26 120mm Fans Tested and Compared

[CERO]

Hey vapor I got atm, 2x S-flex 1600rpm on my TRUE, would it be good to replace them by 2 x Zalman ZM F3? I need to replace my 2 exhaust fans ( 1 rear ) / ( 1 @ side for the VGA) anyways, so it is either the zalman or the Scythe going there, i got atm the Nexus but I find them abit "weak""

[IanY]

Who said that the Papsts are hard to find. There are lots of them around. You may not find their prices attractive, but there is an ample supply. And its not just the 4412 FGML that's around. There are other models.

[Soulburner]

Here are my impressions of the Zalman fans.

No scientific data, just my own experience.

On default (12v) speed they move a good amount of air but are what I would consider loud in a case. However they come with a resistor that you can place in-line to slow them down from 2000rpm to around 1100-1200rpm which mostly silences them. The airflow is quite diminished but they are very good for building a quiet system.

I am not sure that they are much better than the NZXT 120mm case fans that I removed though...those are surprisingly good and upon inspection look almost like a Zalman clone.

[Soulburner]

Another initial test.

Sharkoon Silent Eagle 2000 vs Panaflo L1A

This is a medium speed fan vs a low speed fan.

Now this isn't what you would consider a real hot CPU. I don't have any real high clocks to test with yet but it shouldn't really matter. I also could have used Orthos if I really wanted to test temps as it gets the cores a good 5c hotter on average but I was only testing this while I was already testing for stability with OCCT so it didn't take any extra time. Multi-tasking

C2D E6550 @ 429x7=3003mhz 1.3v
Thermalright SI-128
Arctic Cooling MX-1

The Sharkoon seems to produce roughly the same results. I can't say one is better than the other because the temperatures reported by Core Temp were within 2c higher and lower throughout my OCCT 30min load test. Both fans hovered the CPU around the 50-52c range. My conclusion is there isn't a big difference. To be honest, the load temps with the Sharkoon actually reached 53-54c however the ambient temp in the room also had increased 1-2c by that time.

Sound wise, surprisingly the Sharkoon is not a lot different. In open air it is louder, but inside the case it sort of fits right in and it is not any louder than the Panaflo. It also does not make the little clicking noises that the Panaflo L1A does.

Final decision will be made when I get the Corsair 520HX in to get rid of the power supply noise but I think I like the Sharkoon Silent Eagle better. It just sounds really smooth and is not annoying at all. I'm surprised it didn't have a bigger effect on my temps though. I also did some quick testing on stacking CPU fans. I took my 120x25mm NZXT case fan (very very quiet and decent air) and put it on top of each of these two fans during testing and both times I dropped around 2-3c off of my full load temp without adding much noise. It also helps by creating a longer funnel to draw the air from. You essentially end up with a 120x50mm "dual fan". It would work best if they were both the same type and speed though. I want to mark off and cut a custom opening right where these "stacked" fans would reach to on the case window.

One more thing to note, the Panaflo L1A is a 38mm fan while the Sharkoon Silent Eagle 2000 is a 25mm fan and it shows. The Panaflo is a lot thicker and quite a bit heavier too.

[Vapor]

Anybody want to see a lopsided comparison? Best vs. worst.


(btw, every Sunon fan I've tested is a JOKE, this was just the worst of the worst)

And, YES...the fan really was spinning at that last data point. So slowly I could visibly track it with my eyes, no more than 100RPM. AND IT STILL MADE NOISE! No measurable airflow though.

[[XC] Synthetickiller]

I'm so glad I got the san ace. I broke one by mistake though. Thats a big whoops! I have 2 (waiting on 3 more) on my radiator right now and it keeps my temps 6 degrees cooler than my artic cooling fans. I am very glad I didn't touch the sunon. WOW.

Ever thought of testing any of the fans that push 200CMF while still only being 120mm? I know they can't be as silent, but wow, thats a lot of air movement.

[evoic]

I'm so glad I got the san ace. I broke one by mistake though. Thats a big whoops! I have 2 (waiting on 3 more) on my radiator right now and it keeps my temps 6 degrees cooler than my artic cooling fans. I am very glad I didn't touch the sunon. WOW.

Ever thought of testing any of the fans that push 200CMF while still only being 120mm? I know they can't be as silent, but wow, thats a lot of air movement.

Interesting.

I wonder if the temperature drop would be substantial if I switched my Arctic Cooling 120mm from my Ultra 120 X over to a San Ace?

