[SOLVED] Deciding which fans would be best for me

[eranmaz58]

Hi guys, I'm having hard time deciding which fans to buy.

I currently have 2 AIO's in my build.
1X Kraken X63
1X Kraken X73

The X63 is connected to the CPU which is Ryzen 5900X in overclock to 5Ghz
and the other one is connected to my 1080 TI.
Don't ask me why i don't switch between because I already did that before and decided to have it that way after taking a few things in my consideration.

The problem is the NZXT Aer P fans are very loud for me.. even at low RPM.
The Ryzen 5900X temps are very good, sitting between 34-42 when idle and 77 in gaming.
And the GPU is not crossing the 42c when gaming and its OC to the maximum.

So I basically want to replace my current fans and I want to go for the:
X73 - Noctua NF-F12 PWM
X63 - Noctua NF-A14 PWM

BUT I don't if it will hurt the performance while under heavy loads, so I thought also about the industrial models but I think it loses the point of why I want to replace the fans.

Any thoughts / recommendations?

 

[Phaaze88]

Don't ask me why i don't switch between because I already did that before and decided to have it that way after taking a few things in my consideration.

The gpu is typically the bigger heat producer between the 2 parts, so I don't see a reason to swap the AIOs anyway.


The NF-F12 is not a good radiator fan, contrary to what Noctua advertises on their own website.
They start to produce a rather annoying 'hrrr' sound around the 1000rpm mark - I sit about 1.5m from my PC - those 11 'stator vanes' on the back appear to be the cause of that sound; most other fans just have 4 bars back there.
My experience with their performance lines up with TPU's testing results: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/noctua-nf-f12-pwm-chromax/5.html

Yes, the IPPC versions are pointless if one doesn't/won't run even the regular versions at maximum. A NF-F12 IPPC 2000/3000 run at the max rpm of the original NF-F12(1500) is about the same, save for a slightly different motor sound - still noisy though.

Look to NF-A12x25, P12 Redux, or Silent Wings 3(specifically the high speed model). I hear Arctic's P12 is also well balanced. Phanteks has their T30-120, but they're 5mm thicker, so you'll have to take clearance into account.
For 140mm - the NF-A14, P14s Redux, Arctic P14, or Silent Wings 3 HS.


You will give up a little performance compared to the original fans - at least at 100%(those Aer Ps are pretty strong). No way around that one without another equally audible set of fans.
The radiator is another source of air resistance on top of whatever else is present in the PC, and that's why most fans packaged with AIOs typically have higher specs than chassis fans.

 

[eranmaz58]

The gpu is typically the bigger heat producer between the 2 parts, so I don't see a reason to swap the AIOs anyway.


The NF-F12 is not a good radiator fan, contrary to what Noctua advertises on their own website.
They start to produce a rather annoying 'hrrr' sound around the 1000rpm mark - I sit about 1.5m from my PC - those 11 'stator vanes' on the back appear to be the cause of that sound; most other fans just have 4 bars back there.
My experience with their performance lines up with TPU's testing results: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/noctua-nf-f12-pwm-chromax/5.html

Yes, the IPPC versions are pointless if one doesn't/won't run even the regular versions at maximum. A NF-F12 IPPC 2000/3000 run at the max rpm of the original NF-F12(1500) is about the same, save for a slightly different motor sound - still noisy though.

Look to NF-A12x25, P12 Redux, or Silent Wings 3(specifically the high speed model). I hear Arctic's P12 is also well balanced. Phanteks has their T30-120, but they're 5mm thicker, so you'll have to take clearance into account.
For 140mm - the NF-A14, P14s Redux, Arctic P14, or Silent Wings 3 HS.


You will give up a little performance compared to the original fans - at least at 100%(those Aer Ps are pretty strong). No way around that one without another equally audible set of fans.
The radiator is another source of air resistance on top of whatever else is present in the PC, and that's why most fans packaged with AIOs typically have higher specs than chassis fans.

Thanks for the reply! I forgot to mention. in the X73 the fans are pulling air into the radiator. i placed them in the side of the backpanel.. would this change some of the considerations?

 

[Phaaze88]

Thanks for the reply! I forgot to mention. in the X73 the fans are pulling air into the radiator. i placed them in the side of the backpanel.. would this change some of the considerations?

I don't even know what chassis you have...

 

[eranmaz58]

I don't even know what chassis you have...

Lian Li O11D

 

[Phaaze88]

Lian Li O11D

Ok, in that case:
"I forgot to mention. in the X73 the fans are pulling air into the radiator. i placed them in the side of the backpanel.. would this change some of the considerations?"
Not really, no.