Which one of these 120mm fans should I get?

davidstone28 · Post by **davidstone28** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 5:14 am

Apologies if this is the millionth time this question has been asked but I've searched the forums for info on these fans, but can't find sufficient information on the fans listed here (they seem to be different model numbers etc)

Which one of the fans listed here should I get, in terms quietness / cost?
http://www.tekheads.co.uk/s/category?category=375

I am planning to run it at 5v and it needs to be cheapish, quiet and available in the UK - hence the tekheds website link. Oh and it also preferably needs to be 3 pin (or come with 3 pin adapter).

Thanks in anticipation.

lucienrau · Post by **lucienrau** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 5:45 am

I have an Enermax adjustable fan and I find it pretty quiet (with the proviso that all fans have that it's not run at 12v and is decoupled). I run mine at 5V, it has quite smooth sound characteristics (no clicking etc...) and I find it sufficient to cool my case (Antec 3700AMB).

Post by **Ralf Hutter** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 6:16 am

The only fan on that page that's got a 3-pin connector is that adjustable Enermax, which happens to be a very quiet fan. I'd go with that one.

PretzelB · Post by **PretzelB** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 6:32 am

I found the Enermax 120mm to be pretty noisy. I didn't think I was that picky so I'm surprised the first few posters liked the Enermax. I have a Panaflo 120mm at 5 or 7 (can't remember) and it is completely silent. I'm not sure it's moving all that much air but you can't have it all. The problem with the Panaflo is no connector included (in most cases) and it's 38mm thick which causes problems in many cases.

davidstone28 · Post by **davidstone28** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 11:52 am

Thanks guys.

I've ordered the Enermex and will let you know what it's like.

davidstone28 · Post by **davidstone28** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 6:24 am

Okay, I got the Enermax fan, and I have to say that I'm disappointed. In a stock Sonata case, its by far the loudest thing in the system. It comes with a small dial that you can turn with a screwdriver to change the voltages. Even at the lowest setting, it sounds very gruff. Not sure if I've got a dodgy one but its rough sounding and noisy. At it's highest setting, which is very loud, it pushes alot of air though. I'm suprised that they rate the fan @ 21db at its lowest settings. More like 21db from 10 metres away....BTW at 5v the fan doesn't even start......

So I've returned it to the shop who have given me a refund. [/img]

Jan Kivar · Post by **Jan Kivar** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:01 am

davidstone28 wrote:Okay, I got the Enermax fan, and I have to say that I'm disappointed. In a stock Sonata case, its by far the loudest thing in the system. It comes with a small dial that you can turn with a screwdriver to change the voltages. Even at the lowest setting, it sounds very gruff. Not sure if I've got a dodgy one but its rough sounding and noisy. At it's highest setting, which is very loud, it pushes alot of air though. I'm suprised that they rate the fan @ 21db at its lowest settings. More like 21db from 10 metres away....BTW at 5v the fan doesn't even start......

That's odd. I run one with 5V, and I'm even able to dial it down a bit more. I can't say anything about the noise, as I don't have any other 120 mm fans to compare (apart inside the FSP350-60PN(PF), but it still has warranty...

).

Cheers,

Jan

davidstone28 · Post by **davidstone28** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:10 am

Yeah, I just noticed that the 5v was mentioned above. The way I connected it was turning the dial up to maximum and then plugging it into the 5v connector that comes with the Zalman GPU fan. It didn't spin up at all (unless you twirl it with your finger and then it spins). The fan is rated from 7v to 12v (the range of the dial?) so I guess 7v could well be the minimum.

I would consider getting the Papst 4412 but its £30 inc VAT P&P in the Uk which seems a bit too expensive.

lucienrau · Post by **lucienrau** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:20 am

I have the same fan plugged directly into a 5v line and it spins up every time. It seems to work from about 1/2 to full on the speed setting dial for me.

PretzelB · Post by **PretzelB** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 8:45 am

That was my experience with both the 80mm and 120mm Enermax fans. I ran my fans at 12v though - seemed to defeat the purpose of having an adjustable fan if you had to adjust the volts going into it. Not sure what's available in your area but the Panaflo worked well for me but it's 38mm thick and requires you buy a tail too. The aluminum Evercool 120mm seemed to get rave reviews too.

davidstone28 wrote:

Okay, I got the Enermax fan, and I have to say that I'm disappointed. In a stock Sonata case, its by far the loudest thing in the system. It comes with a small dial that you can turn with a screwdriver to change the voltages. Even at the lowest setting, it sounds very gruff. Not sure if I've got a dodgy one but its rough sounding and noisy. At it's highest setting, which is very loud, it pushes alot of air though. I'm suprised that they rate the fan @ 21db at its lowest settings. More like 21db from 10 metres away....BTW at 5v the fan doesn't even start......

So I've returned it to the shop who have given me a refund. [/img]

dukla2000 · Post by **dukla2000** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 9:32 am

davidstone28 wrote:I would consider getting the Papst 4412 but its £30 inc VAT P&P in the Uk which seems a bit too expensive.

Kool 'n Quiet do it for £20.49 - not sure what their P&P is.

davidstone28 · Post by **davidstone28** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 9:50 am

Thanks for the link Dukla. The price of the fan isn't too bad but they charge an extortioante £7.00 inc VAT for P&P which makes me think they'e rip off merchants in this department - It cost me less than £2.00 (inc padded Jiffy bag) to send my Enermax fan back to the shop. I refuse to pay such extortionate P&P on a point of principle!

Edward Ng · Post by **Edward Ng** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 1:29 am

QuietPC has a shop in the UK, right here. Check them out, and consider the AcoustiProducts Acoustifan AF120CT; I'm hoping it's not too expensive an option for you; it's 17 Pounds for the fan and another 4 Pounds for shipping via Royal Mail Special Delivery, or one more Pound still for UPS Standard UK. My informal review of the fan is right here. Good luck finding a satisfactory, quiet air mover!

-Ed

Seal · Post by **Seal** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 4:26 am

Arent the panaflo or the papst fans on the tekheads website anygood?

Im also interested in a good 120mm fan i can use at 5v or 7v for my radiator and exhaust in my watercooled setup (need x2).

davidstone28 · Post by **davidstone28** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 9:07 am

The Panaflos and Papbst sold by Tekheads aren't the quiet models - they're the ultra loud high performance versions! The Papbst 4412 FGL is the one to go for but its not sold by Tekheads.

marc999 · Post by **marc999** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 10:39 am

I own a JMC, HydroWave Panaflow, and Papst 4412 FGL (and technically two NMBs but they're unwired so they're just sitting there untested). My favorite by far is the Papst at 5V. I highly recommend it.

Seal · Post by **Seal** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 10:39 am

Hi, is this the quiet version here?

http://www.wizarddesigns.co.uk/fans.htm

51020 Papst Fan 120mm, 26dB, 55.3CFM, FGL-Series (4412 F/2GL)

Are they the best 120mm fans out there? How do panaflos compaire??? and where can i look at panaflo prices in uk?