Need help picking a fan for my antec P180

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entropy1982

Golden Member
Jul 10, 2005
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Hey guys,

I am about to buy an antec p180 but I just noticed that it only comes with two fans.... i am assuming there is no fan on the top blowhole (please tell me if i am wrong). Noise is a slight concern but i still want it to push out a decent amount of air. Money is of no concern. Please suggest a few if you can ... or even better one best one for me :p

Also, would you recommend replacing the two fans that it comes with?

I am planning on ocing an x2 3800+ as high as i can and i will be running a 7800gtx at first and might add another one in a year or two. So there will be a decent amount of heat.

Thanks
 
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Bulldog101598

Banned
Aug 2, 2005
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The antec fans can be a tad loud, so you might want to replace them. But in this case they use tricool fans so you can adjust them low, medium, high. I think medium is said to be a good tradeoff between noise and airflow. Wait until you receive the case and see, however. It comes with 3 120mm fans: one on the top, one in the back, and one at the bottom where the PSU goes.
 
Cerb

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
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http://www.silentpcreview.com/article255-page1.html

Given the overall performance of it in various configurations (with passive CPU cooling, even), and that the 3800+ is nothing compared to the 3.8 Prescott, you shouldn't have much to worry about. But, if you do:

Oh so quiet...but sleeve. It will probably last the duration of the rig, but if it starts to die, you won't get much warning.
http://www.svc.com/d12sl-12.html

Not terribly quiet, but variable. It should work very low (~3v), but not start lower than about 5v. My biggest compaint is that after about a year of full-time use, the bearing noise increases significantly. Just part of being ball bearing, but still kind of annoying, as it could be made whisper quiet when it was brand new.
http://www.svc.com/uc-12fab-b.html

Not terribly quiet, but also very little bearing noise, and can move plenty of air at full speed.
http://www.svc.com/fba12g12m1a.html

Unfortunately, it's a LED fan. If you're willing to deal with that, or remove them, this would be almost as good as the Nexus.
http://www.newegg.com/OldVersion/app/Vi...Desc.asp?description=35-129-241&depa=0

I can't find any right now, but Evercool's fans are also pretty good as far as performance and noise are concerned. They manage to push a fair amount, but undervolt very well, too.
 
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entropy1982

Golden Member
Jul 10, 2005
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so what would you guys say is the top choice? .... and also do i even need to upgrade the fans? will it reduce noise significantly? will it cool the case a lot better?
 
Cerb

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
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It's not like you're getting a case with subpar--or even average--cooling or silencing capabilities out of the box. Get the case, install your stuff, play around a bit, maybe note temps and such during high stress, etc., and then decide where to go from there.
 
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nealh

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 1999
7,078
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I have this case the antec fans are ok..at low very quiet move very little air..I think less than rated

I purchased Coolermaster 120mm fans...very quiet and move more air...at medium speed antec tricools move a little more air but there is more noise

I hate fan noise..I just got a new panaflo bx fan for my XP90..but I am pretty sure I am going back to my vantec stealth fan for less noise and will give a few mhz if necessary
 
Cerb

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
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A Panaflo L 80mm or 92mm will be quieter than a Stealth at a given CFM. If it is a Panaflo M, then then yeah, the Stealth might be quiter. Even so, it wouldn't hurt to try it at lower voltages--if you aren't OCing, the XP-90 should be able to handle most CPUs (maybe not newer P4s) w/ a Panaflo L at 7v.

I don't know how well the Coolermaster ones push air compared to others, but they are quiet. At 120mm, the Nexus is hard to beat for noise (but also easy to beat for air flow).
 
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nealh

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 1999
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Originally posted by: Cerb
A Panaflo L 80mm or 92mm will be quieter than a Stealth at a given CFM. If it is a Panaflo M, then then yeah, the Stealth might be quiter. Even so, it wouldn't hurt to try it at lower voltages--if you aren't OCing, the XP-90 should be able to handle most CPUs (maybe not newer P4s) w/ a Panaflo L at 7v.

I don't know how well the Coolermaster ones push air compared to others, but they are quiet. At 120mm, the Nexus is hard to beat for noise (but also easy to beat for air flow).
Click to expand...

