26 120mm Fans Tested and Compared

[spider_d]

Great work Vapor. I'll add the following link to this thread so that readers can get an idea of the variation in testing methodology and results that are being compiled and compared.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article695-page1.html

Note the difference in performance around the papst and the noctua fans. There data indicates to me that the noctua pushes just as much air as the papst at a similar dB. Are they using a different papst? The 4112 FGL?

Also, their CFM findings are considerably higher for the noctua's then Vapors' findings. Like 20 CFM higher at 12V.

I guess having both fans next week will give me a chance to do a little subjective testing.

Cheers,

[dirtwarrior]

I am going to upgrade the fans in my case and found this thread very imformative. Thanks. I saw a link on here some tine ago with fans for a very good price but cant seem to find it. Could someone please post it again?

[Vapor]

Great work Vapor. I'll add the following link to this thread so that readers can get an idea of the variation in testing methodology and results that are being compiled and compared.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article695-page1.html

Note the difference in performance around the papst and the noctua fans. There data indicates to me that the noctua pushes just as much air as the papst at a similar dB. Are they using a different papst? The 4112 FGL?

Also, their CFM findings are considerably higher for the noctua's then Vapors' findings. Like 20 CFM higher at 12V.

I guess having both fans next week will give me a chance to do a little subjective testing.

Cheers,

To the best of my knowledge, SPCR measures airspeed with no shroud and with the anemometer right at the hub of the fan. The Noctua not only has a very small hub, but also rotates the air a lot (meaning you can't reliably measure pushed air....as evidenced by the clock-wise-spinning tri-blade deltas getting negative airspeed results by doing that). When I put the anemometer right up to the hub of the Noctua and compare to say a Yate Loon SL....I get the Noctua taking a very large lead due to it's better deadspot/hub design.

However, this method is simply unrealistic. It ignores a TON of airflow and heavily favors fans that either have a small hub or spin the air a lot. With this method, the large hub of the Sanyo Denki might even result in a reading of <40CFM, even at 2500RPM

Granted, shrouding isn't 100&#37; perfect, but it's a quick, simple, inexpensive and effective way to measure airflow and get proper results.


dirtwarrior--Yate Loon SL's are what you're looking for I imagine. www.jab-tech.com www.petrastechshop.com and a few others have them for cheap

[spider_d]

Thanks Vapor,

You've done your homework, and it's great to see a little real science on this form!

Also, it looks like their math takes the small hub that you've mentioned and effectively increases the total air in the fan when they take LFM measurments, and thus CFM values are inflated. This doesn't even take in to account the air rotation theory that you've brought up.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article687-page3.html

Does that make sense Vapor?

Thanks for your radiator testing too! That's just fan*tastic.

[IanY]

You guys don't go and buy up all the 4412 FGMLs Darn... wish the Papst had come in last now lol

[Sparky]

When I go water I think I'll still go with the yates - the price just can't be beat

[IanY]

Where do you guys find $3 Yates?!? I wanna buy $3 Yates

[Vapor]

You guys don't go and buy up all the 4412 FGMLs Darn... wish the Papst had come in last now lol

ebmpapst HQ is located in my hometown. Hopefully I'll always be able to get them I like them quite a bit.

When I go water I think I'll still go with the yates - the price just can't be beat

The price is a HUGE factor for the Yates. No other fan is nearly as inexpensive....and they're still damned good fans too


IanY: http://www.jab-tech.com/YATE-LOON-12...2-pr-3009.html

[IanY]

ebmpapst HQ is located in my hometown. Hopefully I'll always be able to get them I like them quite a bit.

The price is a HUGE factor for the Yates. No other fan is nearly as inexpensive....and they're still damned good fans too


IanY: http://www.jab-tech.com/YATE-LOON-12...2-pr-3009.html

Vapor,

In that case, your hometown is less than 1/2 hour from my hometown. Let me know when you return home next I've already contacted them in panic because of your review lol They assured me that supply will not be an issue.. asked me if I want to buy a crate haha

Thanks for the jab tech link!

[Vapor]

Will do And yeah, they have very large capacity....I don't even think a small surge in the enthusiast market would effect supply, but may be able to lower prices (maybe...lol).

Hopefully I'll also be able to get ahold of some 4212 series fans (120x120x38) by them this summer

And np for the link.

[lowfat]

Where do you guys find $3 Yates?!? I wanna buy $3 Yates

http://www.directcanada.com/products...re=Yate%20Loon in Canada, when they are in stock.

