Which PWM, CPU or Specialty Fan do you Want SPCR to Review?

Control: management of fans, temp/rpm monitoring via soft/hardware

Moderators: NeilBlanchard, Ralf Hutter, sthayashi, Lawrence Lee

Which PWM or Specialty Fan do you Want Reviewed?

The new Variable Scythe PWM fans
18
17%
Akasa Apache with Akasa PWM Y Splitter
9
8%
Arctic Cooling PWM fans (with multiple fan linking option)
21
19%
Both NoiseBlocker PWM pans
8
7%
Oldies but Goodies - Scythe Kama & Nexus PWM
6
6%
Dorothy Bradbury's high impedance NMB-MAT RB-12025-L & NMB-MAT RB-12025-H
1
1%
Feser/Noiseblocker Triebwerk TK-121 120x55mm 1200 RPM
2
2%
Thermalright TR-FDB-1000 & TR-FDB-2000
1
1%
San Ace Pulled from the Seasonic X 650
2
2%
Noctua, Scythe, Noiseblocker & Yate Loon slow 140mm fans
13
12%
Silverstone 700 rpm 180mm FN181-BL with matching filter
1
1%
Silverstone 120mm & 180mm Air Penetrator AP121
12
11%
Nexus BeamAir 120mm Fan Airflow Straightener
1
1%
Nanoxia PWMX (converts non-PWM fans to PWM)
1
1%
Other (choose this option, then leave details below)
13
12%
 
Total votes: 109

Copyright
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Post by Copyright » Thu May 06, 2010 7:02 pm

The arctic cooling fans are amazing. Right now they run at 700 rpm when the machine is at idle or light load and throttle up only as needed. I put them through a stress test and in the end I have less noise and a 4C drop in my peak core temps. Just amazing to me. So much better then the 800RPM Slipstreams and a Nexus PWM fan that would get very loud and still ended up with hotter temps the then lower rpm Arctic cooling fan I have now. I couldn't be happier. I have 5 120mm fans daisy chained. I am really really loving this setup.

frenchie
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Post by frenchie » Sat May 08, 2010 11:13 pm

Hi all,
I have a Scythe PWM 120mm fan, mounted in a PSU horizontally, and for the past couple of days, it's been making a lot of noise !! It sounds like a dying fan to me, like dust is in the motor... I guess I'm changing that fan soon....

PCMonkey
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Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2004 9:03 pm

Post by PCMonkey » Mon May 10, 2010 10:31 pm

I voted for other, here's my pick/suggestion: Cooler Master Blade Master 120mm PWM fan (R4-BMBS-20PK-R0)

rpsgc
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Post by rpsgc » Fri Jun 04, 2010 3:16 am

Anything by Noiseblocker. Previous models were good and cheap.


Oops, sorry for necro.

gojira
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Joined: Thu Oct 09, 2003 11:05 am

Post by gojira » Fri Jun 04, 2010 11:08 pm

Obviously a Gentle Typhoon. Preferably an AP-15. And then a few different models of Sanyo Denki fans. It doesn't really matter that much which ones. (Which model is used in the Seagate PSUs?) As long as they are Sanyo Denki San Ace fans. Also some Japan Servo fans, and Enermax Magma, and a Coolermaster R4. Clearly the Zalman ZM-F3 and S-Flex fans should have a good going over as well with your new test equipment. Choosing some fans from the top 10 list of Ehume's fan comparison would also be nice.

ces
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Location: US

The Next SPCR fan review

Post by ces » Sun Jan 30, 2011 11:33 am

Anyone know when the next SPCR fan review is scheduled to be published?

coolhand83
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Re: Which PWM, CPU or Specialty Fan do you Want SPCR to Revi

Post by coolhand83 » Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:52 pm

I've voted for other. I'd like a review of the brand new CoolerMaster Turbine Master, as I've read a couple of general reviews of this fan and it is seemignly an excellent performer but I'd like to see a review from a silence enthusiast perspective :D #

http://www.kitguru.net/components/cooli ... an-review/

http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/reviews/misc ... -mach-08/1

pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease ? :wink:

kuzzia
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Re: Which PWM, CPU or Specialty Fan do you Want SPCR to Revi

Post by kuzzia » Sun Jan 30, 2011 1:27 pm

Other:
Antec TrueQuiet 120 mm

and

Cooler Master Turbine Master 16.

They seem very mainstream..

ces
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Location: US

Re: Which PWM, CPU or Specialty Fan do you Want SPCR to Revi

Post by ces » Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:47 am

Here is a link to the xbits "120 mm Fan Roundup, Part 2: 1350 RPM or Higher Rotation Speed"
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cooler ... dup-2.html

Xbits fan review are so non-helpful compared to SPCR. I'm not certain why that is. They seem to be done professionally. They are an interesting read. They just don't provide the insight and actionable information that the SPCR reviews do.

ces
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Location: US

Re: Which PWM, CPU or Specialty Fan do you Want SPCR to Revi

Post by ces » Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:47 pm

How about testing this fan.

