Case cooling fan suggestions

[Woodles]

Hi All.

I've recently had a couple of case cooling fans seize up during operation, their lubrication seems to have either evaporated or dried up. Anyway, I'm looking for any suggestions of reliable fans that can be run 24/7 without constant supervision, preferably 120 mm although bigger/smaller sizes can be considered, thickness isn't usually a concern.

As they're always on and normally fixed speed, I would like either three pin fans that are quiet at full speed or four pin fans that are USUALLY quiet but at top speed may make a small amount of noise.

They're case fans so should ideally move a lot of air but not through any specific resistance. So cfm is important, static pressure not so much. I'm NOT interested in any fancy lighting effects, i have enough of those annoying things already!

Doesn't have to be mainstream, named manufacturer fans, if you've had a good experience of generic, no-name fans bought off EBay, then a link to the seller would also be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mark

[scole of TSBT]

I've always liked Noctua fans. Check out the:
NF-P12 19.8 dB/A, 54 CFM, 1.68 mm H20
NF-S12A FLX 17.8 dB/A, 63 CFM, 1.19 mm H20

Other models too. Just depends on how much air flow you want vs. how quiet you want it to be.

All Notcua fans I've bought have come with an in-line RPM reducer/resistor that slows it down a bit a makes it quieter if needed.

http://noctua.at/en/products/fan

You can also go to FrozenCPU, find a fan that meets the spec you're looking for, then price shop...
http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l1/g36/Fan ... d=6Tvo9QLs

This is an interesting fan...
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10352 ... 1104#blank

[wkdwill]

I'll second the Noctua fans, they've been good for me in my PC until I mad the switch to Mac, they get a lot of good recommendations in various YouTube gaming and PC review channels.

Will

[UBT - Timbo]

Hi Mark

Just to add my 2 pennorth worth

I got some Arctic F12 fans a while back off fleabay for not a lot of money.

Spec is:
Airflow: 74 CFM - 126 m cub per hour
Fluid dynamic bearing
Noise: 0.3 Sone
120mm dia, 25mm deep
1,350 RPM max
6 year warranty !!

No LED's or other "fancy" bits. They come with the self-tapping screws for fixing and they can be had with either 3 or 4 pins.

http://www.arctic.ac

This was the seller and some of his current offerings

3 pin fans:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Arctic-F12-12 ... 2271718487

Temp controlled fans:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Arctic-F12-TC ... 2403343903

PWN fans:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Arctic-F12-PW ... 1609419859

regards
Tim

[Woodles]

Some good suggestions guys, thanks.

I have a couple of Noctua fans as CPU coolers and they're very effective but I'm not sure I bring myself to use them as case fans in the standard brown colours! I also have a few Arctic F12 already as case fans and they also work well and look much better.

Guess it's time to convert Sones to decibels and cubic metres per second into litres per hour and do some comparisons.

Thanks again for the suggestions.

Regards,

Mark

[Woodles]

Just an update.

I've decided on a few Arctic F12/F14 fans, I'll see how they get on.

The Noctua ones were more expensive but better specified however, in the end I just couldn't bring myself to fit such ugly looking fans! (Yes, I know you can now get them in different colours but they're not as readily available and I'm in a bit of a rush )

Thanks again for the suggestions,

Mark