Airflow Beast or Just Hype? ProLab Design AI120HF High Performance Fan Tested

Reviewed by Rounak Roy

January 6th, 2026 10:00PM IST

INTRODUCTION

ProLab Design is a brand developed by a diverse community of professionals from multiple disciplines, including content creators such as videographers, photographers, editors, and composers, as well as developers. The brand’s core focus is on delivering a strong price-to-performance balance in professional computer hardware. Its current and planned product portfolio includes PC cabinets ranging from mid-tower to super-tower and rackmount designs, workstation-class cases, cooling solutions such as AIO, High performance Fans and air coolers for HEDT CPUs, and power supplies that meet modern standards including ATX 3.1, PCIe 5.1, and 80 Plus Gold or Platinum certifications. ProLab Design also plans to expand into professional-grade esports peripherals in the future.

In our most recent review, we evaluated the AI360 LC AIO liquid cooler from ProLab Design, which showed respectable performance in our testing. For this review, we turn our attention to another cooling product from the same line-up—the AI120HF fans.

The AI120HF fans are designed with an emphasis on high airflow and static pressure, with the goal of improving overall case ventilation and thermal efficiency in modern PC systems. As current-generation processors from AMD and Intel continue to operate at higher power levels and produce more heat, effective case airflow has become increasingly important. In such environments, case fans play a critical role in maintaining stable operating temperatures not only for the CPU, but also for other heat-sensitive components. This review aims to determine whether the AI120HF fans are better suited for high-performance systems or if they make more sense in balanced, everyday builds. We will test the fans on the same AIO which we tested in out last AI360 LC review to keep the system same as before.

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The packaging box of the ProLab Design AI120 HF fan starter kit is quite small and environment-friendly, made of cardboard, exuding a clean and business-like feel right from the onset. The packaging box has a simplistic look on the front, featuring a black-and-white drawing of the fan at the central point. The branding name, AI120 HF, and the indication that it is a pro level PWM controlled fan starter kit are embossed at the bottom part. The main highlights of the fan include graphics pointing out its airflow, static pressure, speeds up to 3000 RPM, and the availability of three fans inside the packaging box.

One side of the box is reserved entirely for specifications. In this area, ProLab Design has managed to list down specifics not just stopping at fan size and voltage, but including airflow, static pressure, noise level, bearing type, operating temperature, and rated lifespan. The enthusiasts and builders would find this side of the box useful, where they can find all the specifications without looking any of it up on the Internet.

The back of the box contains mainly regulatory and product information. This comprises manufacturing data, importer data, customer support data, country of origin, and an eye-catching warranty badge that stands out, showing that the product comes with a 2-year warranty. Additionally, there's a mention of the QR code for easy scan-through for other product data, accompanied by the barcode and EAN data.

The box contents are also listed clearly to reconfirm that it contains data for three 120mm case fans, the user manual, and the accessory kit. On the whole, the packaging has a sense of well-thought-out design: it’s no-nonsense and chock-full of information. There isn’t any unnecessary information presented, and it conveys all the information a purchaser might need to know before opening the package, which corresponds well with its no-nonsense, professional-grade product line.

Included with the package are the following:

3x AI120HF Fans
1 to 4 PWM splitter
Mounting Screws
User Manual and Installation guides
and A pack full of performance

INSTALLATION

The installation of the ProLab Design AI120 HF fans is easy even for people with minimal experience in assembling PCs. The fans are designed to sit in regular 120 mm slots, which can be secured using screws at the top, bottom, or back of the computer chassis, depending on your desired direction for airflow. You have to take note of the direction indicators to position the intake or exhaust correctly.

Once the fans are mounted, the 4-pin PWM connection directly interfaces with the motherboard fan header or a suitable fan hub. This enables the entire system to dynamically control the speed of the fans as per the temperatures, or the users could manually adjust the speeds via the BIOS or appropriate software. The whole installation process seems remarkably fast and effortless, thereby allowing the integration of the AI120 HF fans into the system without the slightest issue.

DESIGN AND FEATURES

Undoubtedly, the ProLab Design AI120 HF was designed with performance, dependability, and long-term usage in mind rather than cosmetic excess. The AI120 HF shares a static-pressure-oriented blade design with other high-performance airflow-focused fans in this category. Its broad, sharply curved blades are designed to effectively force air through confined spaces like radiators, densely packed cases, and dense front panels. The thickness gives the impression that these blades are made to retain consistent airflow even at greater rotational speeds, and the blade shape seems quite intentional.

Because of the fan housing's sturdy construction and square frame design, extremely precise blade-to-frame tolerances are possible. When installed against a radiator or mesh panel, this therefore lowers air leakage and should typically contribute to an increase in overall efficiency. The strengthened mounting corners should increase the structure's stiffness and lessen flex and undesired vibration when in use. Naturally, there aren't any rubber dampeners or RGB components to mention here; this very simple design fits in nicely with the fan's professional positioning—it's obviously designed to work hard rather than appear showy.

