Corsair AF120

Pelinox

Pelinox

Pelinox

Associate
Joined
27 Sep 2012
Posts
519
Location
Denmark
I just added 2x Corsair AF120 fans to my case, replacing NZXT ones, to lower noise on load, but after installing them, they make a rattle sound at any speed.
While I'm writing this, I haven't had it open to look, but I installed them just an hour ago, and I'm pretty sure no wires or anything is touching the fans themself.

Is this common? Even on full RPM, I can hear it.
I'll have a look again later.
 
None of my Corsairs rattle (2 AF, 2 SP)

Are you absolutely certain that you've fully tightened the fan to the chassis?
 
Resident said:
None of my Corsairs rattle (2 AF, 2 SP)

Are you absolutely certain that you've fully tightened the fan to the chassis?
Click to expand...

Well, I used the old screws that held the NZXT ones in place, since, the screws that came with the Corsairs were too big in diameter to be screwed into the case, and they seem pretty stable, i even tried them before putting the side panel back on, and there were no rattle. Maybe it's just some wire thats touching, will check in a hour or so when I got time. Will let you know :)
 
Okay, so I just took the panel off, and there is no wires or anything touching the fans. It seems that they both are making this sound. I also installed the AF140 in the front, and it's making the exact same sound... Could it be these replaceable colour bands that are hitting the fans? I'll try to remove it and see if there is any changes.

I just don't think is the fans hitting anything, regardless of the rpm, the rattle is the same, so to me it seems more like someting static maybe?

Edit: Yea, its the bearing make the sound, on all 3 fans... I took the fans off and just held it in my hand, and it still made the rattle. How can this be on all 3 fans? Do they need more power, than my Fan controller gives them?
 
Last edited:
With the way that the corsair fans were made, I would have used the right sized screws :/ be careful on them fans because you can easily break the rubber corners. Sound's like you got faulty fans?
 
All fan bearings make noise, some people take notice of it more than others... but its impossible to tell if its just normal bearing noise or if somethings up with the fan without being able to hear it.

If you truly want the quietest fans look at the Be Quiet silent wings 2. I have 1 of the 140mm and having tried lots of fans (including noctua) I have to say those be quiet ones are easily the best.
 
Pelinox said:
Okay, so I just took the panel off, and there is no wires or anything touching the fans. It seems that they both are making this sound. I also installed the AF140 in the front, and it's making the exact same sound... Could it be these replaceable colour bands that are hitting the fans? I'll try to remove it and see if there is any changes.

I just don't think is the fans hitting anything, regardless of the rpm, the rattle is the same, so to me it seems more like someting static maybe?

Edit: Yea, its the bearing make the sound, on all 3 fans... I took the fans off and just held it in my hand, and it still made the rattle. How can this be on all 3 fans? Do they need more power, than my Fan controller gives them?
Click to expand...

I have mine on a fan controller (well the SPs run on PWM) and don't make any audible noise other than airflow at max, operating between 500-1100rpm
 
stulid said:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18447252

Should sound like the ones in the noise video I included.

I.E - just air flow noise.
Click to expand...

Tbh I hear 2 other noises apart from airflow on the 12v quiet ones. There's the low pitched motor noise and a sort of tearing noise which is probably what op is hearing. Some people notice this more than others as once I started trying to make my pc as silent as possible, I noticed that fans I thought were silent before.. were not actually silent :D The best way to judge how quiet a fan is to put your ear close to the back of the motor so ambient/other fans aren't drowning out the noise which might make it appear silent.
 
All I noticed with my fans was the airflow and the motor noise at high RPM. Also with the fan mesh infront of the fans they were whiney, cutting it out solved that.
 
Okay, so what I tried was to add in the reducer between the fan controller and the fan, that reduced the noise by far, then I tried to plug it to the motherboard without the reducer, and it was almost silent. Does that mean that the fan controller does not give enough power?

I could plug all 3 to the motherboard, but then I wouldn't be able to control them, which would be annoying aswell :/
 
Last edited:
BrianB said:
With the way that the corsair fans were made, I would have used the right sized screws :/ be careful on them fans because you can easily break the rubber corners. Sound's like you got faulty fans?
Click to expand...

Well, the screws are too big to enter the holes already made in the chasis.

spixelspixel said:
Does your motherboard not have a fan control utility?
Click to expand...

Not sure what you mean. I have a NZXT Phantom with built in controllers, and these are the ones I wanna use, sure, I can adjust the fan speeds in BIOS, if that's what you mean, but I'd rather have them up hand on the case.
 
Pelinox said:
Well, the screws are too big to enter the holes already made in the chasis.



Not sure what you mean. I have a NZXT Phantom with built in controllers, and these are the ones I wanna use, sure, I can adjust the fan speeds in BIOS, if that's what you mean, but I'd rather have them up hand on the case.
Click to expand...

I mean a program within windows such as Asus AI Suite or Asrock Extreme Tuner. I can control all my fans with these.

I don't think the fan controller would make them rattle, if it wasn't giving enough power it just wouldn't spin or would spin slower. Maybe when you connected them to your motherboard they were running at lower voltage (so slower rpm/less noise) or did you notice them moving the same amount of air?
 
stulid said:
What motherboard is it?
Click to expand...
Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H Z77

spixelspixel said:
I mean a program within windows such as Asus AI Suite or Asrock Extreme Tuner. I can control all my fans with these.

I don't think the fan controller would make them rattle, if it wasn't giving enough power it just wouldn't spin or would spin slower. Maybe when you connected them to your motherboard they were running at lower voltage (so slower rpm/less noise) or did you notice them moving the same amount of air?
Click to expand...

Currently, I have taken all 3 fans out, to test them seperatly, so I haven't had a chance to adjust them in windows, but I'm sure it can be done. It would just be more handy to control them the same way I adjust the rest of my fans.

I'm pretty sure when i connected it to the motherboard, it ran full RPM. Atleast, the air preassure on my hand was pretty high.

It must have something to do with the power, since all 3 fans, connected to the fan controller makes this sound, while on the motherboard, you have to stick ur ear in the fan to hear it. I don't understand it :confused:
 
That board does have system fan control (PWM or Voltage) as the fans are three pin you want the voltage option.
 
stulid said:
That board does have system fan control (PWM or Voltage) as the fans are three pin you want the voltage option.
Click to expand...

Alright, maybe I will look at it in the future, for now, I just put in the reducers which removed most of the noise and will stick to that. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom