Jani Dushman
In the ever-evolving landscape of PC hardware, innovation is the key to staying ahead, and Lian Li has consistently proven its commitment to pushing boundaries. Two years ago, their Uni fans SL and AL made waves with their side connection points, simplifying installation and customization for PC enthusiasts. Now, Lian Li is back with an optimized version, promising not just a new aesthetic for PC fans, but also unparalleled ease of installation and customization of lighting effects.
Today, we delve into the realm of the latest ARGB fans from Lian Li, focusing our scrutiny on the Lian Li Uni Fan SL-INF 120. As a company renowned for its premium cases, fans, AIOs, and power supplies, Lian Li brings forth not just a product, but an experience crafted from years of expertise and customer feedback.
At the heart of our examination lies the Lian Li Uni Fan SL-INF 120, a 120mm PWM fan boasting a novel plug-in system designed for impeccable cable management. Its versatility shines through as it proves itself equally adept at serving as a case fan, radiator companion, or CPU cooler. Beyond its performance prowess, this fan dazzles with vibrant ARGB lighting, augmented by infinity mirrors for truly mesmerizing effects, all controllable via the included controller.
With both single and three-piece packages available, and color options of black and white, we embark on our journey to uncover the secrets and strengths of the Lian Li Uni Fan SL-INF 120.
Unboxing
In my first Lian Li product review, I explored their newest release, the SL Infinity Fans. The packaging mirrors the style of Lian Li’s earlier Uni fans, featuring the SL Infinity fan label, the Lian Li logo, and concise text on the front. The sleek black and blue design enhances its visual allure. On the back, there’s a list of package contents and specifications, along with standout features like the single cable setup and the Infinity Mirror presence.
Lian Li offers these fans in packs of three, available in both black and white variants, as well as individual units, also offered in black and white. For the purpose of this evaluation, six single fans were provided for review. Noteworthy distinctions exist between the three-pack and individual offerings, with the former including an additional controller facilitating direct fan connection, obviating the need for motherboard integration.
The contents of the three-pack comprise:
- Three Lian Li Uni SL-INF 120 fans
- One controller
- Four cables for controller connectivity
- One cable for the motherboard connection
- Twelve fan screws
- One ARGB Y-cable
Conversely, Pack 1 contains:
- One Lian Li Uni SL-INF 120 fan
- One fan Y-cable
- One RGB Y-cable
- One connection cable for the Lian Li Strimer Plus controller
- Four fan screws
Closer Look
The Uni Fan SL-Infinity impresses with its top-notch build quality, premium materials, and precise design. Lian Li offers it in a stylish Black variant, enhancing its visual charm. Its front side features translucent fan blades with seven blades and a mirrored center cap, perfectly embodying the Infinity style. Despite being mainly made of sturdy plastic, the chrome-plated side strips add a touch of elegance to its appearance.
The Uni Fan SL-Infinity 120 RGB boasts front and rear illumination, with C-shaped diffusers enveloping milky, cloud-like strips housing RGB lights in octagonal forms. Its mesmerizing visual display includes captivating RGB lighting effects along the frame’s sides and at the fan’s center, creating a stunning 3D deep infinity mirror effect using a 0.5mm layered technique.
The rear side of the Uni Fan SL-Infinity 120 RGB showcases the prominent Lian Li logo embedded within the central cap, exhibiting a sleek aluminum finish. Notably, the fan’s housing boasts a greater thickness compared to conventional 120mm fans. While typical designs prioritize accommodating large fan blades for optimal airflow, the Uni Fan SL-Infinity 120 RGB diverges from this norm by allocating space for both illumination and its distinctive infinity design along the sides.
The Uni Fan SL-Infinity 120 RGB features a fluid dynamic bearing and operates at speeds of up to 2100 RPM, a significant increase over previous models. With an airflow rating of 61.3 CFM and a static pressure of 2.66 mmH2O, it surpasses its predecessors in performance, making it ideal for radiator applications. Its motor assembly is supported by four twisted arms, one of which has a thicker profile to accommodate wiring for both fan operation and integrated LED illumination of the translucent fan blades.
The Uni Fan SL-Infinity 120 RGB offers an innovative design for seamless fan connection, supporting up to four fans. Its pin-to-pad contact points efficiently transmit signal and power for optimal performance. Using interlocking plastic “keys,” users can easily daisy-chain fans for quad 120 mm radiator setups, simplifying cable management. Treating the two sides separately enhances performance, which is ideal for push-pull fan configurations.
The Uni Fan SL-Infinity 120 RGB features a sleek design that allows fans to connect seamlessly, reducing cable clutter for a clean look. With a single cable connecting the entire chain to a controller or motherboard, users can enjoy a hassle-free installation. Lian Li’s Infinity design emphasizes simplicity and efficiency, maintaining the brand’s commitment to quality and ease of use for both enthusiasts and professionals.
The biggest change this time is on the side of the fan. The left and right sides of the fan are changed to the design of infinity mirrors, and protective stickers with high light transmittance are thoughtfully included when leaving the factory to protect the mirror surface from scratches.
The latest fan design features latches, gold fingers, and metal contact points situated in the middle, a shift from previous models. Notably, latches, such as the UNI FAN SL, now sport a detachable design requiring just a 90-degree rotation for removal. This redesign enhances both convenience and aesthetics when installed on chassis or radiators, offering a sleek and user-friendly solution.
Easy Installation
After seeing the appearance, let’s take a look at the actual installation. The splicing and installation techniques of the UNI FAN SL-INF 120 are those of its predecessors. Aligning the tenon positions and exerting upward pressure completes the installation seamlessly. The number of fans one wishes to splice together remains at the discretion of the user, with a single set of connecting cables accommodating up to 4 fans.