A simple, uncluttered hub with just the most crucial technical markings—such as the 3000 RPM rating and power specifications—and unobtrusive ProLab Design branding sits in the middle. The fan seems more sophisticated and purpose-built without needless branding or adornment. This idea is maintained by the sleeved 4-pin PWM cable, which provides accurate speed control via the motherboard or fan controller while maintaining clean and useful cable management.

Overall, the AI120 HF's design feels quite deliberate and well-considered. The fan's airflow, longevity, and consistency are more important to enthusiasts, workstation users, and pretty much any user who would prioritize cooling capability over aesthetics. It doesn't appear to be trying hard to be anything unique visually.

SPECIFICATIONS

The specifications are mentioned in the image below. Please cross check with the manufacturer website for reference.

TESTING

Before moving on to the fan performance—which so far is the best we have tested so far at Tech Reprise—it is essential to first outline the test bench configuration. Thermal performance is influenced by multiple factors, including ambient temperature and supporting hardware, especially during prolonged stress testing. To maintain complete fairness, all components and test conditions were kept consistent throughout our evaluations, ensuring that every product is tested on equal terms.

Test Bench Configuration (AI360LC Cooler)

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X (Stock Settings)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2
GPU: MSI RX 6600 XT Mech
Memory: G.Skill Trident Z Neo 32 GB (16 × 2)
Power Supply: Seasonic Focus Gold 750W
Cabinet: DeepCool CG580
Thermal Paste: Arctic MX-4
Case Fans: DeepCool FL12R (Side Intake & Rear Exhaust)
AIO Fans: Stock AI360LC fans, later replaced with ProLab Design AI120 HF

During the testing phase, I attempted to maintain an ambient temperature of 20°C, though slight variations may have occurred as my room is not temperature controlled. The tests were conducted over a period of two days in various games and software's. The main objective was to stress the cooler and fans to the maximum. Since the ambient was at 20°C so the maximum temperature recorded was not that high. I will have to re-test it in summer to get another reading of the temperatures when ambient rises significantly.

For performance evaluation, a combination of real-world gaming workloads and synthetic stress tests were used just like out AI360LC review. These included popular titles as well as benchmarking tools such as Cinebench R23, AIDA64, and CPU-Z Stress Test. While Cinebench is not strictly a stress-testing utility, it does impose a heavy load on the processor, producing substantial heat and providing useful insight into the cooler’s thermal capabilities.

During the testing, I used the PC constantly for 5-6 hours and during this phase I tried out various things like synthetic benchmarks and games. I tried to keep the testing as close to real life as a non-reviewer would.

TEST RESULTS

TEST DATA USING AI360LC AS A COMPARISON

Here we can see that the AI360LC AIO performs better with the AI120HF which was expected. The temperatures in the graph are an average over 2 days taken on multiple occasions after running the PC for 6 hours on a load. I have attached the data below. I have excluded the synthetic benchmark testing as this is a review of the fan rather than the cooler itself.

TEST DATA USING GAMES AS A BENCHMARK

Below is the test result from various popular games out there. We can see that the AI120HF can easily keep the 5700x under 60°C with the AI360LC at an ambient of 20°C .

NOISE TESTING

For noise testing, the ambient sound level in the room was measured at 42 dB, providing a relatively quiet baseline. With a single AI120 HF fan running at full speed, noise levels peaked at around 74 dB, which is clearly audible but expected given the fan’s high 3000 RPM operating range. When all three fans were installed and running simultaneously, the noise level increased marginally to 76 dB, indicating that the combined output does not scale linearly with fan count. While the fans are undeniably loud at maximum speed, this behaviour is typical for high-performance, static-pressure–focused fans and can be easily managed through PWM control to strike a balance between airflow and acoustics.

The minimum, maximum and average readings can be ignored. The current reading is the one we have taken into account.

AMBIENT NOISE LEVEL

NOISE LEVEL WITH 1 FAN @ 100%

NOISE LEVEL WITH 3 FANS @ 100%

CONCLUSION

Pro's

Excellent airflow and static pressure for both case and radiator use.
Daisy chain setup simplifies installation and cable management.
Solid build quality with a clean, minimal aesthetic.
Affordable price for performance delivered.
Reliable performance for mid-range and high-performance systems.

Con's

No logo on the fan hub makes it look a bit awkward when it is not running.
The fans being high rpm fans can get a bit noisy in a quiet room if run on full speed at all times.

Bottom Line

The ProLab AI120HF fan kit proves that high-quality cooling doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. These fans deliver excellent airflow and strong static pressure, ensuring effective heat dissipation across radiators or case vents. During testing, the AI120HF maintained stable temperatures under both idle and load conditions, all while keeping noise levels impressively low—making it a perfect fit for users who value a quiet system.

The thoughtfully designed daisy chain setup makes installation straight forward and cable management a breeze, even in compact builds. Aesthetically, the fans offer a clean, minimal look that can seamlessly blend into most PC builds. While they may not reach the absolute top-tier performance of high-RPM or larger fan setups, the AI120HF strikes a remarkable balance between efficiency, silence, and cost-effectiveness. For anyone seeking a reliable, easy-to-install fan kit that enhances cooling without compromise, the ProLab AI120HF earns a 9 out of 10 rating, making it a strong Tech Reprise Gold choice contender.

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