case fan solution?

orangeman2003 · 21 Feb 2007 at 06:00

which ones are the best for silent cases

im after 2 x 120mm case fans to replace some really noisy ones

also do fan controllers help a lot? like can they reduce noise of fans and also act on there own? or do they only come in manual?

also which sound proofing is the best to get?

thanks

hp7909 · 21 Feb 2007 at 06:11

orangeman2003 said:
{snip}also which sound proofing is the best to get?{snip}

As in padding? Most here wouldn't recommend it.

Fans, can't go wrong with this

Kirth Gersen · 21 Feb 2007 at 14:38

Here's my take Orangeman (quite a few more knowldegeable folk around here though),

Here are a few, but not all, fan control options:

Fan controller software (freeware) called Speedfan, which, once set up, can automate the whole fan control experience. Eg - you can set different fan speeds at different temperatures. Great piece of s/w, not very user friendly, it means that your fans go at max until windows is loaded and the speedfan kicks in. Only supports certain mobos, and sometimes does not support case fans. I have it driving my CPU fan, which is good, because with a manual system, I might one day forget to turn it up and then.... fizz

Manual ones which range from 5V to 12V: eg the very much favoured Akasa FC03 http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=OA-002-AK&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=189

An Akasa Amber or most other decent 120mm fans running at 5V run very quietly.

Manual ones which range just over 0V to 12V: I don't think you can actually switch fans off using these controllers, but you can run the voltage so slow it doesn't start. I've got one, it's called a Sunbeam Rhoebus. Works well, but would not advise to use it on critical devices like CPUs/GPUs.

Automatic fan controllers which allow you to switch off. For example (and this is the only one I know of) the T-Balancer: fairly expensive, takes a lot of setting up, but once done, a lot of people swear by it.

Hope this helps

Mr Footlong · 21 Feb 2007 at 15:04

Hate to say it but the bearing-like noise that the Ambers make means that they are quite noisy in comparison to a number of other silent makes.

I thought the ambers were great until I took a gamble and tried others. Sharkoon Silent Eagle 1000 120MM fans are the best I have used so far and are a million times better than the Ambers in my opinion, with no bearing noise either

orangeman2003 · 27 Feb 2007 at 19:36

Mr Footlong said:
Hate to say it but the bearing-like noise that the Ambers make means that they are quite noisy in comparison to a number of other silent makes.

I thought the ambers were great until I took a gamble and tried others. Sharkoon Silent Eagle 1000 120MM fans are the best I have used so far and are a million times better than the Ambers in my opinion, with no bearing noise either

u ever tried the 2000 model m8?

alexakasloth · 27 Feb 2007 at 19:47

I use the amber's @ 7v (nexus vantec) and they're silent. Shift enough air for my cpu to be in the mid 30's.

I would not reccomend sound proofing material, your temperatures will increase lots.

geff_r · 27 Feb 2007 at 19:48

I'd get 2x akasa amber fans or 2 x noctua.Controllers are a bit of a gimmick
i think,only get one if the default noise is too much. I run my 2 akasa at
default 12v and can hardly hear them just depends on your noise tolerance.
I'd only get a fan controller if your adament about total silence.

Mr Footlong · 27 Feb 2007 at 20:34

orangeman2003 said:
u ever tried the 2000 model m8?

Yes and they are capable of flowing a LOT of air, but are suitably noisier. By using say a fanmate 2 you can run a 2000 120mm at practically the same level as the 1000 or go higher according to your tastes

.

Mr Footlong · 27 Feb 2007 at 20:36

geff_r said:
I'd get 2x akasa amber fans or 2 x noctua.Controllers are a bit of a gimmick
i think,only get one if the default noise is too much. I run my 2 akasa at
default 12v and can hardly hear them just depends on your noise tolerance.
I'd only get a fan controller if your adament about total silence.

The airflow noise isn't the issue at all in my case, it's the 'bearingy' noice that they have. I personally wouldnt run ambers at 7v, I doubt they flow enough air to be worth it at that voltage tbh.