Recommended Case Fans

moody89

moody89

moody89

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22 Oct 2011
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129
Hi all, I'm looking to upgrade the cooling on my current system. I have an Antec 300 case at the moment and would like to replace all of the fans in there at the moment. I'll need 3 120mm fans and 1 140mm fan. Noise isn't an issue since I have a fan controller to turn the speeds down if necessary. I'd just like something that performs well and doesn't cost the earth. I'm also looking to upgrade the cooler at the same time. Would like to have a dabble at OCing but nothing heavy so I don't need anything ridiculous. I'll probably opt with the Gelid Tranquilo or similar. Any thoughts on the above would be very much appreciated! Cheers!
 
Gentle Typhoons seem to get good ratings.

However in my Antec 300

I've got 2 x 120mm Sharkoon Silent Eagle 1000's in the front.
An Akasa Apache 140mm PWM in the top.
Ad at the moment 2 x 120mm cheapo coolermasters in the other 2 holes.

I'm waiting on my Antec 620 arriving to replace the one in the back them I am going to do some testing with & without the side mount fan. (blocking up the hole)
 
Cheers for the feedback! I've also heard good things about the GTs. Apparently they are pretty quiet but I have also heard of some with an annoying whine or a particularly high pitched noise. Can't really say for definite though since I've never used them. I've also heard good things of the Akasa Apache and the Viper series. As far as I know, the Viper is the same as the Apache, just more powerful.
 
I've got some white AP121's on order, I'll perhaps put up a little review of them once I have them, maybe persuade OCUK to stock more than the fugly UV blue ones :D

The CFM might not be upto much (~35) but you can't argue with the directional airflow...
 
pgi947 said:
I've got some white AP121's on order, I'll perhaps put up a little review of them once I have them, maybe persuade OCUK to stock more than the fugly UV blue ones :D

The CFM might not be upto much (~35) but you can't argue with the directional airflow...
Click to expand...

Have heard good things about these too, but was dubious over their low CFM rating. Would be interested to see how they perform when you get them!
 
I'm expecting good things to be honest, I'm taking the spec issued by silverstone with a pinch of salt though, they say the noise level is 22db, from the videos I've seen it makes no where near that, though I can't find a good solid video review thats not either in german or japanese.
 
What kind of money do you want to spend? PWM or not?

For 140mm the obvious choice is TY-140 Thermalright (click) but its a rather different size than other 140mm fan so check if its going to fit.
Really quiet and pushed a lot of air. Noise/performance best in all 140mm
 
qbazdz said:
What kind of money do you want to spend? PWM or not?

For 140mm the obvious choice is TY-140 Thermalright (click) but its a rather different size than other 140mm fan so check if its going to fit.
Really quiet and pushed a lot of air. Noise/performance best in all 140mm
Click to expand...

The Spec page on the link you posted reckons it needs 23mm either side of where the screw holes go to accomodate the shape of the fan so I'll have a measure up of my Antec 300 and see how that goes. What about 120mm fans? It would be nice to have them all matching if possible coz I have a side window and I'm a bit of a tart ;) but it's nothing a can of spray paint won't fix if they're not. Braided cables would be a plus too! I don't want to spend the earth on them but I'd rather have something tidy than something naff. Probs around £10 per fan I'd settle for. PWM isn't an issue since I have an RPM fan controller anyway, but if they do have PWM I can just use a three pin connector so it doesn't matter either way. Cheers!
 
Ty-140 has 120 mounting holes! it only needs the extra spacing on the sides or top (depends how u look at it ;))

Look at these reviews CLICK & CLICK but based on that I went for GT AP-15's and I am well pleased.
They were on a weekly sale for 9.99... (maybe are till tmrw morning?)
For a cheaper alternative Id go with Zalman ZM-F3 or Akasa Apache Black bu my primary thing is do do silent while maintaining high airflow.
 
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As you have a fan controller, just get the cheapest ones, and dos'nt matter how loud they are at full whack as u can control them to your needs.
 
Fractal Design fans. You can get them all to match as they come in all the sizes and they are silent. I have two of the 140mm ones in my case you cannot hear them at all.

If you have no budget then get the BeQuiet! Silentwings.
 
PapaLazaru said:
Fractal Design fans. You can get them all to match as they come in all the sizes and they are silent. I have two of the 140mm ones in my case you cannot hear them at all.

If you have no budget then get the BeQuiet! Silentwings.
Click to expand...

Personally, I love the Fractal Design fans. As you said they are silent even at full whack and I love the contrast of the white on black. However, I'm not sure they move as much air as other fans do and if they are silent at full then it pretty much defeats the point in my fan controller! Too many choices at the moment!
 
The cheapest coolermasters have a great mmH2O for placing in front of hard drives, why pay more when they do a silent good job at things like that.

As for exhast and intakes that have a clear line of sight go for the bequiets because at full whack they are quite and really do shift a lot of air.

They are both 120mm fans, I cant comment on 140's as I dont own any :)
 
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