26 120mm Fans Tested and Compared

[CyberDruid]

True. My FN122 is a Gale... I have tested the San Ace 1011 and the FM 121 side by side on my PA160 test rig and the San Ace far and away is a quieter and better performing fan at any speed. I probably have a half dozen FM 121 fans mounted to various heatsinks and at the time they were the most highly recommended fan for that use. However at anything over about 1300 rpm they make my ears ring after a short listen.

The San Ace I am using now have a lower pitched sound and when run around 7V are more than adequate and much less annoying than just about any fan I have used.

I have a fairly large collection of SilenX and frankly I think all the SilenX hate is a bit overdone. They are lightly constructed fans that look nice and produce reasonable airflow for most applications. They are expensive. The only downside I have to these fans is the oil in the bearing is contained merely by a self adhesive sticker--if the sticker fails the oil leaks out and makes a mess...this has only happened on two of the several dozen I have tested/ used in builds.

I think anyone concerned with how much a fan costs should be buying Yate Loons...if price is no option then San Ace 1011 are a fine choice.

Unfortunately the distributor for the San Ace linked by Vapor turned out to be very odd and refused me service after I questioned his shipping rates. So much for customer service. However you can still find these fans at subzeropc.com and a few other vendors. Expensive but I cannot se anyone complaining about their build or performance.

[Ace-a-Rue]

This leads me to my next point: the high-speed 120x120x25mm market is ripe for the taking. Why lie about it when you can just do it?

i am surprised with your experience you don't know why they fudge the specs...this happens in automobile industry with gas mileage...this is not an uncommon aspect to business...you just have to weed through the hyperbole!

[Vapor]

Well, getting better gas mileage costs (potentially) millions of dollars in R&D....making a fan spin faster is easy. I understand your point though....

[Ace-a-Rue]

True. My FN122 is a Gale... I have tested the San Ace 1011 and the FM 121 side by side on my PA160 test rig and the San Ace far and away is a quieter and better performing fan at any speed. I probably have a half dozen FM 121 fans mounted to various heatsinks and at the time they were the most highly recommended fan for that use. However at anything over about 1300 rpm they make my ears ring after a short listen.

how are you mounting the FM121-B since it has a ribbed design...or...are you referring to another model?

i quite don't get your noise comment with the FM121-B model fan at top rpm...it's not that noisy.

The San Ace I am using now have a lower pitched sound and when run around 7V are more than adequate and much less annoying than just about any fan I have used.

i will have to buy one or two to see and feel the difference.

I have a fairly large collection of SilenX and frankly I think all the SilenX hate is a bit overdone. They are lightly constructed fans that look nice and produce reasonable airflow for most applications. They are expensive. The only downside I have to these fans is the oil in the bearing is contained merely by a self adhesive sticker--if the sticker fails the oil leaks out and makes a mess...this has only happened on two of the several dozen I have tested/ used in builds.

thanks for warning!...will watch out for my two that i will have inside the case overhanging my VC

i think the expensive feature and the possibility of the oil leaking is a big reason why not to buy them!

Unfortunately the distributor for the San Ace linked by Vapor turned out to be very odd and refused me service after I questioned his shipping rates. So much for customer service.

who was the vendor so i don't waste my time?

[CyberDruid]

how are you mounting the FM121-B since it has a ribbed design...or...are you referring to another model?

i quite don't get your noise comment with the FM121-B model fan at top rpm...it's not that noisy.



i will have to buy one or two to see and feel the difference.



thanks for warning!...will watch out for my two that i will have inside the case overhanging my VC

i think the expensive feature and the possibility of the oil leaking is a big reason why not to buy them!



who was the vendor so i don't waste my time?

ThermalFX

RE the FM121 are the original white ones that come with a bay mount speed control. The high RPM makes a sound that aggravates my tinnitus...I can't blame PC fans for this it's the years and years of shop work. But it really makes my ears ring for a long time afterwards...

[UrbanSmooth]

So, which one wins?

[Gautam]

So, which one wins?

Your face!!

[Dublin_Gunner]

http://www.subzeropcs.com/silenx_120...b_pro_fan.html

new test results from SilenX this new 38mm version of the 120mm fans is pushing much more air than what has been posted
in the package the new test show the amazing AeroDynamic desighn fan is pushing as high as in the low 90Cfm range at
only 14Dba.

