Replacing all case fans to improve airflow and noise. Need some suggestions.

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Mycelium

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I'm using the Raidmax Smilodon Extreme case, it comes with 2x 80mm (side panel), 2x 120mm (one front / rear), and also a spot for a third optional 80mm fan which would serve as an intake / hard drive cooler. I've grown tired of the noise this cases produces, and am seeking replacement fans that will give me an improvement in cfm, but are much lower in sound levels. I've done some searching, but there are so many options, I'm a bit lost. I know the amount of cfm being pulled into the case should be equiv. to what the exhaust is putting out, but not sure how I should balance that. Was thinking I could use slower 80mm fans, if I add one extra intake into the optional spot on right side panel, and then faster 120mms then I currently have for front/back because they produce low dba but will be the main air movers. Also, the intake has a mesh over it, which will limit its speed, so perhaps I should be getting a higher speed / dba fan, expecting it to run slower / quieter from resistance.

I wanted to order all Noctua fans, but if replacing them all, it would end up a bit pricey. So I'm trying to find something that may preform close at a much lower cost. Any suggestions? Does shooting for ~20 dba fans sound like the right idea? Should I get one speed fans, or variable and throttle them down? Thanks for any help you provide!
 
drescherjm said:
I would try the +7V hack and keep your current fans.

http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/other/137

Edit: You said you want more CFM. Well the 7V hack certianly will not do that unless you add more fans..
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response. As it is, my case's factory fan setup, does not provide very good airflow. If I were to lower the speed of the current fans, it would be even worse. These fans are not efficient, and two have developed vibrating noises that come and go at times. I believe double bearing and hydro dynamic fans, will give me the extra cfm I desire, and also be much quieter.

This is what I currently have in mind for replacement fans:

80mm Side Intakes - VANTEC SF8025L 80mm Case Fan
80mm Exhaust (Green LED) - LOGISYS Computer LT400GN 80mm Green LED Case Fan
120mm Intake / Exhaust - Scythe S-FLEX SFF21E 120mm Case Fan

I may not get the Green LED fan, was just considering it because if possible, I'd like to maintain the same appearance the case currently has. The inner illumination from the side, looks nice.
 
IMO, you can get better 80mm fans than the one's you have listed, but what is your budget?
 
I would skip the 80mm slots and add a Scythe Kama bay or related device in your 5.25" bays that will hold another 120mm fan. You'll see your CPU temps drop. Hopefully you have 3 of those bays free.

I'd recommend: S-flex 1600rpm or GT1850 for bottom intake, and slipstreams for the 5.25" bay intake and exhaust. Realistically you won't be pulling in as much air as you'd hope due to the door of that case so you should make your exhaust fan slightly weaker.
 
FaRKle0079 said:
I would skip the 80mm slots and add a Scythe Kama bay or related device in your 5.25" bays that will hold another 120mm fan. You'll see your CPU temps drop. Hopefully you have 3 of those bays free.

I'd recommend: S-flex 1600rpm or GT1850 for bottom intake, and slipstreams for the 5.25" bay intake and exhaust. Realistically you won't be pulling in as much air as you'd hope due to the door of that case so you should make your exhaust fan slightly weaker.
Click to expand...

Wow, that is a good idea. Thank you for the suggestion, I do have 3 slots free.

I am concerned about the mesh on the door and over present front fan, now that I look closer at it, must be restricting quite a bit. Do you think I should definitely not bother with having the 80mm side fans? Just remove them? Or maybe just put extremely quiet / lower rpm ones in?
 
Ok, just bought a Scythe Kama Plus which includes a slip stream fan. Think I'm going to leave the other 120mm fans currently in case alone for now, since they are already quiet and just replace the 80mm side fans. I'm replacing the LEDs in the front of case with blue ones, so i'd also like to replace the illuminated side exhaust with a blue led 80mm. The 80mm side arm intake, does not need to be lit, but I feel maybe if I dont get two of the same fans, it will throw off the balance. I'm considering getting two of these: Rosewill RFX-80BL 80mm 2 Ball Bearing Blue LED Case Fan with Fan Controller Set and setting them to the lowest setting, or whatever level which the sound matches the 120mm fans. What do you guys think? Any suggestions on a single speed, quiet, blue lit 80mm fan? Should I maybe remove the side intake arm over gpu, only replace the lit exhaust, and replace the two original 120mms with higher cfm? I plan to slightly overclock the GPU / CPU once I've got proper cooling, the side intake keeps fresh air on the GPU, so I am unsure whether to remove it.
 
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