Trying to choose between Noctua or Noiseblocker

[dslatsh]

Looking between the Noctua NF-A13 iPPC
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608048

And the Noiseblocker NB-eLoop b14-3.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0149MBB16/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AEELF2HAVZFED&psc=1]

I like the noiseblocker's DB levels and for the amount of CFM, however the size is an odd size 140x140x29. The Noctua does have a higher CFM but DB level is around 40...Debating if anyone has used both of these products or has an opinions. Would be for intake fans most likely reason looking for the CFM. I have a Bequiet darkbase pro case that has 2 of the silent wings 3 in the front and one in the rear...was going to move the silent wings and maybe mount in on bottom inside case or two on the outside cover.

 

[Paperdoc]

The Noctua you link to can produce much higher air flow against a higher backpressure, but uses three times the power and generates more noise AT MAXIMUM SPEED. However, IF you were to run that fan at a lower speed to generate the SAME air flow thus, the same cooling performance) as the Noiseblocker model, it would use less power and generate less noise. How much less noise and power? You cannot tell from the website specs. By the way, for case ventilation applications you do NOT need high backpressure ratings, so put little emphasis on that. If you want a closer match of specs, look at the Noctua NF-A14 iPPC 2000 PWM model. Compared to the Noiseblocker, it gives marginally more air flow at slightly higher power use and noise. There is also a comparable model of this fan that is of the 3-pin (NOT PWM) design.

The Noiseblocker unit you linked to is a 3-pin fan, but a 4-pin companion model does exist. The same is true of the two Noctua NF-A14 iPPC 2000 models. I don't know how you plan to power and control this fan plus all others you are using for case ventilation. But be aware that 3-pin and 4-pin fans require different control methods, so you must match the fans with your mobo headers' capabilities. This then affects the devices you might use to connect several fans to a single mobo fan header. In the case of 3-pin fans, there is also the power supply limit of the mobo header to consider when planning more than one fan an a header. If you need further help with these details, post back here.

 

[dslatsh]

The Noctua you link to can produce much higher air flow against a higher backpressure, but uses three times the power and generates more noise AT MAXIMUM SPEED. However, IF you were to run that fan at a lower speed to generate the SAME air flow thus, the same cooling performance) as the Noiseblocker model, it would use less power and generate less noise. How much less noise and power? You cannot tell from the website specs. By the way, for case ventilation applications you do NOT need high backpressure ratings, so put little emphasis on that. If you want a closer match of specs, look at the Noctua NF-A14 iPPC 2000 PWM model. Compared to the Noiseblocker, it gives marginally more air flow at slightly higher power use and noise. There is also a comparable model of this fan that is of the 3-pin (NOT PWM) design.

The Noiseblocker unit you linked to is a 3-pin fan, but a 4-pin companion model does exist. The same is true of the two Noctua NF-A14 iPPC 2000 models. I don't know how you plan to power and control this fan plus all others you are using for case ventilation. But be aware that 3-pin and 4-pin fans require different control methods, so you must match the fans with your mobo headers' capabilities. This then affects the devices you might use to connect several fans to a single mobo fan header. In the case of 3-pin fans, there is also the power supply limit of the mobo header to consider when planning more than one fan an a header. If you need further help with these details, post back here.

To power the fans the dark base pro 900 comes with a PCB board behind the motherboard tray. It has 1 more 4 pin connector and 4 3 pin connectors. I still have a couple headers on the motherboard as well. I usually tend to run my fans at around 100% anyways instead of using the monitoring style, I dunno why but there something about hearing a fan etc. go from silent to roaring to silent much like when a server restarts how the fans blaze then cool down then blaze again. So with that in remind would you still recommend going with a different fan? I hear Noctua's are great..and I've read great things about the noise blocker. I also should note i have the revision 1 case which I believe does not use the 1600 rpm capability silent wing 3 fans. Although, using the higher end noctua and reducing down like you're saying to produce same CFM and less noise/power is not a bad idea

 

[Paperdoc]

The manual I found for the Dark Base Pro 900 (Rev not specified, so I think it's the older Rev 1) says it has a very interesting fan control system. The board contains 4 output connectors each of the 3- and 4-pin type, and the manual says both fan types can be controlled through it. There are cables to connect that board to a PSU SATA power output for power, to a mobo SYS_FAN header that MUST be set to use PWM Mode for control, and to the case's front panel fan control slider. Then comes the really interesting feature. If the front slider is left in the "0" position the system uses the mobo's PWM control system to control all the fans automatically. But if you slide it to the right, you convert it to a manual speed setting device. It has both options included! so you can try it both ways. Personally, I prefer the auto mobo-based systems, but the choice is up to you.

Just an explanatory note about fan surges. At boot time, almost all fan systems apply full voltage to the fans to ensure they start up. A few seconds later as the POST process completes the mobo starts receiving temperature readings from sensors and reduces the fan speeds to whatever is needed based on those temperatures. Especially if the system was off for a while and cool, this means a very slow initial speed which may well be increased as the workload heats things up. I also see often a common behaviour of automatic fan speed controls based on measured temperatures. They rarely make very small speed changes that you don't notice. It appears that, being digital systems, the fan speed is stepped through a small number of possible speeds (eight?) over its total range.

 

[dslatsh]

The manual I found for the Dark Base Pro 900 (Rev not specified, so I think it's the older Rev 1) says it has a very interesting fan control system. The board contains 4 output connectors each of the 3- and 4-pin type, and the manual says both fan types can be controlled through it. There are cables to connect that board to a PSU SATA power output for power, to a mobo SYS_FAN header that MUST be set to use PWM Mode for control, and to the case's front panel fan control slider. Then comes the really interesting feature. If the front slider is left in the "0" position the system uses the mobo's PWM control system to control all the fans automatically. But if you slide it to the right, you convert it to a manual speed setting device. It has both options included! so you can try it both ways. Personally, I prefer the auto mobo-based systems, but the choice is up to you.

Just an explanatory note about fan surges. At boot time, almost all fan systems apply full voltage to the fans to ensure they start up. A few seconds later as the POST process completes the mobo starts receiving temperature readings from sensors and reduces the fan speeds to whatever is needed based on those temperatures. Especially if the system was off for a while and cool, this means a very slow initial speed which may well be increased as the workload heats things up. I also see often a common behaviour of automatic fan speed controls based on measured temperatures. They rarely make very small speed changes that you don't notice. It appears that, being digital systems, the fan speed is stepped through a small number of possible speeds (eight?) over its total range.

Yeah it's a pretty cool set up first time ever seen a PCB board like such it also has headers for LED strips etc.

I'm still trying to decide which fans would be the best to go with, people seem to think it's funny that should just be pick a fan and go but there's more to fans then most think which you seem to understand....I've only ever used my stock fans and whatever came with the all in one liquid cooler on my old build. So pretty much any information etc. helps.