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NEXUS REAL SILENT CASE FAN SP802512L-03
Ambient noise at the time of testing was 18 dBA.
| Brand |
Nexus |
Power Rating |
0.15A |
| Manufacturer |
Bisonic |
Airflow Rating |
20.2 CFM |
| Model Number |
SP802512L-03 |
RPM Rating |
1,500 RPM |
| Retail Availability |
Yes |
Noise Rating |
17.6 dBA |
| Bearing Type |
Sleeve |
Header Type |
3-pin & Molex |
| Hub Size |
1.35" |
Starting Voltage |
5.0V |
| Frame Size |
80 x 80 x 25 mm |
Number of Samples |
5 |
|
Voltage
|
Noise
|
RPM
|
CFM
|
Power
|
|
12V
|
20 dBA@1m
|
1540 RPM
|
22 CFM
|
0.57W
|
|
9V
|
~19 dBA@1m
|
1130 RPM
|
14 CFM
|
0.42W
|
|
7V
|
<18 dBA@1m
|
840 RPM
|
10 CFM
|
0.34W
|
|
5V
|
<18 dBA@1m
|
530 RPM
|
5 CFM
|
0.25W
|
|
@10 CFM (7.2V)
|
<18 dBA@1m
|
870 RPM
|
10 CFM
|
0.34W
|
May 5, 2008
The updated airflow results here are the result of improvements
in our testing procedures. They are more accurate than the original results
above, but they are not directly comparable. Please compare these only with
fan reviews published after May 5, 2008 — or ones that have updated
results published in a box like this one. |
|
12V
|
20 dBA@1m
|
1540 RPM
|
18 CFM
|
0.57W
|
|
9V
|
~19 dBA@1m
|
1130 RPM
|
14 CFM
|
0.42W
|
|
7V
|
<18 dBA@1m
|
840 RPM
|
10 CFM
|
0.34W
|
|
5V
|
<18 dBA@1m
|
530 RPM
|
6 CFM
|
0.25W
|
|
@10 CFM (7.0V)
|
<18 dBA@1m
|
870 RPM
|
10 CFM
|
0.34W
|
* Much thanks to EndPCNoise for supplying these samples.
*
The Nexus brand name should be familiar to anyone who has spent any length
of time poking though Silent PC Review. Their Real Silent fans are well liked
because they demonstrate two very important qualities:
- The default speed is slow enough that they are reasonably quiet even at
12V.
- The noise character is superior to almost every fan we have heard. It doesn't
get much smoother than this!
The Nexus is the unofficial benchmark that other fans will have to measure
up to. We are intimately familiar with its noise signature, as we use it in
our own personal systems. Best of all, it is so smooth that it is effectively
inaudible below seven volts. Even at full speed, the only noise is a low, broadband
hum that blends easily into the background.
The smooth noise character can probably be attributed in part to the use of
sleeve bearings, which tend to generate less clatter than the more common ball
bearings. A word of warning, however: Sleeve bearings are less robust than ball
bearings, and are not suitable for use in high heat situations (such as on a
heatsink). They are also prone to damage if operated in a horizontal orientation.
That's not to say it's without its bad points. Its low speed makes it inappropriate
for small heatsinks and hot cases. Even at full speed, it just doesn't blow
that much air. However, from a noise perspective, the best solution to these
problems is to get a better heatsink or build a cooler system.
It also generates a surprising amount of vibration, which may end up producing
noise on its own when hard mounted to a flimsy case. Soft-mounting with silicone
grommets or some other soft material is recommended to get the most out of this
fan. It's also a sleeve bearing design, which should only be used vertically, and it may be more at risk for rapid loss of lubricant than with other bearing types. (For more information on sleeve bearings, see Anatomy of the Silent Fan.)
We have both closed corner flange and open corner flange samples of this fan. The closed fan version might be earlier samples. While the closed corner flanges may be good for
the stability of the frame, they are a bit of a pain to work with. Many clip
or grommet-based mounting systems to not work well with this arrangement. In
fact, the problem has annoyed so many people that the
instructions for cutting the corners away has earned a permanent sticky
topic in our fan forum.
Sample variance was fairly minor through the five samples that we tested. One
sample had a slight ticking noise, while another had a bit more chuffing and
hum than the others, but these differences were very minor, and did not change
the noise character enough to provoke more than a comment in passing.
Noise Recordings
PAPST 8412 NGL
Ambient noise at the time of testing was 18 dBA.
| Brand |
ebm-Papst |
Power Rating |
0.6W |
| Manufacturer |
ebm-Papst |
Airflow Rating |
33 m³/h (19.4 CFM) |
| Model Number |
8412 NGL |
RPM Rating |
1,500 RPM |
| Retail Availability |
Yes |
Noise Rating |
12 dBA / 3.5 Bel |
| Bearing Type |
Sintec Sleeve |
Header Type |
Bare wire |
| Hub Size |
1.37" |
Starting Voltage |
5.0V |
| Frame Size |
80 x 80 x 25 mm |
Number of Samples |
2 |
|
Voltage
|
Noise
|
RPM
|
CFM
|
Power
|
|
12V
|
21 dBA@1m
|
1520 RPM
|
23 CFM
|
0.63W
|
|
9V
|
~19 dBA@1m
|
1020 RPM
|
14 CFM
|
0.50W
|
|
7V
|
<18 dBA@1m
|
670 RPM
|
7 CFM
|
0.41W
|
|
5V
|
<18 dBA@1m
|
320 RPM
|
–
|
0.31W
|
|
@10 CFM (7.7V)
|
<18 dBA@1m
|
790 RPM
|
10 CFM
|
0.43W
|
* Much thanks to EndPCNoise for supplying these samples. *
Ebm-Papst has an enviable reputation for quality that sets them apart from
their competitors. They are unusual in the tech industry in that they do not
have any direct ties to China or Taiwan. The company is based in Germany, and
manufacturing and distribution are both centered in Europe. Their fans do not
seem to be all that common on the retail market, especially in North America.
Because ebm-Papst is an OEM, most of their products are bought by electronics
companies who use them in their products — retailers who carry these fans
have to go out of their way to find them. Hard to get or not, Papst fans are
often recommended as quiet fans, especially by readers from the EU. They have a reputation for being robust and long-lived, and are quite costly.
Our two samples are quite old — they are branded without the "ebm"
prefix, indicating that they were manufactured before the company adopted its
current name in 2003. In fact, the exact model number on our samples no longer
appears on Papst's web site. The specifications listed above are from the closest
match we could find — the 8412 NGLE.
Unfortunately, this particular sample did not live up to the Papst low-noise reputation, despite the Sintec modified sleeve bearing.
Loud isn't quite the word to describe it — its low rotation speed ensured
that it measured almost as low as the Nexus — but it's a perfect example
of a fan that measures quiet but sounds noisy. The reason: The noise character
is impossible to ignore. The fan had all manner of buzzing, clicking and chuffing
that didn't really go away at any speed. The most intrusive was the repetitive
clicking that varied with the speed of the fan. The fan was audible even at
5V — a point where the fan didn't blow enough air to measure.
The fan achieved 10 CFM at around 7.7V, where it was clearly audible from one
meter. Audible or not, it wasn't quite loud enough to be picked up by the sound
meter, and it's possible that other sources of system noise (such as the hard
drive) would muffle the noise character enough to live with it. Bottom line:
If you believe that Papst's reputation for quality is worth paying for, it's
not impossible to use this 8412 NGL in a quiet system, but there are definitely
quieter choices out there. We'll have to get our hands on some other Papst samples in the future.
Noise Recordings
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