thin fan options

[Dubb]

So my fancy new 1TB HDs are getting alittle warm. (low 50s according to speedfan)

I need to put a fan on them, but a standard 25mm thick fan won't quite fit in my case (I can close the door, but you can tell it's putting some pressure on some components)

google got me these options:

one of These

or

two of either of these

or

two of these

Any others? Pretty much, the aerocool and silenX both have pretty bad reputations...I'm wondering which one is actually the quietest option? They'll be on a fan controller at around 5-7 volts. Quiet is what I'm going for here - I think as long as they get some airflow, temps will be fine.

 

[Quiksilver]

Originally posted by: Dubb
Any others? Pretty much, the aerocool and silenX both have pretty bad reputations

What is that supposed to mean? I'm using 2x Aercool Xtreme Turbines and I they are tolerable, I mean they don't make and vibrational noise, no high-pitched noises, and no annoying spinning noise. All I hear is a whir of air moving. They are quiet compared to my thermaltake fans that came with this case.

I used to have a 80mm Panaflo fan as a side vent and it would squeal like a pig on start up and stay like that for several weeks until it gets worn in then after a few weeks of being worn in they would stop working. I went through two of them in less than 4 months.

I'd take me aerocool fans over panaflo anyday.

As far as your problem, where exactly are you trying to put these fans? Also what is your case.

 

[bfdd]

I have nothing but SilenX Ixtremia's in my case and they work wonderfully, I even bought my brother a few to put in his case. There's about a total of 7 between the two of our computers and there's not 1 single problem and their airflow is amazing and they're way frickin quiet.

 

[adairusmc]

Originally posted by: bfdd
I have nothing but SilenX Ixtremia's in my case and they work wonderfully, I even bought my brother a few to put in his case. There's about a total of 7 between the two of our computers and there's not 1 single problem and their airflow is amazing and they're way frickin quiet.

:thumbsup:


They are expensive, but you get what you pay for IMO. I use them on my video card cooler and my CPU heatsink.

 

[Spanki]

Originally posted by: Dubb
Pretty much, the aerocool and silenX both have pretty bad reputations...

"bad reputation" (for the SilenX, at least) = Some people are annoyed that SilenX uses a non-standard means of measuring noise levels, to make them seem quieter than they are (ie. "they're scum-sucking liers!"). But, that doesn't mean that they aren't quiet, or good fans. The other thing about them that annoys people is that they are expensive. ~shrug~

I don't have first-hand experience with any of those fans, so I can't comment on them, but I did want to clarify that distinction about "reputation". From all reports I've seen, they seem like good/quiet fans, which may or may not be worth the extravegant pricing - just don't take the stated cfm or dBA numbers too literally (with any fans).

 

[Synomenon]

I use SilenX as well and have found them to be of pretty good quality and much more silent than some other case fans I have. I've also been looking for thin fans for my PC. The thinnest I could find of each were:

80x80x10mm (mentioned on other websites, also found in a Vantec Lapcool 3, but they don't have frames)
92x92x15mm (only parts I could find were: AFB0912MB & AFB0912LB)
120x120x20mm (mentioned on other websites)
140x140x20mm (found one at FrozenCPU)

The only one I've been able to find for sale anywhere is the 140x140x20mm at FrozenCPU.

 

[JiveMiguel]

I have nothing but Panaflos in all of my cases. They are quiet and last for years. They are all the 'L' variant, with 'M's on the CPUs. The only thing to watch out for is that most of them won't spin up if you're giving them under 7v. So running the 'L's at 9v produces almost no noticeable noise unless your ear is within 6 inches of the fan. I can't speak of the thin panaflos, though, so your mileage may vary with those. But even with that, I'd try them first.

Good luck!

 

[Dubb]

well, after some futzing, I managed to fit a pair of standard 25mm wide panaflos (L). Temps on the hitachi's dropped by around 10 deg C with the fans at around 7-8v, and at that speed, I'm still struggling to hear them over the HDs themselves, with my ear right by the case.

thanks for the suggestions, I probably would have tried the SilenX fans had I not gotten this to work.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Dubb
Any others?

I'd just buy some Evercool NightHawks (HD-F117) if you can find a place that isn't OOS...

w00t!

These guys are sitting on 100 of them...

 

[drakore]

Sharkoons FTW!

 

[Bluefront]

You're in luck.....I'm running a 140x20mm Aerocool in one case I use. It's fairly quiet if you keep it under about 1100rpm. There are at least three different versions of this fan. Mine came off an Aerocool Dominator HSF. It runs about 1400rpms at 12V.

And I foolishly bought an 80x15mm SilenX fan.....the slower version. It vibrates and makes clicking noises when controlled by the MB....a PWM voltage regulation. Terrible.....went straight into the trash.

The quietest slim fan I ever owned......a Sanyo Denki. You could run two of these fans at 12V and they would be quieter than that stupid single SilenX.

Sidewinder also sells several different Aerocool 140mm fans. I also have the blue clear plastic version......which seems noisier/vibrates compared to my black/chrome model. I am not certain if the Dominator fan is the same as this black/chrome one in the link.....looks the same though. These 20mm thick fans are definitely unique.....nothing similar. If anybody knows about a thin 120 or 92mm fan that is available retail, please post a link.

