Best 140mm Case Fans for Noise Level to Performance?

Alcad

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Nov 12, 2011
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I'm going to be putting together a new build using the Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ATX case, and it has room for 3 Front 140mm Fans, 3 top 140mm Fans, and another 140mm Fan in the back. Considering that I would like to have all of my fans matching, what would be the best fan that is a great mixture of noise to performance? I would prefer the computer to run as quiet as possible while still having great performance.
 
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The phanteks fans are pretty solid. The case already comes with 3, I would give them a try and see if you like them. They move a decent amount of air and are really quiet. The stock fan that came with mine didn't play nicely in the horizontal position (like top exhaust) and had a nasty vibration, others have claimed to have no issue so maybe it's hit or miss.

Unless you live in a really hot desert or tropical area, I think 7 fans is overkill. You'll be adding to the overall noise factor without seeing much cooling benefit. It can quickly become a matter of diminishing returns.

My current case is similar to yours, it's the enthoo pro and only running 4 fans. Eventually I may switch out the front 200mm stock intake for 2x 140mm but...
I would go with the Noctua fan's if they weren't so ugly 🙁

Trying to keep an overall uniformish looking build and the Noctua fans would stick out like a sore thumb.
 
The phanteks fans are pretty solid. The case already comes with 3, I would give them a try and see if you like them. They move a decent amount of air and are really quiet. The stock fan that came with mine didn't play nicely in the horizontal position (like top exhaust) and had a nasty vibration, others have claimed to have no issue so maybe it's hit or miss.

Unless you live in a really hot desert or tropical area, I think 7 fans is overkill. You'll be adding to the overall noise factor without seeing much cooling benefit. It can quickly become a matter of diminishing returns.

My current case is similar to yours, it's the enthoo pro and only running 4 fans. Eventually I may switch out the front 200mm stock intake for 2x 140mm but I'm using the stock 140mm in the back and 2x 140mm noctua redux in the top. More or less for looks since the fans are turned way down with a fan controller, it's getting more than enough airflow. Adding a 3rd 140mm to the top would do nothing to improve airflow or cooling and be just one more fan blowing adding to the noise.

Rather than trying to add 7 fans, since the case you have comes with 3 already you might find it's enough. Or find you only need to add a couple fans to the top of the case and it should be more than enough and then some. Great airflow and much less noise than filling every available fan mount location. Purchasing 2 additional fans would much less expensive as well. Most stock fans leave a lot to be desired but the stock phanteks fans are really pretty nice.

For 3 pin,
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/phanteks-case-fan-phf140spbk (should be same as came with your case)

Or if you'd rather completely black fans,
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/phanteks-case-fan-phf140spbbk

For 4pin pwm, they have a slightly different model.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/phanteks-case-fan-phf140xpbk
 
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