Fan Testing Round 4 Complete (Results Summary)

[Martinm210]

I figured I'd clean up my mess of noise exploring and create a new thread with just the results. This is my fourth round of fan testing, and I've tried to explore many different methods. From PQ curves, to Sound Level meters, to Frequency Response curves, only to be left completely unsatisfied with being able to quantify good sound vs bad sound. In the end, I feel that sound level meters are frankly...PISS POOR...at quantifying good vs bad sound. They measure noise levels only and completely miss quality.

I feel sound "Quality" is a combination of noise level, sound pitch, and rythm which you frankly can NOT quantify in any one chart or number. The only way to really tell is to closely listen and compare at like performance levels.

First off, my testing sponsors for this round of testing "High Cost Fans" (no less than our community members right here in these forums):
Gentle Typhoon AP-15 - Hondacity
Noctua P12 - Masika
Silverstone AP-121 - MagisD

Thanks guys



I also sponsored the following fans myself for the "budget series":
The yate I've had for a while, but the rosewills came in a case I just bought. I noticed the egg sells similar models in set of 4 for $10, so I couldn't help but put them up against the tried and true previous budget fan king...the yate loon.



Test Methodology:

-Fan is hard mounted to an XSPC RS120 radiator with anemometer measuring CFM output, fan in push. CFM number is not calibrated and only good for relative comparisons.
-Video - Canon T2i in 1920 x 30fps HD mode
-Audio - Zoom H1 Handy Recorder, mounted in camera hotshoe, aimed at fan. Manual level 90, low cut on, max .wav setting.
-Monitors - In the background is the Anemometer display, two cheap sound level meters, a voltage meter (at plug), and a Skythe Kaze Master to monitor RPM.
-Power - Mastech 0-30V 5Amp lab power supply giving the Kaze master roughly 13V for Vdroop (this allows a full 12.00V to be provided to the fan). 5V input is provided by an old phone charger.
-Warmup - Fans/Anemometer were each allowed a 5 minute warmup at 12V, then testing proceeded.
- Environment - Tested in my walk-in closet at 12-1 AM when ambient noise level is perceived to be the lowest possible.
- Processing - Combined Video/Audio in Sony Vegas, matched up finger snap audio from T2i to Zoom and replaced poor T2i audio with Zoom audio. Audio level held to the original recorded.
-Recorded Ambient section, then through voltage ranges stopping at even 1 Volt increments and even 10CFM increments for comparison.





Products:
Video/Audio as tested
Comparison Video/Audio comparing 10, 20, 30...etc CFM levels


Uses: Suggest careful listening by the end user to make their own determinations. Use CFM anemometer levels to compare like performance levels.



INDIVIDUAL VIDEO RESULTS:
Fan Test 4 Yate Loon D12SM12 Curved Black
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vILqRsVDqX8

Fan Test 4 Servo Nidec (Scythe) Gentle Typhoon D1225C12B5AP-15
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AmF1Z0M8JY

Fan Test 4 Rosewill DF1202512SEMN BlueLED Clear
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLXsDcQvRS4

Fan Test 4 Rosewill DF1202512SEMN Black
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE48YxQwnOo

Fan Test 4 Noctua NF-P12
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuTm9XysZVA

Fan Test 4 Silverstone AP121 HA1225L12SF-Z
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cec_HlQK4IQ

COMPARISON VIDEO RESULTS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs3hnMGPGi4

Where are the charts you ask?

I'm not doing them, I think sound level meters paint a very inadequate, incomplete, and false picture. They give you some indication of noise level, but they do nothing for quality. You need to listen to the audio to get the real sense of what's good sound vs bad sound...sound level based charts just can't do that. For example the Rosewill fans perform at similar noise levels as the Yate Loon, however the motor ticking that's present in the Rosewill fan is much more harsh/annoying than the Yate. I see similar relations between the GT and Noctua here. At 20CFM levels the GT is CLEARLY lower in noise level, however it also has a higher pitched whine. These noise characteristics vary at different voltage levels. I see the GT being exceptionally strong at 10CFM and 40CFM, but I prefer the Noctua at 20CFM. I'll leave it up to you to decide...

Cheers!
Martin