So, I've just put a new rig together (i7-2600K based) in my old Antec P180 using a Noctua NH-D14 cooler. My requirements are for generally silent or close-to-silent cooling on idle/low loads, with a ramping-up when the temperatures require it.
I have 6 fan areas, let's call them:
A1 CPU fan 1
A2 CPU fan 2
B Rear case
C Top case
D Front case
E Bottom case
(the image is not of my PC)
I have an Asus P8Z68-V motherboard with three duty manageable fan headers:
CPU_FAN 4-pin header based on CPU temperature
CHA_FAN1 4-pin header based on motherboard temperature
CHA_FAN2 3-pin header based on motherboard temperature
The Noctua NF-P12 (A2) and NF-P14 (A1) on the cooler have 3-pin headers, therefore these cannot be duty managed by my motherboard based on the CPU temp. I am going to keep the NF-P14 central fan with it always on low mode - 10.1 dB(A) - and replace the NF-P12 with a 4-pin PWM fan. Requirement 1.
The bottom case fan exists to cool the hard drives. My Seasonic X-760 will not run the fan below 150W draw (which isn't drawn at idle), and as there's no/very little movement of air between the top and bottom sections of the case, it gets kinda stuffy down there and my hard drives seem to roast. I want an always-on fan that exceeds 39 CFM and does not exceed 25 dB(A) of any connector type (basically better than my current ageing/dying Antec Tri-cools on "Low" when new). Requirement 2.
The front case fan exists as the primary intake fan. Creating a vacuum in the case will draw air in, but I like to have some driven intake to help airflow. This fan should be always-on, and can be of the same type as the bottom case fan. Requirement 2 again.
The top and rear case fans are there to help with the CPU area. The rear case fan is in-line with the Noctua NH-D14 air direction and so offers a more complete extraction of the warmed air. The top case fan is essentially just an extra fan to improve the natural movement of warm air from the top of the case. I would like these to be the power managed case fans. I will set these at a temperature that I will test to be around where the motherboard temperature is representative of a prolonged high CPU load that has caused the ambient case temperature to rise. I need 1 4-pin and 1 3-pin. Requirements 3 and 4.
Requirement 1: A2 - 4-pin PWM fan with dB(A) <= 12.6 dB(A) and CFM >= 37 on 20% load, and a good ratio of SPL/CFM from on higher loads.
Requirement 2: D and E - 2x any connector fans with dB(A) <= 25 and CFM >= 39.
Requirement 3: B - 4-pin PWM fan with dB(A) <= 25 and CFM >= 39 on 40% load, and a good ratio of SPL/CFM from on higher loads.
Requirement 4: C - 3-pin fan with dB(A) <= 25 and CFM >= 39 on 40% load, and a good ratio of SPL/CFM from on higher loads.
As I am replacing the Noctua PF-12 on the cooler I have a spare 3-pin fan with 54CFM and 19.8 dB(A) at 100%, and 12.6 dB(A) and 37 CFM at 40%. This meets requirements 2 and 4. As 4 is the tougher requirement, I'll say I'll use it for 4. I am therefore left with needing to meet Requirements 1, 2 and 3.
In simpler terms, I'd like 2 4-pin PWM fans that are very quiet on lighter loads, but ramp-up nicely to a good SPL/CFM ratio on higher loads, ideally up to around 60 CFM at 100%. I'd also like 2 fans of any connector that can sit with dB(A) <= 25 and CFM >= 39.
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Cost is not of a major concern as long as we aren't talking £20+ a fan. All fans are 120mm.
I have 6 fan areas, let's call them:
A1 CPU fan 1
A2 CPU fan 2
B Rear case
C Top case
D Front case
E Bottom case
(the image is not of my PC)
I have an Asus P8Z68-V motherboard with three duty manageable fan headers:
CPU_FAN 4-pin header based on CPU temperature
CHA_FAN1 4-pin header based on motherboard temperature
CHA_FAN2 3-pin header based on motherboard temperature
The Noctua NF-P12 (A2) and NF-P14 (A1) on the cooler have 3-pin headers, therefore these cannot be duty managed by my motherboard based on the CPU temp. I am going to keep the NF-P14 central fan with it always on low mode - 10.1 dB(A) - and replace the NF-P12 with a 4-pin PWM fan. Requirement 1.
The bottom case fan exists to cool the hard drives. My Seasonic X-760 will not run the fan below 150W draw (which isn't drawn at idle), and as there's no/very little movement of air between the top and bottom sections of the case, it gets kinda stuffy down there and my hard drives seem to roast. I want an always-on fan that exceeds 39 CFM and does not exceed 25 dB(A) of any connector type (basically better than my current ageing/dying Antec Tri-cools on "Low" when new). Requirement 2.
The front case fan exists as the primary intake fan. Creating a vacuum in the case will draw air in, but I like to have some driven intake to help airflow. This fan should be always-on, and can be of the same type as the bottom case fan. Requirement 2 again.
The top and rear case fans are there to help with the CPU area. The rear case fan is in-line with the Noctua NH-D14 air direction and so offers a more complete extraction of the warmed air. The top case fan is essentially just an extra fan to improve the natural movement of warm air from the top of the case. I would like these to be the power managed case fans. I will set these at a temperature that I will test to be around where the motherboard temperature is representative of a prolonged high CPU load that has caused the ambient case temperature to rise. I need 1 4-pin and 1 3-pin. Requirements 3 and 4.
Requirement 1: A2 - 4-pin PWM fan with dB(A) <= 12.6 dB(A) and CFM >= 37 on 20% load, and a good ratio of SPL/CFM from on higher loads.
Requirement 2: D and E - 2x any connector fans with dB(A) <= 25 and CFM >= 39.
Requirement 3: B - 4-pin PWM fan with dB(A) <= 25 and CFM >= 39 on 40% load, and a good ratio of SPL/CFM from on higher loads.
Requirement 4: C - 3-pin fan with dB(A) <= 25 and CFM >= 39 on 40% load, and a good ratio of SPL/CFM from on higher loads.
As I am replacing the Noctua PF-12 on the cooler I have a spare 3-pin fan with 54CFM and 19.8 dB(A) at 100%, and 12.6 dB(A) and 37 CFM at 40%. This meets requirements 2 and 4. As 4 is the tougher requirement, I'll say I'll use it for 4. I am therefore left with needing to meet Requirements 1, 2 and 3.
In simpler terms, I'd like 2 4-pin PWM fans that are very quiet on lighter loads, but ramp-up nicely to a good SPL/CFM ratio on higher loads, ideally up to around 60 CFM at 100%. I'd also like 2 fans of any connector that can sit with dB(A) <= 25 and CFM >= 39.
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Cost is not of a major concern as long as we aren't talking £20+ a fan. All fans are 120mm.
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