Anybody try the Nexus "Real Silent" Case Fans yet?
Moderators: NeilBlanchard, Ralf Hutter, sthayashi, Lawrence Lee
Anybody try the Nexus "Real Silent" Case Fans yet?
Just wondered if anyone has tried these fans yet:
http://www.siliconacoustics.com/nexus80 ... sefan.html
I wouldn't mind having RPM monitoring on my CPU HSF.
http://www.siliconacoustics.com/nexus80 ... sefan.html
I wouldn't mind having RPM monitoring on my CPU HSF.
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OK, I own up to having had a sample from Nexus for a couple of weeks. I've been so busy that I hadn't even opened it up -- till now.
Here's my first impressions:
At the standard 12V, it is quite similar to the SilenX fan (from exoticpc.com or colorcase). Quieter than the Panaflo 80L, and slower. Naturally it also moves less air, a similar to the SilenX fan. It is quite smooth sounding. Some Panaflos can make a chuffing kind of noise as they are slowed down; this Nexus makes none that noise. Mostly, it's a lower frequency hummy sort of noise that ramps down fairly linearly. The useful range is probably 12-7V. At 5V, it's useless -- doesn't really move any air at all. Somehow it seems to be more prone to turbulence: As I bring my ear close to it, the proximity to the intake side causes an immediate and dramatic increase in turbulence noise. In comparison, a Panaflo reacts much less. It may be comething to do with the geometry and shape of the blades.
Overall, it's very nice, just about as quiet as any fan I've played with.
Caveat: My comments are based on a SINGLE sample. Anyone who has messed around with fans knows that they can vary substantially from sample to sample and batch to batch.
Here's my first impressions:
At the standard 12V, it is quite similar to the SilenX fan (from exoticpc.com or colorcase). Quieter than the Panaflo 80L, and slower. Naturally it also moves less air, a similar to the SilenX fan. It is quite smooth sounding. Some Panaflos can make a chuffing kind of noise as they are slowed down; this Nexus makes none that noise. Mostly, it's a lower frequency hummy sort of noise that ramps down fairly linearly. The useful range is probably 12-7V. At 5V, it's useless -- doesn't really move any air at all. Somehow it seems to be more prone to turbulence: As I bring my ear close to it, the proximity to the intake side causes an immediate and dramatic increase in turbulence noise. In comparison, a Panaflo reacts much less. It may be comething to do with the geometry and shape of the blades.
Overall, it's very nice, just about as quiet as any fan I've played with.
Caveat: My comments are based on a SINGLE sample. Anyone who has messed around with fans knows that they can vary substantially from sample to sample and batch to batch.
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Sounds a whole lot like the acoustic signature of those $2 18cfm NMBs that I like so much. Can you peel back the Nexus label and see what's underneath?MikeC wrote:OK, I own up to having had a sample from Nexus for a couple of weeks. I've been so busy that I hadn't even opened it up -- till now.
Here's my first impressions:
At the standard 12V, it is quite similar to the SilenX fan (from exoticpc.com or colorcase). Quieter than the Panaflo 80L, and slower. Naturally it also moves less air, a similar to the SilenX fan. It is quite smooth sounding. Some Panaflos can make a chuffing kind of noise as they are slowed down; this Nexus makes none that noise. Mostly, it's a lower frequency hummy sort of noise that ramps down fairly linearly. The useful range is probably 12-7V. At 5V, it's useless -- doesn't really move any air at all. Somehow it seems to be more prone to turbulence: As I bring my ear close to it, the proximity to the intake side causes an immediate and dramatic increase in turbulence noise. In comparison, a Panaflo reacts much less. It may be comething to do with the geometry and shape of the blades.
Overall, it's very nice, just about as quiet as any fan I've played with.
Caveat: My comments are based on a SINGLE sample. Anyone who has messed around with fans knows that they can vary substantially from sample to sample and batch to batch.
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Ralf:
Nada. One label. They bought enough to have their own label put on at the factory.
I have experience with those NMBs -- those were buzzier, at least the samples I had (a batch of nearly a hundred!). I prefer the Panaflos to the NMBs. These Nexus are much closer to the SilenX fan as reviewed by JohnC. When I have more time, I'll eyeball them more closely to see whether they might be from the same factory.
Nada. One label. They bought enough to have their own label put on at the factory.
