SPCR

I need to choose from one of the following fans:

1. SilverStone SST-FMC3XW (44 cfm/1300 rpm/17 dbA)
- 103 max. cfm and front speed control knob
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-fmc3xw.htm

2. Nexus 120 mm Real Silent (37 cfm/1000 rpm/23 dbA)
http://www.nexustek.nl/120mmcasefan.htm

3. Enermax UC-12FAB-B (63 cfm/1800 rpm/25 dbA)
- 95 max. cfm and internal control knob
http://www.maxpoint.com/products/perph/ ... /index.htm

I would choose the Nexus because it's highly recommended, but I could really use more CFM because of my 3 hard drives and the Nexus doesn't have faster speeds.

Can I trust the 17 dBA rating of the Silverstone at 1300 RPM?
How is it that the highly recommended Nexus makes 23 dBA at a lower RPM?

You don't need a lot of airflow to cool HD's. You can't trust manufacturer given dBA specs. My vote went to the Nexus.

Everyone here will say the same as Tibors

I believe the figures are misleading because they're all measured in different ways

According to Maxtor, you need <10cfm flowing over an hdd to keep it within thermal guidelines. And even that is often overkill.

yeah, if you have like 3+ hds close together, even a nexus on 5volts would be pushing a lot of air.

front of case ='s nexus for me. I dont like front fans if not necessary, but if it had to be there, Nexus. Front bezel's leak a lot of fan noise directly to the user if not a good silent fan pick.

Nexus - plenty of flow for HDD's and minimal noise at whatever speed you use.

Neither of my HDD's ever exceeds 37C with a medium speed Yate Loon (Mad Dog) at 5V (about 900 rpm) drawing air through the modded but still restrictive Sonata intake.

That seems like a high hard drive temp, especially when there a fan there.

My suspended samsung with acoustic managment turned off and no fan over them never really goes above 35

How much use does it get, though? I have a few drives suspended directly over a 120mm fan (bottom intake), they're normally around 25C but can still get up to 35-40C while doing large installations/defrags etc.

BenW,

Was this comment

That seems like a high hard drive temp, especially when there a fan there.

directed to my post above?

If so, that 37C temp is only after a disk defrag or virus sweep. In normal operation, my primary use HDD runs at 30-31C. I've found that HDD position 2 in the Sonata drive cage cools best.

Thanks for the replies.