THE best 120mm fan in CFM/dB?

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V

Vegitto

Diamond Member
May 3, 2005
5,234
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Originally posted by: Jeff7
Originally posted by: Luckyboy1
Easy to answer... Panaflow fans...

http://www.pccasegear.com/prod18.htm
Click to expand...

Generally, yes. But Panaflo does offer some fans that make a decent amount of motor noise, though they're probably not in the majority in the computer market.
Click to expand...

Duuude, those are expensive :eek:. I was looking for ?10-20 per fan.. $35 is above what I wanna spend on a fan. Thanks anyways :).
 
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GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
6,986
0
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SPCR forums has e-tailers in the UK listed in a dedicated thread.
SPCR has quiet fan reviews.
Yate Loons can be had here in The States at <$5 a pop, if you look.
Undervolting YLs is the best/cheapest option.
A resistor or rheostat is the best way of undervolting if you need more than the 5V line offers.

...Galvanized
 
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Aresrin

Junior Member
Mar 13, 2006
8
0
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When considering a case fan there are multiple factors involved, such as price, life expectancy, connection style, voltage, RPM etc.... but this thread is the best CFM/dB ratio, so I've done some math and in terms of CFM/dBA here is a list of each fans performance:

Manufacturer Model........................................CFM/dBA Cubic Feet of Air Moved per Minute per Decibel
Scythe S-FLEX SFF21D....................................33.5/8.7 = 3.851
Delta 120x38mm TFB1212GHE......................220.01/65 = 3.385
Delta 120x38mm FFB1212EHE...........................190/59 = 3.220
Delta 120x38mm FFB1212VHE......................151.85/53 = 2.865
Silverstone FM-121........................................110/39.5 = 2.785
Delta 120x38mm Triple Blade High Speed...141.96/52.5 = 2.686
Panaflo H1.................................................103.8/41.5 = 2.501
Akasa AK-183-L2B..........................................44.8/18 = 2.489
Panaflo M1.....................................................86.5/35 = 2.471
Scythe S-FLEX SFF21E.....................................49/20.1 = 2.438
Arctic Fan 12................................................56.3/23.5 = 2.396
Panaflo L1.......................................................68.9/30 = 2.296
Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F......................................63.7/28 = 2.275
Dynatron DF1212BA..................................93.08/41.39 = 2.249
Delta 120x38mm Triple Blade Low Speed.........75.93/34 = 2.233
PAPST 4412 FGLL................................................40/18 = 2.222
Akasa AK-174BK-S........................................38.4/17.5 = 2.194
Evercool Aluminum FAN-AL 12025.........................79/36 = 2.194
Yate Loon D12SM-12.........................................70.5/33 = 2.164
Scythe DFS122512L....................................60.09/27.92 = 2.152
Scythe DFB122512LS..................................45.07/20.94 = 2.152
Scythe DFS122512LS..................................45.07/20.94 = 2.152
Akasa AK-174BK........................................59.05/29.75 = 1.985
Cooler Master SUF-S12-EG...............................42.73/22 = 1.942
Delta 120x25mm Triple Blade Low Speed...........57.21/31 = 1.845
PAPST 4312 MV....................................................39/22 = 1.773
Yate Loon D12SL-12..............................................47/28 = 1.678
Nexus D12SL-12............................................36.87/22.8 = 1.617

unfortunately some of the best performers are either way too loud or don't move enough air to be used in most home PCs, but I figured I'd list 'em anyway for the hell of it.

I tried to find the most respectable sources I could for the CFM and dBA ratings, but typos do exist on the web and sometimes manufacturers straight out lie, so if anyone sees anything that they dont think matches up to reality, please post a revised version, I wont be offended.
 
