Looking for some 120mm

Sep 23, 2005
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I need some suggestions on 120mm fans. Im buying an SLK3000B soon and Im looking to fill the 120mm spots. It comes with an Antec tricool 120. Now I can either leave that in there and just get an additional fan for the front, or get 2 120mm's. Im looking to keep it relatively quiet yet provide good airflow. Id like to keep is pretty cheap too...
 

themusgrat

Golden Member
Nov 2, 2005
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Panaflos are great, though they are not all that quiet. In all reality, there is no "perfect" fan, with respectable airfow and low noise. Many fans claim this, but none truly deliver, in my opinion. I use a Panaflo 120mm that does 92 cfm, and it is great, though it is a tossup as to whether it or my Swiftech MCP650 is louder. One thing that I have noticed with mine is that it seems to settle down after a while; I know it isn't as loud now as when I bought it. Good luck on finding a good one.
 

GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
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Answer these questions plz.

Are you going to monitor RPM, ie, Do you need at sensor wire?

How much cfm do you expect/need at 12V?

Do you seek sleeve or quality ball bearing fans? (each has it's advantages)

Are you going to use a fan controller that is not software based?

If you are going to use a hardwired controller will it be rheostat or PWM in type?
(each has it's advantages)

How much do you expect to $pend?

Quiet, good air flow and cheap do not exist in the same cooling sentance :)


...Galvanized
 
Sep 23, 2005
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I dont need to monitor the RPM
I would like over 50 CFM
I will be using a fan controller which is not software based (Vantec Nexus NXP-201 Fan Controller)
I would like to spend 15 dollars or less per fan
 

GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
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I have this fan and have tested it on both a Sunbeam Rheobus and a NeXus 201.

It does not like rheostat control but seems to prefer the NeXus PWM.

Panaflo, 120x38, 86.5cfm @ 35.5dBA #FBA12G12M. It comes with a three pin connector but
no third wire=no sensor. Can be found for <<$15. I hope you have room for 38s because it's
a fairly good fan.

How do you like your case?


...Galvanized
 

GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
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Yeah, their OK. They do pad the shipping a touch iirc. I've bought there several times.

Notice they have the same part# for two of those fans? One is $5, the other $9.
I don't know what is up with that.

You do realized that 12V will not be had with a controller. The top voltage with the NeXus
will be about 11.4V, maybe a touch more. The Sunbeam I use has the top voltage at 11V.

...Galvanized
 
Sep 23, 2005
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im confused, didnt you say u used the FBA12G12M with your Sunbeam Rheobus and NeXus 201? How can i find one with volts lower than 12v sothat i could use it with my fan controller...sorry if this is a stupid Q
 

GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
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I use a Sunbeam Rheobus=a very basic fan controller that can go down to 0V.
The fans I love are Delta Triple Blades. They will start/run at 3.5V, no kidding.
I have low and medium speed DTBs in 92x25 and 92x38, very sweet fans but not cheap.
My intake fan is a 120x38 Sanyo Denki 105cfm @ 39dBA. It will start/run transparently @ 5V.
There are some for sale in FSorTrade forum. I have several of them but at 8V they intrude.
On a Sunbeam they are fine.

I bench tested several types of fans with both the NeXus PWM and the Sunbeam. A DMM was
used to check min,start and running voltages. The NeXus only goes down to 8V.
The Sunbeam costs <$10.

Are you unconfused or more confused now?


...Galvanized
 

GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
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A Sunbeam Rheobus goes from 0V to 11V.

A NeXus PWM goes from 8V to 11.5V. The above Pan will do well on the NeXus.

EDIT: I was wrong. The NeXus PWM's lowest voltage setting is 6.65V with the
fan I tested below. It may make a differance if a lower wattage fan is tested.



...Galvanized

Deal with the FSorTrade member......I'm outa here.
 

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
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Most computer fans have a nominal voltage of 12V. Most of the same fans have a "working voltage range" that covers at least 7 to 13.6 Volts and fans also have a "starting" voltage which is the average voltage at which that specific model of fan will start. The fans I'm selling in my sig will start at a little below 5 Volts and will run at well down into the 4 to 5 volt range (depending on backpressure and/or intake restrictions). Just a reminder that some fans already have a dropping resistor (Nexus, Silen-X) and thus have a restricted "working voltage range". They are designed to be used at full speed - which in any case doesn't move much air. When you buy fans like that, you have placed quiet above alll.

The voltages I mentioned above are in free air - which means NO intake restrictions or backpressure, both of which are found in typical computer case applications. So those are "ivory tower" numbers. Each user must do his own experimentation to determine safe usages in his application.

.bh.
 
Sep 23, 2005
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So according to what GalvanizedYankee said..I would only be able to operate a fan down to 8v with my Nexus fan controller. Zepper, would that mean the Sanyo Denki Fans would start at 8v...and if so how loud are they about at that voltage?
 

GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
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Originally posted by: Spoot
So according to what GalvanizedYankee said..I would only be able to operate a fan down to 8v with my Nexus fan controller. Zepper, would that mean the Sanyo Denki Fans would start at 8v...and if so how loud are they about at that voltage?


I have several of these Sanyo Denki 120x38s. They start/run reliably at 4.75V.
They will most asuradly start/run at 5V. They will work fine at the 6.65V the NeXus
controller provides at it's lowest setting. At 6.65V the fan is hard to hear at 24" in
open air, ie, on the bench. I just dug out the NeXus controller I have and checked.

I don't know where I got the 8V as lowest from, but I was WRONG. Brain fart maybe.

The NeXus with this Sanyo Denki will be sweetness. These are very high end fans
that won't deteriorate over time as sleeve bearing fans will. The ball bearings used
in these fans are not a loose fit so they are quiet BBs.

At 8V they will be heard but not that bad really. At full voltage they fall between the
Pan 114cfm and 86cfm in dBA but much closer to the 86cfm Pan. These Sanyo Denki fans push
103cfm @ 12V. How do I know? I have all three fans.


...Galvanized

 

GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
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Originally posted by: ribbon13
Ever used these Yankee?


No I haven't. On paper it sure looks good but a 120x25, pushing 79cfm @ 30dBA sounds
too good to be true. The Pan 120x38, pushes 87cfm @ 36dBA. That would seem to be quite
a jump in noise for 8 more cfm, considering it's a 38mm fan.

I've become very partial to 38s. They will drive or draw more mm of H2O. I use intake air
filters made from home AC filtering material, so this is a consideration on hot SoCal days.
I have no home AC and pets.

Since your in contact with comp repair ppl. sidewindercomputers.com has thermistor
controlled NMB fans 92x32 for Dell comps at <$6. At 25C they are silent by 37C they are
driving 50cfm, at 55C they top out at 80cfm. The Dell price on these bad boys is>$120.
At 80cfm they are honking at 55dBA, But they do undervolt really well. I bought two just
to play with.

Jumping the hub mounted thermistor produces a very easy to undervolt fan. This fan is
ment to suck air off the Intel HS and is ducted to the rear of the case. The ducts are a
lime green color.


...Galvanized