Looking to put some new 120mm case fans in my new case. Can't decide to get either the Nexus 120 mm Real Silent Computer Fan - Black & White with Fan Mounts or the Scythe sflex fans at say 800 rpms. Any thoughts...

Keep in mind that you'll have to slow down the Nexus fans too.

The Scythe S-FLEX fan has more motor buzz noise than the Real Silent, and it becomes more obvious as each fan is slowed down. What you should be choosing between is the Nexus Real Silent and Scythe Slipstream. I've tried all three of these fans (S-FLEX 1600RPM, Slipstream 800RPM, and the Nexus) and it's a virtual tie between the Real Silent and Slipstream for ultra-quiet.

IMO, the Slipstream has the edge at really low RPM. This isn't a controlled test by any means, but just by feeling the air that each fan moves at ~400-500RPM, the Slipstream just "feels" like it's moving more air than the Real Silent.

Mounted vertically or horizontally?

I've got a Real Silent on my CPU heatsink (running at 35%), which I'm very happy with.
I was going to buy another Real Silent to use as an exhaust, but I might try a Slipstream after reading that. They're both pretty much the same price.

Why not get one each and experiment?

I've just installed a Slipstream 800, and my first impressions are that it's MUCH quieter than the Real Silent.
Pity about the ugly leads though

I have the Real Silent running on my CPU heatsink at 35%+Speedfan, and the Slipstream as an exhaust running off the R3 fan controller (on 100%), and they appear to be around the same volume.
Compared to the Slipstream, the Real Silent is deafening at 100%.

As a soon as I turn the Slipstream down even a little bit, it's inaudible over the Real Silent (at 35%) and my HDDs. Still feels to be pulling a fair bit of air out of the case too.

Slipstream 800 is my new favourite case fan

Seconded, I use a pair of the PWM slipstreams on my CPU cooler, they rarely go over 700 RPM and keep it just over room temperature.

If I ever need a silent case fan it will definitely be a Slip Stream.

With the R3 exhaust fan gone, I can now hear a very faint tick/thud from the Real Silent on my CPU.
I think I'm going to have to buy a PWM Slipstream for my CPU next.

I just spent 20 minutes trying to track down a 'new' high frequency hum. It's my monitor.
I guess it's a sign of progress when the monitor is louder than the PC right next to it.
The quest never end

Any experiences with Akasa Apache fans?

Seconded, I use a pair of the PWM slipstreams on my CPU cooler, they rarely go over 700 RPM and keep it just over room temperature. If I ever need a silent case fan it will definitely be a Slip Stream.[/quote] Any comments comparing the PWM slipstream to the non-pwm slipstreams?

I remember seeing a review someplace that was somewhat disappointing. I have one. I just haven't gotten around to using it.

How well do non-PWM Slipstreams cope with being controlled via PWM, like with an mCubed T-Balancer? I'm trying my best to find fans that are near-silent and will play nice with a T-Balancer - apparently some fans don't react well to PWM. Anyone tried controlling Slipstreams (or Yate Loons, for that matter) with a PWM device?

Which online retailer are you guys getting good pricing on the Scythe Slip Streams?

I think I'm going to try the 120mm 800rpm Slipstream too. They're only $9.49 at Newegg while the Real Silent prices doubled since I bought those things ($20 is ridiculous).

Yes, the Slip Streams are silent from a foot away at 360 RPM with a direct path to my ear.

Scythe's lowest speed Slip Streams are 800RPM, an inexpensive controller should have no problem halving the speed.

There is a lower rpm version Scythe Slip Stream 120mm x 25mm Fan - 500 RPM (SY1225SL12SL)

Btw anyone have compared Noiseblocker NB-Multiframe M12-S1 120mmx25mm Ultra Silent Fan - 750 RPM to the Scythe Slip Stream 120mm x 25mm Fan - 800 RPM (SY1225SL12L)?

Im my optinion the M12-S1 is quieter than the Slipstream (and lasts longer !). But sure it is much more expensive
I have two slipstream (1200 and 500rpm), and I am quite disappointed by their life expectancy....

MTBF is 30000 hours, what's wrong with that?

Couldn't Nexus design some 800rpm 120mm and 140mm fans? Most boards have insufficient PWM headers and I'd like to avoid bothering with adapters.

Nothing wrong with MTBF, bur real lifetime of Slipstream is way shorter than that, plus I oiled them 2 or 3 times a year.

That sucks. What's the real lifetime of those fans according to you? Are the Nexus fans better?

According to my limited experience (3 Nexus, 1 Slipstream 500rpm, 1 Slipstream 1200rpm), the Nexus lasts longer... in fact I think maybe my Slipstream's oil tanks were not full when I bought them ? Anyway, they both quickly started to make more noise (I'd say after ~6 months), like a bearing/ticking noise, that annoyed me a lot
I tried oiling theme, but if the 500rpm is ok now, it was maybe too late for the 1200rpm, which is now vibrating more and making a bearing noise. I'm still using the 500rpm, but it needs to be oiled from time to time. The 1200rpm is now on the family computer...also needs to be oiled sometimes.

The three Nexus I have (for ~2 years and a half) are still running fine, even if two of them are on my Thermalright radiator. I still haven't oiled them...maybe one day !

BTW, like you said, Nexus is only making a 1000rpm fan (I don't count the 2000rpm PWM), Scythe if offering way more options, and you can also look toward the Kama flow 2 900rpm, or the Gentle typhoon 800/1150rpm...or Noiseblocker fans...
(I'd too like to see a 140mm Nexus. They are selling some with theri Edge case I think).

One Nexus case comes with a 14cm 'silent' fan. What fan is this?

http://www.nexustek.nl/nexus_prominent5 ... c_case.htm

My experience has been that Nexus is quieter under high static pressure conditions.

If you want low rpms, the slipstream come in 12v 500 and 800 rpm models.

If you want PWM control, slipstream is clearly better than Nexus.

If you want horizontal, at least try Scythe Gentle Typhoon. Some people love them, some don't. But they are the only generally available PC fans with real, honest to goodness, high quality ball bearings.

Why's that? Nexus has PWM fans too.

Nexus 120mm PWM is not really intended for SPCR users, I think

http://www.hardware.fr/articles/867-14/ ... -test.html

Pay attention to the other statistics for MTBF because some makers user lower temps in their numbers.
Higher temps def do cause premature bearing wear faster than lower temps. And in many cases it's really hit or miss if you can expect them to be accurate.

I've had early bearing wear on Nexus non PWM fans, not all but more than I was happy with. I have not tried the PWM fans from Nexus. The other stand out bearing problem maker was Silen X, really very big let down, but that was a while back and I see they are now using FD bearings in many more models so that should have helped.

I'd also look at makers who have a longer warranty. The non PWM Nexus fans are smooth..and quiet but how long they last is open to debate. Granted they are not expensive fans, but when Gelid came along I think the reason to even look at Nexus went right out the window..smooth sound too, better bearings, longer warranty. Don't want to sound fan boy ish, but I've had no problems so far with Gelid..even with their PWM fans.

There is something to be said for ball bearings and double ball bearing fans, I've used a few for very long periods of time and they really do last the distance..even if they're not as quiet to start with they are a lot quieter long term because some of these cheaper bearing fans get pretty loud when they do wear.

Gelid doesn't produce any fans that run < 1000rpm without voltage control, do they?
Have these fans been tested by SPCR?

What are the best/recommended 140mm PWM and non-PWM fans?

Try reading through http://www.orthy.de/2012/04/das-grose-1 ... -update-5/

i found their testing method tolerable and the results seem stringent and comparable to me. They have a 120mm version too.