One or two fan for a CPU cooler: does it worth?

quest_for_silence · Post by **quest_for_silence** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 4:31 am

Some data about CPU temp rise (°C), extrapolated from various SPCR reviews about some of the best coolers:

Noctua NH-C14 (NF-P14)		  Noctua NH-D14 (NF-P14/12)	Prolimatech Genesis (NF-P14)		Thermalright Silver Arrow (NF-P14)
12V  29 dBA		35	        12V	30 dBA		31	    12V	30 dBA		34		        12V	30~31 dBA	34
 9V	21 dBA		36	       8.5V	21 dBA		33	     9V	22 dBA		35		         9V	22~23 dBA	35
 8V	18 dBA		37	       7.3V	17 dBA		33	     8V	19 dBA		36		         8V	-- dBA		--
 7V	15 dBA		39	       6.5V	14.5 dBA	 34	     7V	16 dBA		37		         7V	16~17 dBA	39
 6V	12~13 dBA	41	         5V	12 dBA		38	     6V	13 dBA		39		         6V	14 dBA		41

								                                  Prolimatech Genesis (Red Vortex)  Thermalright Silver Arrow (TY-140)	 Thermalright U120E Rev. C (2)
								                                 12V	21~22 dBA	33		        12V	26 dBA		34		             12V	19 dBA		36
								                                  9V	17 dBA		34		         9V	19~20 dBA	35		              9V	14 dBA		38
								                                  8V	-- dBA		--		         8V	-- dBA		--		              8V	-- dBA		--
								                                  7V	13 dBA		37		         7V	14 dBA		38		              7V	12 dBA		40
								                                  6V	12 dBA		39		         6V	12~13 dBA	40		              6V	-- dBA		--

Noctua NH-C14 (1 NF-P14)		Noctua NH-D14 (1 NF-P14)	 Prolimatech Armageddon (NF-P14)	Thermalright Silver Arrow (1 NF-P14)  Thermalright U120E Rev. C (1)
12V  26~27 dBA	38	        12V	30 dBA		32	     ?V	-- dBA		--				  12V	28~29 dBA	37		             12V	16 dBA		38
 9V	18~19 dBA	40	       8.5V	20 dBA		34	     8V	19 dBA		40				   9V	21 dBA   	39		              9V	13 dBA		40
 8V	16 dBA		41	       7.3V	16 dBA		35	     7V	15 dBA		42				   8V	-- dBA		--		              8V	-- dBA		--
 7V	13 dBA		44	       6.5V	14 dBA		38 	    6.5V 14 dBA		43				   7V	15~16 dBA	45		           	7V	12 dBA		43
 6V	11~12 dBA	49	         5V	-- dBA		--	     5V	12 dBA		48					6V	13 dBA		49		              6V	-- dBA		--

Noctua NH-C14 (1 Nexus)		 Noctua NH-D14 (1 NF-P12)	 Prolimatech Armageddon (SS-140)   Thermalright Silver Arrow (1 TY-140)
12V  16 dBA	   39	        12V	24 dBA		36	     ?V	-- dBA		--              12V	23~24 dBA	36		
 9V	13 dBA		42	       8.5V   17 dBA		39	    10V	21 dBA		36               9V	18 dBA		38		
 8V	-- dBA		--	       7.3V   14 dBA		41	     9V	17 dBA		38               8V	-- dBA		--		
 7V	12 dBA		48	       6.5V   12 dBA		44	     8V	14 dBA		41               7V	13 dBA	   42		
 6V	-- dBA		--	         5V   11 dBA		51	     7V	11~12 dBA	43               6V	12 dBA		46

After some testing with a Cooler Master Hyper 212+ and a couple of Enermax Cluster I have some doubts about what those number could mean for us, except for who does own a Nehalem i7 (now almost EOL).

Which are the real priorities?
What do you think about the subject, particularly with reference to the most modern (cool) CPUs (I hope the "code-table" above turn out to be enough readable/well formatted)?

Deucal · Post by **Deucal** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 5:16 am

For me it is about seeing the difference on that test rig and from that choose what is best for me (according to availability where I live).

