Is Noctua the best for 120mm case fans?

[Jesusv]

My motherboard is a Asus P8z68 Pro/Gen-V3 has a case mini pin 4 and I am looking for a side case fan size 120mm. I want a ball bearing fan that will last and not make too much noise. However, I don't want to spend a lot of money. I'm looking to spend $5-$20 on a good fan.

This is my case Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?gclid=CK_CkpOe2L8CFQIvaQodrhoA-w&Item=N82E16811147153&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-Computer+Cases-_-N82E16811147153&ef_id=Uu3@zAAABBIYP9WI:20140722055627:s

I am thinking of getting this fan its $19.45 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Noctua-NF-S12A-PWM-120mm-4-pin-PWM-AAO-Frame-SSO2-Bearing-1200-900rpm-/171005339954?pt=US_Computer_Case_Fans&hash=item27d0b66932

What would be better case fans that use the mini 4 pin? Since I happen to have spare mini 4 cpu should I connect a 120mm fan to the case? Would it make a difference? Or should I get a splitter so I can have two 120mm case fans on the door of the case?

I was also looking at this fans, any opinions on them? Are they worse or just as good as the Noctua?

This one claims to have life expectancy of 70,000 more than any other fans I have seen and cost $6.79. Can this be true? http://www.ebay.com/itm/120mm-x-25mm-Double-Ball-Bearing-Server-Case-Fan-3-Pin-Power-12cm-x-2-5cm-/291186953680?pt=US_Computer_Case_Fans&hash=item43cc184dd0

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Evercool-EC12025H12BP-120mm-x-25mm-12v-High-Speed-Ball-Bearing-PWM-Cooling-Fan-/400725042035?pt=US_Computer_Case_Fans&hash=item5d4d12e373

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ARCTIC-F12-PWM-CO-Double-Ball-Bearings-Case-Fan-120mm-PWM-Speed-Control-for-24-/301164419430?pt=US_Computer_Case_Fans&hash=item461ecc5966

http://www.ebay.com/itm/bgears-B-PWM-120-BLUE-120mm-Blue-LED-PWM-technology-mini-4-pin-4-wire-2-ball-bea-/380941815893?pt=US_Computer_Case_Fans&hash=item58b1e6d055

http://www.ebay.com/itm/bgears-b-PWM-120-Black-120mm-PWM-technology-mini-4-pin-4-wire-2-ball-bearing-hig-/291180581482?pt=US_Computer_Case_Fans&hash=item43cbb7126a

 

[AMDFaith]

corsair AF120's are excellent.

price to performance ratio they're the best.
If you want high CFM I would look into Delta fans. Capable of 5200 RPM and 250 CFM, they're loud but they move more air than any other fan.

I would get a splitter anyways, they're super handy to have around.

 

[Taafe]

Noctua's are the most popular fans on the market right now, I suggest them

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Cougar Dual X

 

[AMDFaith]

At lower RPM's with higher flow rate those cougars are better than the Corsair AF120's. The Dual x's are less loud.

 

[Calculatron]

Cougar's, though a bit expensive, are great case fans.

Noctua and Arctic F12s are on par in terms of noise and performance, with one another. The Noctua fan comes with some accessories, which help explain the much-higher price. (~$20 vs. $10.)

 

[Jesusv]

Thanks for the advice guys. But I am still unsure on which fans to go for.

Noctuas seem popular its why I was considering them before I'm looking for fans that can be quiet. My case already has 3 fans (120mmsx2 and 140mmsx1) and adding 2 more will be overkill but I really want to keep my case cool. My graphics card 6870 runs hot, hell even Firefox 31 stresses it out with the forced transparency (either I am blind but don't see a setting to turn it off if anyone knows tell me because its ridiculous. Either ATI has horrible drivers or Firefox is coded poorly for having 40 tabs open and its stressing my card out). I'm hoping with new cases fans I be able to play games again without having to take breaks every 2 hours due to graphics card heating up.


I was looking at the Cougar Dual X for $16.99 and I'm liking them better since they have blue LED. Is the price of $16.99 good enough or are their cheaper ones? http://www.ebay.com/itm/COUGAR-12CM-Blue-LED-Hydraulic-Liquid-Bearing-Ultra-Silent-Fan-1200RPM-64-4CF-/291137095932?pt=US_Computer_Case_Fans&hash=item43c91f88fc


Does it really matter if a fan is ball bearing of hydraulic liquid bearing? Having 3 pin or 4 pin wont make a difference? I want the motherboard to control the fan speeds.


The Artic Cool F12 for $7.48 seem tempting but then I will also need to get screws for them. http://www.ebay.com/itm/ARCTIC-COOLING-F12-120MM-1350-RPM-FAN-/170593465988?pt=US_Computer_Case_Fans&hash=item27b829b684


I don't know whether to get Cougar Dual X or Artic Cooling F12 or Noctua NF S12. From my understanding the Cougar Dual X will be the quiets of those three and they should last a long time? I could not find any specs on them which is worrisome. Could not find them in Newegg site but they have them on ebay site. What Newegg does have is the COUGAR CF-V12HPB Vortex Hydro-Dynamic-Bearing (Fluid) 300,000 Hours 12CM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835553006#top

Should I go for the Cougar CF V12 HPB Vortex since they are rated at 300,000 hours and have noise level of 17.9 dBA. Plus have that 4 PWN pin connector unlike the other ones that are 3 pin. 1500RPM good enough for pushing air?

 

[Calculatron]

(Arctic F12s come with screws.)

For all practical purposes, consider hydraulic liquid and ball bearing fans equal. (Someone is going to try to crucify me for saying that.) We could explain the differences, but the important thing is that they are not sleeve bearing, which is fairly low quality and do not allow the fan to be mounted horizontally.

3-pin versus 4-pin all depends on your motherboard. 3-pin fans may have their RPM only be controlled by voltage, whereas 4-pin fans allow for their RPM to be controlled by either voltage or a PWM signal. 3-pin headers don't always allow voltage-control for the RPM, although since your motherboard is ASUS, it probably does.

The specifications for Cougar Dual X fans are on their website: http://www.cougar-world.com/products/fans/cfd_blue_led_fan.html

All three fans will perform fairly close to one-another. If you want to save your money, go for the Arctic Cooling.