120[mm] Fan Choices[?]

[zefiris]

I am trying to decide between the fans but i am having problems narrowing down my final few choices fans now. Can i get some input on the following choices?

Scythe Slip Stream 120 mm
Yate Loon D12SL-12
Nanoxia DX12-1200 / FX12-1250
120mm Real Silent Nexus (1000rpm)

[Lithium466]

Nexus and Nanoxia DX are really good fans, undervolt nicely, able to "near-silent" operation.

Slip stream 120mm are good fans too, smooth noise, but the sound quality of each version is not equal, and the 2 "1200rpm" versions I have spins too fast to be really silent (for me !) at 5V.

Nanoxia FX12-1250 is a "golden oldie", golden for horizontal use, but just average to good otherwise.

Yate-loon may suffer from sample variance, and tend to click when undervolted...but it depends on you sample.

[mkk]

The 800 RPM Slip Stream 120 has been a safe bet for me in the dozen, if their 850-900 practical RPM will blow enough air for what they're intended to do. When possible I run them at 5V for case fans both horisontally and vertically. For low-medium power builds they're my magic bullet. No vibration, droning or clicking.

[kuzzia]

You could also consider the 500 rpm Slipstream which would not need any undervolting to run silently.

[zefiris]

its going to be mounted vertical (ie standing up).

The case in question is the Antec Fusion/NSK2400 which was reviewed in this review
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article591-page1.html

To get a good idea on the heat that its going to produce:
The most heat will be the CPU - i5 (2400 or 2500k) and a graphics card - Asus EAH6850 DirectCU, and the RAM/Motherboard how ever much heat that generates.
I might add a Wifi, Audio or a TV card in the future.

The HD and PSU is separated so its not an issue.
Its going to double over as my gaming cpu which is in my bedroom and in a HTPC case so both silence and heat is an issue.


I cant seem to find a Nanoxia DX12-1200... Only the FX12-1250 now anyone knows of a place to find it?

All that I know is the Nanoxia DX can push air pretty good and the Nexus its about the same, dunno about the others. ( i was going by this review http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cooler ... dup-1.html )

[Lithium466]

It seems like Nanoxia goes bust :/ (hope it is not the case, but their products are disappearing...)

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cooler ... html#sect0

I'd go for Nexus basic (black and white or orange), or Noiseblocker XL1 (or PL1 or M12-S1/S2), or Kama flow 2 900rpm, or why not Slipstream (I tend to prefer the others over Slipstream, but it is a personal opinion) 800rpm.

[Mr Spocko]

I'm voting for Gelid again I've ramped up all my builds with Gelid now and I'd dead happy good price, long warranty, quiet and the cover it all PWM, TC, and normal 3 pin.

Nexus just don't last give it 12 months and things go downhill no point buying a fan if it isn't quiet down the road. I've replaced so many now I won't touch them again. If they sorted their bearings out we'd be in business.

[Lithium466]

I've just bought a Gelid Wing 12 (1500rpm) yesterday, good bundle, fancy fan, but too noisy for me @5V.
Maybe I should have tried a Silent 12 (1000rpm) fan.

BeQuiet make good fan too, undervolt nicely.

[Mr Spocko]

The Wing series is more for gamers than silent folks though they're pretty decent for their intended buyer.
The silent range is a better bet I prefer the 3 pin fans as they have less rpm's than the PWM ones. I used both and the non PWM is better overall but if you can keep the lid down on temps the PWM ones are ok.

I'd be surprised if anyone was not happy with the silent range esp since they are well priced and pretty quiet to my ears at least.

[Lithium466]

I'll try a Silent 12 then, and I'll see if I still prefer Noiseblocker XL1, for a similar price (~6,50€)

[Mr Spocko]

I didn't know you could get Noiseblocker fans that cheap.
It would be interesting to compare them.

[Lithium466]

Here (france) Noiseblocker XL1 or XL2 can be found between 6,50€ and 6,90€, in "bulk" package. In box (with silicone parts), they cost around 10€.
I'll add a Silent 12 fan to my next order

[Mr Spocko]

Well I am in Europe (Eire/UK mostly)
Where are you ordering from if you don't mind letting us know!

[Lithium466]

I don't know if they ship international :

http://www.docmicro.com/pieces/NoiseBlo ... _5523.html
http://www.docmicro.com/pieces/NoiseBlo ... _5524.html

or

http://www.magicpc.fr/Noiseblocker%20Bl ... P/p-18192/

(price raised since my last oder, they used to cost 6,50€ !)