[lowfat]

Not all Papst fans are good FYI for people wanting to buy them. I have a couple of 4312 Ls at home that have horrible bearing noise at any voltage. I also have a 4312 MV which is a far better fan. @ 12V it a tad loud, but it shines very nicely @ 7V.

Vapor, do you plan on doing any 7V temps at all? I skimmed through the thread and didn't see anyone else ask it at all.

[MaxxxRacer]

Very nice work Vapor. Glad to see you finally got through all of those fans.

btw, what is the pricing on those Silverstone FN121? They do seem to be the best low noise case fans.

[Vapor]

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...oducts_id=3610 $10 sleeved there, haven't seen them anywhere else

It was my favorite quiet fan that I've tested for sure....IMO, one of the best things about it was that it was already at ambient noise levels as high as 7V....only fan I had that did that that was also 'good.' Great for 12/7/0V switch-type fan controllers.

[Sparky]

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...oducts_id=3610 $10 sleeved there, haven't seen them anywhere else

It was my favorite quiet fan that I've tested for sure....IMO, one of the best things about it was that it was already at ambient noise levels as high as 7V....only fan I had that did that that was also 'good.' Great for 12/7/0V switch-type fan controllers.

I can't believe that you forgot Newegg! Shipping kills but if you are ordering other stuff as well it wouldn't.

Also Tigerdirect has them for $6.99 FWIW, I don't know if I'd order from there though.... Also right now Case-mod.com has a special going for $6.88 right now.

[Spawne32]

oh god not newegg lol i cant even order from there anymore, things that cost 2.99 wind up costing me 15 dollars with taxes and shipping

[dirtwarrior]

I was looking at the delta WOW they can move some air but very loud

[Sparky]

oh god not newegg lol i cant even order from there anymore, things that cost 2.99 wind up costing me 15 dollars with taxes and shipping

That is why you combine the small stuff with a larger order.

[vkbms]

Great Work Vapor.....

I've 3 Thermaltake thunderblade on my BIGTS360....

Did i will change it with something better? I can buy Sharkoon 2000 Silent Eagle at reasonable price.....Did i notice a performance gain?

[Cronos]

Vapor
Is it real Panaflo M1 behave so badly at low voltage?
I have ordered 6 for my dual PA120.3 WC setup, with the intention of undervolting them to 6-8V at low load while having high flow capacity if needed.

Now, from your data, airflow of M1 is simply abysmal at lower voltage. Something must be wrong here. Is it NMB-MAT model?

If its real, i have to order either six Papst or Sharkoon fans.

[Vapor]

All three of my M1s perform exactly the same. My three H1s and two U1s also perform exactly the same. All but one of my Panaflos are NMB-MATs.

The fans just don't seem to undervolt particularly well.

[Spawne32]

vapor, on the silverstones, what kind of wiring do they have?

[Vapor]

The FN121 has a long lead, with a double molex connector (in and out so it doesn't hog a molex to itself). Also has a separate RPM-sense wire. Should be in post #2 (which I've been meaning to update...).

The FM121 has the same setup, but also a connector for an included rheobus, which can be used optionally.

The FM122 has the same setup as the FM121, but it will *NOT* work without the rheobus hooked up

[vassalle]

Vapor,

Wondering how would the yate loon SM and SH perform compared to the rest?

SM specs
Model: D12SM-12
Fan Size: 120mm x 120mm x 25mm
Speed: 1650 +/- 10&#37; RPM
Airflow: 70.5 CFM
Noise: 33.0 dBA
Bearing: Sleeve
Voltage: 12 V
Current: .3 Amp Max
Fan Life: 30,000 hours
Connector: 3pin and 4pin pass-through connector

SL Specs
Model: D12SH-12
Fan Size: 120mm x 120mm x 25mm
Speed: 2200 +/- 10% RPM
Airflow: 88.0 CFM
Noise: 40 dBA
Bearing: Sleeve
Voltage: 12 V
Current: .3 Amp Max
Fan Life: 30,000 hours
Connector: 3pin and 4pin pass-through connector

Might be good at cooling heatsinks?

On another topic, for replacing my noisy Silverstone St56f PSU fan, should I choose the 'high' performers in the open air, radiator or processor cooling?

Sorry for my bad english!

Thanks for the comprehensive review!

[Origin_Unknown]

I'd also like to have seens some of the 120 * 38mm san ace fans tested but you cant have everything