What are the quietest 120 case fans worth using?

sastusbulbas

sastusbulbas

sastusbulbas

Associate
Joined
26 May 2008
Posts
1,807
Hi all,

I have a pretty basic Gigabyte GZ-X1 midi sized computer case. Does a pretty reasonable job for the money, and has a 120mm fan on the front and 120mm fan on the rear, I also added a Scythe Kama Bay with a 120mm fan some time back.

I am now wondering if it would be worthwhile replacing the current fans with something quieter and with better airflow too. I would like it to be quieter and cooler.
Though does having two front and one rear affect the airflow so to speak?

What fans are recommended? I am also considering Akasa Paxmate soundproofing material for lining the case.

Cheers :)
 
I would vouch for the Slipstreams. They move a lot of air and are also quiet.

Though u can use soundproofing in your case and use a high CFM fan.
Its a win - lose situation. U lose cooling when u gain silence. :p
 
clown_abhi said:
Though u can use soundproofing in your case and use a high CFM fan. Its a win - lose situation. U lose cooling when u gain silence. :p
Click to expand...

This is misleading if not an outright lie. Sound dampening foam/mass loading will do nothing to cut out the noise from high cfm fans. However there is some truth to the second half, but better described as cool/quiet/cheap, pick two.

I use scythe s-flex for case fans, which they're excellent at but probably over specified for. Another vote for the slip streams.

Instead of using a fan controller you can put a resistor between them and the board or just run them at 7V through the psu leads. Mine tend to run at 7V, I find a constant noise less annoying than a variable one.
 
VeNT said:
deltas tbh
only fans worth using!
Click to expand...

Super quiet too! :p I'm looking at sticking some extra case fans on pushing through dust filters and some other threads I've read have recommended gentle typhoons (mainly for static pressure reasons rads/cpu cooler) so consider those too.
 
Most fans are quiet for few months (exception is Thermaltake, which are bad right at start). The bad and good ones then separates after few months of usage - here fans like Airen, Arctic Cooling, Xilence, etc falls off and start to make strange noises. The good ones (Enermax, Noctua, Noiseblocker, Papst) will survive few years without any difference in noise of new and old one.

Can't say anything about Delta fans (they are not available here in Slovakia), but in area of fans the price most times indicate the quality of the product.
 
Well I already have teh Paxmate stuff, may look out some bitumen for underneath it though if it does not pose any problems.

As for fans, I am guessing the more expensive Noiseblockers that OC stock are good, but what ones as there are a few models?

I could use up to 4 as I am planning to fit my Scythe Kama Angle if there is room in that case. Though I think the fans in the Scythe Kama Bay and Kama Angle may be reasonable?

I would rather spend money on the quietest cooling than on something that may start making more noise later?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom