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- Joined
- 11 Mar 2008
- Posts
- 467
I've used this cooler on my new build - and the first thing I notice when starting up the PC is the noise the fan makes! I disconnected the fan for a few seconds to verify and the PC went more or less silent (despite having 3 other fans running). The BIOS tells me it's currently running at 1450 (it's min speed), and I guess it will get worse when it spins up to 2000rpm. So, going to need to replace the fan!
This leads to a couple of questions:
1. The fan with the cooler appears to be fairly normal, has a 3 pin connector that joins to the pump unit on the CPU, though I'm sure I saw in some reviews that it was a PWM fan, but without 4 pins I'm assuming this is not the case?
2. Assuming it's not a PWM fan, could I use a PWM fan and connect that directly to the CPU fan controller (while shifting the pump connection to a SysFan header)? Would this allow better use of the fan, or could it mess with the pump unit?
Not sure if the pump monitors it's own temperature, or if it relies on the connection to the CPU fan header.
3. Static pressure - I know this is important for radiator fans, but I've not idea what ratings are 'good'. I'd guess that higher is better, but then I see fans like this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-057-AK&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=4 with a rating way higher than others.
4. My case is a black and white NZXT Phantom 410, so looking for Black, White or Black & White fans to fit the colour scheme. Also looking for quiet ones, so haven't considered anything rated 30DBa or higher.
My choice of fan will obviously depend on the answer to the above, however I'm considering the following:
NZXT 120mm Case Fan
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-000-NX&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=4
Think these are what came on my case, reviewed well with a Corsair H80 (above average cooling, but very quiet)
Aerocool Shark Black Edition
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-007-AE&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=4
Corsair SP120
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-010-CS&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=4
Reviews well with a Corsair H80, great cooling but louder than average.
Alpenföhn 120mm Wing Boost Plus PWM Fan
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-004-AL
Xigmatek XAF-F1252 Whiteline Fan
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-021-XG&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=4
NZXT FZ-120 Airflow Fan Series
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-007-NX&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=4
BitFenix Spectre PRO PWM 120mm Fan
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-043-BX&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=4
Also considering one of these as well for the 'inside' side of the radiator, though will need to see if the case has the space to accomodate it (it certainly won't fit on the case side of the rad)
Thermalright TY-147 140mm Case Fan - 120mm Mount
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-104-TR&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=1816
Any thoughts on the above options? While I think any of the above would be fine on their own, my main concerns are ensuring that I pick a fan that is good for using the a radiator.
This leads to a couple of questions:
1. The fan with the cooler appears to be fairly normal, has a 3 pin connector that joins to the pump unit on the CPU, though I'm sure I saw in some reviews that it was a PWM fan, but without 4 pins I'm assuming this is not the case?
2. Assuming it's not a PWM fan, could I use a PWM fan and connect that directly to the CPU fan controller (while shifting the pump connection to a SysFan header)? Would this allow better use of the fan, or could it mess with the pump unit?
Not sure if the pump monitors it's own temperature, or if it relies on the connection to the CPU fan header.
3. Static pressure - I know this is important for radiator fans, but I've not idea what ratings are 'good'. I'd guess that higher is better, but then I see fans like this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-057-AK&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=4 with a rating way higher than others.
4. My case is a black and white NZXT Phantom 410, so looking for Black, White or Black & White fans to fit the colour scheme. Also looking for quiet ones, so haven't considered anything rated 30DBa or higher.
My choice of fan will obviously depend on the answer to the above, however I'm considering the following:
NZXT 120mm Case Fan
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-000-NX&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=4
Think these are what came on my case, reviewed well with a Corsair H80 (above average cooling, but very quiet)
Aerocool Shark Black Edition
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-007-AE&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=4
Corsair SP120
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-010-CS&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=4
Reviews well with a Corsair H80, great cooling but louder than average.
Alpenföhn 120mm Wing Boost Plus PWM Fan
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-004-AL
Xigmatek XAF-F1252 Whiteline Fan
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-021-XG&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=4
NZXT FZ-120 Airflow Fan Series
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-007-NX&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=4
BitFenix Spectre PRO PWM 120mm Fan
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-043-BX&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=4
Also considering one of these as well for the 'inside' side of the radiator, though will need to see if the case has the space to accomodate it (it certainly won't fit on the case side of the rad)
Thermalright TY-147 140mm Case Fan - 120mm Mount
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-104-TR&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=1816
Any thoughts on the above options? While I think any of the above would be fine on their own, my main concerns are ensuring that I pick a fan that is good for using the a radiator.