Featuring the first fan blade designed for optimal airflow and
aerodynamics

lol

[Ace-a-Rue]

http://www.subzeropcs.com/silenx_120...b_pro_fan.html

new test results from SilenX this new 38mm version of the 120mm fans is pushing much more air than what has been posted
in the package the new test show the amazing AeroDynamic desighn fan is pushing as high as in the low 90Cfm range at
only 14Dba.

Featuring the first fan blade designed for optimal airflow and
aerodynamics

lol

that is what i say ...i have two right now running on my bench...i will admit that they are quiet but i am seriously doubting their 90 cfm claim...when i put a silverstone FM121-B fan and a silenX against each other, there is no way the silenx is beating out the FM121-B fan...hands down, the silverstone wins over silenx!

[Ace-a-Rue]

ThermalFX

RE the FM121 are the original white ones that come with a bay mount speed control. The high RPM makes a sound that aggravates my tinnitus...I can't blame PC fans for this it's the years and years of shop work. But it really makes my ears ring for a long time afterwards...

now...i have been around air flow noise, jet engine noise, propeller noise, reciprocating engine noise for the most of my life so i have become accustomed to it!

i hear sound/noise from the FM121-B model fan at full RPM which can be disturbing to some...i also have a silverstone FN91 fan that does 3800 rpm and that baby gets on my nerves...it is close to the delta fan whine that all of us have loved to hate!

[iadstudio]

My experience with the SilenX is that they do perform very well in ideal conditions. Static presure and flow direction effect performance greatly. Alone they work well, give them any sort of obstruction or restriction and your better off with no fan at all. JMO

The 38mm versions might be different.

[UrbanSmooth]

Your face!!

I'm serious.

[evoic]

I, for the record, would like to point out what a 190CFM / 59.0dB / 120mm fan sounds like. (Watch your fingers - This is a Delta FFB1212EHE )

There are a few of these for sale at the moment on this forum if you care to look, by the way.

Enjoy:

O.M.F.G. -
.

.....and the 220CFM version: O.M.F.G. x's 2 -
.
.

[Ace-a-Rue]

Lol

[Soulburner]

The delta fan on the Enzotech Ultra-X is really annoying at full speed. I'm going to change it to another Sharkoon Silent Eagle 2000. I liked the last one so much that I'm getting another.

[Soulburner]

Vapor, should I wait for your results or would I be ok ordering another Sharkoon? I really liked the one I just used on an SI-128.

Do you have something better in store or is this still king in the medium speed/quiet fan category?

[Vapor]

Fans that I've found to beat the Sharkoon:
Scythe S-Flex F
Zalman ZM-F3

One or two fans come close or tie, but those three are the best subjectively in the 1600-2000 stock RPM range.

[evoic]

I have to give credit where credit is due.
Those Scythe S-Flex F series are just about the quietest air-movers I've ever used.

Like an idiot I sold the 2 that I had because.......well, it's a long story.
Let's just say, "because I'm I'm an idiot".

[Soulburner]

That's interesting because the Zalman fans that I tested really blasted at full speed, and made more noise than the Sharkoon. I found them to be way too loud at normal speed. I should say that this is for cooling a heatsink and won't be used as a case fan.

The Zalmans were great though with the included resistor to slow them down, real quiet.

Thanks for the input.

[iadstudio]

I have 2 Zalman now and I will say that they are loud when running full power. However, they push a ton of air full blast and is you slow them down be it through the resistor that comes with them or a controller, they are silent and still push a ton of air.

[Soulburner]

Yeah they really blast some air, but are too loud for me at full speed.

The Sharkoon Silent Eagle 2000 on the other hand, is much quieter at its full speed of 2000rpm than the Zalman. Both run very close RPM wise.

[pie_uk]

sflex and sharkoon all the way !"

[Soulburner]

Fans that I've found to beat the Sharkoon:
Scythe S-Flex F
Zalman ZM-F3

One or two fans come close or tie, but those three are the best subjectively in the 1600-2000 stock RPM range.

This one? http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...oducts_id=4073

Can you tell me...is it quieter or louder than the Sharkoon, and which one has the edge for cooling a processor heatsink? Thanks much

[Vapor]

Quieter than the Sharkoon 2000, but doesn't cool as well either.

I used both on a TTBT, Scythe Infinity, TRUE, and IFX-14 for a comparison of cooling abilities.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=152773

Rumor had it there was an S-Flex G coming out at 1900RPM....that would go toe-to-toe with the Sharkoon 2000, IMO

[Soulburner]

Cool. No pun intended.

I think I may stick with the Sharkoon for now.