Any experts wanna' chime in with an opinion on that?

[kuhla]

Anybody want to see a lopsided comparison? Best vs. worst.

Those Sunons .... euhhh .... that is pretty bad....

You cannot run the San Ace's any lower than 27dBa? What was it running at 5v at that point?

So comparing those numbers ( http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/3...cture16id6.png ) with your old numbers ( http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2575/picture16wh3.png ) @ 27dBa: The San Ace 1011's are pushing about 52CFM while the best on the old stuff was about 44CFM which was the ebmpapsts. That is quite an improvement! Those San Ave fans seem to be worth all the hype they are getting. Now I just need to find out if I can run them quieter

EDIT : Have you thought about (or do you already have some thoughts about) AC Ryan's fans?

[Vapor]

The San Aces can easily run lower than 5V. They can start lower than 5V even. That last data point is 5V though.

Previous results are not really comparable to this set (very different environment). They're roughly comparable, but really, I wouldn't compare them. BUT, the San Ace 1011 is a standout

Around 26dBA on the new scale is inaudible from a foot away. At 5V, these fans are awesome. So awesome that they're what I'll be running on ALL my HSFs in my upcoming twin-system build (link in sig), even at $20 a pop.

I really don't know much about A.C. Ryan fans, but I would feel safe betting that like every other form-over-function fan, they aren't at the top of the pile. (they may still be good, like Yate Loon LED fans, but I'd be shocked if they were great)

[kuhla]

.... they're what I'll be running on ALL my HSFs in my upcoming twin-system build (link in sig), even at $20 a pop.....

.....which you would be buying from.....?

[Vapor]

www.thermalfx.com

Great shop there for semi-obscure fans (though most are out of stock even there).

[amandpm]

(btw, every Sunon fan I've tested is a JOKE, this was just the worst of the worst)

And, YES...the fan really was spinning at that last data point. So slowly I could visibly track it with my eyes, no more than 100RPM. AND IT STILL MADE NOISE! No measurable airflow though.

Wish i would have known that sooner I bought like 34 Sunon PSD1212PMBX 9 blade 36W AND YOUR SO RIGHT!! I pluged in a power supply hooked up one of the Sunon and it sounded like a Hair Dryer EVEN WHEN I HOOKED IT TO 5V...it ran but ....got ear plugs lol
One thing I will say positive about Sunon is there "Data sheets?" I requested info about the fan i bought and they sent me a 23 page 1.56mb Data sheet just on that fan. it has 5 wires, 2 black 1 red 1 green 1 yellow--->VAPOR if i could i would post it but i think it is to big but I am sure you would find it a bit interesting.

Now Today I got a package in the mail -->San Ace 172mm Model 109E5712Y5J04 I also aquired the data sheet (not sure if thats what you would call them maybe "Specs") it is a 5 blade metal body housing 12V 2.3A pluged that one into the power supply and it pushed a lot more air and was quieter than the Sunon. I will see if i can post the specs on the San Ace 172. Also don't see it in the data sheet but the Rep. told me ...........Max.CFM: 282 CFM
Max.Static Pressure: .84 inch H2O
Power consumption: 31.2 W

Hay Vapor do you want one of those Sunon to experiment with??? Free..I will send you one PM me if interested. I would love to hear your thoughts on that fan

[Vapor]

The San Ace sounds very nice....I've really taken a liking to their fans. But damn, a 3800RPM 172mm fan is not quiet no matter how you dissect it, lol.

I'm not sure what the green wire on the Sunon would be.....a 36W PWM fan doesn't sound right, but I guess it is.

Those are what, 320CFM 120x120x38mm fans? Gonna be loud man....lol. And yeah, very little public info about the PSD series of fans....they're OEM-only it seems.

I'd be kinda interested in testing one (too loud to test, LOL)....BUT, I have a MAJOR announcement:

I'm DONE testing fans!

Basically, after like...60-70 fans, I'm pretty sick of it. And more importantly, I think I've been able to highlight some really good fans for XSers and also show which ones to avoid. I obviously didn't get to test EVERY fan on the market, but c'mon.

