In a few weeks, Asus will release its first PC case fan, the ROG Strix XF 120. Asus' first entry into the standalone fan market promises "whisper-quiet" operation, thanks to its magnetic levitation bearings. Noise measurements also indicate a noise level of 22.5 decibels.

There is no universally accepted sound chart, but according to this chart (PDF) compiled by Yale University, 22.5 decibels falls somewhere between windless quiet nature (20 decibels) and whispering (25 decibels).

Magnetic levitation directly affects the low noise claim. Since the fan blade assembly is essentially floating around a magnetic bearing, there is no physical contact or friction caused by the bearing components. There is still friction due to wind resistance, but it is generally lower noise than sleeve bearings, ball bearings, or fluid dynamic bearings. An added benefit is that there are no lubricants to wear out over time, although in my experience this has not been an issue.

This type of assembly is not as common in the PC arena, but Asus is not the only company that uses magnetic levitation bearings; Corsair's ML series does as well.

Asus announced the ROG Strix XF 120 last September, but at that time did not say anything about pricing or a release date. However, Asus did announce on Twitter that the ROG Strix XF 120 will be available in April (hopefully not April 1 or April Fool's Day.)

As the model name suggests, this is a 120mm fan. It is also a 4-pin pulse-width modulation (PWM) model with an operating range of 250 to 1,800 RPM (depending on the fan profile, it can also stop spinning altogether.) Asus rates the airflow at 62.5 CFM and the life at 400,000 hours.

In addition to using magnetically levitated bearings, this fan also features "specially grooved blades and an anti-vibration design." Also, although not specifically mentioned, the RGB logo in the center appears to be RGB lighting.

Pricing has not yet been announced, but there are already several pre-order listings. For example, Swedish retailer ProShop is selling the fan for 239.20 SEK (excluding VAT). This is equivalent to about $29 in U.S. currency.