H

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
11
81
Originally posted by: Aresrin
When considering a case fan there are multiple factors involved, such as price, life expectancy, connection style, voltage, RPM etc.... but this thread is the best CFM/dB ratio, so I've done some math and in terms of CFM/dBA here is a list of each fans performance:

Manufacturer Model........................................CFM/dBA Cubic Feet of Air Moved per Minute per Decibel
Scythe S-FLEX SFF21D....................................33.5/8.7 = 3.851
Delta 120x38mm TFB1212GHE......................220.01/65 = 3.385
Delta 120x38mm FFB1212EHE...........................190/59 = 3.220
Delta 120x38mm FFB1212VHE......................151.85/53 = 2.865
Silverstone FM-121........................................110/39.5 = 2.785
Delta 120x38mm Triple Blade High Speed...141.96/52.5 = 2.686
Panaflo H1.................................................103.8/41.5 = 2.501
Akasa AK-183-L2B..........................................44.8/18 = 2.489
Panaflo M1.....................................................86.5/35 = 2.471
Scythe S-FLEX SFF21E.....................................49/20.1 = 2.438
Arctic Fan 12................................................56.3/23.5 = 2.396
Panaflo L1.......................................................68.9/30 = 2.296
Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F......................................63.7/28 = 2.275
Dynatron DF1212BA..................................93.08/41.39 = 2.249
Delta 120x38mm Triple Blade Low Speed.........75.93/34 = 2.233
PAPST 4412 FGLL................................................40/18 = 2.222
Akasa AK-174BK-S........................................38.4/17.5 = 2.194
Evercool Aluminum FAN-AL 12025.........................79/36 = 2.194
Yate Loon D12SM-12.........................................70.5/33 = 2.164
Scythe DFS122512L....................................60.09/27.92 = 2.152
Scythe DFB122512LS..................................45.07/20.94 = 2.152
Scythe DFS122512LS..................................45.07/20.94 = 2.152
Akasa AK-174BK........................................59.05/29.75 = 1.985
Cooler Master SUF-S12-EG...............................42.73/22 = 1.942
Delta 120x25mm Triple Blade Low Speed...........57.21/31 = 1.845
PAPST 4312 MV....................................................39/22 = 1.773
Yate Loon D12SL-12..............................................47/28 = 1.678
Nexus D12SL-12............................................36.87/22.8 = 1.617

unfortunately some of the best performers are either way too loud or don't move enough air to be used in most home PCs, but I figured I'd list 'em anyway for the hell of it.

I tried to find the most respectable sources I could for the CFM and dBA ratings, but typos do exist on the web and sometimes manufacturers straight out lie, so if anyone sees anything that they dont think matches up to reality, please post a revised version, I wont be offended.
Click to expand...
Can't tell you the real numbers for the Scythe S-FLEX SFF21D, but it definitely doesn't flow 33.5CFM at 8.7dBA (unless they measure at 3 meters or something).
 
H

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
11
81
G

GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
6,986
0
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Aresrin,

A loose rule of thumb. When dBA is 50% of cfm=so-so fan. When dBA is <40% of cfm=very good fan or the truth is being worked pretty hard.
In the last year many good fans have come out. But the tiny motors driving 120 fan blades are not looking that good at the moment. They might be OK for a 120 fan driving<45cfm but once they get much over that, the motors run hot. Hot bearings=short life, particularly if they are sleeve bearing type.

Good listing and TY for the effort. You did leave out the very best 120x38 I've ever had the pleasure of using.

Sanyo Denki 120x38, 102.5cfm@39dBA. They run near silent at 5V, driving about 47cfm.
#109R1212H1011. I bought an unopened factory case of 20 and will keep 4 for future builds, one is in use. Those that bought them have not issued one complaint.
None are left for sale.
At 5V the slightest motor click can be heard at <10" my hearing is not impared ;)

...Galvanized
 
A

Aresrin

Junior Member
Mar 13, 2006
8
0
0
Why the hell can't manufacturers just tell the truth? and why haven't they been sued for false advertising?
 
F

fierydemise

Platinum Member
Apr 16, 2005
2,056
2
81
Originally posted by: Aresrin
Why the hell can't manufacturers just tell the truth? and why haven't they been sued for false advertising?
Click to expand...

It isn't false the measurements are taken from a couple miles away
 
H

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
11
81
Originally posted by: fierydemise
Originally posted by: Aresrin
Why the hell can't manufacturers just tell the truth? and why haven't they been sued for false advertising?
Click to expand...

