matching the overall design, they are also white. As practice shows, they are quite useful. The pads effectively prevent vibrations and protect the fan from rattling against the case.
The cooler features a semi-transparent 9-blade impeller of the most classic form, without any frills. However, it rotates on a high-quality hydrodynamic bearing. Thanks to this bearing, the fan spins quietly, emitting a pleasant and noble barely noticeable hum. There’s no radial play whatsoever, which is commendable. Overall, there’s nothing to criticize about the mechanical part. The ID-COOLING WF-14025-XT is well-built and reliable.
I also really liked the interesting solution with the wires. They are quite long, over 30 cm. So, both on the power cable and on the illumination cable, there are two connectors. One, as it should be, is used for connecting to the motherboard, and the other can be used to connect another cooler. This frees up slots on the motherboard, and it’s great! The WF-14025-XT can easily be stacked in sets of two, three, or even ten coolers! Just connect them in series. Moreover, for this type of connection, illumination synchronization will be perfect.
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Testing
Well, now I’m going to try testing the ID-COOLING WF-14025-XT, and it’s going to be quite a challenge. Let me explain – I have a huge ASUS TUF Gaming GT502 case, where one fan won’t make much difference. Plus, I have ASUS ROG RYUJIN III 360 ARGB CPU cooling, which exhausts hot air. There’s no point in putting the WF-14025-XT for exhaust – three liquid cooler fans handle that perfectly fine. So, a decision was made. The cooler will be installed for intake on the bottom panel of the case, right under the graphics card. This way, the graphics card temperatures should drop, and overall, the airflow circulation will have a more thoughtful design.
Actually, a test bench:
- Motherboard: ASUS TUF GAMING Z790-PLUS WIFI
- Processor: Intel Core i5-13600
- Video card: ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 OC 8GB
The logic is as follows: I start the system without the WF-14025-XT, wait for an hour, and record the basic temperatures. Then, I connect the fan and observe the readings after another hour. All of this is done at idle – without any loads. Then, I repeat the process, but this time with a stress test for all parameters. In the end, I will have the temperature difference for two PC operating modes – gaming and office use. Well then, I’m getting started, and you can already take a look at the results.
Conclusions
My verdict is this – the ID-COOLING WF-14025-XT ARGB is a highly useful device. Excellent quality and charming appearance – what else do you need from a cooler? Performance-wise, it’s top-notch. Smooth speed adjustment and PWM control are spot on. Let’s not forget the cool feature of grouping fans together, which not every cooler allows. I confidently recommend the WF-14025-XT for any build; you’ll definitely be satisfied.
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