Best performance out of quiet fans?

[MegaRoll]

Okay, I have a bunch of questions that I hope wont be too much of a touble to answer.

Does ambient temp really affect overall GPU, CPU, and other PC components' temps? If so then...
At what point does ambient temp stop affecting their temps?
Are the differences between these fans audible (can you hear/tell a big difference in how loud each one is?)
Im assuming more CFM = better ambient temp. Is that correct?
Which one of these fans gave you the best experience?

Nexus fans
Yate Loons (120x120x25 models)
Panaflo fans
Coolermaster fans - I cant really find any info on them right now because their website is really messed up. I cant really find any information on the A12025-12CB (best model Im assuming...) either.

If you guys suggest any better fans, please share.

 

[RallyMaster]

go to svc.com for info on Cooler Master fans.

1. Yes, ambient temperature does affect component temperatures but the reverse is also true. A good airflow is always desired to remove the hot air produced by components as quickly as possible. If your ambient temperature is affecting your component temperatures greatly, it is time to improve cooling.
2. If ambient temperature is slightly higher than room temperature, then your job has been completed correctly. My room is currently around 18C but my case temperature is about 22.8C. Keep ambient temperature as close to room temperature as possible.
3. Yes, you will be able to hear differences in these fans. If a fan is rated at 44dBA, it will be loud but move more air than if a fan is rated at 22.8dBA (assuming you are the same distance from these fans). However, you can always control your fan speeds through a fan controller.
4. More cubic feet per minute (cfm) does indeed mean more movement of air. Like mentioned, ambient temperature also depends on room temperature and the amount of heat produced by your components.
5. I'm using all Cooler Master fans and I find them quieter than my keyboard and the click of my mouse. I can turn my speakers down to the lowest level before it turns off and I cannot hear my Cooler Master fans. Be careful though, you don't want to overvolt the 120 mm Cooler Masters or it will start getting loud (especially not the Silent LED series).

 

[MegaRoll]

Thanks for the reply.

In response to number 3, I was looking for a more personal opinionated stance rather than a technical one. I do understand the principles of decibels but I dont usually compare things to how many decibels they have. I dont walk around with a sound meter nor do I know what 40dBA sounds like. Im usually 2-3+ feet away from my computer at all times so would something like 40dBA be audible?

Do you have the A12025-12CB model?

 

[RallyMaster]

40 dBA is definitely audible. My old Athlon XP with a 36.4 dBA rated Thermaltake Volcano 10+ is audible two rooms away (at least 35 feet) with near silent cooling fans (2x80 mm Cooler Master) and a very quiet PSU. However, this computer is barely audible 8 feet away. I may have more fans in this computer (2x120 mm on case, 1x120 mm in PSU, 1x80mm on case window, 1x70~mm on CPU, GPU fan, and 40 mm NB fan), but it's definitely quieter.

The 120 mm CM case fans on my current computer are model TLF-S12-EB.

 

[Ping to the Pong]

i personally like the Nexus and well as Yate Loon fans. It all depends on what your definition of loud is, but to me anything under 25db is good. I dont want to hear any fans when im at my desk using my system, and to me when you are around 22db, you cant really hear the fans. At 25db you can barely hear em and after that, you will be able to noticebly hear the fans. The nexus fans are dead quiet, the Yate loons make some noise but are on the quiet side. and panaflos have great air to noise ratios however the 120s are quite loud.

 

[letdown427]

http://www.silentpcreview.com/modules.p...index&req=viewarticle&artid=121&page=1


Should give you a rough idea.

 

[RobsTV]

Another factor is where PC is located.
On desktop (or close to ear level) will be twice as loud as floor tower.

After testing dozens of fans, most of the noise ratings are pure bull.
Bought into ArticCooling hype. Way too loud.
Panaflo's. Too loud.
Antec Aria, with the worlds quietest PC, was the loudest.
Pretty much all 21db fans and up were way too loud.
Forgot all the brands and models, but tested dozens.

Then I bought a SilenX Power supply, and discovered 14db.
14db is silent. Probably not really 14db, bit ArcticCooler 21db is not 21db either.
SilenX is junk, as fan died after about 6 months.

Now I use fans advertised around 20db, but do the 7v mod to slow them down, and it works.

For HSF, using Zalman 7000 series cranked low as it can go. Still keeps Opteron 146@3Ghz under 52c. ( ambient temps in FL home at least 74F year round).

 

[The Sly Syl]

I think that the best way to get "silent" fans is to get a decent rated fan (like the panaflo "mid" model) and then use a fanspeed controller to undervolt the fans.

I like a fan speed controller mainly because I LAN a lot, and when you get a LAN party going, the ambient temp and overall volume level both rise considerably, and i'm able to increase the airflow of my computer as it becomes necessary, and the extra sound is drowned out with everything else going on.

 

[w00t]

nexus.