Fan Recommendations

[ttaskmaster]

The default Corsair fans the H80i came with sounded like a whinny high pitched jet turbine by comparison although they did seem to give me slightly better temperatures.

If they're the same ones as the old H100, then they do give awesome performance at 2500rpm... but are noisy as heck (40dB). They are whisper quiet below 1100rpm, but not much use at that point unless they're tight up against a radiator.
They're what got me into the Noctua side of things in the first place.

 

[Macro]

Think I'll have a look at the eLoop and let you know how I get on. Ta for the advice

 

[MoodyB]

Have a read at this graph from Thermal Bench showing how the EKWB Vardar fairs against a few other fans.

Last graph on the page compares airflow through rad vs db :

http://thermalbench.com/2015/03/29/corsair-sp120-pwm-quiet-edition-120mm-fan/3/

And a review of the eLoop B12-4 for comparison as well :

http://thermalbench.com/2015/04/10/blacknoise-nb-eloop-b12-4-120mm-fan/#more-579

 

[Macro]

Good news, bad news...

Good news - the eLoop B12-PS fans arrived and went onto the Corsair H80i OK.
Bad News - there's a distinct whining noise which after some digging on t'internet seems to be a common problem with the NB eLoops not liking to be in Push/Pull config (actually it's just the pull bit it seems causes the noise).

http://www.overclock.net/t/1503499/...erfs-and-eloops-droning-in-push#post_22605364

There's some suggestions a gasket between the pull fan and rad might help, not really done any research yet to work out if that's a good idea or not, OCUK don't seem to do them and I'll need to source some longer screws to fit to the Corsair rad (not sure what size they actually are atm, they're certainly thinker than the screws supplied with the fans).

Or do i write it off an look for decent fans which will work push/pull with the H80i without a buzzing/whining noise..

Hmmmm

 

[MoodyB]

Have a read at the last paragraph in the eLoop review I linked to.

It mentions a droning noise & adding a 1-2cm gap between the fan & the rad should help.

I've had similar problems with a fan pulling air into a case through some side panel mesh. Some spacers between the fan & side panel made a big difference to the noise.

 

[Macro]

Yeah, ta, missed that bit and the other comments on the eLoops for Push/Pull around t'internet until too late. The question now is do I live with it, do I look for other fans or do I try and work out some sort of spacer and go hunting for longer screws.

 

[Macro]

Right, a couple of EK-Vardar F2-120 on the way although I left it until 4pm so it'll be friday now, let's see how I get on with them...

 

[Drake5]

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-026-AR&tool=3

Any one else used these

 

[MoodyB]

Here's a good page, that compares 120mm fans against one another in dB(A) vs cfm :

http://www.hardware.fr/articles/874-35/recapitulatif-db-a-vs-cfm.html

If you go to each fans page, it also shows the airflow through a rad.


And the same thing for 140mm fans :

http://www.hardware.fr/articles/886-1/comparatif-ventilateurs-140mm.html

 

[shatpank81]

rather than make a new thread, hope OP doesnt mind me asking a question here?
doing some modding to my case and in the need for some quiet/almost silent 120mm fans....
BUT they must be slim!!
i have some 120mm akasa black fans but they are a touch too noisy for me and also too thick for what i require?
do such fans exist?

 

[MoodyB]

BUT they must be slim!!
do such fans exist?

Raijintek Aeolus, Silverstone SST & Scythe Slip Stream are 3 that OcUK sell.

The Raijintek has 120mm mounting holes but the frame is 130mm wide, so check it'll fit first.

 

[Macro]

Right then, reporting back...

EK-Vardar F2-120 arrived and are now in cooling Haswell-E 5820 at 4.25Ghz (125Bclk x 34 so overdriving the cache as well). Fans are in push/pull config on Corsair H80i AIO cooler. Case is a Silverstone TJ-09 with two Apache Black on in and two Apache Black on exhaust.

Very pleased to say not only are they whisper quiet but they are giving me cooler temperatures under 100% load by around 4 deg than even the NB eLoop B12-PS were and without the annoying whine. Completely unscientific numbers but with a ambient temp of 20deg C, Case temp of 25 deg C (with minimal load writing this), I get average temp in low to mid 30's and under full load after 10 min stress with ITX max temp of 68 deg C.

Very impressed all things considered, not least due to my newb cooling skills so I'm sure things are far from optimal.

If you have a rad the Vadar seem to be the way to go without doubt from the selection of Corsair SP120, Apache Black, eLoop and finally Vadar I've tried over the last couple of days.

Now, what the hell do I do with 6 spare 120mm fans!?!?

 

[shatpank81]

Raijintek Aeolus, Silverstone SST & Scythe Slip Stream are 3 that OcUK sell.

The Raijintek has 120mm mounting holes but the frame is 130mm wide, so check it'll fit first.

Thanks, just what i needed

 

[ttaskmaster]

Now, what the hell do I do with 6 spare 120mm fans!?!?

Build another PC
Build a model hovercraft
Ventilate your soldering station
Hop on the Members Market

Spoilt for choice, really!!

 

[Macro]

Hmmmm.. Hovercraft you say....

 

[Kidge]

Slight thread revival but I decided to go for these Akasa's in the end:

YOUR BASKET
1 x Three Fan Bundle - Akasa 120mm Piranha High Performance PWM Air Ripper Blade Fan £9.31
Total : £11.59 (includes shipping : £1.90 Ex.VAT).



3 fans for less than the price of one NoiseBlocker which I was going to go for I thought I'd risk it!

Plus the reviews don't seem to bad on them either...currently showing as 'due soon' so hopefully they're in stock and dispatched before I'm home in two weeks time.