Case Fan Replacement

[franklinm]

First post here

I have a Lenovo Thinkstation D20 and I recently moved it into the room with me. I use it for simple video editing and Photoshop work, most times it for busy work. Nothing that's processor intensive because I have a separate computer for rendering.

The rear case fan is loud and I also believe it's failing. I would like to replace it with something as quiet as possible since 90% of the time the computer is sitting in idle.

The fan idles at 1250 and I ran the processor up for an extended time just to see and it speed up to 1800.

My question is the compatibility from this old heavy duty fan to a new one. The old fan is 4 pin and it's 1.05A. How do I resolve the issue with a new variable fan at much lower Amp? I see several variable fans that will spin from 800 to 1800.

The machine runs very cool. I am willing to sacrifice some cooling for quiet. If I have to render with it I can removed the side cover.

Any advice on a particular fan or an easy way to regulate the voltage.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[franklinm]

Should have posted the size 120mm, I will check tomorrow but I believe the label on the fan says 1.05A. That why I was concerned about the big difference. It hard to see in the case. The fan is old and it's server loud.

Thanks for the help.

 

[madmatt30]

You have fan headers spare on the board??

Irregardless I'd go with an f12 tc - these have an inline thermostat & resistors & regulate/vary speeds themself depending on internal case temps.
Love these fans mate personally & have used them in a lot of builds - they will even auto regulate if connected by 4 pin molex straight to the PSU.

http://www.arctic.ac/us_en/arctic-f12-pro-tc.html

 

[madmatt30]

^ good fans mate - I think ac must have a patent on these or something as I've not seen any others like these - ,5/7/12v manusl switches yes but never an auto regulator.

Resistor must be built into the fan motor as there's no visible sign of one.

These are 3 pin - if you need to plug into molex you'll need an adapter.

 

[franklinm]

Sounds great Matt.
Franklinm,
Fan cannot be 1.05 amps, a standard mobo header maxes at 1 amp. Thats 12 watts, or a 240 volt 30 centimeter desktop fan on low. a 120 mm fan would have to be at 10,000 rpm to use that.. a gpu fan at .38 amps only reaches 3800 rpm and that is LOUD.

Got it. The label on the fan is what through me off. It say 1.05A. It is a 4 pin.

Thanks for the advice

 

[franklinm]

Just tossing out one more question. Admit I am not that knowledgeable about these PWM case fans.

I ran the machine hard for an hour and the current fan will go up to 2000rpm off an on. It idles at 1300. Am I OK with a variable fan that's max is 1800?

Thanks again guys.

 

[madmatt30]

if your running off a 4 pin board header then itll be varying speed percentage wise in a parallel with the cpu cooler fan.
It doesnt necessarily need to run at 2000 rpm to keep the internal temps down imo.

Ill point you to a page on that fan I recommended specs

http://www.arctic.ac/uk_en/arctic-f12-pro-tc.html

that curve on the 12v graph is what youd expect when plugged into a motherboard header or straight to molex.
Bear in mind these fans are way more efficient than a standard flat design ,because of the raised natire of the blades they pull huge amounts of air in from the side as well as the front - hence they really really dont need to spin at any more than their max 1300rpm

Honestly mate if you can get one of these in your area I cant recommend it enough.

32c & below its absolutely completely & utterly silent
at full pelt it is in all honestly still very very close to silent imo,you get a gentle whoosing noise off these at best not the annoying whirring of a cheap standard case fan.