Picking Case Fans

[sechs]

Right now, I have three fans in my case, one front and two rear. All three are the stock Power Logic PL80S12M fans that came with the case; they push 27.55CFM at 2500RPM and 28.3dBA. They're pretty nice, but, with three, it's a bit noisy.

I'd like to buy three fans to replace them, with the goal of reducing noise without seriously decreasing air flow. The only restriction on which I insist is that the front fan must be three-pin with rpm, so that I can easily see that it is in fact running.

I've narrowed my search on the following fans:
1. NMB 80x80x25mm, p/n 3110KL-04W-B19, 1600RPM, 20CFM, 19dBA (with RPM monitor), $1.99
2. NMB 80x80x25mm, p/n 3110KL-04W-B10, 2150RPM, 25CFM, 22dBA (no RPM monitor), $2
3. Top Motor 80x80x25mm, 2200RPM, 28CFM, 24dBA, $3
4. Enermax 80x80x25mm, p/n UC-001B-TC, 25C-1800RPM / 22CFM-18dBA, 45C-2100RPM, 65C-2600RPM / 33CFM-29dBA, 85C-3100RPM (thermal control with sensor), $5
5. Vantec Stealth 80x80x25mm Smart Fan, model SF8025L, 2050RPM, 27CFM, 21dBA, $7.99

What are good choices? If you'd like to suggest a fan that I haven't listed, please give a link to specs and to someplace (reputable) that I can buy it.

Right now, I'm considering a pair of #2s for the rear spots, since they're cheap and quiet enough for the wall; and a #5 for the front, since that's where I'm really going to hear something.

Thanks for your input!

 

[SWScorch]

I was going to recommend the Vantec Stealth fan for the intake; looks like you have the right idea. I have little experience with NMB fans, but I've heard they're pretty good quality, and you cant beat the price. You might also look at Panaflo L1As; althought they're more procey and have no RPM monitor (but you said that's acceptable for the rearfans)

 

[Bad Dude]

Where can you get such low prices for fans?
Thanks.

 

[sechs]

I've been looking mostly at BestByte.
Shipping is $5, which does pay off if you buy a couple fans.

 

[coolroyboy2]

I have 4 NMB 80x80x25mm 19dba and for the money you can't go wrong IMO.
Nice and quiet paired with the Arctic cooling super silent Pro TC.

 

[XMan]

It's amazing how much money you can save on the net. Our local computer store wants 15 bucks for those Vantec fans.

 

[cheap]

This is a no brainer, go with #1 for rear fans and forget the front intake fan unless you're running a hard drive array or something or you need the fron fan for blowing air right on your hd if it's running hot. Other than that, front fan will just create a whole lotta more noise without improving system temperature buy a lot, not worth it going by noise/improvement ratio. Lol, hook up one of the rear fans to mobo to monitor it instead. Front fans are almost useless, rear fans are the most important ones, coming straight from AMD. Look, I only have one exhaust fan running right now at 2500 rpm below PSU and my system temp is 32c. CPU is AMD XP 1600+ at 1.75ghz which can run extremely hot, at full load reaches 55c. Rear exhaust fans a very important because they immideatly suck out the heat coming off heatsink. Also, the reason to go with #1 instead of #2, is you gotta remember that dba to noise ration is not linear, an increase of 3 dba makes twice the ammount of noise! So #2 is actually TWICE as loud as #1.

If you really want to, you can also put #1 upfront, then run some benchmark for some time and take note of ambient temperature, then unplug front fan and do the same again. Then see if it's worth to you having third fan for however big or small the change in system temp will be.

 

[OulOat]

I see bestbyte has raised their prices on Stealths, they used to be 5.99. Get panaflos since they are cheaper, here While you are there, get some of this. It's normally twice as expensive