Best case fan?

danceMB · 15 May 2006 at 02:09

I used to have water cooling, but after an accident of the pump failing, I am back to good old air cooling again.

I am going to be fitting an SI-120 shortly with an Akasa Amber 120mm fan, but I wondered whats the best case fans I can buy? Because having a look it appears I dont have any case fans which is not really a good idea.

So, how many case fans should I invest in? And whats the best sizes/makes?

danceMB · 15 May 2006 at 08:49

Panaflo fans for the case then? Im not sure the 120mm fan would fit as a case fan due to the size that has been alloted. Its a dragon case, not sure what the maximum case fan size is, but id guess its either an 80mm or 92mm fan.

danceMB · 15 May 2006 at 11:33

I dont really care about colours as the dragon case is black, but then I dont want a loud fan. Im after good airflow but also which isnt too loud, and dont mind paying decent money to get one that would last me 18 months or so, considering I dont currently have any case-only fans, which might explain why my CPU temps are always so high

danceMB · 15 May 2006 at 14:40

Well thats fine if they are a good make and last. Can I buy them off here? If so, what sizes are available?

danceMB · 16 May 2006 at 00:41

Im quite tempted to get those PAPST case fans if they are considered to be the best?

I have 3 holes basically pre-cut into my dragon case specifically for case fans, with 1 space at the front of the case, and 2 at the back, but they are not for 120mm fans, looks like it is for either 80mm or 92mm which is a shame really considering a 120mm would be quieter.

So if I got 2 x 80mm PAPST case fans it would be cool & quieter inside my case? I managed to find several of these fans, some with fan controllers, some without. Whats the difference in the model numbers?

Some are rated @ 26db, which I assume would be quite high in real world performance?

danceMB · 16 May 2006 at 23:29

I managed to find the fans in question, and it recommends 26db PAPST fans. To me that sounds a little bit too loud, considering I would be getting 2 of the fans - one at the front, one at the back, which should improve on the heat issues inside the case and stop my CPU from having hot moments while I still have the stock cooler.

Anyway, am I right in thinking 26db is too loud, or is that the norm?

danceMB · 17 May 2006 at 08:25

Was my lack of case fans up until now a possible cause of why my temps were higher with the stock cooler than I would have expected?