Upgrading case fans...what to get?

[996GT2]

I'm currently using 4 fans in my system:

2 of these Cooler Master 1200 RPM fans (one intake, 1 exhaust):
http://www.svc.com/r4-l2s-122b-gp.html

1 Cooler Master Blade Master PWM fan (on the Hyper 212+)

1 Thermaltake 1300 RPM side intake

The Blade master is silent most of the time since it's PWM controlled, but the other fans are audible. I'm looking for fans that would be quieter than what I have now, but not compromise airflow. I know the Yate Loon D12SL-12s are commonly recommended, but I've had 4 of those in another system and they weren't really quieter than the Cooler Master fans I have now.

 

[JBDan]

I would suggest either the Scythe "Slipstream" series and S-Flex/FDB fans or the Noctua's. For me personally I find the slipstreams quieter than the S-Flex, but note they are sleeve bearing so placement on a HS is not the best idea in the long run. If using for case fans then your gravy. The Noctua's are even quieter, but to me don't feel like they push quite as much air. Any 120mm fan above ~1000 rpm is going to be audible in quiet ambient conditions imo. Thats why my ideal quiet good cooling builds consists of fans that run at higher rpm's than I typically want them to, but use SpeedFan profiles to ramp them down when just browsing or during light loads. Or a fan controller. That way you have the cooling potential you might need in the summer and during heavy loads.

 

[Axon]

Scythe Gentle Typhoon AP-15 1850 RPM tends to be one of the most popular fans around. Very quiet, pushes good air. So popular, in fact, it usually sells out as soon as a shipment comes in. I run mine at around 1600 RPM. Very quiet.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10...12B5AP-15.html

My personal favorite is the NoiseBlocker MultiFrame series of fans. Expensive, but they are the best fans I've ever used. http://www.frozencpu.com/products/84..._-_27_dBA.html

I have 2 PWM noiseblocker multiframes on my CPU, and goddamn, those bad boys are quiet.

 

[ElFenix]

no fan running at 1600 rpm is quiet

for front intake nothing louder than an SFLEX D works for me, and my usual hsf and exhaust is SFLEX E.

 

[Termie]

This article may help you find a low-noise fan: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/120mm-fan-roundup-1.html. Based on it, I chose to buy four Scythe Kama Flow 2 1400rpm fans, which I bring down to between 900-1100rpm using controllers, depending on where they are in the case.

The Scythe S-Flex is similar but may be even quieter (in my opinion due to less aggressive fan blade shape, but I'm no expert) - I have one in my HTPC, which is performing quite well in a horizontally-oriented position that would wreck most fans with sleeve bearings.

If you're truly looking for silence, you really can't look at anything above 1000rpm.

 

[996GT2]

Would 1 motherboard fan header be able to handle 2 or 3 low RPM (~1000 RPM fans?) I was thinking of getting 2 or 3 Scythe S-Flex E (1200 RPM stock) or Yate Loon D12SL-12 (1350 RPM stock), and using a 3-pin splitter cable to connect them all to one Zalman Fanmate for undervolting. Then I could run all 3 fans at a constant ~950 RPM for low noise.

On top of that, can a single Fanmate handle 2 or 3 standard fans? Nothing that really draws a lot of power...just fans like I described above. I don't really want to go with a 3.5" or 5.25" bay fan controller since I prefer to leave all my fans at the same speed. That way I won't have to worry about tweaking speeds or accidentally bumping the knobs (since the Fanmate would be inside the case). I'd also rather keep the outside of my computer clean and free of protruding dials or knobs.

 

[Termie]

Would 1 fan header be able to handle 2 or 3 low RPM (~1000 RPM fans?) I was thinking of getting 2 or 3 Scythe S-Flex 12E (1200 RPM stock) or Yate Loon D12SL-12 (1350 RPM stock), and using a 3-pin splitter cable to connect them all to one Zalman fanmate for undervolting. Then I could run all 3 fans at a constant ~950 RPM for low noise.

I can't answer that question definitively, although I've looked into it before, and I think you have to consider the amp draw. For instance, one of my Scythe fans is rated at 0.3 amps current, whereas my Gelid fan controller (nearly identical to a Zalman fanmate, which I also have), is rated to provide 0.7 amps. I'm just doing some guesswork here, but I'd figure you could control up to two fans with a splitter before you pulled too much current from the controller. I don't think you should consider the current draw at whatever lower fan speed you ultimately choose, but rather the max fan speed (and therefore current), in order to avoid damage.