The specs for the black 140 list it at 1000rpms......mine does almost 1400, so it may be different. Like I said, there are a bunch of different fans like this one, all with different specs. One is listed at 1600rpm......confusing. Mine also runs just fine at 5V.....which is 640rpms. The specs list the minimum voltage for these fans as about 10V. Obviously you can go much lower.

 

[bfdd]

Originally posted by: Spanki

Originally posted by: Dubb
Pretty much, the aerocool and silenX both have pretty bad reputations...

"bad reputation" (for the SilenX, at least) = Some people are annoyed that SilenX uses a non-standard means of measuring noise levels, to make them seem quieter than they are (ie. "they're scum-sucking liers!"). But, that doesn't mean that they aren't quiet, or good fans. The other thing about them that annoys people is that they are expensive. ~shrug~

I don't have first-hand experience with any of those fans, so I can't comment on them, but I did want to clarify that distinction about "reputation". From all reports I've seen, they seem like good/quiet fans, which may or may not be worth the extravegant pricing - just don't take the stated cfm or dBA numbers too literally (with any fans).

Really? These seem utterly silent to me. I can barely hear when my pc is on. My old case full of high db/cfm fans was loud as crap and it sounded like a honda when on.

 

[Shadowknight]

Originally posted by: Spanki

Originally posted by: Dubb
Pretty much, the aerocool and silenX both have pretty bad reputations...

"bad reputation" (for the SilenX, at least) = Some people are annoyed that SilenX uses a non-standard means of measuring noise levels, to make them seem quieter than they are (ie. "they're scum-sucking liers!"). But, that doesn't mean that they aren't quiet, or good fans. The other thing about them that annoys people is that they are expensive. ~shrug~

Um.... no. While there are complaints about the exorbiant pricing and the blatantly exagerrated fan specs, the main thing is the fraud Peter Kim, owner of SilenX, enacted on silentpcreview forums by pretending to be multiple users who had a woody for SilenX products, while bashing his old employer, Ahanix who he stole the SilenX name from.

 

[Synomenon]

Wow this is the first time I've heard of this. I really like SilenX fans though since they're the most quiet I've used. Does Ahanix still make silent fans? If so, what's the brand? Ahanix?

 

[Spanki]

Originally posted by: Shadowknight

Originally posted by: Spanki

Originally posted by: Dubb
Pretty much, the aerocool and silenX both have pretty bad reputations...

"bad reputation" (for the SilenX, at least) = Some people are annoyed that SilenX uses a non-standard means of measuring noise levels, to make them seem quieter than they are (ie. "they're scum-sucking liers!"). But, that doesn't mean that they aren't quiet, or good fans. The other thing about them that annoys people is that they are expensive. ~shrug~

Um.... no. While there are complaints about the exorbiant pricing and the blatantly exagerrated fan specs, the main thing is the fraud Peter Kim, owner of SilenX, enacted on silentpcreview forums by pretending to be multiple users who had a woody for SilenX products, while bashing his old employer, Ahanix who he stole the SilenX name from.

Ahh - thanks for the clarification, but I'm left with the same reaction -> ~shrug~.

I don't buy software based on what I might think of the employees or owner of the company and I don't buy cars or any other items I can think of based on that either.

I don't own any of thier fans, but I do think they have some interesting design elements. If they weren't so pricey, I'd be interested enough to try out a few myself.

 

[Bluefront]

SilenX does not make their own fans.....they are using fans made by AddA and other brands. They put their own brand/logo on the things, and change the way they measure noise. What they end up with is a fan that is virtually the same as a real ADDA fan, but rated at 1/2 the noise. Lies, blatant lying, designed to trick the public. Apparently a lot of folks around here have bought into this crap.

Buy SilentX products.....you support dishonest business practice. Simple as that.....

 

[Spanki]

I'm not trying to stick up for them, in fact my opinion of thier marketing tactics is probably as low as yours is of them. My point is, I don't let that guide my purchasing decision. Should I punish all the employees of the company for something thier marketing or management does? If I thought the fan was worth what they're asking (based on site and user reviews, not thier specs), then I'd buy them.

As for re-branding... what's new? Nexus fans are re-branded Yate Loons - at about 4x the cost. There's lots of re-branding going on. I can buy YLs instead. Do you have a link where I can find inexpensive Adda fans of that design?

 

[Bluefront]

Re-branding is a common practice among every sort of product. That's not the problem. The problem comes about when you take a fan made by someone else, and print db claims on the package that are calculated by your own method.....no indication of that on the package.

It would be like marketing a "two foot hot dog", that only measures one foot. When called out about the difference, you claim that you have a different way to measure length. SilenX is doing the same thing with their noise ratings. Other brands do similar things, but the "X" brand is the worst.....maybe started the db lying in the computer fan business. :frown:

 

[Jhhnn]

Other brands do similar things, but the "X" brand is the worst.....maybe started the db lying in the computer fan business.

Dunno who actually started it, but Tt has been doing it for many, many years...