Panaflo...Vantec...NMB - Anyone have experience with all 3?

[Gaard]

SVC sells all 3 of them and the specs (airflow and noise level) are fairly close to each other...but the Panaflo is about 2x the cost of NMB, and the Vantec is about 2x the cost of Panaflo. 'Course, right now the Vantecs are onsale for the same price as Panaflo...$7.

 

[JokerF15]

All 3 will give you VERY similar performance. Go with the NMB just because its cheaper. Trust me. I've compared all there, and there was no noticable difference in noise, or temps, but again, you can't really determine long term until you test them yourselves.

For a few bucks a peice you can't go wrong.

-JokerF15

 

[cheapgoose]

nmbs are $0.99 each or 10 for 9 bucks at Directron.

I'm mad at svc right now! but I will save my rant for another time.



here you go

 

[frastini]

directron has high shipping but still a better deal than svc..

Frost

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

Panaflo's cost more because of the name. Panaflo = Panasonic. Panaflo's probably perform a little better than NMBs, but not enough to justify the higher cost IMHO.

 

[308nato]

I apologize for changing the topic a bit, but, are the 80mm NMB 3pin fans quiet. I have Antec 80mm's in my 1030 case and they are louder than necessary. My 1.6a doesn't need that much air moving. I still want all fans in place but something quieter.

I use a DigitalDoc5 as a baybus so the fans must have rpm sensors. I like the price of the NMB's pointed out here but know nothing about them.

Thanks.

 

[vmarkx3]

I got the Zalman ZM-F1 fan, hard to beat 39CFM@34bB or 28CFM@20dB settings. So far its working great with my GC68 cooling an AMD 1600+ at 1785Mhz (169*10.5), 1.8 Vcore... getting 50 oC constant under load.

 

[Gaard]

Well, I haven't yet decided what fan or where to get them, I just wanted to point out something that seems kind of odd to me. I was checking out Directron and their specs for the NMB fans say 22-40 dBA. What's up with that?

 

[JokerF15]

The 25cfm/22dba NMB's are quiet, and I would put money on them vs the Panaflo. The Panaflo fans are sleeve bearing fans, that's how they are so quiet. The NMB fans I beleive are Dual Ball Bearing.

Ball bearing is typically slightly louder than sleeve bearing.

Visit this site for more information on the types of bearing and the noise associated with it.

http://www.comairrotron.com/Engineering/CoolingFan.htm

But with the fan spinning at such low speeds, its HARDLY noticeable if at all (between the NMB and the panaflo).

As far as the stealth fan, I wouldn't beleive the CFM ratings from vantec. Each company tests in their own way, and It might just favor their product.

Pick up what ever is cheaper because there is no noticeable difference.

-JokerF15

 

[Jolt2]

The NMB fans at Directron are 40 dBA @ 12 volts and 22 dBA @ 7 volts. To get the lower noise, Directron sells a voltage reducer for $3.99 each. You can make your own by hooking the fans up to the red and yellow wires from your power supply. This will give you 7 volts.

You may also want to check this site out for more info..... very good site!

7volts.com

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Originally posted by: Jolt2
The NMB fans at Directron are 40 dBA @ 12 volts and 22 dBA @ 7 volts. To get the lower noise, Directron sells a voltage reducer for $3.99 each. You can make your own by hooking the fans up to the red and yellow wires from your power supply. This will give you 7 volts.

You may also want to check this site out for more info..... very good site!

7volts.com

Where the heck are you guys pulling this information from? Variable speed? Voltage reducing?

No.

22-40dBA is the range for this model line of generic fans. When you see "22-40dBA and 25-46 CFM" you're just getting the generic ranges for this model line. Directron/etc are either too lazy or incompetent to look up the actual specs on the model they're selling, or maybe they can't read past the second set of numbers in the model number. A full NMB model number looks like this: 3110KL-04W-B10-P00 (this is the 22dBA/25CFM model).

Also, directron rates this fan at .34A, but as far as I can see NMB doesn't make an 80mm fan that consumes that much current...

See actual nmb specs Too bad they're basically worthless to you if you're looking at directron's fans...at least you know you're getting the quietest ones from SVC.

 

[LongCoolMother]

http://www.case-mod.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=28_29&products_id=155 i ordered those yesterday, and it says

Airflow: 20CFM-52CFM
Noise Level: 17dBA-43dBA

and its automatic speed control so im assuming it can speed up moving more air thus creating more sound. or slow down vice versa.

btw, which ones are better? dual ball bearing or sleeve? i was going to get the zalman fan that someone mentioned earlier, but then decided not to because it wasnt "ball bearing".

 

[JokerF15]

Sleeve Bearing is generally slightly quieter, but Dual ball bearing has a better reputation for lasting.


ThisisMatt: Usually when a website quotes a fan as: 22-40cfm is means its variable. That's What I get from it. Goto svc, 2cooltek etc and you'll notice that also. I've only seen fan ranges at directron (maybe i'm not looking hard enough).