I have experience with those NMBs -- those were buzzier, at least the samples I had (a batch of nearly a hundred!). I prefer the Panaflos to the NMBs. These Nexus are much closer to the SilenX fan as reviewed by JohnC. When I have more time, I'll eyeball them more closely to see whether they might be from the same factory.
I recieved one Nexus 80mm "Real Silent Case Fan" today from SiliconAcoustics, along with an 80mm Papst 8412 N/2GL.
The Papst is no quieter than any number of other fans in the box of "spare" fans. It makes a sound like a playing card in the spokes of a bicycle tire. I am VERY disappointed on an absolute basis, and even more disappointed considering the price.
The Nexus on the other hard? Lovely, simply lovely. NO bearing noise at all, unless I stick my ear so close I risk getting it knicked. It just makes a sort of "humm", like a turbine spinning.
I still don't have "quiet" Panaflo L1A's to compare to, so I can't say whether it's quieter or not as quiet, but I can tell you, it doesn't matter because this is now MY personal case fan of choice. It's even a 3-wire fan with RPM monitoring, an added bonus.
I am returning the Papst fan and buying more of the Nexus. Keep in mind, I have just ONE SAMPLE of the Nexus fan. I can only hope the others will be as quiet.
David
The Papst is no quieter than any number of other fans in the box of "spare" fans. It makes a sound like a playing card in the spokes of a bicycle tire. I am VERY disappointed on an absolute basis, and even more disappointed considering the price.
The Nexus on the other hard? Lovely, simply lovely. NO bearing noise at all, unless I stick my ear so close I risk getting it knicked. It just makes a sort of "humm", like a turbine spinning.
I still don't have "quiet" Panaflo L1A's to compare to, so I can't say whether it's quieter or not as quiet, but I can tell you, it doesn't matter because this is now MY personal case fan of choice. It's even a 3-wire fan with RPM monitoring, an added bonus.
I am returning the Papst fan and buying more of the Nexus. Keep in mind, I have just ONE SAMPLE of the Nexus fan. I can only hope the others will be as quiet.
David
Last edited by haysdb on Fri Oct 10, 2003 8:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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I received two more of the Nexus fans today. They are identical with the first sample I received, which is to say very very quiet. A wee bit of vibration, but the quietest bearings of any fan I have heard to date, which number quite a few.
Five Panaflos are due on Wednesday from Case-Mod.com, replacements for five I returned. I am still looking for a truly quiet L1A. At this point, I definitely prefer the Nexus as quieter with RPM monitoring to boot, but I'm not prepared to declare a winner until I have checked out this next batch of L1A's.
Another fan I am impressed with is an NMB 3110KL-04W-B19. A bit of whine at higher voltages, but the one I have is very smooth, less vibration that any other fan I have. A nice fan, especially for the price ($2.99). Are these consistantly good or did I just get a quiet sample?
David
Five Panaflos are due on Wednesday from Case-Mod.com, replacements for five I returned. I am still looking for a truly quiet L1A. At this point, I definitely prefer the Nexus as quieter with RPM monitoring to boot, but I'm not prepared to declare a winner until I have checked out this next batch of L1A's.
Another fan I am impressed with is an NMB 3110KL-04W-B19. A bit of whine at higher voltages, but the one I have is very smooth, less vibration that any other fan I have. A nice fan, especially for the price ($2.99). Are these consistantly good or did I just get a quiet sample?
David
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Those are the ones I used to get for $2 from SVC.com when they still had them. I love them and have used lots of them on customer systems.haysdb wrote: Another fan I am impressed with is an NMB 3110KL-04W-B19. A bit of whine at higher voltages, but the one I have is very smooth, less vibration that any other fan I have. A nice fan, especially for the price ($2.99). Are these consistantly good or did I just get a quiet sample?
David
Where did you get yours for $2.99? Are they still available?
Directron.Ralf Hutter wrote:Those are the ones I used to get for $2 from SVC.com when they still had them. I love them and have used lots of them on customer systems.haysdb wrote: Another fan I am impressed with is an NMB 3110KL-04W-B19. A bit of whine at higher voltages, but the one I have is very smooth, less vibration that any other fan I have. A nice fan, especially for the price ($2.99). Are these consistantly good or did I just get a quiet sample?
David
Where did you get yours for $2.99? Are they still available?
With a Zalman FanMate, the Nexus will run and also start at the lowest position. Absolutely no clicking or buzzing on my samples. With just the FanMate, I cannot get one to stall. I have to add a resistor cable to stall it. I don't (yet) have a Multimeter so I can't give you it's true voltage range. The specs say 10.2V to 13.8V, but it does seem to handle lower voltage than this.silvervarg wrote:Have you tried to undervolt the Nexus?
