Question Are double bearing fans supposed to be noisy-er?

[avatar_of_tenebrae_3]

I just got a asus rog 550w replacment. The fan seems a little noisy compared to the "standard brushless" ones. Is that common? I seem to remember posts about this but can't remember.

UPDATE: SORRY. ASUS FAN IS QUIETIST IN BOX. After taking covers off and stopping each fan individually (cpu case nvidia): it's hard drives making noise "that sound like bearings". i had to turn on asus fan by switch it wasn't moving and i couldn't hear it when it was on: i had to use my hand to feel the air. (i had to move the HD and that made a big difference it ended up - and that's why they aren't the same sound as before)

(I just got a asus rog 550w replacment for a 6yr old diablo 450w (fan failing) removed. The ROG was actually the cheapest supply which has fan control I can find - which ihope* will increase fan life. I don't plan on this box to be used past the age of the PS, so hopefully the asus rog double bearing will have good reliable lifespan. the rog was a little difficult as for fitment (modular) because my cheap case is "not right", but made it happen.)

 

[Aeacus]

so hopefully the asus rog double bearing will have good reliable lifespan

If it is double ball bearing then yes, it is the noisiest bearing of them all.

Fan bearings;

• sleeve - cheapest but shortest lifespan of them all (~40.000h), also wears out faster when mounted horizontally.
• ball (including double ball) - relatively cheap and average lifespan (60-75.000h), loud and usually used within industrial fans, where noise isn't an issue, while doesn't cost as much as the following bearings.
• fluid-dynamic (FDB, rifle) - quite expensive but good lifespan (~150.000h) and quiet operation. Most PC fans nowadays use this bearing.
• magnetic levitation (mag-lev) - most expensive but also longest lifespan (300.000+h), virtually limitless lifespan. Quietest operation. Only few fans use this bearing since it is very expensive (e.g Corsair ML Pro LED fans).
• SSO2 - hybrid between fluid-dynamic and mag-lev (150.000-300.000h). <- All Noctua fans use this bearing (unless stated otherwise on their specs).

 

[avatar_of_tenebrae_3]

fluid-dynamic

i stayed away from "fluid bearing" fearing the ads were hype and they are too new for bad reports (that they are re-advertised sleve types).

it is good to hear someone believes the new sleeve designs are better!

also i did NOT see any corsair in my price range with maglev. didn't even see ads for it. nice to know. thank you.

double bearing though - the lifespan doesn't say all ? sleve type if you bump it (blowing dust out with airgun, cleaning, or by mistake during repairs) are easily damage and fail allot sooner if "ever bumped. where single/double bearings are like "get out of my way - i'm spinning all my hours - your not stopin me" (more sturdy during that time span)

(there's the new Seasonic fanless: that deserves mention as long fanlife)

((i chose double bearing remembering (noise) but not really remembing "older ones were noisy enough some people switched back to sleve type after trying")) (UPDATE: this may be outdated info. new double bearing may be quiet as sleeve)

 

[Aeacus]

i stayed away from "fluid bearing" fearing the ads were hype and they are too new for bad reports (that they are re-advertised sleve types). good to hear someone believes they are worth it

Reputable companies doesn't scam their customers. So, if you want reliable fans, look towards: Noctua, Arctic Cooling and Corsair. Not saying others aren't reliable either (e.g NZXT), but fan selection between the 3 is quite good, loads of different fans to choose from.

also i did NOT see any corsair in my price range with maglev. didn't even see ads for it. nice to know. thank you.

Like i said, mag-lev is very expensive.
120mm, pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/compare/LkJkcf,GXkwrH,MpBrxr,wPFXsY/
140mm, pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/compare/D34NnQ,cfyxFT,sYNypg,ycH48d/

120mm, specs: https://www.corsair.com/us/en/LED-Color/Fan-Size/Package-Quantity/ml-pro-led-config/p/CO-9050042-WW
140mm, specs: https://www.corsair.com/us/en/LED-Color/Fan-Size/Package-Quantity/ml-pro-led-config/p/CO-9050048-WW

I have the Corsair ML Pro LED fans in use with my PCs, red LED ones in Skylake and blue LED ones in Haswell. Mostly 140mm but few 120mm as well. Full specs with pics of my PCs, in my sig.

more sturdy during that time span

I'd say: No.

Ball bearings work on friction basis. Friction creates heat. Heat weakens metal over time and thus, increases the bearing wear even further.

Sleeve bearings also have friction within the bearing. Sleeve bearing is basically smooth rod inside the motor, with some lubricant around the rod. But since the rod touches the bottom of the housing at the rod's end, it creates friction. Also, mounting it horizontally worsens it's lifespan, since it isn't designed for horizontal use. Usually, the lubricant will escape the bearing and you'll start hearing fan skreeching. This means lubricant is gone and time to replace the fan.

Fluid-dynamic bearings are similar to sleeve bearings, but with a difference that either the rod itself or the shaft housing, has grooves in it. This is needed for the lubricant to flow around the rod (grooves help the lubricant to move around when rod spins). Hence why this bearing is sometimes called rifle bearing. And since the rod doesn't touch the housing at the rod's tip, there isn't any friction issue. Thus, bearing itself is far more quieter and also longer lasting.

Mag-lev is simple, magnetic field is created around the rod, which then levitates inside the housing. 0 friction and as long as magnetig field is sustained, rod doesn't touch anything. Hence the virtually limitless lifespan with 0 heat production (from rod rotation).

(there's the new Seasonic fanless: that deserves mention as long fanlife)

Seasonic fanless PSU doesn't have a fan in it. So... how could you compare it to any PSU that has fan in it?

But yeah, fanless PSU is interesting. Still, i'd rather have PSU with semi-passive fan, where on low loads, when fan doesn't need to turn, it won't. But on high loads, where there is need for active cooling, fan starts spinning. <- My PSUs are like so. I have two Seasonic PRIME TX-650 and one Seasonic Focus PX-550 PSUs in use between my 3 PCs. Also, my PRIME units have fan control button on them, where i can choose between semi-passive or normal fan profile. I have them running as semi-passive.