Case Fan Replacement

franklinm

Distinguished
Oct 13, 2015
9
0
18,510
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.

 
Solution
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
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.
 
^ 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.
 


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
 
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.
 
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.