If you are looking for extreme-performance PC fans, consider opting for thicker 120mm or 140mm fans. The standard thickness of 120mm, 140mm, 92mm, and 80mm PC fans is 25mm; however, slimmer and thicker fans are also available for specific use cases. Thinner or Slim PC fans are used in small form factor (SFF) systems, mini-ITX Cases, or narrow spaces where a standard 25mm fan cannot fit or has no clearance. On the other hand, thicker PC fans are used in servers, high-performance systems, radiators, and even on CPU heatsinks, where higher cooling performance is the top priority, regardless of the price. There are 30mm and 38mm thick 120mm and 140mm fans available for PC, but there are only a handful, especially 38mm thick ones. These thicker fans deliver industrial-level performance, especially the 38mm thick ones. The 30mm thick 120mm/140mm fans offer significantly higher static pressure and airflow over 25mm thick fans, while 38mm thick ones are on a different level of performance.
You should note that most thicker fans have significantly higher static pressure than airflow. When it comes to availability, you can find a good number of 30mm thick fans from various major brands, such as Corsair, Antec, and Phanteks. However, there are only a handful of 38mm thick fans available in the market from smaller yet popular brands. Here, I will list the top 38mm thick 120mm and 140mm fans for use in PC Chassis, Servers, Mining Rigs, or industrial-level applications.
Important Note: Unlike 30mm thick fans, 38mm fans are generally not preferred for use in radiators due to their significantly larger size, clearance issues, and the difficulty in finding longer screws to fit them on the radiator.
Top 38mm Thick Fans [120mm and 140mm Sizes]
Below are the top 38mm thick 120mm and 140mm fans for applications requiring extreme performance. These fans do not come with RGB or LED lighting.
GELID GALE EXTREME 6000 120mm Fan
[Extreme Performance, Affordable Price]
GELID GALE EXTREME 6000 120mm fan is an extreme performance 38mm thick fan from Gelid. Gelid Solutions is a reputable PC hardware company known for its high-quality thermal cooling solutions, which primarily include thermal pastes, thermal pads, and PC fans. GELID GALE EXTREME 6000 120mm fan delivers industrial-level performance and is meant mainly for that. The fan has double ball bearings and a maximum speed of 6000 RPM. It generates airflow of 195 CFM and a static pressure of 24 mmH2O. The fan is noisy at full speed, but it operates relatively quietly at low to moderate speeds. The fan has solid build quality and uses a 4-pin PWM connector. A fan grill is attached to the fan and can be removed according to your requirements. The fan can be used in high-end gaming PCs, workstations, servers, mining rigs, and industrial applications. The model number of the fan is FN-GALE-02, and it is priced competitively.
GELID GALE EXTREME 6000 120mm Fan Specifications | |
Fan Size | 120mm |
Thickness | 38mm |
Bearing Type | Dual Ball Bearing |
Fan Speed | 500 – 6000 RPM |
Airflow | 195 CFM |
Static Pressure | 24 mmH2O |
Noise Level | 60 dBA Max. |
Connector | 4-Pin PWM |
Applications | PC Chassis, Servers, Mining Rig |
Features | Fan Grill |
Buy GELID GALE EXTREME 6000 120mm Fan
SilverStone FHS 120X Fan
[High Airflow and Static Pressure, Good Build Quality]
An industrial-grade 38mm thick 120mm fan from SilverStone, a well-reputed computer brand. SilverStone FHS 120X Fan has dual ball bearings and a maximum speed of 4000 RPM. It generates airflow of 144 CFM and static pressure of 11.66 mmH2O. The maximum fan noise level is 51.8 dBA, and it utilizes a 4-pin PWM connector. A fan grill for protection is installed with the fan and can be removed if not needed. The fan is best suited for servers, high-end PCs, workstations, mining rigs, and industrial-level applications. The model number of the fan is SST-FHS120X.
