120mm variable speed silent fan

[DesiPower]

Need a 120mm fan for the radiator, the stock fan is noisy. What is the best silent 4-pin fan out there? I am looking at COUGAR CF-V12HPB, anything better available?

 

[aigomorla]

noctua fans are probably great at the range your looking.

However low rpm fans = low static = designed for rads with very low FPI's which nearly 0 AIO's are compatible.

In short what radiator do you have? because it could spell disaster in the cooling temps.

 

[DesiPower]

Cooler is ZALMAN LQ-320. CPU is i7-4790k running permanently at 4.2ghz

I am open to suggestions, no reservations, just looking for a quieter option.

In case above link does not work...

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118136

 

[aigomorla]

yeah that is what we call an AIO.

All in One, and it also has a very high fin density...
My advice is to not change the fan, or get more powerful ones as it will impact the performance on it.

If your insistant on getting quieter fans, then my second advice is to pair up the fans and do a push/pull config on it. Basically sandwitch the radiator between fans, otherwise your probably better off going air heat sink.

 

[DesiPower]

Well, the fan is making too much noise, seems like rattling noise, might its breaking down, wonder if its performing at its rated efficiency. If I were to end up replacing it, what would be the best fan?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Well, the fan is making too much noise, seems like rattling noise, might its breaking down, wonder if its performing at its rated efficiency. If I were to end up replacing it, what would be the best fan?

"Rattling?" Like one might imagine from loose bearings? I've had fans before that did this.

There should only be motor noise and air-turbulence/white-noise.

It's possible to muffle the motor noise with acoustic material without gumming up your case interior. Time, attention, sweat and trouble.

What are your options for RMA'ing the cooler for the sake of the fan? Or would they simply take the fan itself? It could be that all of their fans rattle.

 

[DesiPower]

RMA is not an option. There must be a better aftermarket solution... Or for water coolers we always have to stick with stock?

 

[DesiPower]

Ended up getting Noctua NF-F12 iPPC-3000. lowest speed is around 700 and its not audible at that speed. I have set to 1000 rpm till 50 degrees so it never really goes over that under normal operation, at 1000 it makes very little noise. Then its a straight line, goes to 2000 rpm at 70 degrees, that's when it makes quiet a bit noise. At 3000 its a jet engine. But even at 4.4ghz (i7 4790k) sustained full load for 4 hours (HandBrake), temp never went over 72 degrees. That's a big change as with the stock fan, at 4.4 ghz, temp would cross 80 degrees and keep rising, I never tested for more than 5 minutes.

at stock seed of 4 ghz, with the new fan, temp is maintained around 62 degrees, with max of 65 over 4 hour sustained max.load scenario. Very happy with the fan.