Thermalright TL-S12W X3 CPU Fan 120mm Case Cooler Fan Comes with ARGB Lighting Effect
Bottom line: The Thermalright TL-S12W X3 CPU Fan 120mm Case Cooler Fan Comes: 47.6 CFM airflow and 1.31mm H2O static pressure at 1500 RPM; main trade-off: 1500 RPM ceiling limits headroom for hot, high-wattage builds.
As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ 47.6 CFM airflow and 1.31mm H2O static pressure at 1500 RPM
- ✓ Rated at 23.2 dBA or less for quiet everyday operation
- ✓ S-FDB bearings curb blade wobble and extend fan service life
- ✓ Silicone corner pads damp vibration on cases and heatsinks
- ✓ 4-pin PWM at 0.15A lets the motherboard curve control speed
Cons
- ✗ 1500 RPM ceiling limits headroom for hot, high-wattage builds
- ✗ ARGB connector type and controller support not stated in listing
- ✗ 1.31mm H2O static pressure is modest for dense radiators
- ✗ White finish may clash with black-themed builds
Manufacturer description
The Thermalright TL-S12W X3 is a three-pack of white 120mm ARGB case fans built for builders who want cooling that stays quiet. Each fan measures 120 x 120 x 25mm, spins at up to 1500 RPM (plus or minus 10%), and moves 47.6 CFM with 1.31mm H2O of static pressure. Rated noise is 23.2 dBA or less. Thermalright uses S-FDB bearings to stop the blade wobble that can make fans noisy at some speeds, and the bearing design is meant to extend the fan's service life. The frame is made of insulation-grade PBT+PC, and soft silicone pads on all four corners absorb vibration before it reaches your case…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored Thermalright TL-S12W X3 CPU Fan 120mm Case Cooler Fan Comes using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the retro cpu coolers & fans category. Thermalright's retro cpu coolers & fans lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for retro cpu coolers & fans of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size are the Thermalright TL-S12W X3 fans?
Each fan is a standard 120 x 120 x 25mm, so it fits any 120mm case fan mount or 120mm CPU air cooler bracket that has room for a 25mm-thick fan.
How loud are these fans at full speed?
Thermalright rates the TL-S12W at 23.2 dBA or less at its top speed of 1500 RPM (plus or minus 10%). The S-FDB bearings and silicone corner pads help keep vibration noise down.
Can I use these fans on a CPU cooler?
Yes. Thermalright says the fans work both as case fans and on CPU air coolers or heatsinks. At 1.31mm H2O static pressure and 47.6 CFM, they can push air through a cooler's fin stack.
How do the fans connect to my motherboard?
Speed control uses a 4-pin PWM connector, and each fan draws 0.15A. The listing does not say what connector the ARGB lighting uses, so check the product listing before matching it to your motherboard's RGB header or controller.
How many fans come in the pack, and what do they come with?
The pack has three white TL-S12W fans. Each one has a PBT+PC frame and silicone anti-vibration pads on all four corners. For the full list of mounting hardware, check the product listing.
Key Features
- [Brand Overview] Thermalright is a Taiwan brand with more than 20 years of development. It has a certain popularity in the domestic and foreign markets and has a pivotal influence in the player market. We have been focusing on the research and development of computer accessories. R & D product lines include: CPU air-cooled radiator, case fan, thermal silicone pad, thermal silicone grease, CPU fan controller, anti falling off mounting bracket, support mounting bracket and other commodities
- 【Quality Bearings】The carefully developed quality S-FDB bearings solve the problem of pc cooling fan blade shaking in lifting mode, keeping fan noise to a minimum while providing maximum cooling performance when needed and extending the life of the PC fan.
- 【Silent Fan Size】 Model: TL-S12W X3, Size: 120*120*25mm, Speed: 1500RPM±10%, Noise ≤ 23.2dBA Connector: 4pin pwm, Current: 0.15A, Air Pressure: 1.31mm H2O, Air Flow: 47.6CFM, Higher air flow for improved cooling performance.
- 【Detail advantages】The cooler fan is made of insulation grade PBT+PC, and soft silicone feet are added to the four corners, which can play a good damping effect and thus reduce the noise of the fan.
- 【Perfect Match】The PC fan can be used not only as a case fan, but is also suitable for use with a cpu cooler to create a cooling effect together, which can take away the dry heat from the case and the high temperature generated by the CPU in operation, allowing for maximum cooling; Ideal for cases, heatsink cooler and CPU air coolers.