It isn't false the measurements are taken from a couple miles away
Click to expand...
That's pretty much it. In fact, you don't even have to measure the SPL produced by the fan; almost any number is truthful... depending on the distance to the fan.

I wish there was some sort of measuring standard fan manufacturers adhered to. e.g. testing in an anechoic chamber, one set of tests run on a standardized steel panel/structure (to test for vibration), one set of tests run soft-mounted, distance specified - somewhere between 10cm to 50cm on-axis and 90 off-axis, or something.

At the same time, maybe pigs will start flying.
 
K

keldog7

Senior member
Dec 1, 2005
235
0
0
keep in mind that 10 dBa is about the amount of noise your breathing makes, when you are sitting quietly. Think about how little air that is... Given that a typical resting minute volume is 6 liters/min, yet we are only breathing OUT about 50% of the time, We could theorize that 12 liters/min is about how much air we could move at 10dBa, if we only breathed OUT for 1 minute. 12 liters/min is 0.4cfm. So even if I'm off by a factor of 10, something as efficient as breathing cannot move much air at 10 dBa or less.

Summary:
"Scythe SFF21D S-FLEX 120mm Case Fan is 33.5 CFM at 8.7 dBA" is either total BS, or they took the sound reading with the microphone OFF...

-A
 
L

Luckyboy1

Senior member
Mar 13, 2006
934
0
0
False advertising? Garbage! How is it false advertising to think you are going to get a $10.00 U.S. fan to perform anything close to a $40.00 U.S. fan? Lie to your Mother and whatever fencepost you pray to, but don't try and pass such a lame lie on me. The American Plains Indians know that lying is part of adult life and the first person we lie to is ourselves, but when you tell a bad lie, you are implying the person hearing it is stupid enough to belive it! Whatever happened to quality is job one around here?! The beating will continue until at least the quality of the lies improves!

Here's the good news you've yet to hear about the Panaflo fans...

They last and last for years and years of constant duty work.

Buy cheap fans and especially if they are not all replaced at once, you will be constantly dealing with something that is squeaking, rattling or rumbling.

Also, more good news! The Panaflo fans can migrate to your new case as well as long as they are the right size.
 
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Apocalypse X

Member
Jan 10, 2006
90
0
0
Originally posted by: Aresrin
Why the hell can't manufacturers just tell the truth? and why haven't they been sued for false advertising?
Click to expand...

One question-
Is this list accurate(?) or as my dad says - most fan rated specs are exagerated a bit(?)
I know there are a few brands such as panaflo and CollerMaster and Yates Loon and Delta. They all have accurate specs I believe.
 
L

Luckyboy1

Senior member
Mar 13, 2006
934
0
0
No, I just Googled for an example of the item, not saying that's where to buy! I simply can't hold people's hand to that degree most times, especially for an item I've already got and don't need now or in the near future.

They are quiet while spinning fairly fast and they move lotsa air... is lotsa a word?
 
G

GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
6,986
0
0
Originally posted by: Aresrin
Where is the best place to get the Panaflo M1 and L1?

so far I've found

Panaflo FBA12G12L $12.98
http://www.outletpc.com/c1682.html

NMB/ Panaflo FBA12G12M-NMB $5.74 (with tail)
http://store.yahoo.com/svcompucycle/fba12g12m-nba.html

Panaflo FBA12G12M1A $9.74 (with tail)
http://store.yahoo.com/svcompucycle/fba12g12m1a.html
Click to expand...

The fan in the last two links is JUNK, made in China, does not undervolt worth a damn.
I gave one away to a friend and he won't use it either.
Hope the one you buy works out better.


...Galvanized

 
P

Painman

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2000
3,728
29
86
Has Panaflo gone downhill in recent years? I bought most of what I have 6 years ago and I can't complain much - my pair of 120x38 L1A are Chinaflo, one is a tiny bit off balance, but they undervolt nicely and they're still alive. Or is it that other fan makers have caught up? Back in '00 there were a lot fewer choices than there are now.
 
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