Alongside the R5 CPU cooler, CRYORIG also released the new CRONA series case fans with addressable RGB lighting in late 2020.
Specifications
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There are two different versions for the CRONA series fans, which share the same physical dimension, overall design and technical specifications. They are equipped with the proprietary High Precision Low Noise (HPLN) bearing, and can spin from 400 RPM to 1700 RPM. They are rated to generate 60.6 CFM of airflow and 2.65 mmH2O of static pressure. No MTBF value is provided by the manufacturer.
Unboxing
Both the CRONA S and CRONA X fans are available in 1-Fan and 3-Fan packs for purchase. They come in a black cardboard box, with a circular plastic window on the top. There are tiny icons to indicate how many fans and controllers inside. One of our sample boxes has an incorrect model name on the packaging, showing CRONA X instead of CRONA S.
You can see the a photo simulating the RGB lighting effects at the back. The technical specifications of the fans are listed on the side.
In addition to the standard fan screws, CRYORIG includes another set of longer screws and sleeves to mount the fan, because of the uniquely-designed frame. There are also a lighting controller box and remote.
The box, that contains all the accessories, also acts as the user manual, when you unfold it. It explains the various connections and functions on the lighting controller.
CRYORIG CRONA S and CRONA X Fans
The CRONA S and CRONA X are standard-sized 120 mm fans, with a thickness of 25.4 mm. There are a total of eight curved fan blades with little overlap. Instead of a traditional square frame, the CRONA S/X has a multi-hole back plate/frame, which removes everything blocking the RGB lighting.
The only difference between the two versions is the design of the circular LED ring. The CRONA X is equipped with a translucent plastic diffuser around the LEDs to create an astonishing lighting effect on both the top and sides of the fan. The white fan blades do not light up. By contrast, the CRONA S has black fan blades, and a more subtle LED ring. On a side note, it would be great if CRYORIG can find a way to remove the white manufactured date sticker on the motor hub, as it destroys the minimal look of the fan.
Each corner has an anti-vibration mount to prevent rattling noises between the fan frame and the PC chassis.
The CRONA S/X requires a 4-pin PWM and a 6-pin proprietary RGB connectors to control the fan speed and RGB lighting. The controller hub is included in both the 1-Fan and 3-Fan packs. It can handle up to 6 fans’ LEDs simultaneously, which also supports syncing with either a 4-pin 12V or a 3-pin 5V headers on a motherboard (ASUS Aura Sync, MSI Mystic Light, GIGABYTE RGB Fusion, etc.). You can use the remote, if the controller is in the stand-alone mode.
Review
Testing Methodology
To determine the performance of the fan, we will measure both the airflow and CPU temperatures when using in heatsink, as well as its sound levels.
An anemometer is used to record the fan’s airflow in various RPM ranges, including 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. The results are measured in CFM (cubic feet per minute). The distance between the anemometer and the fan is kept at around 5 cm.
A decibel/sound level meter is also used to measure the fan’s operating noise at 1000 RPM, 50% and 100% fan speeds. Results are shown as dbA. Distance between the decibel meter and the fan is maintained at around 10 cm. Ambient sound level is at around 38 dbA.
The fan is then installed on the air cooler. The CPU, FPU and system cache are stressed using AIDA64. Ambient temperature is around 25°C. The temperature of the CPU package is recorded at full load when the fan is running at full speed.
- CPU: Intel Core i7-9700K @ 4.80 GHz @ 1.30 V (~150W TDP)
- Motherboard: ASRock Z370 Killer SLI
- Air Cooler: Noctua NH-U12S (its review here)
- Thermal Compound: Noctua NT-H1
Performance
The CRONA S/X did passably in our normal 5 cm airflow test. At full speed (~1700 RPM), it could push around 52.72 CFM of air forward. It was able to maintain about 31.15 CFM of airflow, when we increased the testing distance to 30 cm (vs 55.12 CFM and 45.53 CFM for the SilverStone AP120I-PRO and Noctua NF-A12x25). The fan has a PWM speed range from 23% to 100%, according to our motherboard.
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Although the CRONA S/X is advertised mainly as a case intake/exhaust fan, we still put it through the heatsink test. Due to the unconventional fan frame design, it cannot be mounted on the NH-U12S using the default fan clips from Noctua. At last, we temporarily secured the fan on the cooler by a few pieces of plastic tape. Surprisingly, the CRONA S/X performed decently, with slightly better temperature difference than the Noctua NF-F12 at 50°C (vs 51°C).
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In general, the CRONA S/X produced an acceptable amount of noise at most RPM ranges. The noise level stayed at around 53.3 dbA and 42.6 dbA at 100% and 50% fan speeds. After normalizing to 1000 RPM, the fan is within the top five spots in our chart at 40.9 dbA.
The control box is pre-loaded with 14 different types of RGB lighting effects, which you can further adjust the speed and brightness. In my opinion, the CRONA X has a much better, flashier and more even lighting with the top diffuser. Both fans have smooth effect transitions, but the CRONA S is dimmer and has less vivid colors.
Conclusion
The CRYORIG CRONA S/X is a unique and distinctively-designed fans, with adequate cooling performance and low noise level. As a case fan, it can generate an okay amount of airflow in longer distance at 31.15 CFM. Despite limiting the versatility of the fan, the multi-hole frame allows for an unobstructed view to the integrated RGB lighting, especially the X model. We would love to see a non-proprietary connector to power the LEDs, but it is nice for CRYORIG to include the controller box in both 1-Fan and 3-Fan packs.
The CRONA S/X is priced at $29.99 USD for the 1-Fan pack and $79.99 USD for the 3-Fan pack (MSRP), which all versions are provided with a 2-year warranty. The great build quality if the fan demands a relatively steep price tag. For comparison, the Lian Li UNI FAN SL120 and Corsair LL120 RGB costs $24.99/$79.99 USD and $39.99/$129.99 USD (MSRP) for the 1-Fan and 3-Fan packs respectively. However, the single-fan pack from Lian Li and Corsair do not come with a lighting controller.
You can purchase the fans from your local/online resellers or the links below from Amazon and Newegg.
- Amazon US: CRYORIG CRONA S/X Fans
- Newegg US: CRYORIG CRONA S/X Fans
Thanks CRYORIG for providing us the fans for review. (Review Sample)
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