Are Panaflo L1A's really worth $7 each and are they quieter than Vantac Stealths? found them for $3.75ea

MichaelD · Aug 15, 2003

Hey AT. I currently have Vantec Stealth 80mm fans in use for all case fan applications. They are "quiet" but I'm really not to impressed with them.

The Stealth is rated 27cfm @21db But it sure sounds louder than that to me. IIRC, I paid $6/ea for a case of 12 of these fans. They are "good" and I like them better than standard Antec case fans, but I know there's better out there!

SVC has the LIA's for $7 each I've never actually heard the Panaflos myself. Are they worth the $7? Are they actually quiet, not "semi-quiet" like the Vantecs?

Thanks.

dexvx · Aug 15, 2003

www.case-mod.com has a sale for $3.75 each.

FYI, the dBA thing is very subjective. It depends on how they tested it (the industry average is 1meter away). Some sounds are just more annoying then others, so they just sound louder even though they're not. They are very quiet, but not Dell quiet. To achieve that quiet, you need to hit about the 16 dBA mark.

Giants415 · Aug 15, 2003

I just picked up 5 of these today at casemod in San Jose, CA, with the 4 pin adapter for just .50 more. My X-Pider case came with 4 case fans and were extremely noisy. These Panaflo L1A's are extremely quiet. I can actually leave my PC on all night now!

amdskip · Aug 15, 2003

I'm running 5 of them in my computer right now. Definately worth it IMHO.

MichaelD · Aug 15, 2003

*tips hat*

Thanks guys.

About a year ago, I went on a quiet-case rampage. I bought a dozen of the Vantecs and replaced all my case fans in all my boxes. They are quiet, but not Dell quiet. What kind of fans does Dell use anyway?

MichaelD · Aug 16, 2003

Originally posted by: dexvx
www.case-mod.com has a sale for $3.75 each.

FYI, the dBA thing is very subjective. It depends on how they tested it (the industry average is 1meter away). Some sounds are just more annoying then others, so they just sound louder even though they're not. They are very quiet, but not Dell quiet. To achieve that quiet, you need to hit about the 16 dBA mark.

Thanks for the tip on case-mod. Ordering from them now. Getting my SLK-800 from them too.

Daaavo · Aug 16, 2003

iwearnosox is selling them for $4 a piece, shipped, here.

non-subscriber link.

0roo0roo · Aug 16, 2003

the stealths arequiet, but not as quiet as panaflo, but push slightly more air

dexvx · Aug 16, 2003

Originally posted by: MichaelD
*tips hat*

Thanks guys. About a year ago, I went on a quiet-case rampage. I bought a dozen of the Vantecs and replaced all my case fans in all my boxes. They are quiet, but not Dell quiet. What kind of fans does Dell use anyway?

They use special order NMB fans. Very low current.

Megatomic · Aug 16, 2003

I think the higher output of the Vantec Stealth is a nice trade-off for the slightly louder operation when compared to Panaflo L1As. I have used both and I decided to stick with the Vantec on my CPU heatsink (Alpha PAL 8045). I can barely hear that fan over the rest of the system.

fell8 · Aug 16, 2003

Wanna hear something just galling? I have this CPU inside this case. Completely stock, they are extremely close to, if not outright, Dell quiet, swear to God (altough the sound is higher pitched, so a little more annoying).

Megatomic · Aug 16, 2003

Originally posted by: fell8
Wanna hear something just galling? I have this CPU inside this case. Completely stock, they are extremely close to, if not outright, Dell quiet, swear to God (altough the sound is higher pitched, so a little more annoying).

Your first link is bad, fell8.

MichaelD · Aug 16, 2003

Originally posted by: Megatomic
I think the higher output of the Vantec Stealth is a nice trade-off for the slightly louder operation when compared to Panaflo L1As. I have used both and I decided to stick with the Vantec on my CPU heatsink (Alpha PAL 8045). I can barely hear that fan over the rest of the system.

I use an Antec BB fan (34cfm @ 28 db) on my CPU HS. I didn't think the Vantec moved enough air (subjective conclusion on my part) the temps did go down a few degrees and you can't hear the diff b/t the two fans anyway, since it's buried in the case.

I'm planning on using the L1As as case fans only; not on a CPU HS.

Plus, maybe it's just the batch I got, but I've noticed some squeaking from two of mine that have been running 24/7...on of them is in a PSU! :Q

The fans are slightly less than a year old. So, I'm going to substitute the Panaflos in there. I've heard they last a good long time. I hope so!

fell8 · Aug 17, 2003

Link fixed, I think. Just in case, it was a retail XP 1800+ T-bred.

quam · Aug 17, 2003

Should I look at getting the Panaflo FBA08A12H (DC 12V, 2.08W, 2950 RPM, 39.6 CFM, 32.0 dB-A) or FBA08A12U (DC 12V, 3.24W, 3450 RPM, 46.9 CFM, 38.2 dB-A) ? As a case fan.

txxxx · Aug 17, 2003

Has anyone seen a UK supplier for Panaflo L1A's ??? Ive seen one that's charging £20 a piece

Boobers · Aug 17, 2003

I like the Panaflo L1A's. They are quiet and I have yet to see one die. About a year and a half ago I bought 10 L1A's from SVC for $25...

Chumpman · Aug 17, 2003

Why don't you just volt mod the stealths?

afzan · Aug 17, 2003

Originally posted by: txxxx
Has anyone seen a UK supplier for Panaflo L1A's ??? Ive seen one that's charging £20 a piece

http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=6636

bigpow · Aug 17, 2003

very spesific question:

how silent L1A is compared to:
1. thermaltake SmartFan 2 @3000RPM
2. Lian-Li's standard case fans

quam · Aug 17, 2003

For the Panaflo L1A, FBA08A12L is for low volume, FBA08A12M is for medium volume, FBA08A12H is for high volume and FBA08A12U is for ultra volume --- each with increases in CFM and dB.

MasterFlash · Aug 17, 2003

I had a Stealth, but I ditched it for an SVC cheapy fan (32cfm/28dBA). The Stealth claims to be 21dB, but it's a higher pitch noise which I found to be irritating. I was pretty disappointed with it after shelling out $8+ship for it.

0roo0roo · Aug 17, 2003

the panaflos don't come with screws either right? other fans come withs crews, grill, and wire adaptors. if you add that to the costs it gets higher

txxxx · Aug 17, 2003

Originally posted by: afzan

Originally posted by: txxxx
Has anyone seen a UK supplier for Panaflo L1A's ??? Ive seen one that's charging £20 a piece

Click to expand...

http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=6636

Thanks, very useful.

MichaelD · Aug 17, 2003

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
the panaflos don't come with screws either right? other fans come withs crews, grill, and wire adaptors. if you add that to the costs it gets higher

This is true. But I already have tons of screws and don't usually use grills on the inside of case fans, since I never work in the case while it's running.

Oh, I did have to purchase the 3-pin adapters...$.15 each.

Are Panaflo L1A's really worth $7 each and are they quieter than Vantac Stealths? *found them for $3.75ea*

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Are Panaflo L1A's really worth $7 each and are they quieter than Vantac Stealths? found them for $3.75ea