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Silent Fans.

Atragon

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jan 31, 2004
Messages
338
Well, I'm still trying to quiet down my computer(s), so far so good, but I have noticed that the fans in my file server (an 80mm and a 92mm) are generating a really annoying mid-high pitched tone. So, I'm looking to replace them with something a bit quieter...

The specs for the fans I'm replacing are:
92mm CH9212CS Superred fan, rated for 42.3CFM @ 30.5 dBA (PSU Exhaust fan)
80mm F8025H Mechatronics fan, rated for 39CFM @ 29 dBA (Case front intake fan)

I'm thinking either panaflo, vantec stealth, or silenX fans. My main goal is silence, I can live with temperatures a few degrees higher is the noise drops by a fair margin.
 
I use vantec stealths and I love them. Others swear by Panaflo's and if your feeling particullarly rich you could always get a bunch of papst fans.
 
I haven't been able to find any stores that ship to Canada selling papst fans apart from the ultra quiet 80mm one that pushes ~19CFM. :(
 
Go for the panaflos. I just changed out the ones in my server for 4 panaflos (L1A front, L1A side, L1A rear, and M1A on the CPU HSF).

Aaah, what a difference. Probably 75% better than it was, but still not silent.

I then added a fan bus (for $12 from SVC, why make your own?) and NOW it's silent :)

Pabst are good too. I have a few old ones in another system and they are dead silent, but I think they flow a lot less air than the Panaflos. They seem more cheaply constructed too (flimsier in general).
 
I'm leaning towards the panaflo myself, but does anyone have any experience with the SilenX fans? Looking at the specs http://www.silenx.com/productcart/pc/viewCat_Z.asp?idCategory=3 the airflow/noise ratio is great, and the few reviews I've been able to find are really positive. But I've only been able to find a grand total of 3 reviews, and no end-user experiences... So, have any of you guys tried them, or should I take a leap of faith and order one to try out?
 
Been running panaflos for 3 years now...the four I have in the case now have been running nicely for about 2 years now. Not a complaint about them, other than they don't have RPM monitoring....but not a big deal.
 
Heck, the computer I'd be putting them in doesn't have the capability to monitor fan RPM.
 
both vantech and panflows are quite as all get out, but enermax makes an ajustable fan that you can run as quite as you want i use the enermax but thats just me :D
 
[Hard], I'm impressed. A little on the expensive side (seeing as I'm up in the great white north), but I just might order a few.
 
id say panaflow. im using one on my cpu and really quiet, and its not the quiet model. with soft music on i cant hear it.
 
I have both panaflo's and vantec stealth's. IMO panaflo are way better than the vantec fans. The vantec fans have a whine to them which can get pretty annoying. Panaflos are almost dead silent.
 
I'd say try noiseblockers, get them from mutepc.net (you are canadian, right?). Quiet, quality German fans.
 
I have Panaflo, Papst, and Vantec Stealth fans. The Panaflos are the quietest. It's not really even debatable in my mind. The Papst are close, but the motor/bearing makes more noise. They also don't move much air at all. The Vantec Stealths aren't even close to the other two. Running a faster Panaflo at a low voltage (thus RPM) will make that faster Panaflo basically sound like the slower version (M1A @ L1A speeds = same noise level).
 
Now what I want to know is if those new Aerocool aluminum LED fans rated at 20.3 dB are really that quiet. I'd be willing to give up a little noise for something that isn't just a boring black fan. All the reviews I see for them are completely useless.
 
Well I had a vantec stealth 92mm on my CPU, and I couldn't hear it at all even without the sidepanel on. Anything under 30db or so will be so quiet you will hardly notice it, just get whatever fans are easiest and cheapest to acquire. They're all good, and they're all pretty damn quiet. They're also all good brands, so I wouldn't worry about any of em going out on you.
 
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