what are the quietest 80mm fans?

kevman

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2001
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my case fans are driving me nuts, what are the best/quietest ones out there?
 

Peter D

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2002
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papst ones are probably the quietest, but i think the vantec stealths are a little better, push a few more CFM's while still remaining silent
 

karmasalad

Senior member
Jun 2, 2001
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Originally posted by: kevman
my case fans are driving me nuts, what are the best/quietest ones out there?

Panaflo L1As are the most popular, highly regarded and pretty easy to obtain. Papst also have a good reputation though they're more expensive and harder to find in the U.S. NMBs are very low noise but they don't push a whole lot of air; you need to make sure your case has room for good airflow.

I use both L1As and NMBs, no experience with Papsts. NMBs are quieter than the Panaflos, but again, they move less air. Undervolted Panaflos are also another idea to try.
 

HiTek21

Diamond Member
Jul 4, 2002
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Originally posted by: Vegetto
papst ones are probably the quietest, but i think the vantec stealths are a little better, push a few more CFM's while still remaining silent

Directron sells papst fans but they're 16 dollars each, i'd rather get a couple of panaflo's or vantec stealth fans. If your current fans are too noisy you can get a fan controller and fine tune them and adjust them back on days with warm weather.
 

chocoruacal

Golden Member
Nov 12, 2002
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NMB. 18cfm/18dba. Ever wonder why Dell's used to be so quiet? Thats what they used for case fans. But, they are great all around.
 

Night718

Member
Jul 27, 2003
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i've done a lot of reading and a lot of people like the enermax auto-temperature controlled fan 22 cfm 18 dba at 1000 rpm to start.....and it can go all the way up to 33 cfm 29 dba at 2600 rpm...... if u want it to go fast just stick the temperature probe near the cpu.......if u want it always slow just stick it to the fan itself

Specs from newegg........
Enermax Thermal Control 80MM cooling fan . built-in heat sensor. Fan speed varies according to temperature. Dual ball bearing. Extremely quiet when in sleep mood. 3-pin with 3-4pin adaptor. Screws.
Specifications: Low - 25C-1800 RPM 22CFM-18dBA, High - 65C-2600 RPM 33CFM-29dBA. Meets all safety standards, such as UL, CSA, CUL, TUV, CE, etc. Retail.

feel free to criticize my recommendation...... i actually want u to..... cuz in 3 days i'll be ordering 5 of them with my rig

edit: btw the enermax fans are like half the price of a vantec stealth.............. i think......... feel free to comment
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
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buy fan speed controller. attach all your fans and lower rpms. there are no magic fans, they lower noise by lowering rpm.
 

WobbleWobble

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2001
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I have a few Zalmans and a couple Vantec Stealths. While the Vantec says it's 21dba and the Zalman says it's 20dba in quiet mode, it definately doesn't sound that way. The Vantec Stealths, while they do push more air, are definately noticably louder than the Zalmans.

I picked up the Zalman 80mm fans for $5 CDN ($3.50 USD) and I think at that price it's a steal for a quiet fan.
 

Pothead

Platinum Member
Jan 8, 2001
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Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
the truely quietest fans are the pabst.

So true....12dBA...last month directron had some new papst fans that were only 10dBA but they were removed from the site.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,572
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I just bought 3 Cooler Master 80mm blue LED case fans for my Lian-Li PC-60 case. They are much quieter than the fans that came with the case. I can barely hear my system now and the blue LEDs look cool. $5.99 at newegg.com. Can't beat that.
 

lordbob99

Senior member
Jun 11, 2001
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Originally posted by: chocoruacal
NMB. 18cfm/18dba. Ever wonder why Dell's used to be so quiet? Thats what they used for case fans. But, they are great all around.

anybody know where we can get these anymore? svc used to carry em for like $2.50 a pop, but discontinued em a while ago...
 

BG4533

Golden Member
Oct 15, 2001
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Originally posted by: lordbob99
Originally posted by: chocoruacal
NMB. 18cfm/18dba. Ever wonder why Dell's used to be so quiet? Thats what they used for case fans. But, they are great all around.

anybody know where we can get these anymore? svc used to carry em for like $2.50 a pop, but discontinued em a while ago...

edit-Sorry wrong fans

 

BG4533

Golden Member
Oct 15, 2001
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Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
the truely quietest fans are the pabst.

I have heard many of the Papsts tick. I know the NMBs do a bit.

Personally I have 3 92mm Panaflo L1As and 2 80mm L1As running at 5v on my Sunbeam Rheobus and I cant hear it, far quieter than my old NMBs and more airflow. Also a lot more money though. My Truepower 430 is also modded with a 92mm and 80mm L1A.

Brian
 

RalfHutter

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2000
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Originally posted by: lordbob99

the specs listed at directron is 25 cfm and 22-40 dbl. anybody know where to get the 18/18 ones?

You can get them from here but that's in Englad and they're £5.49 although that does include shipping.

I keep hearing that Bestbyte has them too, but I can never find them on the site. May you could call them.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
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oy, for that price you might as well buy stealth vantecs or panaflos:) vantecs atleast ocme with grills/screws and adaptors. are the nmb's ball bearing fans? tend to last longer, i think the vantecs are.
 

VisableAssassin

Senior member
Nov 12, 2001
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the best id have to say would be papst hands down i have used their 80mm and 120mm models and bother are a dream.
also any of the panaflo series fans is great my self i use a combonation of L1a M1a and H1a fans......i love the M1a's a little more expesive than the normal L1a or H1a but they are sweet.
and of course the new rifle bearing cooler master LED fans are supposed to be dman good as well 32cfm @ like 25db......so in other words panaflo M1a performance at L1a noise.
 

Crashedout

Member
Jan 11, 2000
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I have the blue LED and have compared it to the panaflows. The antec is not slient but it is quiet. Good flow and they are fairly cheap at compusa, when you figure in shipping.
 

nycdude

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2000
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Are most fans that are mounted in the front of the case 80mm???

Can't seem to find the time to measure it.

LMK
Thnx