Ball bearing vs. Sleeve Bearing

[Rahminator]

If you had to choose between 2 fans of identical size, and same CFM throughoutput which one would you choose? I know that ball bearing usually last longer, but of all ball bearing fans that I used in the past, after a few weeks they get loud and you can hear this bearing rumble and not just air being pumped through. This really gets on my nerves. Does this happen to all ball-bearing fans?

 

[Yoshi]

A good ball bearing fan is far superior and should not start to make noise for a long time.

 

[Killrose]

A good quality ball bearing fan. It will sound the same years after you install it.

 

[Rahminator]

Who makes "good" quality ball bearing fans? I've had a Blue Orb from Thermaltake and it started making rumbling noises after 4 months. In my old P1 233 puter I have a Global Win that started making rumbling noises after a few months. I have 2x 92mm Top Motor sleeve-bearing case fans that are working for 2 years now and are very quiet (can only hear air moving) and are still working properly. Hmm....