Every noise component counts. And of course you have to able to see where you would benefit the most from.

Going for the top 3-4 will always net you the best results but at a price. It's for you to to decide.

Before I found this website I didn't even think about having a quiet computer. Now I'm semi obsessed. And all the work gone into all these tests have really helped me out to make my own systems like they should be

. Powerful and quiet.

Net result? It's reliable data which you can use for your own benefit, unlike the majority of the "reviews" out there.

ces · Post by **ces** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 6:36 am

Deucal wrote:Net result? It's reliable data which you can use for your own benefit, unlike the majority of the "reviews" out there

Agreed.

I think the accompanying thoughtful commentary, assessments, conclusions and opinions are even more useful in comparison to that of other sites.

djkest · Post by **djkest** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:43 am

It looks like on average we see a delta T of 3 degrees C between 1 fan and 2 fans. On the other hand, you have 5-6 dB increase in noise output. So essentially a fairly small decrease in temperature for a doubling in noise output.

Is it worth it? That depends on a number of factors, but #1 is what CPU are you using- how much cooling do you need? An overclocked 6-core intel is going to create much more heat than an undervolted i5-2500k.

I would say that on SPCR, the majority will answer no, not worth it. I guess the ultimate test would be- using 2 lower speed fans at the same noise output of 1 slightly higher speed fan, which is more effective? What provides better cooling for the same noise level?

A good cooler with a single fan at 7V or below will probably be the ideal configuration for most users on SPCR. For extreme overclockers or gamers running 2 video cards in SLI/crossfire, I think a push-pull configuration @12V will be the best because they aren't as concerned about noise as we are, and the other noise sources in their system are far louder.

ces · Post by **ces** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 10:43 am

djkest wrote:It looks like on average we see a delta T of 3 degrees C between 1 fan and 2 fans. On the other hand, you have 5-6 dB increase in noise output. So essentially a fairly small decrease in temperature for a doubling in noise output.

I am not seeing that in the above data... but I am having some trouble sorting through it.

I have always assumed that two fans running slower should obtain the same amount of cooling as one fan running faster... and do so with less noise. For example two Nexus running at 500rpm compared to one running at 1000 rpm. It seems to me that the two slow fans would cool quieter and cool better than the one fast fan. But admittedly I have no data to support this.

My assumption may well be wrong. But to prove or disprove it I would like to see a comparison between (a) one Nexus and (b) dual Nexus run at various speeds and compared. I don't believe that kind of data is up in the table above, nor do I believe that data is available from SPCR testing.

If I am wrong I would be pleased if someone would be kind enough to politely correct me. I find it difficult to believe that MikeC has never made any subjective comments on this subject. Perhaps someone knows where he might have commented on it and provide a link to it. Or even where there is some clear data one way or the other (preferably from SPCR... I just don't trust sound related data from other sites).

Tephras · Post by **Tephras** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 3:10 pm

There was a comparison of 1 vs 2 Nexus fans in the Scythe Mugen 2 review, more specifically on page 6.

ces · Post by **ces** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 3:55 pm

Tephras wrote:There was a comparison of 1 vs 2 Nexus fans in the Scythe Mugen 2 review, more specifically on page 6.

So what I am seeing is:

1 Fan at 12 volts (approximately 1080rpm): 16 dBA, 36°C
vs.
2 fans at 7 volts (approximately 680rpm): 12 dBA, 34°C

OR

1 Fan at 9 volts (approximately 850rpm): 13 dBA, 38°C
vs.
2 fans at 5 volts (approximately 490rpm): 11 dBA, 38°C

One or two fan for a CPU cooler: does it worth?

One or two fan for a CPU cooler: does it worth?

Re: One or two fan for a CPU cooler: does it worth?

Re: One or two fan for a CPU cooler: does it worth?

Re: One or two fan for a CPU cooler: does it worth?

Re: One or two fan for a CPU cooler: does it worth?

Re: One or two fan for a CPU cooler: does it worth?

Re: One or two fan for a CPU cooler: does it worth?