Need a quiet 120 fan that pushes reasonable air

roamdog

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Dec 29, 2004
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Looking for a 120 fan for my Thermalright SI-120. Think that I want a fan that pushes around 50 cfm and does it with about 20 dBA. What are the best choices in this zone? Would like to stay around $10 - $15.
Are there factors other than noise and air flow (and I guess $$) to consider?? If so, what are those factors to consider?? And do any of these factors change your recommendation?
I know that there are fans that push waaaay more air than what I listed above, but they are too loud. And I know that there are some fans that claim to be more quiet, but I am afraid that those fans don't push enough air and am afraid to go with much less air than specified above.
Thanks for your help.
 
You are never going to hit 50 cfm at only 20 dBA. Take a look at these: http://www.silentpcreview.com/article63-page2.html

I have an Antec P180 and bought some surplus 120x38mm fans from http://www.endpcnoise.com/cgi-bin/e/antec_tricool.html.

Antec claims 36 cfm at 17 dBA on low, 48 cfm at 23 dBA on med, and 60 cfm at 28 dBA on high. At any rate I like them and they are only $9 each...

The other factor is quality of noise. But personally I don't feel like buying a lot of fans and testing. From what I hear a sleve bearing will be more quiet than a ball bearing model, but with a lower lifespan.
 
Looking for a 120 fan for my Thermalright SI-120. Think that I want a fan that pushes around 50 cfm and does it with about 20 dBA. What are the best choices in this zone? Would like to stay around $10 - $15.
Are there factors other than noise and air flow (and I guess $$) to consider?? If so, what are those factors to consider?? And do any of these factors change your recommendation?
I know that there are fans that push waaaay more air than what I listed above, but they are too loud. And I know that there are some fans that claim to be more quiet, but I am afraid that those fans don't push enough air and am afraid to go with much less air than specified above.
Thanks for your help.

Here: http://www.thermaltake.com/product/DCfan/Combo/a2330/a2330.asp
 
I like my Antec fan. It's a little loud, but pushes 70+ CFM supposedly. With a fan controler, you can quiet it down quite easily.
 
I have Akasa fans that push around 56 cfm but at around 29db.... But these ones are LED fans so naturally they aren't gonna be the best... but they look cool, and also are UV reactive... which i found out to my surprise... :)
 
I have Akasa fans that push around 56 cfm but at around 29db.... But these ones are LED fans so naturally they aren't gonna be the best... but they look cool, and also are UV reactive... which i found out to my surprise... :)
ohhhhh, las vegas style..... 8O
 
celltech said:
You are never going to hit 50 cfm at only 20 dBA. Take a look at these: http://www.silentpcreview.com/article63-page2.html
I see that Silenx wasn't reviewed there. I have their 14 dB 12cm fan, which is rated at 64cfm at 1500 rpm. I have not corroborated their CFM numbers, but using my Radio Shack dB meter, the Silenx measured about 10dB below a Enermax fan that is rated at 25dB. SilenX also sells an 11dB 12cm fan. The down side is cost - my 12cm 14dB models cost 25 bucks and my box has three. I need to get on the stick and replace my two 8cm fans with SilenX models.