I agree 100%..Panaflo (80mm l1A move 24cfm/21dba) is going to move I think less air than Vantec Stealth(20dbs/27cfm) vs Panaflo Bx(27dba/43cfm)

I think if you move the BX to lower voltage you will get less cfm and defeats its purpose

Do not miss interpret my comments..I love the Panaflo fans(although I wonder if the motor is louder on BX(made in china) vs my PAnaflo L made in japan

Vantec Stealth is super quiet but moves less air..so less cooling to point


 
Cerb

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
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BX has nothing to do with where it's made (BX = normal RPM sensor), but the Chinese ones do have a tendency to suck. The motor won't be different, but they might be less balanced, so make more vibration noise. The few Chinese ones I've used have not been as good as the Japanese ones, which doesn't make for the easiest purchasing, as most sites don't say which it is.

The Panaflo L will be good, but still a touch loud compared to other 120mm fans, but it will undervolt nicely (note: undervolting != PWM). If you really want quiet at 120mm, though, the Nexus (Yate-Loon) is the way to go. The Vantecs are OK, but their main saving grace is that you can buy them everywhere.
 
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nealh

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 1999
7,078
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I hjave not seen anyone selling Made in Japan 92mm Panaflo BX...I realize the model does not tell where it is from...but there are several 92mm Panaflo models..I bought BX

When I buy my L1A from Jabtech..I always spend a bit more to get the guaranteed MIJ

I think we are digressing

the recopmmedned fan for the XP90 at Jabtech was 92mm Panaflo BX..for 43cfm at 27dba...for noise/performance but I still think it is fair bit louder than my Vantec

 
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ShazK

Member
Jan 1, 2005
146
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I need to get one 120mm fan for my p180 as well and also need to consider replacing the other fans.. hmm...
 
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nealh

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 1999
7,078
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there is a third fan..but it is a 120mmx38mm...huge for lower chamber ..very tight fit with an OCZ Powerstream for example
 
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milleron

Senior member
May 20, 2005
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Originally posted by: entropy1982
why do you need another shazk? i thought it comes with all 3.
Click to expand...

You'd need another if you wanted a front intake fan. The three it comes with are in the rear, the top, and in the lower compartment. There's a mount for the front-panel fan but it doesn't come with one in that position.
You're gonna love this case.

Ron
 
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entropy1982

Golden Member
Jul 10, 2005
1,053
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Ah, I actually have a powerstream 520, i guess ill get one to replace that and one for the front. What dimensions do i need if not 120X38?

So i suppose i will get 2 fans along with this case.

So guys... you have been super helpful. I don't need a Ridiculously quiet fan but quiet is always good.... what would you guys say is an all-around good one?.... i don't mind a little noise but not too much and also i need some decent airflow but it doesn't have to be THE-BEST airflow .... so i guess which one is in the middle in each category (all-around good)?
 
S

ShazK

Member
Jan 1, 2005
146
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I was thinking of getting a medium speed panaflo fan. Maybe 2 depending on how tight the PSU fit is.
 
Cerb

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
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Jab-tech even has the Evercool fans; cool. They are a good one if you want to start out with good flow, and then undervolt if you want quiet.
 
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entropy1982

Golden Member
Jul 10, 2005
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Seems like Evercool cools has twice as much airflow as the Nexus... why is the nexus so popular?

Also,
Cerb: you recommend evercool over panalo nexus and yate loon?
 
Cerb

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
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The Nexus is quiet. However, it doesn't push much air. The Evercool fans push a good bit, and also reliably start at 7v and 5v, and allegedly even less. Not having a fan voltage controller (got parts; will build it into case), I've only use the Enermax variable fans under 5v. The Evercool's real benefit is low bearing noise at any speed, and versatility, in that it can be brought down close to as quiet as the Nexus/Yate Loon, but does not have to be. If Evercool and Yate Loon use the same measurement for noise (Nexus uses the same specs as the Yate Loon fan of the same model), the Evercool is near three times as loud as the Nexus at stock speeds, and is almost twice as loud to the ear (22.8dBA v. 30dBA, if they are comparable measurements).

At 120mm, the Panaflo L isn't really quiet, but is still good for the amount of air it pushes.
 
Cerb

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
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Well, better than not having enough choices :). Just wait until you have your rig in the P180 for a bit, and keep this bookmarked. Then you can decide if you want to replace the fans at all, get it quieter, get a bit more performance, or a bit of both. I've been almost drooling over the case, and have yet to read of anyone not enjoying it (the worst seems to be tight cable fits and a fair bit of initial prep time).
 
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