Full Specifications
| Brand | Thermalright |
|---|---|
| Model | TL-S12W X3 |
| Voltage | 12 volts, 5 volts |
| Wattage | 12 watts |
| Material | Plastic |
| Unit Count | 3 Count |
| Noise Level | 35 db |
| Part Number | TL-S12W X3 |
| Compatibility | PC |
| Material Type | Plastic |
| Cooling Method | Air |
| Number of Items | 3 |
| Number of Packs | 3 |
| Air Flow Capacity | 47.6 cfm |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop |
| Included Components | case fan |
| Power Connector Type | 4-Pin |
| Maximum Rotational Speed | 1500 rpm |
| Item Dimensions L x W x H | 4.72"L x 0.98"W x 4.72"H |
| Full listing title | Thermalright TL-S12W X3 CPU Fan 120mm Case Cooler Fan Comes with ARGB Lighting Effect,PC PWM Silent Computer Fan with 1500RPM Speed, CPU Cooling Fan White(3-Pack) |
Ready to buy?
Thermalright TL-S12W X3 CPU Fan 120mm Case Cooler Fan Comes with ARGB Lighting Effect,PC PWM Silent Computer Fan with 1500RPM Speed, CPU Cooling Fan White(3-Pack) is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
Related Retro CPU Coolers & Fans
More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all articles & guides →- Emulation Hardware in 2026: FPGA, Software, and Cart-Reader Ecosystems
- How to Build a Windows 98 Retro PC in 2026
- Best 1440p Gaming GPUs in 2026
- Best Budget Gaming PC Build 2026 — ~$1,000 ($800 on Sale)
- RTX 4070 Super vs RX 7800 XT — Which to Buy in 2026
- Best Retro Handhelds in 2026 — From $35 to $500
- The Complete Voodoo5 5500 AGP Driver Guide (2026 Edition)
More reviews from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all reviews →- Ryzen 7 5800X3D vs Core i7-14700K: DDR4's Last Big Fight
- Run Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi 4 8GB in 2026 (SSD Boot)
- Best Streaming Microphone for Twitch and YouTube in 2026
- Can a Raspberry Pi 4 8GB Run a Local LLM in 2026? tok/s for TinyLlama, Phi, and Qwen
- ZOTAC RTX 3060 Twin Edge vs MSI Ventus 2X: Which 12GB Card for a Quiet Build?
- Fix Windows 98 SE on 1GB+ RAM: The Vcache Gotcha
- DeepSeek on the US Entity List: Running V4 Locally in 2026
- Intel Arc LLM Inference: A770 & B580 Guide 2025
- Jellyfin on a Ryzen 5 5600G: 4K Transcoding on a $400 Mini-Server (2026)
- Can Local Qwen 3.6 Match Frontier Models at Canvas Code?
- Which GPU Runs Which LLM in 2026: The RTX 3060 12GB Model-Fit Matrix
- Llama.cpp Console Released: What Changes for Local LLM Operators on a 12GB GPU
- Forza Horizon 6 on Steam Deck: Best Settings, Dock & Storage in 2026
- Self-Host Immich on a Raspberry Pi 4 8GB: A Google Photos Replacement
- Is the RTX 3060 12GB Still Worth Buying in 2026?
- Best Microphones for Streaming and Podcasting (2026)
- NEEWER 18" vs UBeesize 22" Ring Light for Webcam Streaming (2026)
- Qwen3.6-27B at 80 TPS on RTX 5090: Is the Claim Real?
- SteamOS Boots on Intel Hardware: Enthusiast Hack Lands
- Running local LLMs on the Ryzen 5 5600G iGPU (no dedicated GPU) in 2026
- FIDECO vs Unitek: Best IDE-to-USB Adapter for Retro Drive Imaging
- Best Arcade Fight Stick & Controller for PlayStation Fighting Games (2026)
- Reviving the LAN Party in 2026: Arcade Sticks, Classic Consoles, and Local Multiplayer
- How Sega's $5M bet saved Nvidia in 1996 — and shaped every GPU launch since
Earliest SpecPicks reviews
Browse full archive →- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 8B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 14B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 70B (2026)
- Best GPU for DeepSeek-R1 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 405B (2026)
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 14B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 70B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090