Quieter Fans

[Cow Fly]

I want to replace the four 80mm fans in my Coolermaster Praetorian because they are too loud. Could someone reccomend some quiet fans that move enough air to keep my case cool. I only have two three pin connections on my Asus A8n Sli Deluxe so two of them need to have four pin connectors.

 

[akira34]

fan one
fan two
fan three
fan four
fan five
fan six

Look at those, compare and get the one you like best... You'll need to decide what's the loudest you want to go for fans. Keep in mind, for every additional source of the same db, the overall db level goes up 3 points. So, having two 21db fans makes 24db worth of noise.

 

[Cow Fly]

I think that I will buy four of the Vantec Stealth fans.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Cow Fly
I think that I will buy four of the Vantec Stealth fans.

Panaflow L1A's are better; move more air per dBA. If you wan't to use your MB fan headers just get 2 Y cable spliters. You can also use Speedfan to control them based on system temp.

 

[Tiamat]

Vantec Stealths arent really that great when compared to the better 80mm fans like the Panaflo L1A, Nexus, or even an Enermax 80mm on low.

 

[Turin99]

I have two of the 80mm stealths and two enermax thermal controlled for my exhast. I have a lian li pc60 with a fan speed control. I thought the stealths were quiet, but they are actually the loudest fans in my case (louder than the thermaltake silent boosts' fan and louder than the two enermax fans. I am not sure what voltages the speed switch drops the fans too. I am assuming high is 12v and low is 5v, but I am not positive. At high, they are definitely not stealth. It's very dissapointing. I am not sure how much cfm they are moving at low, but they are very quiet at low. They do occasionally make a clicking noise. I just ordered four panaflos, but I have not recieved them yet, so I can't compare for you. The enermax's are ok. They can get loud at highest rpms, but you really have to heat your system up to max that. I got some silicone isolation mounts and that helped them at high speeds from making my lian li buzz. I would avoid the stealths. Decent fans, but not really quiet. Hope this helps.

 

[Cow Fly]

According to the charts on FrozenCPU the Panaflo L1A and the Vantec Stealth both have the same noise level, 21 db, but the Stealth has better air flow, 27 CFM, compared to the L1A's 24 CFM. Is this incorrect?

 

[cyberknight]

remember one thing though, CFM and dBA numbers measured differently from company to company. In some part, you hafta go reputation as well. I mean, look at SilenX fans. There is no physical way you can convince me the numbers they rate their fans at are accurate. I'm not saying they aren't dead silent, but their CFM ratings are often way too high to be reasonable.

I agree, Vantec products aren't as quiet as they claim to be. They are pretty quiet undoubtedly, but to a super quiet freak, they're just average. Seeing as how their products generally don't cost very much, the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.

Nexus fans are very nice. I can also vouche for the Arctic Cooling 80mm Pro TC. TC means Thermally controlled and it is very quiet. Doesn't make any unncessary noises (ie. clicking, whining, motors), only the blowing of air. great fan.

 

[wkwong]

Stealth's make a slight "clicking" noise rather than the whining noise of most fans. You have to be a few inches away to hear it.

 

[Turin99]

I have the panaflos and the stealths.
The stealths make a definite whining noise at full power.
The panaflos are definitely quieter.
The stealths move a little more air at full power, but not much more. It feels the same on my hand. At the same noise level as the panaflos, the stealths move less air. I feel for the numbers game too, I don't trust companies anymore. I go by people who have used more than one fan's experience. The stealths arent bad, but the panaflos are definitely quieter.

 

[LAVAB84615]

i would get the panaflo m1as and then throw them on a fan controller...

 

[Cow Fly]

I will go with the panaflos then since evveryone recommends them.

 

[sfgtwsac]

Cow Fly:

Can you give us an update when you get the fans installed. I'm thinking of doing the same thing with my Praetorian.

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: Cow Fly
I will go with the panaflos then since evveryone recommends them.

I personally prefer Enermax fans to Panaflos. From my limited experience with Panaflo M1A's and Enermax fans the enermax were quieter (same air movement noise, less motor noise) and moved more air plus scaled better on my voltage controller. Just my $.02

-spike

 

[xbassman]

hmmm.... I had the opposite experience when I switched from Enermax fans to Panaflo H1A's.
I found the H1A at full MUCH quieter than the Enermax. (or at any voltage) So much so that I chucked the 80mm Enermax's in the trash.

Really, If you want quiet there is no reason to look further than here -> BGMicro Panaflo 80mm 12L $3.19 ea. or 10+ for $2.69ea.
These fans come with a 2 pin connector. Trim one side a bit and it will work fine in a 3 pin plug. They also have 3 pin or 4 pin molex connectors for the @ $1.49 ea.

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: xbassman
hmmm.... I had the opposite experience when I switched from Enermax fans to Panaflo H1A's.
I found the H1A at full MUCH quieter than the Enermax. (or at any voltage) So much so that I chucked the 80mm Enermax's in the trash.

Really, If you want quiet there is no reason to look further than here -> BGMicro Panaflo 80mm 12L $3.19 ea. or 10+ for $2.69ea.
These fans come with a 2 pin connector. Trim one side a bit and it will work fine in a 3 pin plug. They also have 3 pin or 4 pin molex connectors for the @ $1.49 ea.

Yah, the L1 are the quietest but they don't move enough air for my tastes. If they do enough cooling for your setup then, im my opinion, they are probably the best fan to have. I want the ability to push enough air in the summer to get ultra-cool at the cost of a little noise so the M1A was the proper choice and it simply does not run as quiet or push as much air as my Enermax. Maybe it is different in the 120mm arena than the 80mm (I have not used an 80mm Panaflo or enermax) dunno though.

