In response to requests from many members and visitors, a Recommended Fans page has been started. We'll expand and improve it as we go along. Merry Xmas, everyone!

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Recommended Fans totally updated 26 Sept 2012

Good work, nice to know about other fans apart from the highly recommended Panaflo fans.

I'm glad you've posted the recommended fans page. No more need to tell new silentpc'ers which fans are good & bad. We can just direct them to your page now.

I'm glad you have started the recommended fans -- it may not be all scientific and such, but with some feedback and cross referencing of our experiences will very likely be quite accurate and reliable! What it may lack in objective measurements (for now), I think it can make up for with breadth. Things like consistency, longevity, and effectivness when used in actual computer cases. And dBA measurements are pretty hard to rely on all by itself -- the quality of the sound like whooshes, squeals, whines, rumble and clicking would all be missed by a single number!

A couple of specific comments: the list lacks any 120mm fans at all. And for the "interesting" category, I'd certainly like to know more about the NoiseBlocker fans -- if they ever are available on this side of the pond...

I have had pretty good experience (so far) with Antec's "Smart Fans" with their built-in thermisters -- and I really like the idea of having things speed up all on their own when it is required. I run my computer 24/7 and during the day (when I not here as often) things can get pretty warm in the summer, but cool down at night. To have it just speed up the fans on it's own as needed has a lot of appeal. Why is it that these type of fans are not included on the list?

Don't have any that I'd really recommend yet -- this is from a sampling of ~6. May play with them more and see if there's one that's worth mentioning.


No experience whatsoever.


There is one, the JMC. I have a couple of Antec smart fans but don't theink they're quiet enough to belong on the list. Too much bearing chatter. If you really think otherwise, I will play a bit more with them, but that's not my perception so far...

Fantastic ideas.

Now you need to convince fan producers to send you lots of free samples.

About that ticking. THANK YOU! I thought my fans were all failing. I didn't realize that this is normal.

Are you using a sound level meter? If not that then how about setting up a mic to record the noise produced in a standardized location at 12V?

I would also like to see 120, and 173mm fans reviewed.

Does your sampling of 120's include an L1A? I've been running one for months now, as seen in my Desk PC. At low voltage it's as quiet as a 92mm, yet moves more air. I think the big difference is the fact that the 120 will spin at much lower minimum RPM than the smaller sizes. But get the voltage above 6 or 7v and its louder than the 92's. The tone of the noise is also lower, and for me that's easier to bear than a higher pitched whine. Of course everything's subjective when it comes to matters such as this.

No other Panaflos in my hands except the 80L. Would like to get my hands on other sizes if they are good; I think it was Jon of Silicon who poopoo'd the 92??

Seeing how there are complaints about the Recommended Fan pages, and the lengthy ramp up to the big fan project, I decided it was time for an update. Hope it will hold you all for now.

I can tell you that the Papst 120mm fan that they rate at 26db runs at 1400rpm at 12V and goes down to 650rpm at 5V.

EDIT: The Papst homepage states that it runs at 1600rpm @ 12V
http://62.159.30.76/de/pdf/produkte/4412_FGL.pdf

Maybe just my sample, the ASUS probe og the fancontroller that doesn't provide 12V

YAY!!!!

This update was LONG overdue, but now it's here!!

Great. I can't wait for the great Calling All Good Fans testing to be done now.

One 120mm fan that deserves a spot on there is the Nexus Real Silent Case Fan. It performs similar to the Antec BQE fan (which should go a spot below it in ranking), but quieter.

2 things:

1) It's in the list already; gotta get those reading glasses, man!

2) The list is NOT any kind of sequential ranking. It ls not ranked at all. Airflow/Noise is the measure by which the fans could be ranked, but even then it could be very difficult. In any case, I do not have that analysis yet.

What does "The main price is low airflow" mean? See Notes for the Nexus Real Silent case fan.

Don't you have some self-measured specs on some of these fans? Would be very useful to add a column that has your measurements, even if most of the fans for the time being would have blank entries.

Main price is low airflow: The price you pay for such low noise.

Measured specs: Nope, it's not ready and misinfo is worse than no info. That will wait till I am 100% confident of results repeatability and interpretation.

No aluminum Everflows on you, Mike?

Just curious; I hear they're great, and just haven't gotten around to buying one for myself. They're so easy to find, too, as a great many online retailers stock them...

I didn't visit the page yet - All I saw was a post saying something about 120mm fans not being on there =[ *blames Neil

Just did a quick search on this page. No one has said thank you for the update. THANK YOU, MikeC!!!!

Yes, thank you, it's much appreciated.

The Nexus fans are lovely, aren't they? ::missing love emoticon::

lovely indeed.

what about the globe 120mm fan? they are same as acoustifans (at least the 120mm model from mnpctech or wherever else they sell them) and cost about 12 dollars less.

Well Mike lists a 120mm Globe in the list at the bottom, combined with Enermax. I think he prefers the less rigid plastic used in the black Globes versus the brittle clear plastic of the AF120CT.

Either way, as he said, his list is not in order of preference; it's just a list.

oops, i completely missed it in there (i thought it would be closer to the top).

Mike, I'm sure you realise the amount of time/effort/money you have saved the silent PC community with this list (amongst other things). Thank you very much!

re-- the appreciative comments: You're all welcome.

FYI, I made further changes late yesterday, adding more info, tweaking comments and also reformatting the list so that it is easier and more logical to follow.

The link again: Recommended Fans

The new color coordination is shweet, Mike!

Looks good. That's definately easier to follow.

Good work, Mike. Would asking for more undervolting info be too greedy?

I shipped Mike 2, Globes for his evaluation via Airmail today