[Deucal]

Love my Nexus real silent 120mm 1000RPM fans, @7v I don't hear em until I put my ear to the fan. @12v I hear the air movement a bit, but only because I got used to the 7v noise .

http://www.nexustek.nl/NXS-nexus120mmre ... asefan.htm

UK:
http://www.aquatuning.co.uk/product_inf ... 5mm--.html
http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/produc ... -120-basic
http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/cus ... -6030.html
http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_2576.html

Ire:
http://www.silentpcshop.nl/index.php?pnr=05&product=347

Got a pair of Scythe Kaze 800RPM as well. Real quiet.

[zefiris]

Ok update

I am near the final process of building my computer thanks to black friday waiting for cyber monday final deal purchases.
After buying the seasonic PSU (its running at $110 for the x750 seasonic), it hit me that if everyone says that the fan on it is quite that I should look into the fan inside the PSU as a possible case fan, and after more research I have updated the items as possible purchases to buy. But upon more research of the Sanyo Denki i cam upon 2 other fans with better cfm and a pretty low db....

So does anyone have an opinion on the following: (note i seperated the differences in CFM)

COUGAR CF-V12HP - 70cfm with 17.9db @ 800-1500RPM
SilenX IXP-74-14 - 72cfm with 14dBA @ 1400RPM based on mfg site

Nexus BASIC D12SL-12 - 36.9 cfm with 18dba @ 1000RPM
Sanyo Denki San Ace 120 - 48cfm with 17dba @ 1500RPM



I am personally edging towards the SilenX.... at 14dBA, i think I can get at tops 16dBA with two fans running. And possibly undervolt them a little to prevent some airflow noise. (im not using a fan on the chip)

Oh the Sanyo Denki i will prob have to buy via a verified distributor while the others I can buy right off Newegg.

So your thoughts on what I am thinking and my current choices?

[Mr Spocko]

I'd be wary of going purely on manufacturers numbers we have know way of knowing how accurate they are.

[zefiris]

i know, but its the only spec that I got.... im thinking that the Siletx isnt good based on reviews (it seems like it has a short life).

But the cougar is making itself shine on reviews and its stated 300,000 hours of life (which is longer than the Sayano long life fans at 200.000 hours)

I am really thinking about testing the cougar fan.... if things get bad ill prob default to the Nexus.

[Lithium466]

SilenX fans used to be crappy...really crappy ! Some don't even last 6 months, as their motor tend to overheat, and their blade design is not as efficient as the manufacturer claim. (I only tried the IXP series, not the new EFX)

I'd go for Nexus fan, or BeQuiet, or Noiseblocker fan. I don't know the Sanyo, but the Cougar is quite good too, maybe not as good as Noiseblocker or BeQuiet (and if you don't need PWM, I advise you to get the CF-V12S instead, sure it may last a bit less, but the bearing is more silent (at least when new).)

[Mr Spocko]

Not used SilenX for years now and I'm not very likely to bother either I too had major problems with premature bearing wear. Maybe they are better now, but as we have other makers around I would be tempted not to bother.

The cougar fans look interesting what kind of warranty do you get with them I couldn't find that on their site.
MTBF yes very high though 25 degrees is fairly low temperature wise. I know Gelid claim 50k MTTF at 40 degrees I'm not sure how much effect lower temps have we know bearings will last longer quite a bit at lower temps.

One thing I like with Gelid is the 5 year warranty gives you some confidence in the product

[merlyn]

OP: Are you looking for quiet fans or extreme cooling? Given that this is SPCR we'll likely favour fans that we can under-volt to near silence.

In respect of your latest list:
1) The Cougar looks interesting although Compucase isn't renowned for quiet components. I'd be interested in seeing a side by side review with the Nexus.
2) If I'm looking at the same one, you'll find that fans with clear housings tend to be more brittle and transmit vibration more than the solid types.
3) I've got a original orange Nexus here that I've had for many years and it's performed sterling service in a number of cases. Depending on the situation the 1000rpm ceiling can be limiting at times though.
4) Sanyo make great fans but they are usually ball bearings with their associated additional noise.

As Mr Spocko said, you can't trust manufacturer specs, especially about noise, as the good thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from
Nexus are essentially binned Yate Loons anyway. I have had great success with Slip Streams. They don't like being horizontal very much and I would tend to swap them out every 18 months to 2 years just to be safe. I've recently put in a Thermalright TY-140 which is very good if you have the space.

[zefiris]

I plan to put them standing up.. vertical, so no problems on that front.

I am kinda looking for both, im doing the Scythe Ninja Mini route inside the Antec Fusion case, so the case fans doubles over as my CPU fan and also kinda triples as the cooling the reverse side of my GPU card.

I want it quiet cause its going inside my bedroom but I want some good fan speed because its doing all of the above... its going to be 2 case fans btw... if that does anything to the decision.

... now im tempted to just buy a Cougar and send it to SPCR for review.... anyone wants to split half the cost

Cougar
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835553002