Rad Fans

benji182 · 6 Mar 2022 at 20:15

So I have not upgraded or kept up with PC tech for a while.

I have a XSPC 480mm rad running gentle typhoons as I believe they were the best around that time. I believe they are 800rpm versions to keep them quiet.

With a new build in the works and thinking of changing up my case I'll be up-sizing my single quad rad to two triples leaving me 2 fans short.

What are the current contenders for good but near silent radiator fans?

I'll be cooling a 12700k to start with and eventually my 3090FE when I have another pay cheque or two in the bank. I'm hoping 2x 360mm EK PE rads will be sufficient for this.

***F1ZZY*** · 7 Mar 2022 at 07:50

Phanteks T30 if you have the space for 30mm thick fans.

Noctuas best 25mm option.

Arctic P12 best budget option.

Drumroll · 8 Mar 2022 at 11:58

***F1ZZY*** said:
Phanteks T30 if you have the space for 30mm thick fans.

Noctuas best 25mm option.

Arctic P12 best budget option.

Perfect recommendation.
Was looking for fans for an air cooled system. The Phanteks top the Noctua, and as long you have space for them (30mm vs 25mm), they’re the go-to fan now.
The Arctic are great value, but the hum at the 1000ish rpm band can be an issue.

ttaskmaster · 8 Mar 2022 at 13:44

What Fizzy posted is a pretty decent starting point and I'd not disagree.
However, any given fan performance on one radiator will not always be the same on another radiator. EK Vardars work very well on EK's own rads and on some XSPC ones, but sound like an F-14 taking off when paired with Alphacool rads... whereas Corsair MLs are better suited to Alphacool and the Black Ice Nemesis rads, for example.
It's a bit of trial and error, mixed with your own subjective perspective on what noise levels are acceptable to you, really.

benji182 · 8 Mar 2022 at 20:13

Thank you Fizzy, drum & taskmaster.

When the O11D Evo is back in stock there should not be an issue running 30mm fans on the bottom rad but I'll have to check at the top rad location for any motherboard clashes.

Interesting to know about EK fans on EK rads - that would make sense if they have designed them together or at least you'd think so.

The XSPC rad I have has been bullet proof so I'm not tied in to EK rads. I just already have EK hardline fittings for current PC after changing from soft tubing a few years back.

I remember the name black ice and alphacool but I guess EK's marketing is whats led me to lean towards them purely with all the ads heh.

The arctics look pretty cheap and plasticy ha and if you mention a hum I'd be inclined to lean towards the T30's mentioned above.

ttaskmaster · 10 Mar 2022 at 12:21

This is where it gets weird... the MLs also work great on EK rads.

benji182 · 10 Mar 2022 at 17:52

ttaskmaster said:
This is where it gets weird... the MLs also work great on EK rads.

These Corsair MLs ? ?

Not a bad price when compared to the T30's plus RGB.

This might be a daft question but when using RGB do these need a controller (the lighting node) that then just takes up one RGB header on the motherboard?

ttaskmaster · 11 Mar 2022 at 13:57

benji182 said:
These Corsair MLs ? ?

No, these ones: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/cors...remium-magnetic-levitation-fan-fg-052-cs.html

benji182 said:
This might be a daft question but when using RGB do these need a controller (the lighting node) that then just takes up one RGB header on the motherboard?

As I understand it, that is how those work.
I'm more into Aquacomputer stuff myself, so if it were me I'd use the controller they have, which includes Corsair-specific RGB connectors but still integrates them with all the other Aquasuite functions and kit.