80mm Case Fan: Best CFM to Noise Ratio ?

[edro]

80mm.
Which case fans have the best noise to CFM ratio? Price is not an issue. I am getting a Shuttle cube XPC and it will be the only fan in the system (there is a little one in the PSU too) (so it has to be good).

Many people say Panaflo's are the best. What do you guys think? Any reviews?

 

[Yomicron]

Don't the X PCs inlcude a fan with their heat pipes?

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: Yomicron
Don't the X PCs inlcude a fan with their heat pipes?

Yeah, but some people say it is pretty loud. And I am sure it isn't the best you can buy.

After comparing 12 different fans so far (most from eBay)....it seems that the best CFM/dB ratio is the:

Aluminum case fan that is 37 CFM and 26dB.

The next would prolly be the Thermaltake TT-8025A @ 37 CFM and 30dB, Here

I should prolly stick to Thermaltake (because they are a well known company, but then again.....that aluminum one would look good.

 

[edro]

Hmmmm......... Here is a review of the Titan Aluminum one as well: From Bit-Tech

This thing looks real good.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Belongs in Cases and Cooling forum.

I'd say the Papst 20CFM @ 12dB are pretty pimptastic, if ratio's all you care about.

- M4H

 

[0roo0roo]

i use vantec stealth. 80mm 21dba, 92mm 20dba. i mostly favour the 92mm of course.


i even replace my power supply fan with em air flows great, esp after i cut my blow holes.

 

[0roo0roo]

well 120mm probably even better, but i can't stomach cost

 

[edro]

Oh man, I am retarded..... I have like 40 windows open and I accidently made this in the Off Topic...... Sorry.

 

[0roo0roo]

heh oh well

but remember, dba isn't linear scale... 25dba is far worse the 20 as long as the 20 pushes a half decent amount of air i'd go for its lower noise. its not as if your cpu is going to blow up because of an extra degree more fans at lower dba better then less with high dba. high cfm fans generally are higher npitched too, more noticable, more annoying.

 

[edro]

Yeah, I think you are right. Here is the Vantec Stealth you are talking about: 27CFM @ 21dB

 

[0roo0roo]

just make sure the mount location doesn't have just a few holes drilled for ventilation. that stuff just blocks most of the airflow, saw or cut it out

if you don't know how, my old thread here has some links on fan hole tutorial. its quite easy really

 

[Salvador]

i use vantec stealth. 80mm 21dba, 92mm 20dba. i mostly favour the 92mm of course.

Vantec (Nidec) is fudging the specs on their Stealth fans. I have one 80mm and it's noticeably noisier than my Panaflo L1a's or PC Power and Cooling Silencer's rated about the same db (20-21 db).

These NMB 80mm fans at SVC are very quiet as well, but don't put out much air (18 db at 18 cfm). They are really inexpensive though and work great as case fans.

If you want the best CFM to noise ratio and price is no object, these Papst fans are dang tough to beat. About the only way to do better is to go passive or water cool.

Sal

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
I'd say the Papst 20CFM @ 12dB are pretty pimptastic, if ratio's all you care about.

Bingo. Absolutely wonderful fans, they are great for power supply mods.

Viper GTS

 

[0roo0roo]

ah nice stuff. i only go stealth vantec because they are easy to find at brick and morter stores plus they come with the 3 pin to molex converter. i'd probably go for those ultra cheapo quiet ones next time

panaflows are kewl, but i don't feel like doing the wiring. they don't have connectors right? i forget

 

[NewSc2]

Nobody's said the 80mm Panaflo fans? (i think they do 21 cfm, or was it 24.. or maybe it was 21-24 dB)

well anyways I use one on my Alpha PAL heatsink and as an exhaust and they're very quiet ones. I think cooling is overrated - if you have a really loud computer you'll never leave it on that much so why do you need it to be so cold if it's never on.


EDIT: missed all the panaflo comments. Yeah they don't have that 3rd pin connector, weird connectors, but on PCMods.com i got a few panaflo 3-pin tail wings (but they don't have the RPM-monitoring capabilities).