The Zalman fans are really good in 'quiet' mode. I wouldn't purchase one myself to use in normal mode. I wish Zalman would allow the selling of the inline resistor. Would be a good selling item. Specially if it was aroudn $1.50.


-JokerF15

 

[tuan121]

well i live next to directon so ill go check it out tomorrow and give yall the model numbers. =D

 

[Gaard]

Well I decided to go with the Vantec. Got 4 of them at SVC. Decided to go with the Vantecs because the NMBs seem too confusing with their specs and the Panaflos don't have monitoring capabilities. Got in on SVC's round cable sale too.

 

[JokerF15]

Hrmm..Vantec's eh?

I don't personally like them THAT much. They don't warrant the price. You'd be better off picking up the Zalman, or the NMB's, or EVEN the panaflo's (without monitoring capabilities).

I think Vantec is just too hyped, along with thermaltake.

Just my opinion.....I mean who am I to talk ...


-JokerF15

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Originally posted by: JokerF15
Sleeve Bearing is generally slightly quieter, but Dual ball bearing has a better reputation for lasting.


ThisisMatt: Usually when a website quotes a fan as: 22-40cfm is means its variable. That's What I get from it. Goto svc, 2cooltek etc and you'll notice that also. I've only seen fan ranges at directron (maybe i'm not looking hard enough).

The Zalman fans are really good in 'quiet' mode. I wouldn't purchase one myself to use in normal mode. I wish Zalman would allow the selling of the inline resistor. Would be a good selling item. Specially if it was aroudn $1.50.


-JokerF15

We'll see if tuan121 ever responds again. Until then I'll stick with "they're incompetent" and that it is the range for the fan model line. I've seen people do it a dozen times when they only look at the first two segments of the model number.

 

[RalfHutter]

I just got a box of 10 of the NMB's from SVC. I hooked one up to a spare PSU and ran it. I then switched to a Panaflo L1A so I could compare the noise levels. The NMB seemed very slightly quieter than the Panaflo. The sound was a little lower pitched.

I'm going to swap out the 4 L!A's in my system for the NMB's later this morning. I'll report back with my impressions of the noise difference and cooling abilities.

 

[Gaard]

RalfHutter - That's cool. You can compare the Panaflo and the NMBs. I have a couple of L1As sitting around, so when my Vantecs get here I can compare the Vantecs against the Panaflos. Between us we can figure this contest out.

 

[JokerF15]

I have:

The Panaflo, the NMB, the Zalman, the Vantec all laying around. I think i'll compare against each other and give a more accurate estimate, but they are ALL quiet. Go with the cheapest. I like the zalman solution because you can chose high or low, but I don't trust their ratings (same with vantec's).

I'll post back with some results.

-JokerF15

 

[RalfHutter]

Originally posted by: RalfHutter
I'll report back with my impressions of the noise difference and cooling abilities.

I installed the 4 NMB's in my case yesterday morning. They are very slightly quieter (more lower pitched really) then the 4 L1A's they replaced. They cool as well as the Panaflos. Exact same case and CPU temps at idle and under load.

I'd call it a toss-up. If I wasn't actually listening real close to hear a difference, I don't think I would have, and both the NMB's and Panaflo's cool as well as each other. NMB's are $2.50 (or 10 for $18.50) vs. Panaflo's for $7 from svccompucycle.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Originally posted by: RalfHutter

Originally posted by: RalfHutter
I'll report back with my impressions of the noise difference and cooling abilities.

I installed the 4 NMB's in my case yesterday morning. They are very slightly quieter (more lower pitched really) then the 4 L1A's they replaced. They cool as well as the Panaflos. Exact same case and CPU temps at idle and under load.

I'd call it a toss-up. If I wasn't actually listening real close to hear a difference, I don't think I would have, and both the NMB's and Panaflo's cool as well as each other. NMB's are $2.50 (or 10 for $18.50) vs. Panaflo's for $7 from svccompucycle.

I concur...the L1A's I've used were higher pitched. They're rated 1dBA less, but the NMB's are quieter IMO.

 

[tuan121]

ok, i purchased 2 of these fans at directron and they are pretty loud. i have the panaflo and they dont compare. i got 2 of these and they are both the same. i check the serial on all of them and they are the same. so im guessing all are about 40dba. hope this help.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Originally posted by: tuan121
ok, i purchased 2 of these fans at directron and they are pretty loud. i have the panaflo and they dont compare. i got 2 of these and they are both the same. i check the serial on all of them and they are the same. so im guessing all are about 40dba. hope this help.

The 4 segment model number would be more helpful.

 

[Jolt2]

tuan121, the last two groups of numbers from the fans would tell what speed fans you have. Does your fans have "B70" in the part number? Wire them to 7 volts to reduce noise and check out the site I listed above for help in reducing noise.