Lian Li Launches First Performance Oriented UNIFAN (Phanteks T30/Noctua A12x25 competitor)

[Deadpool2onBlu-Ray]

Summary

 

Lian Li has launched a new series of Unifans called the P28 that directly compete with the Noctua A12x25 and Phanteks T30

 

Quotes

Quote

The P28 features a 9-blade design made of liquid crystal polymer (LCP), a stronger material capable of supporting higher speeds without deformation for tighter tolerances with the fan frame (0.6 mm). Combined with an overall frame thickness of 28 mm, the increase in the surface area of the blades results in added performance. In addition, the P28 is equipped with Fluid Dynamic bearings (FDB) for the fan motor to operate quieter and smoother. The use of a thicker fan frame, sturdy LCP blade material, and the FDB result in great performances, and quieter operation.

 

My thoughts

These are EXTREMELY exciting/compelling, especially for the $$. They seem to be a better case fan than the T30 but worse on radiators. Then they seem to be better on rads than the A12x25s while slightly worse as case fans. They are smack dab in the middle.

 

Sources

https://www.techpowerup.com/308528/lian-li-launches-first-performance-focused-uni-fan-with-the-p28

[filpo]

3 minutes ago, Deadpool2onBlu-Ray said:

These are EXTREMELY exciting/compelling, especially for the $$. They seem to be a better case fan than the T30 but worse on radiators. Then they seem to be better on rads than the A12x25s while slightly worse as case fans. They are smack dab in the middle.

Have they released any prices yet tho? 

If they're like the prices of lian lis other fans, i'm sure most people will pass

[IkeaGnome]

9 minutes ago, Deadpool2onBlu-Ray said:

These are EXTREMELY exciting/compelling, especially for the $$.

For the $$? They're $25 a fan where ever I can find them. Newegg, OC.uk, caseking.de.

[Deadpool2onBlu-Ray]

I purchased 3 of these to test out. I am the biggest Phanteks T30 fan ever (get it, the pun lol) but these look to be straight up better in most circumstances.

 

We now have 3 options for LCP fans with 6 year warranties.

 

Phanteks T30 3 pack- $85.99

Lian Li P28 3 pack- $74.99

Noctua A12x25 Chromax Single pack x 3= $105.00

 

The Noctuas (25mm) are the best case fan no doubt, but they are exceptionally expensive and I think the "nipple" part of the fan where they covered up the gold circle (from the original brown/tan A12x25s) is ugly af. They are also not super easily daisychainable. They do have the best QC though and they are obsessed with reliability/longevity testing. Can't go wrong with these bad boys.

 

The Phanteks (30mm) T30s are superior radiator fans to the Noctuas, but the fit/finish isn't quite there and they aren't "black" enough and more of a subdued greyish color. They daisy chain fairly easily. They are definitely the best for radiators still.

 

The new Lian Li P28- Oh boy, where do I begin:

 

28mm thick (but you can use normal 25mm rad screws because they are recessed).

You just connect them by linking the fans together with the "unifan" mechanism. No daisy chaining required

The cheapest of the 3 at $25 per fan

The best looking of the 3 fans IMO

True black instead of grey

You can add RGB to the EDGE of the fan as an optional $20 add on for 3 fans. So if the RGB ever breaks you can just replace the RGB part itself and the fan itself is fine because it is LCP and they last forever.

So you CAN add RGB but you don't need to if you don't want. It also does not affect the reliability/longevity like 99% of RGB fans do besides the Light Wings from bequiet. If you don't want RGB you can just use the included alluminum sides instead of the optional rgb ones

Better case fan than the T30

Better rad fan than the A12x25

 

I am likely still keeping my T30s for my 360mm rad but I am most likely switching out my case fans. These things are DOPE and I think they will be extremely disruptive.

 

 

[Deadpool2onBlu-Ray]

15 minutes ago, IkeaGnome said:

For the $$? They're $25 a fan where ever I can find them. Newegg, OC.uk, caseking.de.

Phanteks are $31 per, Noctuas are $35 per.

 

They are LCP...

 

Those are their only two competitors. Thermaltake tough fans are trash and Be Quiet Silent Wings 4 are a notch below these 3 IMO.

 

25 minutes ago, filpo said:

Have they released any prices yet tho? 

If they're like the prices of lian lis other fans, i'm sure most people will pass

3 pack is $74.99. Much cheaper than Noctuas and decently cheaper than T30s too. People need to stop pretending that Arctic P12s are as good at like $7 per fan... when they obviously aren't. I mean for a budget build who cares fire away. But in a mid range/high end build I don't recommend anything that's not LCP.

 

25 minutes ago, filpo said:

If they're like the prices of lian lis other fans, i'm sure most people will pass

Bro what? The UNIFANS have been the top selling PC case fan since they came out years ago. Most people DON'T pass, even though they should.

[filpo]

3 minutes ago, Deadpool2onBlu-Ray said:

Bro what? The UNIFANS have been the top selling PC case fan since they came out years ago. Most people DON'T pass, even though they should.

the unifans are just pretty expensive tho. For good looking builds they make sense, but for performance builds, they don't

 

5 minutes ago, Deadpool2onBlu-Ray said:

3 pack is $74.99. Much cheaper than Noctuas and decently cheaper than T30s too. People need to stop pretending that Arctic P12s are as good at like $7 per fan... when they obviously aren't. I mean for a budget build who cares fire away. But in a mid range/high end build I don't recommend anything that's not LCP.

didn't realize they released the prices. Even then the nh-p12s reduxes are still pretty good. Good thing there's another competitor tho

[Deadpool2onBlu-Ray]

Just now, filpo said:

the unifans are just pretty expensive tho. For good looking builds they make sense, but for performance builds, they don't

 

didn't realize they released the prices. Even then the nh-p12s reduxes are still pretty good. Good thing there's another competitor tho

Oh yeah absolutely. Performance builds are literally performance/$... Mid range gpu/lower end cpu/mid range PSU/low end everything else is the best option below 1.2k or so. All of my build's I've ever had have been art pieces, so I ordered these day 1.

[TVwazhere]

 

I'll probably stick with Artic P12's for now, especially since they are $35 for 5 fans (the price of a single A12x25) also come with 6 year warranty. 

[Deadpool2onBlu-Ray]

1 minute ago, TVwazhere said:

I'll probably stick with Artic P12's for now, especially since they are $35 for 5 fans (the price of a single A12x25) also come with 6 year warranty. 

Always a good option for the $ for sure! Just not quite "Art Piece Build" territory as they are rather plain Jane.

 

No other fan even comes close to the performance/$.

 

I think these will be disruptive in the "premium fan" category. The difference in performance between a P12 and one of these three is next to nothing. Noise? Aesthetics? Sure.

 

I'm SHOCKED arctic doesn't have an LCP ultra high end fan yet.

[williamcll]

Gonna wait for the GN review first.

[Deadpool2onBlu-Ray]

@WoodenMarker What do you think of these?

[WoodenMarker]

On 5/26/2023 at 1:28 PM, Deadpool2onBlu-Ray said:

@WoodenMarker What do you think of these?

Waiting for more reviews but it seems like a slightly noisier but slightly more performant alternative to the NF-A12x25. It seems competitively priced and may be a no-brainer for high end setups if fits the aesthetic.