120mm Fan Roundup
 

We test 6 different fans from Titan, Acousti, Arctic Cooling, Coolink, Antec and Papst. Using a Scythe Ninja in a closed case we´re set to find out which fan will act as the best heat exhaust.

http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=391


Other fans sugested so far that we're considering to include in our next part of the roundup:
- Nexus D12SL-12
- Orange Yate Loon
- Vantec Stealth
- Silverstone FM121 & FM122

The lower the temp the higher CFM and noise; with a single exception AC yielding a 3-dBA differential (40 v/s 37). At this threshold it may not be noticeable :)

:drool:

Is it just me or was the AC fan the daddy at 7.5V?


Which leads to the question, why don't they deliver it already at this speed? It could kill the Papst GLL at this speed.

Similar things can be observed with the Freezer PRO, which has a brilliant motor, but without turning it down you can hear the air moving.

I bought me a Papst 4412 FGL a few days ago.

26 dB - 94m³/h

Quite quiet and a nice airflow.

After reading the spcr forums, i've bought nexus fans (http://www.nexustek.nl/) maybe u can get a sample of it to test it. (If you didn't life that far from here I would lend u my fan)

also on the spcr forums I read the the noiseblocker fans begins to make a clicking sound when not getting 12 volt, it had something to do with the ball bearing used.


Where did u get the Ultra-Soft Fan Mounts from acousti, because i'm looking for them.

Acousti send them with their fan, but they are optional, check their website for reseller list;

I'll check up on the Nexus fans, what model(s) are you referring to?


the coolink fan (the former noiseblocker) did not sound weird at <12v, but do you mean that they start clicking directly.. or after a long period of use?

PWM fan controllers might be the solution (like the mCubed fan controller) but this method does not work well with all fans, they have an extra small device to convert the digital PWM to analog. check the webnews for mCubed I posted a link to SPCR where somebody looked in detail at the this PWM combo for fan control

quote from spcr (http://forums.silentpcreview.com/vie...ker+click ing)

http://forums.silentpcreview.com/vie...ker+click ing


it seems like undervolting ball bearing fans can produce a clicking sound, but sound is something that is very personal, some people can't stand it some don't hear it...

so clicking will be hearable immediately by reducing voltage? will check again tonight, although I've already had my ear next to do them, no clicking.


btw what Nexus 120mm is good? what product model?

dunno how you can find that antec loud? got one on my CPU and its very silent.

But offcourse I'm the personne with 11 fans from which 2 enermax in my case :^D

the Antec is loud compared to other fans (except for Titan). I find the Antec do-able at medium speed, silent at low speed.

it's hearable if you pay attention

Nexus has only 2 120mm fans, but the only difference is the color,

specs:
Model D12SL-12
Dimensions 120x120x25mm
Versions Orange or Black/White
Weight 123 grams
Rated Voltage 12 Volts
Voltage Range 6.5 ~ 13.8 Volts
Input current 0.30 Amp Max
Input power 1.8 Watts Max
Rotation speed 1000 RPM
Acoustic noise 22.8 dB(A)
Airflow 36.87CFM
Operation temperature -10 to +65 C
Storage temperature -40 to +70 C
Warranty 3 years

Would like to see Yate Loon 120mm fan in the comparison, recently it shows up as a very good competitor in the silent fan market :D

Hey Hans, thank you for the suggestion, I've seen that name pop up also in different fora; do they have a specific model which is most popular?

@maniak: thanks!

I belive the Orange Yate Loon is the most common out there, and Nexus range are top end rebranded Yate Loon, higher RPM i believe, so taking a Nexus and speculate the noise/speed .. from it would be easier, as I had nightmare finding a Yate Loon in the UK.

Forgot the spec:

This is the orange Yate Loon
1350 RPM @ 12V, 47 CFM, 28dB


PS: the black one are also commonly found in PSU i think, Seasonic ?

after reading some stuff on spcr if found out that nexus fans are actually special yate loon's

the normal yate loon has the specs Hans mentions, the nexus fans use the same bearing and rotor but only runs @ 1000 rpm

so normally if you undervolt a yate loon it will be equally silent as a yate loon

to those who claims some fan make "weird noises" at lower voltages.. are you holding these fan at 3mm from your ears? because at that distance I too can make out the motor noise (and not just the wind blowing noise).

but at 5-10cm from my ear that motor sound is very very silent and at 20-30cm you can not hear it. How close are you sitting next to such fan to find these noises disturbing? :)

SmartSensor SL4001A Where to find?
 

