Thermaltake
Thermaltake CL-F038-PL12YL-A Riing 120mm LED Yellow Fan
★★★★★
Thermaltake's Riing 120 delivers 2.01 mm-H2O static pressure and hydraulic bearing longevity wrapped in a uniform yellow LED ring that won't fade.
$12.99*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 14, 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
Rated Current
0.2 A
Power Input
2.4 W
Connector
3-pin + LNC (Low-Noise Cable)
LED Color
Yellow
Life Expectancy
40,000 hours at 25°C
Inlet / Outlet Temp Delta
△T = 4.5°C (49°C in / 44.5°C out)
Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
- Hydraulic bearing rated at 40,000 hours provides measurably longer service life than comparable sleeve-bearing fans at this price point.
- CCB blade geometry achieves 2.01 mm-H2O static pressure at 1500 RPM, making it viable for radiator and dense heatsink mounting.
- LNC adapter drops operating noise to 18.7 dBA — one of the lowest acoustic outputs in the 120mm 1500 RPM class.
- In-mold anti-vibration pads reduce transmitted resonance across 80% of frame contact area without requiring separate rubber mounts.
- Patented LED ring diffuses yellow light with consistent brightness uniformity across the ring circumference, avoiding hot-spot banding.
👎 Cons
- 3-pin voltage control limits fan curve granularity compared to PWM-enabled alternatives — speed steps are coarse on older motherboard headers.
- Yellow LED color is fixed; there is no RGB or addressable variant in this specific SKU, locking the build aesthetic.
- 40.6 CFM airflow is modest for a pure case fan role — higher-airflow options exist at 1500 RPM if static pressure is not the priority.
- LNC mode reduces speed to ~1000 RPM, which may be insufficient for sustained thermal loads in compact ITX cases with restricted airflow paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
What bearing type does the CL-F038-PL12YL-A use, and how does that affect lifespan?
Hydraulic bearing. Unlike sleeve bearings that dry out, the hydraulic variant uses a self-lubricating oil reservoir to reduce friction — Thermaltake rates it at 40,000 hours at 25°C, which translates to roughly 4.5 years of continuous operation.
What does the Low-Noise Cable (LNC) actually do to this fan's performance?
The LNC reduces the fan's operating speed, dropping noise from 24.6 dBA to 18.7 dBA — a 24% reduction. The trade-off is reduced airflow and pressure, so use LNC mode in low-thermal-load scenarios like secondary chassis intakes, not on a dense radiator.
Is 2.01 mm-H2O enough static pressure for a 240mm or 360mm radiator?
It's adequate for thin single-pass radiators (16–30mm), but for thick high-fin-density radiators (45mm+) you'll want fans rated above 2.5 mm-H2O. For standard 25–30mm radiators in mid-range liquid cooling loops, the Riing 12 performs reliably.
Does this fan use a 3-pin or 4-pin connector, and can it be PWM-controlled?
The CL-F038-PL12YL-A uses a 3-pin connector with the LNC adapter inline. It is voltage-controlled, not PWM. For PWM control, you would need the Riing Plus series, which uses a 4-pin connector and software control.
Are the anti-vibration pads integrated or removable?
They are in-mold injection pads — permanently integrated into the frame corners. They cover approximately 80% of the mounting contact area and cannot be removed or replaced separately.
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