system info, fan list, help pick fans.

[ExpertNovice]

I need fans to cool my head before it explodes from comparing fans. Lots of detail here...

MANY of the threads here and other websites, including endpcnoise and SPCR, have been read. The article at http://www.silentpcreview.com/article63-page2.html was especially helpful. I wish they had included SilenX fans in the review.

What I'm wanting is a compromise between cooler and quieter and I'm hoping that you will help with practical experience.

My system is a full tower with PSU up top and just below the rear mounted exhaust fan. There is only one intake fan which is mounted in the fron. Also at the top of the case are two 10000 rpm hot swappable SCSI drives enclosed in cooling cases. A SATA drive is mounted internally just in front of the exhaust fan. The PSU is a Truepower 430 (the only decent PSU immediately available when the old one died). Currently the tower only utilizes 92mm fans but the plan is to drill additional holes and use 120mm fans.

The CPU is a meager 1.4 GHz but the MoBo and CPU may be upgraded shortly. Currently the case must be open to prevent some component from overheating. (it beeps, but I can't tell which component is beeping with the doors closed and open it doesn't beep and I'm too big to crawl inside.)



I'm considering on installing 2 120 mm fans at the bottom front of the system instead of one. For the exhaust I plan on putting a higher CFM (and dBA) rated fan since there is only room for only one exhaust. The PSU uses the other exhaust slot.

There is also an internally side mounted fan that blows air in the general area of the CPU and memory cards. Since the PSU is now blowing air down toward the CPU I'm considering moving this fan directly over the memory.

Please pick apart my ideas and the fan choices below and give me better options! Again, I'm not emphasizing cooling or quiet but a compromise between the two.

Gaskets will be used to help lower dBA.


For the 2 intake and internal fans....
Either:
SilenX iXtrema 120mm 11dBA Case Fan
40 cfm
1200 rpm
11 dBA <=====at what distance????
3 and 4 pin

or

Nexus Real Silent 120 mm (D12SL-12)
1000 RPM
36.87 CFM
22.8 dBA
3 and 4 pin

The Nexus is the recommendation but they have not yet tested the SilenX fan. Nor have they tested Yate Loons, but I understand Yates are very hard to find.


For the exhaust fan, There are 4 choices picked out...
Thermaltake Thunderblade 120mm LED Fan - Blue
4.56 W
78 cfm
2000 rpm
21 dBA <==== at what distance!
4 pin

or

Antec 120mm Blue LED Fan
79 CFM
2000 rpm
29.8 dBA

or

Panaflo 120mm Hydro Wave Bearing M1A Fan
4.08 W
86.5 cfm
2100 rpm
35 dBA <==== seems noisy
3 pin only

or

maybe the Enermax / Compuman / Globe Fan UC-12FAB / B1202412M-3M
suggested by SPCR but appears to have been discontinued.
Perhaps, too expensive, no good, or lousy marketing.
95 cfm
2300 rpm
30 dBA
? pin

 

[Operandi]

SilentX and Tt specs are meaningless lies ignore them.

 

[ExpertNovice]

They may not be lies.

No one is publishing at what distance the measurements are being taken. Trust me, the Concorde jet streaking over the Atlantic has a zero dBA where I live!

Anyway... that is why I'm asking about personal experience with these. I think any will do, but someone will have compared a couple and may be able to help eliminate one or more.

Since I'm buying enough for 3 computers I don't want to buy all of them and test... although I may buy some extras to listen for myself.

 

[Jotho]

From personal experience I can conclude:

1) My Silenx 80mm is nearly silent but doesn't move a whole lot of air.

2) My Vantec Stealth 80mm moves more air than the Silenx, but there's a definite audible humming noise when it's running.



Edit: Oh, and another bit of information. Remember that the 120mm Panaflo you're considering is wider than most other 120mm case fans (38mm vs 25mm I believe). Just something to be aware of...

 

[imported_Kensai]

I like the Thermaltake Thermalblade. You can hear it slightly, but it isn't very disturbing.

 

[ExpertNovice]

Thanks for the responses. I will be purchasing the SilenX for the intake fans. This decision is based on another thread where they were compared with some of my other options.

While it would be nice if all fan manufacturers stated the conditions (chambers) under which they were tested and from what distance the measurements were made, all I can go on are testimonials.

That leaves the exhaust fan. Thanks Jotho, the exhaust fan is somewhat limited on space so I will be careful to check widths. For one fan I buy various fans for testing.

 

[Operandi]

SilentX is rebadged Adda, nothing more. You can buy SilentX if you want but your better off not feeding SilentX's BS marketing and look for low RPM Adda's. Regarding the 14 dBA spec, there isn't a fan that exists that moves any meaningful amount of air it's not physically possible.

 

[IntegraGSR]

panaflos all around

 

[ExpertNovice]

I keep seeing people say 14 dBA is a "SCAM" and bascially saying it is not possible.

Allow me to restate this in a different way. Zero dBA is possible, even with the largest diesel engine made.

Obviously the sound volume at the source matters but the distance at which it is measured matters even more. Even the direction the fan is blowing in relationship to the microphone matters.

No manufacturer is giving enough information to fully rely on their ratings. It is my assumption that SilenX moves further away to take their measurement. It would be nice if there was a standard agreed upon and used by the manufacturers.

Some manufactures do state that the measurement is made within a chamber. This should lower the dBA below real world applications because of the reduced ambient airflow should reduce turbulence. I don't consider that a scam either.


