Looking for a Front exhaust fan

Jakstaar2007

Jakstaar2007

Jakstaar2007

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Hi all.

I am currently looking to replace my stock exhaust fan on my XPS 420.
It is a 120mm fan that is running quite loud.
I am looking to replace it with one that will hopefully push out more air and be quieter.
Hopefully with the added bonus of blue LEDs (although not as important as the previous two)
The fan is in a shroud setup from the CPU, where there is a passive heatsink that is at one end of the shroud, and this fan at the front grill pulling the hot air away from the CPU.

I have measured the current fan at 120mm and it is a normal looking 120mm fan so any standard fan should fit.

So to cut a long question short;
Can someone spec me a fan please? ;)

Thanks for giving me your time :D

Jack
 
If noise, or a lack of it, is important, the look at the Noctua range - expensive but quiet, though they do not move loads of air.
Something like this - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-005-SY&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=
..may make more noise but will move more air, so cool better.
There are so many to choose from and I don't know anything about fans with LEDs, but any 120mm fan will do, so take a look and see what you want to spend...!
Just remember that noise and lower temperatures rarely come together unless you spend a little more, and the quoted figures are often slightly optimistic
 
I imagine so, as most pcs are built to a very tight budget, so the cheapest fans will be fitted.
If you work on spending around a tenner you ought to get something much better, but you don't say if noise or cooling is the most important thing.
I am no expert, but do know that the noise some fans make is way to much for me, so I have Noctua fans, which for most pcs, especially ones that are not overclocked are perfect, moving plenty of air, but costing between 13 and 18 pounds.
As I say, there are loads to choose from, but my experience can't really help you on anything else ! ots of fans come with a little extra cable which will lower the speed of the fan, making it quieter and less effective, so it is worth checking so you can adjust it if you want (again, noctua fans have these, but no idea which others do as well)
 
Ok, I dont overclock my system (i cant as its a dell) so a noctura may be the best then.

Do i need to look for a special feature that allows the fan to be comtroller by the motherboard depending on case temperatures (such as stock fans)?

Cheers
 
Any normal fan can be connected to the mobo, so long as it has a 3 pin connector.
Look at this link - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-004-NC&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=4
and click on the image to enlarge. It will show you the standard connector on the end of the cable fixed to the fan - this is a 3 pin connector, which should be the same as on your mobo. To thew left are 2 short cable that attenuate (long word for me, but it means they will slow your fan down by a bit or a bigger bit) You can use these to lessen the noise and speed of the fan.
Your mobo may have a 4 pin connector which means your current fan is a PWM type, meaning you need a PWM fan - this one will do that job - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-010-SY&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=4
The Noctua range are NOT PWM, so will run at full speed unless you use one of the adaptors, but as they are so quiet that will not be a problem.
Are you sure you fan is speed controlled by the mobo ? I doubt many stock fans are..
 
Alright thanks.
I just did a bit of research and found out that mine is a Dell proprietary 5-pin 4-wire female connector.

so i guess ill need a convertor aswell then.
 
OK thanks for the help anyway! ;)

Edit: did a bit more research, and the easiest way i could find was use a 4pin PWM to 5-pin Dell adapter CB-PWM-D5. so just bought one of these, and will look around for a fan now.
As long as the fan comes with a 3 to 4pin adapter or is a 4pin fan i should be set. am i correct?
And as long as the fan is plugged into the MoBo, will it be controlled automatically depending on temps like all other standard fans plugged into the mobo?

Sorry for the questions, just want to be certain before i commit to a fan as i will be spending quite a bit on one to get a decent quality one that is quiet without losing too much CFM.

Cheers!

Jack
 
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That sounds right to me, but again, not all fans plugged into the mobo are controlled like this - most fans are not PWM
I also doubt you will be loosing out on CFM with any half decent fan, and as you are after a PWM fan, I imagine it moves the same air as the current one, as it is temperature controlled, so you may benefit from lower noise but the cooling ought to be the same !

How come I am the only person answering here anyway - I am so new to all this compared to most here !
That said, it is a pleasure to help, assuming what I am saying is correct (which I believe it is) and that there is not some better answer that I have missed !
 
Yea, cooling wise i am happy with the current fan, its just noise.

Its sounds like you know what you're talking about to me.
Now i have a better idea what im looking for!

Cheers again
 
Ha - what did Winston Churchill say - you can fool some of the people all of the time etc etc..!
I have had a big learning curve recently, and been helped along by many here, so it is a pleasure to be able to pass on some little snippets..
Hope it all works out, and if not, don't yell at me !
 
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