If so, how does it behave?
Any clicking or buzzing?
How low does it go before stalling?
David
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I find these fans to be very quiet, but when undervolted I do get a constant ticking from the bearings. Mind you I have only 5 of them, I might of have a bad batch, but others have experience this too.haysdb wrote: Another fan I am impressed with is an NMB 3110KL-04W-B19. A bit of whine at higher voltages, but the one I have is very smooth, less vibration that any other fan I have. A nice fan, especially for the price ($2.99). Are these consistantly good or did I just get a quiet sample?
David
my fav fan is the Panaflo lia, but the nexus sounds interesting if there is no motor/bearing nose.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
I like these very much but they are a little underpowered for most uses.Another fan I am impressed with is an NMB 3110KL-04W-B19. A bit of whine at higher voltages, but the one I have is very smooth, less vibration that any other fan I have. A nice fan, especially for the price ($2.99). Are these consistantly good or did I just get a quiet sample?
Very consistant from fan to fan (sample of around 20), the smoothest bearings I've seen, but being ball bearings they do have a swooshing sound to them especially when undervolted.
The Panaflos could be better - they are a nice fan but I'm dissapointed at the QC - from a sample of ~50. Sure, they are reliable, but quite a few have that "chuf chuf" noise even at stock voltages, some have this noise only when mounted in certain positions, others have it pronounced and under all mounting positions. Some vibrate quite a bit too, and all of the Japan models I've seen have quite a bit of "flutter" to the hub when viewed from the top and spun slowly which cannot be good for noise or vibration.
Then again, they are whole leagues higher than what Papst passes off as quiet fans these days, with sand for bearings
I am however quite impressed by the Panaflo H1A, sure its not quiet, but it is much quieter than any fan that I've seen at 40CFM. That bearing seems to really do its job.
I have three of the Nexus fans. All three are utterly quiet, from the high range to the low range of a Zalman FanMate. Absolutely ZERO noise from the bearings, regardless of voltage. All three came from the same source, two in one order, so it's a safe bet that at least two of the three, and possibly all three, are from the same "batch". All three have a little white sticker on the side that says C3902.
I have had 12 Panaflo 80mm L1A's and not a single damn one is what I would call truly quiet. They move more air, but I would never consider running them at 12V, whereas I WOULD consider running the Nexus fans at 12V.
It appears my L1A's are from two batches. The first number on the label of five of them is 9120AD-1J. The other two are OH17AN-1J. All are model FBA08A12L. All seven are "Made in Japan".
David
I have had 12 Panaflo 80mm L1A's and not a single damn one is what I would call truly quiet. They move more air, but I would never consider running them at 12V, whereas I WOULD consider running the Nexus fans at 12V.
It appears my L1A's are from two batches. The first number on the label of five of them is 9120AD-1J. The other two are OH17AN-1J. All are model FBA08A12L. All seven are "Made in Japan".
David
Thank you David for posting your impressions of the Nexus fans. This is very helpful, especially the comparison to the Panaflo fans.haysdb wrote:I have three of the Nexus fans. All three are utterly quiet, from the high range to the low range of a Zalman FanMate. Absolutely ZERO noise from the bearings, regardless of voltage...
I have had 12 Panaflo 80mm L1A's and not a single damn one is what I would call truly quiet. They move more air, but I would never consider running them at 12V, whereas I WOULD consider running the Nexus fans at 12V...
I'm going to buy a batch of these Nexus fans in my next fan restock, they appear to be a winner.
haysdb,
I finally received my new inventory of Nexus Real Silent fans, and I completely agree with you about the amazingly silent performance and high build quality of these fans. Quietest fan I've ever tested, and I feel like I've tested every fan in Creation.
They are easily now my new favorite, hands down. In silence they even beat the Jamicon fans (and absolutely beat the hell out of my Panaflo and Papst 80mm fans).
Thanks very much for the reference!
I finally received my new inventory of Nexus Real Silent fans, and I completely agree with you about the amazingly silent performance and high build quality of these fans. Quietest fan I've ever tested, and I feel like I've tested every fan in Creation.
They are easily now my new favorite, hands down. In silence they even beat the Jamicon fans (and absolutely beat the hell out of my Panaflo and Papst 80mm fans).
Thanks very much for the reference!