Apache dissapointment

zoomee

zoomee

zoomee

Soldato
Joined
15 Dec 2004
Posts
5,756
Location
Hudds, UK
hey guys,

I'm really not impressed with the Akasa Apaches allot of people here recommend due to reliability. I initially purchased three - one for a side panel intake and two to push/pull a H50. Performance was impressive for the level of noise they used to make!

Times have changed (not by much though! - Sure I've only had them about a year) and two of the three Apaches are making a wierd noise whilst running. I'm using them to push air through my top mounted EK 360 Radiator at the top of my 700D.

I've tried running them at different speeds to no avail - two of the three make a noise like I've got a 10mm fan in my system somewhere! (one more so than the other). I can tell its them two as when I stop them with my hands the noise stops. REALLY not impressed - never had a problem with reliability of any fans I've used but this is just not on.

Anyways - I'm not much use with FPI ratings for rad - two questions here:

A)- Anyone else had a similar problem with these fans?
B)- Recommendations for 3 x 120mm fans bearing in mind they are for a EK 360 radiator

thanks in advance.
 
yeah got a PWM splitter hooked up to my m/board fan header driving the apache's at the moment.

I've had the Noctua S12's (Can't believe I paid £20 a fan lol!) in the past - quiet yes but absolutely crap at moving air lol

thanks guys
 
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3 Flavours to choose from:
1150RPM - 37CFM / 16dB
1450RPM - 50CFM / 21dB
1850RPM - 57CFM / 28dB

3 x Scythe Gentle Typhoon 1450 RPM's en route to me, only a pound difference so went for the inbetween compromise.

Should I gutt my Apache's and use them in place before the Scythes? or won't it make a difference?

does push/pull make a difference? I know on the H50 it made like 2 degrees C difference under load (i.e. not really worth it!)

thanks
 
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Bought them from here, not sure about warranty - will need to dig out the reciept. I can say I was impressed with the performance but the reliability is in question here - Two out of three fans exhibiting the same issue is not good.

Maybe these were the two I had on my H50 - not sure, but don't see how that would cause them to start making a noise like this....Gentle Typhoons have been ordered in the meantime - supposed I could use them in push/pull if I was to get the Apache's replaced...
 
I tend to keep my fans and PC insides pretty clean mate, never had a fan fail or start playing up on me in nearly 15 years of computing!, let alone 2 out of 3...

Searched high and low and can't for the life in me find my reciept - guess I must have chucked it, not expecting a fan to play up, ah well.

Scythes should be here tommorow for me to play with - now what to do with these apache's - bin or gutt them to put in place between the rad and scythes - anyone?
 
Angel_Rex said:
how much u want for the working one? :D I need another!
Click to expand...

LOL - Don't waste no time do you mate? :) - Trust email me and we'll sort something out as my Scythes arrived today - fitted em already ;)

Looks like one apache is perfectly fine, second is ever so slightly noisey and third is noisey as hell.

I can honestly say I am REALLY impressed with these Scythes- compared to the Apaches - they are quieter (not just because of the whaling noise) AND they cool my rad better - now getting lower temps on my CPU :) 52-54Degrees C under prime load v's 57 with the Apaches - overall happy bunny - thanks for the advice guys, mucho appreciated.

My system now makes the same amount of noise as my NAS box - which doesn't have a fan lol - winner!
 
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Nah didn't recieve anything mate, Looks like you havn't enabled your trust email yet....

Looks like a little clean got the second one working ok so got two apache's free available ;)

I got the Scythe Gentle Typhoon's - 1450RPM (Out of the 3 models listed above) - They perform pretty darn well! BUT I just realised they are only 3 PIN - so I can't seem to control them with the Akasa 3-way PWM splitter I had :(

Doesn't matter me wants an Aquaero - any excuse lol
 
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I tried that guys - Set it to DC instead of PWM (same as above screenie) but it wouldn't throttle down my scythes using the Akasa splitter :(

will reply to your email soon Angel_Rex - once I have chance to defo check out that second apache ;)
 
ps - stick with apaches - they seem to be quieter than the scythes.
need to get this akasa thingy working - not sure why it don't allow to throttle 3 pin fans....
 
V F said:
That would only work if you daisy chain 3 pin fans. You can't mix and match 4 pin PWM and 3 pin fans hoping they'll throttle. It's one or the other. That was one of the reasons I replaced all my 3 pin fans for PWM.

