New case fans and fan controller

nicktay2605 · 29 May 2011 at 19:42

I've got a Coolermaster CM-690II case with 2 stock fans (both 1450rpm) and 3 coolermaster silent turbine master fans (max rpm of 800). The front fan is intaking, as is the side fan, and then the two top fans and the one rear fan are exhausting hot air. I'm happy with the airflow direction but not with the noise level vs cfm. Ideally, I'd like high rpm 120mm fans that I can adjust with a fan controller. My main aim is to make my pc as quiet as possible during day-to-day tasks. I don't mind if it's louder under load as I will either have speakers or headphones on.

I'm looking for some recommendations for 120mm case fans that push a decent amount of air but can be adjusted to be very quiet. I've heard good things about the Scythe Gentle Typhoon fans and I was looking at the 1850rpm 120mm model. Is there anything that would be more suitable as case fans?

In terms of the fan controller, I need one that can control more than four fans and also has a screen, which seems fairly hard to find. I've seen this fan controller:

http://www.nesteq.net/gb/products/fancontrollers/maxzero/

Does anybody have any experience with this fan controller?

lrlcr · 30 May 2011 at 00:24

I'd advise the lamptron touch, quite expensive but six channels.

For fans, I found the antec tricool to be surprisingly quiet on the low setting yet still move plenty of air. The noctuas are supposed to be very quiet though.

Reaper 392 · 30 May 2011 at 00:31

fractal design 120mm fans are suppost to be really quiet

Marvin · 30 May 2011 at 00:58

I'd recommend the Lamptron Touch, have one myself and run 2 120x38mm high-RPM fans, a 120mm fan and a Laing D5 pump off it with good results.

The Gentle Typhoons are a good choice, but expensive. Don't be tempted to go with the faster Scythe Slipstreams or Kazes, as they are not very quiet at low voltage.

I've got a Sharkoon Silent Eagle 2000RPM fan as the exhaust in my case, and at 4V (or ~900RPM according to the fan controller), it's very quiet, and can shift a good amount of air. I'd recommend it.

nicktay2605 · 30 May 2011 at 18:12

Thanks for the recommendations, that Lamptron Touch does look really nice. I've done a lot of research into the fans and it seems like the Gentle Typhoon's are generally fairly highly recommended, but I've just been having a look at the Kama Flow's and they seem to be well reviewed too, and at about half the price they are pretty tempting. I'm not sure I want to spend over £100 on a fan controller and 5 new fans! Has anybody here used either or both of the above?