quiet 92mm fans?

[konakona]

As I was putting together a cheap computer for my friend, I discovered the fans included in the OCZ vendetta (not 2, it's the first one that went for FAR) were just waaaaay too loud. Tried some throttling with a pwm device, still too loud. Are there any good 92mm fans out there? If it were 120mm, I have some spare yate loons lying around, but as it is there is no way to attach them a 120mm to the heatsink. Not sure if 92mm fans have different favorites, are gentletyphoons still the way to go? The case is a cheap one at $20 shipped or so, and the compromise we had to make on that was provision for a 80mm exhaust fan instead of one for 120mm more commonplace these days. I need to double check if the case also has mounts for 92mm fans though, that's what I had read at SD when I decided to pick one of these up.

Well it would be nice if it's something you could buy from local MC or fry's, as the rest of the computer is pretty much ready to go. Are any of these half decent for price?

http://www.microcenter.com/search/se...uct&web_group=

If something has to be ordered online anyway, might as well pick up some GTs...

 

[ClockHound]

From your MC list -
1st choice: Scythe PWM
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0262706
Not too noisy (MUCH quieter than the OCZ fan) and good airflow. Used one on a crossbow mounted Vendetta cooling an overclocked 2180 at 3ghz. Cheap and quiet. Still, the airflow is not as good as a medium speed GT, but does the Vendetta really need a GT?

2nd choice ARCTIC F: http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0325877
Not as much airflow as the Scythe, but a little quieter.

Best budget option the Scythe PWM. And if you squeeze in - a back plate mounting kit for the Vendetta.

 

[WoodButcher]

I had this same need recently, I wanted 92 mm PWM, so I ordered quite a few different fans. The two best I found are on your list. The CM had the best temps, (I'm using a CM L3 low profile heatsink) and the noise was not bad. My case is a mitx and this fan is exposed to the outside, mounted just under the top panel so this is the fan you hear in my system. The scythe was next up in the temps dept, 1-2 deg C avg, but better for noise so this is in my system.

I have non PWM fans also including the gentle typhoon 2650 rpm and this was far and away the best for noise and temp at full load so if you go 3pin this is it, hands down.

 

[cbn]

What about a fan cooling the CPU? Can these be had in PWM? Can they be made to slow down the same way a stock HSF slows down?

 

[WoodButcher]

What about a fan cooling the CPU? Can these be had in PWM? Can they be made to slow down the same way a stock HSF slows down?

Yes, This is exactly what I posted earlier.

 

[cbn]

Is there any way to convert a non PWM fan to have PWM function (just like a stock Intel HSF)?

 

[konakona]

thanks for all the suggestions, but I talked him into picking up a hyper 212 plus ($19.99 w/o rebates) when we stopped by at a local MC to pick up some AC ceramique. Vendetta looked too tiny to do a decent job at cooling, might as well spend extra $10 or so for something substantially better. That lil ah heck didn't cost a dime anyway, we got one each when it was going for FAR

But this is still good info for future reference. Thanks a bunch!