I doubt the motherboard could detect the 3 pin fans with the 4 pin PWM splitter? hence it doesn't know what to do with them so it runs at full speed. The only way it would work is a separate 3 pin splitter. Thats what I use to run since I only had 3 pin fans.

It's a real pity the Sharkoon 2000rpm fans are not PWM. :/ I loved those fans.
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hey mate, I'm not mixing any fans - I'm only using the three Scythe GT's all connected to the Akasa splitter - which in turn is connected directly to the mainboard CPU connector.

This same setup used to work perfectly with the Apaches (as they are 4 pin PWM fans). I'm just pitting it down to the fact I'm now using 3-pin fans with a 4-pin splitter. tbh i'm not that bothered as I REALLY wants the aquaero controller ;)

One thing I have noted about the Akasa splitter is that out of four possible pins theres only three - one is missing. This is the third pin out of the four (The third pin on a 3 pin fan).

@@Angel_Rex - stick with the Apaches mate - They are actually case fans as opposed to CPU fans - so are much suited to booting air around a case (and I mean literally boot!) - Plus they are definately quieter than the GT's - if noise levels are what you are trying to reduce.

The GT's are better for me as I am using them on a Rad (Less static pressure) - I can tell as they cool it better, but are ever so slightly noisier than the Apaches.

Now to convince the missus I REALLY REALLY REALLY need the aquaero - lol :D
 
lol errrr - Me know nuttin bowt static pressure lol.

I was gunna blame Amidar if it all went wrong :P lol

Numpty here has just realised why three pin fans don't throttle down using the Akasa splitter - its connected to a molex adapter and hence gets its power from my PSU not the motherboard - duh!

@@Amidar - I'm using the GT's to push air through my rad - would I be better off getting setting them in Pull as opposed to push - and or use fan shrouds?

Theres something wierd going on - The first GT I have (closest to drive bays) is making more noise than the others - I think theres something up with my Rad or its fan fittings which is probably the reason two out of three of my apaches started becoming noisy (I swapped them at some point).

grrr - I'm losing patience with this whole darn watercooling - don't get me wrong - its awesome for reducing noise levels under load (but that happens rarely), problem now is keeping noise super low when idling

It keeps my 5850's at 31Degrees C, but in terms of CPU - theres only 3-5 Degrees C difference over my H50 :(
 
Amidar said:
I'm using 1850 Gt's but unvolted to 7v,the radiator i'm using is BI SR1-360 which has deep shroud built into one side of the radiator & i have fitted the fans to this side (pushing air).

Now i'm only cooling my cpu, with my previous cooler (Meghalems) it would idle at 38-40c i7 920 @ 4.00Ghz & load at 75-78c when running intel burn test.With a koolance 370 block & the above radiator it idles @ 33-35c but load is now down to 60-61 & also the weather has warmed up a lot later aswell.
Click to expand...

My CPU with a H50 used to be 32-34 Idle, 60-62 with load
With the HF and 360 Rad (CPU is first in the loop to be cooled) Idles 34-36, Load 56-58Degrees C - nowhere near a drastic a drop in temps as you.

My GPU's however don't seem to move from 31Degrees C lol
 
Decided to keep the Apache - not worth selling - sorry to keep you hanging.

I've managed to slow down the GT's to 1000RPM and they are hardly audible at all!! - Aquaero controller for the win! No loss of cooling performance at them RPM's either.

Finally got my system as quiet as I'd like it to be, phew!
 
To be honest mate, i can't do a fair comparison - I will state however at full tilt the Apache's were ever so slightly quieter. Performance wise it didn't matter for me as it looks like anything 1000RPM and above gives me the same performance.

If you using them as case fans you can't go wrong with the Apaches - if you want uber quietness (like me!) - you'll need to run them on a fan controller / motherboard header.

the advantage of the Apache's is that they are better suited for maximum airflow (as case fans - thats what their primary aim is - one can feel the difference in air throughput - its different to the GT's but the GT's are more suited for my radiator setup) and also the fact they are four pin PWM fan - so controllable via your motherboard easily enough using something like the akasa pwm splitter. The GT's can't be controlled using the same splitter - I had to buy a fan controller to be able to throttle them down (i.e. Aquaero).

hth.
 
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