Anyway, that is why I only partially used the dBA to choose fans but then asked for actual comparisons between fans. Had SPCR reviewed the SilenX fans, presumably keeping all other factors the same, this post would not have been made.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: ExpertNovice
I keep seeing people say 14 dBA is a "SCAM" and bascially saying it is not possible.

Allow me to restate this in a different way. Zero dBA is possible, even with the largest diesel engine made.

Obviously the sound volume at the source matters but the distance at which it is measured matters even more. Even the direction the fan is blowing in relationship to the microphone matters.

No manufacturer is giving enough information to fully rely on their ratings. It is my assumption that SilenX moves further away to take their measurement. It would be nice if there was a standard agreed upon and used by the manufacturers.

Some manufactures do state that the measurement is made within a chamber. This should lower the dBA below real world applications because of the reduced ambient airflow should reduce turbulence. I don't consider that a scam either.


Anyway, that is why I only partially used the dBA to choose fans but then asked for actual comparisons between fans. Had SPCR reviewed the SilenX fans, presumably keeping all other factors the same, this post would not have been made.

But it IS a scam, there are standards for testing dBA ratings SilentX is obviously choosing to ignore any standards that are in place. 14 dBA is ridiculously low for any mechanical device with moving parts like a fan. So low either SilentX is making the specs up as they go or their testing procedures are horrible to rendered useless, either way it's complete BS.

Besides like I stated previously all they are is re-badged Adda's, so unless you want to pay $10-$15 for the "SilentX" sticker your throwing money away.

BTW, you don't have to take my word for it. You can head over to the SPCR forums where plenty of ppl have experience with them, they will tell you the same thing.

 

[ExpertNovice]

Ok, if you say there are standards then I will believe you. What are the standards? Some manufactures measure in a chamber and some don't, who is doing it correctly? At what distance are they supposed to measure? Do the measure with the fan blowing toward the detector or away from it?

As for being repackaged Adda fans then Adda is scamming us as well. One of the first pages I read at their website this morning (yes, I checked them out based on your comment) has them touting their 15 dBA fan. Ok, that is higher than 14....


Still, so many who have compared SilenX to other fans and say they do appear quieter. It would be great if SPCR would test them and add them to their suggested fans list.

 

[essasin]

Undervolted pannys!

 

[IntegraGSR]

sidewindercomputers.com has some audio clips with different fans.

 

[essasin]

I usually buy my fans from SVC, they usually have every accesory you need

 

[ExpertNovice]

essasin,

Thanks for the website! They don't carry the fans I'm going to purchase but I really like the website layout. It makes comparisons so much easier. They will be getting some business from me.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: ExpertNovice
Ok, if you say there are standards then I will believe you. What are the standards? Some manufactures measure in a chamber and some don't, who is doing it correctly? At what distance are they supposed to measure? Do the measure with the fan blowing toward the detector or away from it?

As for being repackaged Adda fans then Adda is scamming us as well. One of the first pages I read at their website this morning (yes, I checked them out based on your comment) has them touting their 15 dBA fan. Ok, that is higher than 14....


Still, so many who have compared SilenX to other fans and say they do appear quieter. It would be great if SPCR would test them and add them to their suggested fans list.

I'm not sure on the specifics, I think the most common test is run at 1m free air, not sure at what angle the SPL meter is positioned at.

I also checked out Adda's page and didn't find any fan rated at 15 dBA but I did find one 80x25mm Hypro bearing fan at 14. The problem is this fan is rated at 1600RPM, the SilenX fan is rated at 2000. All the Adda fans that run at 2000RPM scale in at 20 dBA+, which is still very quiet.

 

[Phantronius]

SilenX and Vantec Stealths are pure utter crap, avoid them.

 

[ExpertNovice]

Operandi,

Thanks for the information.

This "thread" at SPCR was missed during my earlier visits... taking the time to post it now. (I hope this doesn't make me a fan boy... )
http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=16393&start=0


Phantronius,

Why are SilenX crap? So far, all I have really read is at:
http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=4551
It doesn't sound like a quality issue (ie crap) but an ethics issue. That DOES carry a lot of weight with me. Given the low dBA scores it appears they have not learned their lesson. If that is indeed the case then I will NOT purchase SilenX. As of this time I have not heard both sides.

Call me whatever, but I do try to be receptive to all sides.

Any explanations? (rather than rehashing here send me a PM, preferably with links)
I will be researching. Never mind.. I found the thread at http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=4504
After reading just a little I will not be purchasing SilenX.... Had their dBA specs changed I might have... but it has been a solid 2 years and they have not learned. Bad company...

Thanks for everyone who have been politely hitting me over the head on this issue!

 

[Thezeroone]

The Nexus fans are rebadged Yate Loons from everything that I've read. Panaflo's are considered good because they have long bearing life and very little if any bearing noise. I believe (going off memory) that Nexus fans use a sleeve bearing, which does not have as long a lifespan. If you were to go with the Panaflo's you'll need to have some sort of RPM controller (rheobus, Fanmates) to drop the noise level low enough for your tastes.

BTW Panaflo's are considered to have accurate spec's. So when they rate as 35 dba it is a pretty accurate assement.

One last thing, check out Jab-tech.com for prices. they do carry many of these fans.

 

[JJK80]

I would suggest GlacialTech SilentBlade 120x120x25mm (950RPM, 37CFM, 19dB) fan!
http://www.glacialtech.com/pdf/12025.pdf

I have compared that GT SilentBlade 120mm fan against Nexus 120mm fan. The sound level were about same (I did not notice any difference between them), but GlacialTech moved a lot of more air than Nexus. GlacialTech is also cheaper.