I will say that I switched 3 Yate Loon 1350rpm models out for Scythe Kama Flow 2 1400rpm models, and running at the same reduced rpm (~900rpm), my case was both cooler and quieter with the Scythe fans. Before you invest in a bunch of Yate Loons, just try the fan controller on your current CM fans and see if the result is satisfactory. I used the CM fan you have as well, and it's pretty similar to the YL fans.

 

[996GT2]

I can't answer that question definitively, although I've looked into it before, and I think you have to consider the amp draw. For instance, one of my Scythe fans is rated at 0.3 amps current, whereas my Gelid fan controller (nearly identical to a Zalman fanmate, which I also have), is rated to provide 0.7 amps. I'm just doing some guesswork here, but I'd figure you could control up to two fans with a splitter before you pulled too much current from the controller. I don't think you should consider the current draw at whatever lower fan speed you ultimately choose, but rather the max fan speed (and therefore current), in order to avoid damage.

I will say that I switched 3 Yate Loon 1350rpm models out for Scythe Kama Flow 2 1400rpm models, and running at the same reduced rpm (~900rpm), my case was both cooler and quieter with the Scythe fans. Before you invest in a bunch of Yate Loons, just try the fan controller on your current CM fans and see if the result is satisfactory. I used the CM fan you have as well, and it's pretty similar to the YL fans.

I just ordered a Fanmate 2 and a few sets of rubber fan mounts for my current CM fans. If that doesn't work out, I'll probably get the Scythe S Flex or Gentle Typhoon fans to replace my current case fans.

 

[Termie]

I just ordered a Fanmate 2 and a few sets of rubber fan mounts for my current CM fans. If that doesn't work out, I'll probably get the Scythe S Flex or Gentle Typhoon fans to replace my current case fans.

That will probably do the trick. Are you going to try using a splitter as well? I'd be curious if that works out. I decided to go with several fan controllers instead.

As for the potential fan upgrade route, people seem to be about evenly split on the S-Flex vs. GT fans. I've read that the GT provides more static pressure and thus is more effective on a CPU heatsink, but also that it has a distinct and potentially annoying sound, even though it's not that loud. I am very happy with my S-Flex and Kama Flow 2 fans, including the KF2 I have on my Hyper 212+. The bearings alone make them worth the investment.

 

[996GT2]

That will probably do the trick. Are you going to try using a splitter as well? I'd be curious if that works out. I decided to go with several fan controllers instead.

As for the potential fan upgrade route, people seem to be about evenly split on the S-Flex vs. GT fans. I've read that the GT provides more static pressure and thus is more effective on a CPU heatsink, but also that it has a distinct and potentially annoying sound, even though it's not that loud. I am very happy with my S-Flex and Kama Flow 2 fans, including the KF2 I have on my Hyper 212+. The bearings alone make them worth the investment.

I got a 1 to 2 splitter to go along with the Fanmate. From what I've read over at SPCR, several people have had no issues with 3 fans connected to a single Fanmate. The power handling on the Fanmate 2 is 6 watts, and most normal fans do not consume more than 2 watts each. Even a fast-spinning fan like the 1900 RPM Scythe Kama Flow 2 was tested by Xbitlabs to only consume 1.9 watts. The Nexus 1000RPM Real Silent (made by Yate Loon) only consumes 1.55w.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/120mm-fan-roundup-2_10.html#sect0

 

[Termie]

I got a 1 to 2 splitter to go along with the Fanmate. From what I've read over at SPCR, several people have had no issues with 3 fans connected to a single Fanmate. The power handling on the Fanmate 2 is 6 watts, and most normal fans do not consume more than 2 watts each. Even a fast-spinning fan like the 1900 RPM Scythe Kama Flow 2 was tested by Xbitlabs to only consume 1.9 watts. The Nexus 1000RPM Real Silent (made by Yate Loon) only consumes 1.55w.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/120mm-fan-roundup-2_10.html#sect0

Well, the Kama Flow 2 1900rpm is an exceptionally efficient fan, as noted by XbitLabs. The Scythe Slipstreams reviewed on the same page consume 3.2w and 6.5w respectively, while providing less cooling power at higher noise levels. They obviously would be a bad choice to set up with a Fanmate.

I'm assuming most of the folks at SPCR are using much lower RPM fans on their splitters, like the Real Silent you mention, and hence are able to get 3 on a single controller. Not sure if the CoolerMasters would fit into that category, so going the 2-to-1 splitter route was probably the safest bet.

 

[Axon]

no fan running at 1600 rpm is quiet

for front intake nothing louder than an SFLEX D works for me, and my usual hsf and exhaust is SFLEX E.

That's why you turn em down until you're folding or something.