Scythe Gentle Typhoon 120mm x 25mm Fan - 3000 RPM (D1225C12B7AP-29)
83.0 CFM at 36.5dBA

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/12363 ... _Soon.html

Not exactly quiet, but interesting nonetheless.

ces
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Re:

Post by ces » Sun Feb 06, 2011 5:34 pm

widdlecat wrote:I'd love to see a review of quality quiet 180mm fans! Does Nexus, Scythe or Noctua have a 180mm fan in the future? Surely Silverstone aren't the only source of 180mm fans are they? I'd like to see fans that can fit in the raven / fortress ft-02 cases.
I think silvertstone is the only one with a 180mm fan... at least suitable for cooling a PC.

alike
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Location: Bulgaria

Re: Which PWM, CPU or Specialty Fan do you Want SPCR to Revi

Post by alike » Thu Feb 17, 2011 10:46 am

Scythe GT AP-15 (1850rpm), S-FLEX F (1600rpm), Kama Flow 2 H (1900rpm) and Zalman F3 (both Sleeve and FDB). :) It will be interesting to see how they compare at full speed and undervolted, especially the Scythes (which according to their site have roughly the same CFM, but different noise levels).

Anatorax
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Re: Which PWM, CPU or Specialty Fan do you Want SPCR to Revi

Post by Anatorax » Sun Feb 20, 2011 4:10 am

My preferences would be:

1) Arctic Cooling 32mm thick fans. I got a 92mm PWM model and must say that the quality is amazing. The mounting system is very good with no or little vibration at high RPM and the airflow is good. Maybe, even better than Slipstream at the comparable low noise level despite smaller diameter. And the price is totally kick-ass, it is probably one of the cheapest fans I have ever seen. I really consider switching all my exhaust fans to this model. But some deeper review on airflow would be really great.

2) Silverstone AP121/141. The AP181 is great at delivering airflow on long log distances, so these babies must be good as intakes as well. Considering a high price, I would like to know precisely how good they are though.

3) Various 140mm fans. I have not seen any good SPCR-level review of 140mm fans. So...

ces
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Re: Which PWM, CPU or Specialty Fan do you Want SPCR to Revi

Post by ces » Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:39 am

Here is an interesting post:

Fan curves: I can make them
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=61225

CanRaps
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Re: Which PWM, CPU or Specialty Fan do you Want SPCR to Revi

Post by CanRaps » Wed Mar 02, 2011 2:56 pm

2) Silverstone AP121/141. The AP181 is great at delivering airflow on long log distances, so these babies must be good as intakes as well. Considering a high price, I would like to know precisely how good they are though.


I Second that..

mdrumt
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Location: Australia

Re: Which PWM, CPU or Specialty Fan do you Want SPCR to Revi

Post by mdrumt » Tue Mar 29, 2011 6:04 pm

kuzzia wrote:Other:
Antec TrueQuiet 120 mm

and

Cooler Master Turbine Master 16.

They seem very mainstream..
I 2nd the TrueQuiet fan, plus the 140mm version. Cheers!

ces
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Location: US

Re: Which PWM, CPU or Specialty Fan do you Want SPCR to Revi

Post by ces » Tue Apr 05, 2011 6:39 am

Felger Carbon wrote:
Bluefront wrote:What I'm reading here.....The SS turns your sensor 856rpms @1262rpms. The Magma needs to turn 1565rpms to produce the same airflow? ......And at that rpm is 4.5dBA louder?

If that's the case, I cannot see any advantage to the Magma at all.
The Magma needs more RPM because it's a lower pitch fan. Lower pitch fans generally do well in higher backpressure situations. A low-pressure fan like the Slipstream can get noisier as the backpressure goes up, as I assume you've noticed when partially blocking a fan with your hand.

If there were no disadvantages to low-pressure fans, then every fan would be even higher-pitched than the Slipstream. I'm suggesting there are tradeoffs in different situations - the filters you need, but most folk don't use, are one special situation.

The Nexus Silent 120mm fan, very popular here at SPCR over the years, is the lowest-pitch 120mm fan I've encountered (in its YL guise). Takes a lot of RPM to push air. But very popular. :?:
Felger Carbon above mentioned a version of the Yate Loon "the lowest-pitch 120mm fan I've encountered (in its YL guise)" with fan blades that he thought would generate more static pressure than its Nexus sibling at the cost of fewer CFM.

Given how important the Nexus reference fan is, I would like to see a review comparing it with its Petra and non-Petra cousin Yate Loons. (Petra Yate Loons appear to have their own unique type of fan blades).
Last edited by ces on Tue Apr 05, 2011 12:33 pm, edited 4 times in total.

Deucal
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Re: Which PWM, CPU or Specialty Fan do you Want SPCR to Revi

Post by Deucal » Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:23 am

San Ace fans are every where here in Tokyo Japan :). If SPCR requested a few for the next fan round up I wouldn't mind buying a few samples and shipping them.

ces
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Re: Which PWM, CPU or Specialty Fan do you Want SPCR to Revi

Post by ces » Sat Jul 30, 2011 10:39 am

ces wrote:
Lithium466 wrote:I would rather go with BeQuiet Silentwings (for me 80mm version is better than 120mm) or Coolink SWIF2, or Nexus. The Noctua NF-R8 is an ageing fan, not bad, but BeQuiet is better :P
I keep hearing good things about BeQuiet fans. I would like to see them tested by SPCR.

See:
Which PWM, CPU or Specialty Fan do you Want SPCR to Review?
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=58350

ces
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Re: Which PWM, CPU or Specialty Fan do you Want SPCR to Revi

Post by ces » Wed Jul 18, 2012 12:32 pm

Anyone have any other thoughts on what fans they would like reviewed?


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