No worries, I didn't 'miss' any of my promised fans....just got through the last fan tonight (yes, I was confident that the last remaining two would neither beat the San Ace or lose to the craptastic Sunon when I posted that graph, I was right). But I'll be back at school and will be putting my focus there. Data will be up shortly....I want to do it a little differently this time....there will be many more graphs showing what people want to know (not that the data wasn't there before, but now it'll be easier to see the data compared that you want, IMO)

If the market changes enough by next summer, I may do another round, not sure yet. A possible job I may be taking could compromise any future fan testing as well.... (not that I would lie about the data, but working for a company that makes fans as well as independently testing them would be somewhat of a no-no in my book, just on principle)

[evoic]

Hats off to Vapor for sheer, dogged, determination and making a WEALTH of knowledge available on one of the most sought-after topics on any hardware forum.

Thank you, stranger.
Much appreciated.
.
.

[[XC] Synthetickiller]

Thanks for runnings all these tests. I can't believe you can actually test that many fans. Its crazy.

I do have one question. When undervolting the San Ace 1011 Fans, did you ever notice that if you use them as a pull on a radiator, no matter what you did, they are still audible? Just wondering....

I have no equipment other than my ears, but I can clearly hear them from 3 feet away, even though my case separates me from them. This sounds right or do I have a few fans that just aren't up to snuff? They are used btw.

[Vapor]

At 3 feet away pulling through a rad? Yeah, they really move too much air to be truly silent, even at 4V. But the amount of noise on my fans is miniscule, just a touch louder than an S-Flex D. I doubt I could hear them over a non-Corsair PSU tbh.

[cantankerous]

Awesome job Eric. I appreciate all your hard work and question answering along the way of your testing. I anxiously await your results though have already got my mind set on the San Ace as well as that Zalman ZM-F3 since you mentioned it too was a good fan.

[evoic]

Let the San Ace 1011 counterfeiting / relabeling begin !



.

[kuhla]

I'm DONE testing fans!

Woohoo! Thank you very much for all the hard work you keep doing Vapor. This thread is officially epic as far as I'm concerned.

I anxiously await your results....

x2

[Vapor]

Let the San Ace 1011 counterfeiting / relabeling begin !



.

Nah, I think it's just typical wear and tear that they experience. The motors are very 'floaty' (GREAT for open air...I mean like zero motor noise at almost all voltages, it's awesome.....BUT wear and tear occurs after extended use [a year+ maybe?] and it dampens radiator pull-performance somewhat)

And I can't wait to get the full gamut of graphs up soon....there's definitely a few winners in the bunch

[[XC] Synthetickiller]

At 3 feet away pulling through a rad? Yeah, they really move too much air to be truly silent, even at 4V. But the amount of noise on my fans is miniscule, just a touch louder than an S-Flex D. I doubt I could hear them over a non-Corsair PSU tbh.

Good to know. Thanks.

I have a seasonic (might as well be corsair, they are made by corsair right?) so I can hear the San Ace 1011s clearly. My p180 case is QUIET. I am lucky that the CPU can actually sit at idle with on fans. I guess my cooling loop + triple radiator moves enough heat passively.

So basically:

Sunnon = CRAP

Yate Loon = the best budget fan

San Ace 1011 = cream of the crop

eh?

[Ar3s]

seasonic makes corsair psus not the other way around. corsair does ram.

i'm trying out the panaflos since i found a local store selling brand new ones for about $10 each.

[CyberDruid]

I'm DONE testing fans!



)

Hat's off to you sir for all your hard work and excellent output. I will miss hunkering down to read your thread though. I bought me some San Ace 1011 the first time you mentioned them to me and I will never look back...they are far and away the finest fan I have ever used.

I know just what you mean about being sick of testing fans...I only tested about a dozen and threw in the towel...just to make sure I sold them all too lol.

Thanks again for a great thread and all your dedication!

[Soulburner]

Good to know. Thanks.

I have a seasonic (might as well be corsair, they are made by corsair right?) so I can hear the San Ace 1011s clearly. My p180 case is QUIET. I am lucky that the CPU can actually sit at idle with on fans. I guess my cooling loop + triple radiator moves enough heat passively.

So basically:

Sunnon = CRAP

Yate Loon = the best budget fan

San Ace 1011 = cream of the crop

eh?

Stick the Zalman in the middle there. Very versatile, basically silent with the included resistor, but lots of airflow and very loud at default 12v.

[Vapor]

I'd stick the S-Flex fans in there too....not everyone likes sleeve bearings (rightly so, I suppose).

And to everyone: you're welcome....I've (mostly) enjoyed it and the learning experience