Help: My Antec Sonata's 120 mm exhaust fan is buzzing

mshan · Post by **mshan** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:23 pm

I've owned my Antec Sonata for over a year and until recently the 120 mm exhaust fan has been silent (except for the turbulent air fow it produces).

Recently, it has started producing a very annoying buzzing sound.

Does this mean that the fan is failing and needs to be replaced?

If so, what is quiet, not too expensive replacement fan?

Edward Ng · Post by **Edward Ng** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:24 pm

Globe 120; check MNPCtech for them.

mshan · Post by **mshan** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:29 pm

Hi Ed:

What does the buzzing mean?

Is the fan failing?

Edward Ng · Post by **Edward Ng** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:33 pm

Sorry, I honestly do not know this...

It may sound funny, but I've yet to run a single fan to the point that it begins to buzz. Either it buzzes from the beginning, or gets replaced before it begins to do that.

-Ed

Putz · Post by **Putz** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:33 pm

"failling", probably not. Getting worse with age, probably yes. You could try dusting it with a vacuum cleaner and compressed air as a last resort before you purchase a new one.

mshan · Post by **mshan** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:36 pm

What part of the fan do I need to clean?

Can I physically separate the fan from the rest of the fan mount?

Also, do I need to match the cfm and max rpm specs of my stock 120 mm fan?

Edward Ng · Post by **Edward Ng** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:39 pm

Be careful with double-posts, my friend.

I don't normally recommend taking fans apart; use the nozzle stick on teh compressed air can and blow off both sides of each blade carefully, then the whole rim of the fan housing and finally blow out the hub; as they say, don't ever tilt the can.

That's how I clean all my fans. I try not to blow too much into the hub, however, since I worry about messing up the lube.

-Ed

mshan · Post by **mshan** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:09 pm

Hi Ed:

Is this Evercool 120 mm fan the same as the Globe 120 mm fan?

http://www.jab-tech.com/customer/produc ... uctid=1497

Post by **Ralf Hutter** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:46 pm

mshan wrote:Hi Ed:

Is this Evercool 120 mm fan the same as the Globe 120 mm fan?

http://www.jab-tech.com/customer/produc ... uctid=1497

(Until Ed answers, you'll have to get by with my answer):

No! The Globe is quieter, but may not flow quite as much air.

mshan · Post by **mshan** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:54 pm

Hi Ralf:

Any idea how that Evercool comparees to the stock Antec 120 mm exhaust fan?

My stock Antec 120 mm exhaust fan at 5V is adequete for idle, but with even moderate use, my case temps start to rise. I'm guessing that I need the Antec fan at ~ 7V for adequete cooling in my Sonata.

Do you think the Evercool at 5V would be comparable to the Antec at 7V in terms of air flow and quietness?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

Edward Ng · Post by **Edward Ng** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 6:06 pm

I'd go with what Ralf says in regards to this one; I've only received two Evercools in my time and both of them turned out to be lemons/duds, so I don't have any idea how good the aluminum Evercools can be (I've seen countless positive results with them here in the SPCR forums--how I got two bad ones, I'll never know!).

Globes are awesome.

-Ed

mshan · Post by **mshan** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 6:54 pm

Thanks guys!

burcakb · Post by **burcakb** » Thu Oct 14, 2004 1:46 am

Most quiet fans (including the aforementioned globes) are sleeve-bearing fans.

If you keep your computer on all the time, a regular sleevebearing fan will wear out its bearings between one or two years. That may be your buzzing problem.

Dorothy says the Panaflos don't get noisy just because they're older thanks to the FBD. We'll see