-spike

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Spike

Originally posted by: xbassman
hmmm.... I had the opposite experience when I switched from Enermax fans to Panaflo H1A's.
I found the H1A at full MUCH quieter than the Enermax. (or at any voltage) So much so that I chucked the 80mm Enermax's in the trash.

Really, If you want quiet there is no reason to look further than here -> BGMicro Panaflo 80mm 12L $3.19 ea. or 10+ for $2.69ea.
These fans come with a 2 pin connector. Trim one side a bit and it will work fine in a 3 pin plug. They also have 3 pin or 4 pin molex connectors for the @ $1.49 ea.

Yah, the L1 are the quietest but they don't move enough air for my tastes. If they do enough cooling for your setup then, im my opinion, they are probably the best fan to have. I want the ability to push enough air in the summer to get ultra-cool at the cost of a little noise so the M1A was the proper choice and it simply does not run as quiet or push as much air as my Enermax. Maybe it is different in the 120mm arena than the 80mm (I have not used an 80mm Panaflo or enermax) dunno though.

-spike

Well for example i have 4 80mm Panaflos running at half speed. And a 92mm Panaflo running at full speed for the CPU. Under MAX Load (P95, S@H, WebApps, and Games) my case temp hovers around 22C. My ambient temp in winter is 70F and in summer around 78F. SO around summer 24C is common at those settings. Very quiet. I will by no other fan but Panaflo. However i have heard excellent things about the AcoustiFan.

-Kevin

 

[Mr Smiley]

I don't understand how people are getting 15C below room temperature in their case from air cooling. Yes fans do cool things down a good bit but how do they make the case 15C colder!!?? With my 3 fans im getting an ambient temp of 40C. 1 92 in the back 1 80 in the front and 1 120 on the side ride next to cpu.
Maybe Im wrong though. Iv never had more than 3 fans in a case. Maybe I should pick me up some panaflos

 

[footbal07]

i have stealths in the 3 systems i am using right now and they are definately quiet. for under 10 they are a decent value, but if i had to do it again tho i would have just got a case with 120mm fans and called it quits.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Mr Smiley
I don't understand how people are getting 15C below room temperature in their case from air cooling. Yes fans do cool things down a good bit but how do they make the case 15C colder!!?? With my 3 fans im getting an ambient temp of 40C. 1 92 in the back 1 80 in the front and 1 120 on the side ride next to cpu.
Maybe Im wrong though. Iv never had more than 3 fans in a case. Maybe I should pick me up some panaflos

Or maybe you should look at what scale they are using. I mixed Celsius and Farenheit... my room is in farenheit wheras my computer components i know by celsius.

-Kevin

 

[Mr Smiley]

Opps!!! For some reason I calculated it wrong and got 36C = 78F. My bad. I think I need to go back to middle school.
What case are you using? Im thinking about upgrading to a new case. I was looking at the xaser 3s on Newegg and they seem nice but alot of the reviews said the case was heavy and the wires where a little annoying. Ill take any recommendation for cases.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Thermaltake cases use an excessive amount of uneeded loud fans. They are loud, and very tacky with all the lights at every corner.

I am using a Chieftec Dragon Case (One of the best model cases ever built IMO )

-Kevin

 

[xbassman]

Originally posted by: Spike
Yah, the L1 are the quietest but they don't move enough air for my tastes. If they do enough cooling for your setup then, im my opinion, they are probably the best fan to have. I want the ability to push enough air in the summer to get ultra-cool at the cost of a little noise so the M1A was the proper choice and it simply does not run as quiet or push as much air as my Enermax. Maybe it is different in the 120mm arena than the 80mm (I have not used an 80mm Panaflo or enermax) dunno though.

-spike

Yeah I think the dif is in the diameter. I have used many 80 mm fans and wound up using almost exclusively Panaflo's. (H1A's ramp down very nicely also) Then I purchased a 92mm H1A and was appauled @ how ridiculously loud it was.

On another note....Gamingphreak mentioned Acoustifan. I saw some posts on SPCR.com stating that they were rebadged Evercool or Globe. (can't remember which) Can't bring myself to spend $25 for a fan anyway!

 

[miketheidiot]

anyone know anything about this fan?

I have a few 80x80x38mm versions and they are quiet, but i've never seen a 80x80x25 version.

14 Db? unbelievable. Thats quieter than background noise.

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: xbassman

Originally posted by: Spike
Yah, the L1 are the quietest but they don't move enough air for my tastes. If they do enough cooling for your setup then, im my opinion, they are probably the best fan to have. I want the ability to push enough air in the summer to get ultra-cool at the cost of a little noise so the M1A was the proper choice and it simply does not run as quiet or push as much air as my Enermax. Maybe it is different in the 120mm arena than the 80mm (I have not used an 80mm Panaflo or enermax) dunno though.

-spike

Yeah I think the dif is in the diameter. I have used many 80 mm fans and wound up using almost exclusively Panaflo's. (H1A's ramp down very nicely also) Then I purchased a 92mm H1A and was appauled @ how ridiculously loud it was.

On another note....Gamingphreak mentioned Acoustifan. I saw some posts on SPCR.com stating that they were rebadged Evercool or Globe. (can't remember which) Can't bring myself to spend $25 for a fan anyway!

Crap, my Panaflo M1A 92mm arrives today for my 80mm to 92mm adapter. I hope it will run semi-quiet @ 7-8 volts as opposed to my YS-Tech 80mm which screams even at 8 volts.

-spike