YAINAFT - yet another i need a fan topic

[robphelan]

i'm water cooling my Qpack and will need a new 120mm fan for my radiator. I bought the Black ice Xtreme - XFlow radiator.

I've seen some posts stating some fans were better than others on different radiators.

Can you give me any recommendations? Lower noise level & better cooling is more of a concern than price right now.

thanks,
rob.

 

[Billb2]

The BIX series of rads have close fin spacing, and as such perform better with higher CFM (actually, higher air pressure) fans. You did not post your specvs, so I have no way of knowing what to reccomend, but a good option for thesr type rads is to use a high CFM fan, such as the Delta FFB1212VHE (151.85 CFM) or FFB1212EHE (190 CFM) with a rheostat. That way you can have great airflow when you need it and quiet (well, relative quiet) when you want it.

Here's a thread that discusses the tipic of "How to choose the optimal 120mm fan." http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=12581&highlight=fan+testing
There are also tests of rad performance with various CFMs at Overclockers.net

 

[Zepper]

The Sanyo Denki, DC San Ace, 120x38mm (109R1212H1011 and similar) is particularly good for WC. Some people have paid over $20. for used ones based on their reputation. Has a working range from under 5V to 13.6V in open air. Can move up to 118 CFM at nominal voltage (12V).

.bh.

 

[Operandi]

Both the Sanyo and Delta mentioned above are great quiet fans, and respond very well to under-volting.

The Sanyo is what I would consider to be pretty loud at 12v, and very smooth and quiet at 5v while still moving a lot of air. Of course what is very quiet in free air can change quickly when it's forcing air through the densely packed fins of a radiator.

The Delta dose have a hint of bearing noise but it's very minor and might be a better choice for low noise simply due to it's lower CFM output.

Whatever fan you choose I run off of your MB's CPU fan header to get dynamic control based on CPU temp, that should give you performance when you need it and low noise when you don't.

Edit

Ok, the Delta fan I was referring to is the low speed EFB series, not the jet engine mentioned by Billb2. You definitely don't want anything like that if have any concern over noise.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Billb2
The BIX series of rads have close fin spacing, and as such perform better with higher CFM (actually, higher air pressure) fans. You did not post your specvs, so I have no way of knowing what to reccomend, but a good option for thesr type rads is to use a high CFM fan, such as the Delta FFB1212VHE (151.85 CFM) or FFB1212EHE (190 CFM) with a rheostat. That way you can have great airflow when you need it and quiet (well, relative quiet) when you want it.

Here's a thread that discusses the tipic of "How to choose the optimal 120mm fan." http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=12581&highlight=fan+testing
There are also tests of rad performance with various CFMs at Overclockers.net

EXACTLY AS THIS GUY STATES!! BIX requires a really high CMF fan and dont bother shoving it in your xqpack. The PSU will get in the way or the lid will. Plus the cables and tubes will get in your way and there is absolutely no place you could mount a pump inside. If your going to externally cool it, id suggest u return the item and upgrade to a 120x2 or even better 120x3 BIP or swiftechs 120x2 or 120x3. This way you can drop in yate looms or any other quiet fan and still get greater cooling then having 120x1 BIX.