SilverStone FHS 120X Fan Specifications | |
Fan Size | 120mm |
Thickness | 38mm |
Bearing Type | Dual-ball bearing |
Fan Speed | 1000 – 4000 RPM |
Airflow | 144 CFM |
Static Pressure | 11.66 mmH2O |
Noise Level | 51.8 dBA |
Connector | 4-pin PWM |
Applications | PC Case, Servers, Mining Rigs |
Features | Fitted Fan Grill, PPE Fan Blades, PBT Frame |
SilverStone FHS 140X Fan
[Highest Airflow, High Static Pressure, Good Build Quality]
The SilverStone FHS 140X Fan is a 140mm or larger version of the aforementioned SilverStone FHS 120X Fan. The SilverStone FHS 140X Fan spins at a lower speed of 3400 RPM but generates significantly higher airflow, albeit with slightly less static pressure, compared to the SilverStone FHS 120X Fan. The SilverStone FHS 140X Fan generates an airflow of 223 CFM and a static pressure of 10 mmH2O. It uses a 4-pin PWM connector, and a fan grill is pre-installed on the fan. The maximum noise level is 50 dBA, which is a reasonable level for such a high-performance fan. The fan can be used in PC Cases, Servers, Industrial Projects, and Applications. The model number of the fan is SST-FHS140X.
SilverStone FHS 140X Fan Specifications | |
Fan Size | 140mm |
Thickness | 38mm |
Bearing Type | Dual-ball bearing |
Fan Speed | 800 – 3400 RPM |
Airflow | 223 CFM |
Static Pressure | 10 mmH2O |
Noise Level | 50 dBA |
Connector | 4-pin PWM |
Applications | PC Case, Servers, Mining Rigs |
Features | Fitted Fan Grill, LCP fan blades, PBT fan frame |
SilverStone FHP141-VF Fan
[Dual Working Modes (Power / Quiet), Dual Airflow Design, 120mm and 140mm mounting support]
The SilverStone FHP141-VF Fan is a 38mm thick, feature-rich 140mm fan designed for both consumer and industrial applications. By default, the fan supports 120mm mounting holes, but with the help of included extenders, it can support 140mm mounting holes. The fan features dual-ball bearings and operates at a maximum speed of 2000 RPM. The fan has two modes, Power and Quiet. The Power mode delivers maximum performance with a maximum speed of 2000 RPM. On the other hand, the Quiet mode delivers silent performance with a maximum speed of 1200 RPM. The desired mode can be selected via a small toggle switch on the fan’s corner. The maximum airflow and static pressure generated by the fan are 173.5 CFM and 3.3 mmH2O, respectively.
The fan’s build quality is very good, and it is also quite heavy. Another unique feature of this fan is that you can change the airflow direction (reversible airflow) via a push-button toggle switch present on the single-slot expansion bracket. The button is connected to the fan via a cable, and the bracket must be installed in the PC Case’s expansion slot. The fan can be used in PC Cases, Radiators, Heatsinks, and Servers. It is also well priced considering the features it offers.
SilverStone FHP141-VF Fan Specifications | |
Fan Size | 140mm |
Thickness | 38mm |
Bearing Type | Dual-ball bearing |
Fan Speed | 500 – 2000 RPM |
Airflow | 173.5 CFM |
Static Pressure | 3.3 mmH2O |
Noise Level | 41.5 dBA |
Connector | 4-pin PWM |
Applications | PC Case, Servers, Radiators, Heatsinks |
Features | 120mm and 140mm Mounting support, Dual Airflow Direction, Dual Modes (Power and Quiet) |
Wathai 12038 120mm Fan
[Budget 38mm Thick Fan, High Airflow]
A budget and high airflow 38mm thick 120mm from a Chinese brand, Wathai. It is a good fan and has a high airflow of 213 CFM. The fan has dual-ball bearings and a maximum speed of 5300 RPM. The fan uses a 4-pin PWM connector, and a fan grill is included. The fan is relatively cheap compared to other 38mm thick fans. It can be used in PC Cases, high-end gaming PCs, Workstations, Servers, and Mining Rigs.
Wathai 12038 120mm Fan Specifications | |
Fan Size | 120mm |
Thickness | 38mm |
Bearing Type | Dual-ball bearing |
Fan Speed | 5300 RPM |
Airflow | 213 CFM |
Static Pressure | No Info |
Noise Level | 58 dBA |
Connector | 4-pin PWM |
Applications | PC Case, Workstations, Servers, Mining Rigs |
Features | Included Fan Grill |
Need Help?
If you need any help regarding 38mm thick 120m/140mm fans, please let me know your queries in the comment section below.
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