Should I change my case fans ?

[Giorgi_12]

I have a Zalman Z11 Plus, with 5 coolers:
rear and up panel : 2 for out take 120mm
front : 1 for intake 120 mm
rear sides : 2 for out take 80 mm
One thing that disturbes me is the noise, maybe that is cause of the 80mm fans. I don't have any fan controller. Also, should I change to 3 Corsair AF120 instead of the ones I got now ( Zalman quiet, or something like that) ?
What do you think causes that noise ?

 

[terry4536]

The 80mm fans will almost always be noisy. If you turn the RPMs down then they move little air.

If you do not have 4 pin fan headers on the motherboard, your only option is an aftermarket fan controller. And you will need to change to PWM fans in most cases.

 

[coozie7]

Agree with Terry4536, it's most likely the 80mm fans are the main culprit but if the 120mm fans are also running at maximum speed they'll be making quite a racket as well.
Suggestion: Swap the front intake for a 140mm fan, Sythe, Phanteks, Noctua and Noiseblocker all make excellent, quiet parts that'll shift plenty of air with minimum noise. Keep the top/rear fans as they are but disconnect the 80mm fans (or remove them completely). You can connect the fans to motherboard headers and control their speed through the BIOS, I suggest you connect the front fan to one header and the top/rear to another using a 'Y' splitter: https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=3TzU97PD&id=199077D641C8A66B7E5A50E69F1F944110331F37&q=pc+fan+y+splittre&simid=608049774316093957&selectedIndex=9&ajaxhist=0
Unless you're running a very power hungry setup these three fans will provide plenty of ventilation.

 

[Deleted member 1443762]

Cheap fans will be noisy. Corsair AF's are good, I have 5 of them and they aren't too loud even at max speed.
And instead of a fan controller you can buy a splitter:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BitFenix-Alchemy-Premium-Modding-Multisleeved/dp/B008LFATBQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1491071505&sr=1-1&keywords=BitFenix+Alchemy+Premium+Modding+Series+Multisleeved+Cable+-+fan+power+splitter

For quieter fan operation check in your BIOS for the fan speed settings.

 

[Joshua French]

I use Cougar Vortex fans and they are lovely. IDK if they make 80MM but they are the best cheap Noctua's that are on the market. Also anything Noctua is the best, just expensive, But it's the gold standard in PC cooling. I know that GELID also make great fans and they for sure make 80MM fans. Silent and Long life. Good luck

 

[terry4536]

I agree. I am partial to Noctua fans and coolers. They have excellent fans.

 

[Virtual_Singularity]

I have a Zalman Z11 Plus, with 5 coolers:
rear and up panel : 2 for out take 120mm
front : 1 for intake 120 mm
rear sides : 2 for out take 80 mm
One thing that disturbes me is the noise, maybe that is cause of the 80mm fans. I don't have any fan controller. Also, should I change to 3 Corsair AF120 instead of the ones I got now ( Zalman quiet, or something like that) ?
What do you think causes that noise ?

Counting the 2 x 80mm on the side, your case accepts up to 7 fans. You can replace all the fans your case came with depending on budget and what kind of airflow you want.

If better airflow and temps is your goal, replace the 120mm front intake that came with your case for a more powerful 140mm fan of your choice, replace rear 120mm exhaust also. You can add another 120mm fan up top to compliment the one that came with your case, or add two new 120mm's of your choice. You can add another 120 or 140mm to your case's bottom. The 2 x 80mm fans on the side u can replace with much better/quieter ones, or remove them altogether. That's up to 7 fans, total. If unfamiliar with positive vs negative pressure for your case, read up on it, decide which is best for your case. Positive pressure is usually preferable imho.

If the 2 x 80mm fans are noisiest, consider replacing them with quality fans that run quieter, e.g. 2 x Noctua NF-A8 FLX 80mm. Some manufacturers like Rosewill, offer 4 packs of 120mm fans for $15, or 2 packs of 140mm fans for $13. Arctic F12 - Value pack 120mm Standard Low Noise Case Fan Cooling, 5 Pack go for $22.32, offer better performance. Choose fans that have anti-vibration included, or consider a pack of anti vib mountings if fan vib is a concern. More or less, when it comes to case fans, you get what you pay for, although some are overpriced, needless RGB lighting often adds to overall price. Some premium fans are expensive, but last longer, provide better airflow to your case, & are quieter, depending on brand and type. Btw, you'll want to choose fans for Air Flow, not Static Pressure (since you aren't using a radiator).

Using a fan hub is an option, though not necessary. You can get 2 x pwm fan cable splitters for less than $15 total. Or if you wish, you can get a pwm fan controller/hub, e.g. a SilverStone PWM Fan Hub System Cables, Black (CPF04) on Amazon for around $16.