Following the fan splicing, the subsequent step involves connecting the power cord, marked by several notable alterations. Notably, the relocation of the gold finger and metal contact point to the central area of the power supply introduces an element of intrigue to the connection mechanism. Despite employing latches for installation, the wiring now offers adjustable outlet directions, owing to this design adjustment.
The addition of a detachable upper cover to the power supply chip is a notable improvement. This allows users to customize their wiring setups to meet individual needs, like positioning water cooling drains. Whether for typical setups or water-cooling configurations, these changes offer increased flexibility and ease of use.
The latest UNI FAN SL-INF 120 model showcases a significant advancement by reducing connecting wires. Previously necessitating two separate wires for ARGB and PWM, it now integrates both functionalities into a single 7-pin connection line, simplifying installation. This consolidation not only streamlines wire management but also enhances the ease and aesthetics of setup. It’s worth mentioning that while the 3-pack version adopts the new module cable and 7-pin connector, individual single packages still employ a 4-pin PWM connector and a 3-pin 5V ARGB connector for direct motherboard connection.
L-Connect3 Software and RGB Lighting
Lian Li introduced L-Connect, tailored for controlling the lighting effects of the UNI FAN SL-INF fan. Over time, L-Connect has undergone continuous upgrades, leading to the recent release of L-Connect3. This latest version boasts numerous enhancements compared to its predecessors, featuring a revamped user interface with added entries and functions organized into categories like System Information, speed settings, synchronized and fan lighting effects, and function settings. These improvements streamline usability, providing gamers with a more intuitive experience.
L-Connect 3 software’s homepage offers instant access to utilization status. In the speed settings section, users can customize fan start/stop parameters, speed curves, and fixed speeds. The function settings page includes options for language preferences, temperature adjustments, and software updates.
Notably, the light synchronization feature enables precise control over fan lighting effects, allowing users to adjust illumination preferences for fan blades, center mirrors, frames, and side mirrors, or choose comprehensive lighting effects.
The UNI FAN SL-INF 120 boasts advanced lighting features surpassing its predecessors, yet maintains the familiar user-friendly software control. It offers preset lighting effects like tide, mixing, and current, alongside customizable options for both fan blades and inner frame edge, catering to individual preferences with sophistication and ease.
Lian Li’s L-Connect 3 interface offers a seamless solution for users who utilize SL, AL, and SL-INF three-generation fans and aim to synchronize lighting effects. With L-Connect 3, effortlessly synchronize lighting effects across all Lian Li peripheral devices. Additionally, the software’s synchronization motherboard function enables users to sync lighting effects across all compatible devices with a single click, simplifying the integration process.
Testing and Performance
We evaluated the performance of the Lain Li UNI FAN SL-INF 120 fans in our system by measuring their effectiveness during idle, gaming, and full-load scenarios using AIDA64 Extreme. Conducted over a 30-minute period in a room with a temperature of approximately 28°C, our tests employed an Intel 13th generation i7-13700K processor running at default settings, paired with an MSI MPG Z690 FORCE WIFI DDR5 motherboard.
Notably, no overclocking was applied. Throughout the tests, the AIDA64 Extreme software facilitated the replication of high-load conditions. During idle, the CPU temperature stabilized at 47°C.
| Test Setup | |
|---|---|
| Motherboard | MSI MPG Z690 FORCE WIFI DDR5 |
| Processor | Intel® Core™ i7-13700K |
| RAM Memory | Predator Hermes RGB DDR5 – 6800MHz |
| Storage | Silicon Power US70 1TB NVMe SSD |
| Graphic Card | ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3080 OC Edition (10GB) |
| CPU Cooler | Lian Li GALAHAD II LCD AIO |
| Casing | Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL Full Tower Case |
| Fan | 6x Lian Li UNI FAN SL-INF 120 RGB Fans |
According to the graph, our test system consistently maintains a safe temperature range without reaching critical levels. While idle, it remains between 47°C and 50°C. During demanding gaming sessions with Cyberpunk 2077 (2.0) and Red Dead Redemption 2, both known for their CPU intensity, temperatures range from 61°C to 67°C after 30 minutes. Under stress testing with AIDA64, we observed temperatures of 70°C at 2200 RPM and 73°C at 1200 RPM, with even a minimal fan speed of 420 RPM keeping temperatures comfortably below the critical threshold of 77°C. These results demonstrate impressive cooling efficiency.
The Lian Li UNI FAN SL-INF 120 RGB Fans operate quietly up to around 1200 RPM, hardly noticeable within a closed system. At 1800 RPM, a faint noise emerges, becoming more noticeable but not bothersome. Even at full speed, the fans are audible but not disruptive, though running them at maximum isn’t typically necessary for normal use. These assessments are based on actual measurements, though individual experiences may vary depending on factors such as room temperature and personal hearing sensitivity.
The system boasts a formidable setup, featuring six or seven 120mm fans, robust water cooling, and a 360 radiator. This configuration delivers exceptional performance in gaming scenarios, facilitating overclocking with ease. Tests underscore the LIAN LI UNI FAN SL-INF fans’ prowess, excelling in cooling performance and adaptability for CPU coolers and radiators. Notably, the system maintains a manageable noise level, ensuring a satisfying user experience alongside its impressive cooling efficiency.
Conclusion
Read Also
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I'm Jani, a dedicated Tech Writer and Reviewer at Xiaomitoday. With a passion for exploring and dissecting the latest in technology, my mission is to bring you insightful and comprehensive reviews that empower your decision-making in the fast-evolving world of gadgets and tech.
