Best computer fans under $20
- Thread starter Timjan
- Start date
Solution
- Oct 5, 2016
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I just changed from no name branded led fans (noisy I though) to these non led fan from corsair.. and OMG these are quiet
Air Series AF120 Quiet Edition High Airflow 120mm Fan corsair, mind you they are only 1100rpm fans, but I run 6 and pc is cool as a duck on a pond.
Air Series AF120 Quiet Edition High Airflow 120mm Fan corsair, mind you they are only 1100rpm fans, but I run 6 and pc is cool as a duck on a pond.
Isokolon
Judicious
- Jul 24, 2016
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Best 140mm fans are Phanteks & Noctua A14. The A14 flx has the perfect balance between performance and sound.
If performance isn't the main concern (and with 6 case fans it's probably not) BeQuiet Silent Wings are good fans for around 20quid. 140 & 120mm are good
Same goes for the Cougar CFD D12/14.
But cheaper in quality and material but good performance and very quiet.
For 120mm the Noiseblocker blacksilent XL1 are my absolute favorites. Inaudible and yet a good performance for their noise levels.
I would stay away from Corsair / Aerocool for your needs.
If performance isn't the main concern (and with 6 case fans it's probably not) BeQuiet Silent Wings are good fans for around 20quid. 140 & 120mm are good
Same goes for the Cougar CFD D12/14.
But cheaper in quality and material but good performance and very quiet.
For 120mm the Noiseblocker blacksilent XL1 are my absolute favorites. Inaudible and yet a good performance for their noise levels.
I would stay away from Corsair / Aerocool for your needs.
- Oct 15, 2014
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i like the artic f14 fans. i put 4 of these into my pc and they run nice and quiet and are rather cheap compared to some. think i got them for $8-9 each if i recall right.
the noctua's are better but the run a bit more cash
the noctua's are better but the run a bit more cash
Lutfij :
What are you going to use them as, CPU cooler fans, radiator fans or case airflow fans? How many do you need within that budget or is that for each fan?
I'm using it for case airflow fans. I don't use radiators so. Im getting the NZXT S340 so I need 2 more 140mm front fans for it so.
- Oct 7, 2009
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Some good suggestions have been made above. You could look into Swiftech Helix fans as they double as a case fan and a radiator fan. Just stay away from Corsair fans since they tend to break/rattle and humm badly(the older SP and AF versions at least).
The FN v2's by NZXT aren't bad either.
The FN v2's by NZXT aren't bad either.
- Dec 26, 2012
- 30,759
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Believe it or not, the uber cheap CoolerMaster stock blue led clear plastic 140mm fan is great. Very quiet, good light volume. The Nzxt Fn V2 are also good. Case fan of choice would be the Phanteks 140mm, led or plain makes no difference. For 120mm the Noctua s12, either normal or Redux, not the industrial.
Run fans as pairs. 2x front fans to splitter to 1 header, cpu 1 header, rear 1 header and top 1 header. This'll keep control of fans without being redundant. If leds are used in the front, it'll also keep light volume the same, so the fans don't look odd.
Run fans as pairs. 2x front fans to splitter to 1 header, cpu 1 header, rear 1 header and top 1 header. This'll keep control of fans without being redundant. If leds are used in the front, it'll also keep light volume the same, so the fans don't look odd.
Isokolon
Judicious
- Jul 24, 2016
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The FLX is usually cheaper.
As for better... It's a matter of taste. PWM fans are controlled by the PWM signal. 3-Pin fans are controlled by voltage regulation. With a LED fan the led brightness decreases the lower the fan speed is.
The adapters for the fans block the maximum voltage that the fan can receive. Thus slowing down the max rpm for the fan.
As for better... It's a matter of taste. PWM fans are controlled by the PWM signal. 3-Pin fans are controlled by voltage regulation. With a LED fan the led brightness decreases the lower the fan speed is.
The adapters for the fans block the maximum voltage that the fan can receive. Thus slowing down the max rpm for the fan.
- Dec 26, 2012
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Pwm is a pulse modulated fan. It's a constant 12v on. To control the rpm, the pwm signal turns the fan on/off many times, so at anything less than 100%, it'll be in a constant state of trying to turn on full. That's 4 pin, 12v hot, ground, rpm tach and signal wire. You can get fans that'll range from @18% speed to 100% speed.
3pin is analog, it's voltage controlled. The higher the voltage, the faster the fan. Good fans will handle @5v, normal fans @7v at lowest, so fan ranges are usually @40 (60)% speed to 100% at 12v.
Thats power. On top of that are 3 basic fan designs. Ball bearing, sleeve and hydraulic. Then you have single/double ball bearing, in sleeve there's sleeve, rifle etc and in hydraulic there's even more, basically 2 types (as per patent) but every brand has its own name for their own design of hydraulic bearings.
So it's possible to have a 4pin sleeve fan or 3pin hydraulic, or 3pin sleeve or 4pin hydraulic. The bearing type is separate from the power type.
For simplicity, if the motherboard has a 3pin fan header for the front fans, you need a 3pin fan. If it's a 4pin header, you can usually use either 3 or 4pin, however, 3pin run much faster at lowest settings and the led brightness will dim out with lowering the voltage to lower speeds. 4pin pwm fans are constant voltage so leds are always the same brightness no matter the speed.
Hope that helps a little.
Edit: generally for a good fan, @900rpm is still very quiet. 1200rpm is quite noticeable. 1500rpm is a drone that can be heard even with headphones on. 2000rpm is loud enough that talking in loud voices is necessary.
If you have a 3pin led fan capable of 2400rpm, it'll not turn down at pc idle much beyond 1100rpm and the led will be out. A cheap 3pin and you are looking at 1400rpm at best lowest. The same fan, pwm will probably see @450rpm at lowest, which is basically silent. Big difference. Use pwm when possible unless noisy fans don't bother you. (or anyone else)
3pin is analog, it's voltage controlled. The higher the voltage, the faster the fan. Good fans will handle @5v, normal fans @7v at lowest, so fan ranges are usually @40 (60)% speed to 100% at 12v.
Thats power. On top of that are 3 basic fan designs. Ball bearing, sleeve and hydraulic. Then you have single/double ball bearing, in sleeve there's sleeve, rifle etc and in hydraulic there's even more, basically 2 types (as per patent) but every brand has its own name for their own design of hydraulic bearings.
So it's possible to have a 4pin sleeve fan or 3pin hydraulic, or 3pin sleeve or 4pin hydraulic. The bearing type is separate from the power type.
For simplicity, if the motherboard has a 3pin fan header for the front fans, you need a 3pin fan. If it's a 4pin header, you can usually use either 3 or 4pin, however, 3pin run much faster at lowest settings and the led brightness will dim out with lowering the voltage to lower speeds. 4pin pwm fans are constant voltage so leds are always the same brightness no matter the speed.
Hope that helps a little.
Edit: generally for a good fan, @900rpm is still very quiet. 1200rpm is quite noticeable. 1500rpm is a drone that can be heard even with headphones on. 2000rpm is loud enough that talking in loud voices is necessary.
If you have a 3pin led fan capable of 2400rpm, it'll not turn down at pc idle much beyond 1100rpm and the led will be out. A cheap 3pin and you are looking at 1400rpm at best lowest. The same fan, pwm will probably see @450rpm at lowest, which is basically silent. Big difference. Use pwm when possible unless noisy fans don't bother you. (or anyone else)
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