Viewing page 4 of 8 pages.
Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
SILENX IXTREMA THERMISTOR FAN IX-08025-14T
Ambient noise at the time of testing was 18 dBA.
| Brand |
SilenX |
Power Rating |
0.07~0.09A |
| Manufacturer |
Globe
Fan |
Airflow Rating |
18~28 CFM |
| Model Number |
IX-08025-14T |
RPM Rating |
1,400~2,200 RPM |
| Retail Availability |
Yes |
Noise Rating |
11.8~14.4 dBA |
| Bearing Type |
Hypro? |
Header Type |
3-pin |
| Hub Size |
1.29" |
Starting Voltage |
3.5V |
| Frame Size |
80 x 80 x 25 mm |
Number of Samples |
3 |
|
Voltage
|
Noise
|
RPM
|
CFM
|
Power
|
|
12V
|
33 dBA@1m
|
2850 RPM
|
42 CFM
|
2.52W
|
|
9V
|
28 dBA@1m
|
2310 RPM
|
33 CFM
|
1.82W
|
|
7V
|
22 dBA@1m
|
1870 RPM
|
26 CFM
|
1.40W
|
|
5V
|
~19 dBA@1m
|
1330 RPM
|
17 CFM
|
1.01W
|
|
@10 CFM (3.6V)
|
<18 dBA@1m
|
750 RPM
|
10 CFM
|
0.53W
|
* Much thanks to Anitec for supplying these samples
*
SilenX has a reputation for selling fans with absurdly low noise ratings, and
the 11.8 dBA rating for this one is no exception — it's too low to be plausible.
Fortunately, SilenX also has a reputation for being fairly quiet.
Evaluating this fan is somewhat difficult because it's thermally controlled,
meaning it rarely, if ever runs at full speed, but it expects full voltage nonetheless.
For the purposes of this test, we short-circuited the thermistor temporarily,
causing the fan to run without the thermistor slowing things down. Assuming
we can take SilenX' RPM specifications at face value, the fan's actual operational
range should be the equivalent of what we heard between 5~9V. Knowing the way
most thermally controlled fans work, there's a good chance that the fan will
spend most of its time at minimum speed, which bodes well for noise.
SilenX sells to the retail market, and this fan looks the part. It comes in
a color cardboard package that includes screws, rubber grommets for soft-mounting,
and a Molex to 3-pin adapter for flexibility. All in all, not a bad package.
A tiny globe logo on the hub marks the fan as being sourced from Globe Fan,
most likely. However, the mention of hypro bearings — supposedly unique
to Adda — makes us wonder. Have we mis-identified the logo (unlikely, as
we've encountered the logo on Globe's own fans), do Adda and Globe fan have
a business relationship, or is SilenX playing fast and loose with the terms
in their marketing material?
The fan spins quickly and noisily at full speed. No fan we've encountered is
quiet at 3,000 RPM, and the Ixtrema held true to this rule. That said, it was
quiet enough at 5V, and it still pushed a decent amount of air. We had to drop
the input voltage down to 3.6V (just 0.1V above the starting voltage) to achieve
10 CFM for our constant airflow test.
Noise quality was nothing too impressive. It didn't disappear into the background
like the Nexus, but the papery throbbing at 10 CFM was easy to ignore as background
hiss. Above 5V, motor whine quickly became a problem, but it was still acceptable
at its default speed around 5V.
Noise Recordings
MECHATRONICS A8025S12D
Ambient noise at the time of testing was 18 dBA.
| Brand |
Mechatronics |
Power Rating |
0.075A |
| Manufacturer |
Mechatronics |
Airflow Rating |
25 CFM |
| Model Number |
A8025S12D |
RPM Rating |
1,500 RPM |
| Retail Availability |
Minimal |
Noise Rating |
– |
| Bearing Type |
Ball |
Header Type |
bare wire |
| Hub Size |
1.33" |
Starting Voltage |
5.3V |
| Frame Size |
80 x 80 x 25 mm |
Number of Samples |
1 |
|
Voltage
|
Noise
|
RPM
|
CFM
|
Power
|
|
12V
|
21 dBA@1m
|
1570 RPM
|
19 CFM
|
0.76W
|
|
9V
|
~19 dBA@1m
|
1200 RPM
|
14 CFM
|
0.57W
|
|
7V
|
<18 dBA@1m
|
900 RPM
|
9 CFM
|
0.46W
|
|
5V
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
|
@10 CFM (7.2V)
|
<18 dBA@1m
|
930 RPM
|
10 CFM
|
0.46W
|
Mechatronics made its name making bearings for the Aerospace industry, so they
are not well known in the electronics industry. They are headquartered not far
from SPCR in a suburb of Seattle, but the "made in Korea" on the fan
hub shows that they follow the common industry practise of out-sourcing their
manufacturing (and design?) to Asia.
This particular fan has unusually small fins and a very low power rating. It
has been on our recommended list for some time, so we already know that it's
quiet. Can it retain its recommended status, or will our newly stringent
test techniques reveal some flaw that was overlooked before?
The most obvious place to look for flaws is the airflow. Those small, backwards-swept
blades don't push much air, and we weren't surprised to learn that the motor
had to spin about 20% faster to generate the same airflow as the more conventional
fans that we tested. Despite the extra speed, the fan stayed quiet enough to
give the Nexus a run for its money.
We had to strain to hear the fan at 9V, and it disappeared almost entirely
below this level. Straining our ears, we might catch the occasional click that
could be attributed to the fan, but these would not be heard in general use.
At full speed, it produced slightly less airflow and measured slightly louder
than the Nexus. The higher noise measurement can be attributed mostly to differences
in noise character. The Nexus sounded slightly smoother and more tonal, while
the Mechatronics had a muffled, rhythmic throbbing that made for a less constant
sound.
The fan's starting voltage was quite high — above the 5V threshold that
we consider failsafe. However, in this case, the noise quality is good enough
that a smart builder might be able to use this fact to his advantage. In combination
with a thermally regulated controller, the Mechatronics is a good candidate
for use as an emergency activated fan that only turns on when the case begins
to overheat. Just bear in mind that the stall voltage is considerably less
than the starting voltage, so once it comes on it will probably be on for good.
Noise Recordings
JUMP TO:
| Help support this site, buy from one of our affiliate retailers! |
|