I did a google for the smartsensor mentioned in the article and came up with nothing. Where can this device be obtained?

I got it off eBay from a wholesale in China;

maybe you are just getting old :^D

nice review btw :ws:

possible, but that's the "problem" with human ear and subjective noise tests; they can not be 100% representive for everybody who reads the site.

Will there be some testing with the fans mounted directly on a XP120? That would be intresting.

simple answer: no

and why would it be "more interesting" ?

Because then the size of the fan motor and air pressure would be more important.

the difference in CPU temp will be less pronounced, as well as noise signature.

using them as case fans gives to most realistic numbers for air movement and noise.

no comments about the small movie and audio sample on page2? at all? :)


10 points for he who can name the person speaking.

Snoop!

I need those rubber thingies now, the vibration is a major noise source in my case.


What would be nice, is 10 second MP3 sample for all fans at all voltages. That way everyone could do the subjective noise testing themselves.

The noise in using fan on a Heatsink is a compound effect; as the air is blowing onto the heatsink with irregular surface produces different sound effect; unlike using it as case ventilation which can also be affected by the shape/design of fan grill.

120mm fan is not always the ideal size for CPU HS cooling. "Think" what you like, Rutar.

make a guess at how much a microphone will cost which can record at such a resolution that the results are useable :)

and 10 points for Rutar on the Snoop Doggy:) I hope it was not offensive, it was not meant to be, I was searching for 6 second sample and came along that one which includes "shush" and "educate" :)

would be great to silence my enermax casefans :o

where can I buy them :^D

3rd page of the review; Acoustifan in detail, where to buy link.

decibel meter
 

do you still have the details? or do you know of any similar devices more easily obtained?

okay, thanks for pushing me with this:) I've been going through the box information and found something more

this is the one, exactly it: http://www.arco-meter.com/product_sh...type=45&id=347

that's the ONLY site with any info and they are the makers of the products, so I'm guessing they only sell localy in China?

found one on Ebay (search for "AR-824") www.ebay.com

specs:

sound meter
 

awesome!
thanks for all the info.

this one looks interesting if you look at the specs

http://www.thermaltake.com/2005/dcfa...2330/a2330.htm

54CFM/16dBA

Look again at sleeve bearing used, another hot topic to many who swear ball-bearing is the only way.

a quick google/hwfaq search:

at low speed:
Sleeve = more silent
http://www.currentsolutions.com/know...sleevefans.htm (that one comes from HWFaq.be )


" It's accepted that ball bearings produce more noise then sleeve bearings - 1 to 3 dBA according to some sources - but the differences are rarely noticeable during their typical roles in cooling fans"
http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=193


will look further tomorrow:)

Sleeve bearing always run quieter than ball bearing due to lesser contact area. Ball bearings are chosen for high load apps (PSI), similar to Alternators in car where the tension of the driving belt exert force on the bearing; ball bearing is used. While the back of the alternator where no tension is exerted, sleeve bearing is used. Unfortunately, not many PC users have mechanical aptitude and sold by manufacturers.

Many argue bear bearing will last longer than sleeve; yes, depends on the apps.

Often times, reviewers are the indirect customers; manufacturers are pushing out products that will meet all customers' want. In the past 6 years, many product review sites surfaced. Most are run by young PC enthusiasts in their late teens and early 20's. Few are equiped with Electrical, Computer Science, Mechanical, or Science academic, they gain "experience" by using/tweaking whatever came alone. Board makers, memory houses, CPU heatsink, water cooling devices, weired looking cases are out to capture some of the needed money from the young audiences. Today, low noise becomes the must have for a PC, while the opposite end of the spectrum in load music is pleasing to their ears. dBA specs that are so unreal are being published in the marketing brochure. Holy cow, people believe it.

Some will Google to find some truth to the matters; others will go around repeating what the manufacturers wish them to. Noise does make money; it's been that way for many years ......

hum, guys its a 13cm fan, not a 120mm