Thermaltake
Thermaltake CL-F038-PL12WT-A RIING 120mm White LED Case Fan
★★★★★
The Riing 120 White delivers 2.01 mm-H2O of static pressure at 1500 RPM with a hydraulic bearing rated for 40,000 hours — and drops to a near-silent 18.7 dBA with the bundled LNC.
$16.99*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jun 04, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.
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Overview
Key Features
Concentrated Compression Blade (CCB) for high-static pressure of demanding applications such as radiators, the CCB is engineered to focus the inner weaker circle of air outwards, allowing the outer section to pressurize and compress the air
Wind Blocker Frame: To achieve maximum static pressure in all applications, the frame is designed to work with the CCB to reduces the blade's noise and vibration, creating a perfect balance between power and sound
Hydraulic Bearing/Low-Noise Design: The hydraulic bearing self-lubricates with a high quality, friction-reducing substance which lowers operating noise and improves efficiency. The Low-Noise Cable can reduce the noise level by 24% from 24.6dBA to 18.7dBA
Anti-vibration Mounting System: In-mold injection anti-vibration rubber pads provide hassle-free usage for 80% protection coverage, including all four corners
Four colors of the Patented LED Versions Available: Ring 12 LED Series is also available with different LED versions (red, blue, green, and white), adding cooling aesthetics to the chassis
Inlet and outlet temp. are 49℃ and 44.5℃ in respective, △T= 4.5℃
Specifications
Fan Dimension
120 x 120 x 25 mm
Fan Speed
1500 RPM / 1000 RPM (with LNC)
Max Air Flow
40.6 CFM
Max Static Pressure
2.01 mm-H2O
Noise Level
24.6 dBA / 18.7 dBA (with LNC)
Bearing Type
Hydraulic Bearing
Rated Voltage
12.0 V
Start Voltage
9.0 V
Rated Current
0.2 A
Power Input
2.4 W
Connector
3-pin + LNC (Low-Noise Cable)
LED Color
White
Life Expectancy
40,000 hours at 25°C
Weight
158.8 g
Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
- CCB blade geometry achieves 2.01 mm-H2O static pressure at 1500 RPM, providing measurable radiator and heatsink mounting capability beyond a standard case fan.
- Hydraulic bearing rated at 40,000 hours at 25°C delivers substantially longer service life than sleeve-bearing alternatives in this price tier.
- LNC adapter reduces operating noise from 24.6 dBA to 18.7 dBA — a 24% acoustic improvement with a passive, no-configuration solution.
- In-mold injection anti-vibration pads at all four corners cover 80% of frame contact area, reducing chassis resonance transmission without additional hardware.
- White LED ring produces consistent brightness uniformity across the entire diffuser circumference, suitable for white or neutral-theme builds.
👎 Cons
- 3-pin DC control provides coarse voltage-step speed regulation — PWM users will need to step up to the Riing Plus series for smooth fan curve control.
- 40.6 CFM airflow at 1500 RPM is below the ceiling of high-airflow 120mm fans; pressure-optimized blade geometry trades peak CFM for static pressure.
- LNC mode at ~1000 RPM may be insufficient for sustained high-TDP cooling loads in compact or restricted-airflow chassis.
- White LED is fixed color with no addressable RGB variant in this SKU — incompatible with ARGB lighting ecosystems without mixing fan types.
- 9.0V minimum start voltage means the fan will not spin reliably below that threshold, limiting low-speed whisper-quiet operation at the hardware level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What connector does the CL-F038-PL12WT-A use, and is PWM speed control supported?
It uses a 3-pin connector with an included Low-Noise Cable (LNC) adapter. PWM (4-pin) control is not supported on this model. Speed is regulated via voltage control through the motherboard's DC fan header; for PWM control, the Riing Plus series is the appropriate upgrade path.
What does the Low-Noise Cable actually do, and when should I use it?
The LNC is a passive resistor cable that reduces the fan's operating voltage, dropping speed from 1500 RPM to approximately 1000 RPM and cutting noise from 24.6 dBA to 18.7 dBA — a 24% acoustic reduction. Use it in low-thermal-load scenarios: secondary intake positions, filtered bottom mounts, or systems where ambient noise is a priority. Do not use it as the sole fan on a high-TDP heatsink or radiator.
Is 2.01 mm-H2O sufficient for radiator use?
For standard 25–30mm thick radiators in entry-to-mid-range AIO and custom loop configurations, yes. Dense 45mm+ radiators with high fin counts require higher static pressure fans — typically above 2.5 mm-H2O — to push air through the restricted fin stack effectively.
How long will the hydraulic bearing last, and does orientation matter?
Thermaltake rates the hydraulic bearing at 40,000 hours at 25°C (~4.5 years continuous). Hydraulic bearings are less sensitive to mounting orientation than sleeve bearings but are not fully orientation-agnostic like ball bearings — vertical shaft mounting is optimal. For exhaust positions, performance remains stable.
Will the white LED color look consistent or does it have a blue or yellow tint?
The Riing 12 LED design is engineered for color and brightness uniformity across the ring diffuser. The white LED on this SKU (WT suffix) is a cool white. The ring design distributes light evenly, avoiding the hot-spot banding common on cheaper LED fans.
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