Fan Testing Part 2 (Retesting + Noise)

[Martinm210]

Is there a vid of the panaflo U coming? I'm really curious to hear the difference in sound between it and the UK3! On paper there is a lot of similarities...

Also, I have a bunch of UK2 fans collecting dust. PM me if you're interested in having 1 for testing...

Yes, I just finished recording that one a few minutes ago, it was my last one. I'll have it downloaded into my PC and uploaded by tomorrow night..

These video files are around 220MB a piece so it's a slow upload to youtube, but I think it's paying off on the higher quality.

Thanks for the offer on the UK2, but I think I'd like to take a little break from this for a bit. I'll see how things are going in a few weeks here, then I might order a few and see what folks have available for additions...

[Martinm210]

FYI, I got the last of the records from last night all uploaded including the Kama Flex M, the Yate loon high speed and the Yate slow speed straight blade

Kflex M = Scythe Kama-Flex S1225FDB12M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLVYsJ8SStQ

Yate SL-C = Yate Loon D12SL12 Curved Blade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=909stCuDbtM

Yate SL-S = Yate Loon D12SL12 Straight Blade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA0bGsC1VLw

They are also all linked with the others in the OP.

[Sadasius]

Martin your the man! nuff said! You have to love what you are doing and if I had to do that I would have pitched the fans in the air and tried to shoot them while posting on the forum that 'yup....They work!'

[Martinm210]

Lol!

Got the last ones recorded and upload.

The noise blocker XL-1 (Very nice quiet fan at 12V)

The Thermaltake Thunderblade TT01225, I used to think these fans were great and had a whole case of them from egg. No wonder I have hearing problems today, these fans are poor in comparison to the others...live and learn.

The Silverstone BU - another one of those past experimental fans I bought for my HSF. It's the only one with a huge jump in RPM between voltages...still not sure why, but it's a very noisy fan anyhow, but it's up for comparison.

And last, but not least. If you're not looking for high performance and you wanted the quietest fan in the bunch running at 12V, that would be to no big suprise, the fan with the least RPM. It also has the coolest frame design of all the fans, the Noise Blocker S1.

So here is the mess of videos...have at it!

VIDEO LINKS

ADDA HB = ADDA AD1212HB-A71GL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FlZvjwMySc

Delta AFBSHE = Delta AFB1212SHE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgHKP_mBZJg

Gtyphoon AP15 = Servo Nidec Gentle Typhoon DC1225C12B5AP-15
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLgJomTh74w

Kool25MBK = Koolance Fan-12025MBK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEM1IhBQ2xU

Kool25HBK = Koolance Fan-12025HBK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji-f9ywCcqM

Kool38HBK = Koolance Fan-12038HBK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiNcYXlVTKk

Panaflo M = Panaflo FBA12G12M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqMWeTYLrD4

Panaflo U = Panaflo (NMB MAT)FBA12G12U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmfJpveSOjk

San Ace H1011 = Sanyo Denki San Ace 109R1212H1011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dCBSux7cvc

Kflex M = Scythe Kama-Flex S1225FDB12M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLVYsJ8SStQ

Kflex H = Scythe Kama-Flex S1225FDB12H
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP1pVShKyRk

Sflex-E = Scythe S-Flex SFF21E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcJ4Yr2krTk

Sflex-F = Scythe S-Flex SFF21F
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ygYCWhwP7c

Sflex-G = Scythe S-Flex SFF21G
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrtRQD2q1vM

SlipStream SH = Scythe Slip Stream SY1225LS 12SH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO4Tk2FzZBs

ScyUK3 = Scythe Ultra Kaze 1000 DFS123812H-1000
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMNxyDxmgAE

ScyUK3 = Scythe Ultra Kaze 3000 DFS123812H-3000
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb-0usGR-Ok

Nanoxia FX2000 = Nanoxia FX12 2000
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NWkB0U6UOU

NB XL-1 = Noise Blocker XL-1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3stzdNw0K0s

NB XL-2 = Noise Blocker XL-2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvX_z9OzI0M

NB XLP = Noise Blocker XLP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWU1ptI8J7E

NB S1 = Noise Blocker M12 S1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXCjqxmS3mM

NB S2 = Noise Blocker M12 S2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GNDu5Fn5bg

NB S3 = Noise Blocker M12 S3 HS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrYiC9Xq8uw

SilverStone 25BU = Silver Stone (Everflow) R121225BU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=257bRrU--Z0

Thermaltake TT-25 = Thermaltake TT-1225 (Thunderblade)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TEWJ5Ibz34

Yate SL-C = Yate Loon D12SL12 Curved Blade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=909stCuDbtM

Yate SL-S = Yate Loon D12SL12 Straight Blade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA0bGsC1VLw

Yate SL-LED-S = Yate Loon D12SL12 LED version with Straight Blades
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAqIY_S4aT8

Yate SH-C = Yate Loon D12SH12 Curved Blade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCLssN0yQ8U

Zalman ZM-3 = Zalman ZF1225ASH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7Yy3U2QYdo

And if I had to pick just one fan for my needs. I want something very quiet, but something that also has a decent amount of performance. While being a bit on the ugly side, the Gentle Typhoon AP-15 gets my top pick for producing the most CFM per noise level and quality of the fans tested. 9 volts in particular is my favorite spot which is still producing a good 22+ cfm on the radiator.

For the high speed stuff, I'll give my kudos out to the San Ace. I still think it has that common 38mm fan motor noise when undervolted, but it's the smoothest of the bunch from what I can tell.

As far as the <1000 RPM range, I think all of the fans (except the high speed 38mm fans) are good and really hard to separate. I couldn't really measure CFM below 10CFM, so I really couldn't tell you much with my test setup other than CFM is pretty crappy down there and you better plan on many times more radiator than someone with strong fans.

Finally...

I wanted to give a HUGE thanks to Hondacity, Alex from Petra's, Linus from NCIX, and Martin from feser-one for donating these fans to test. Also KaptCruch for helping me out with the sound meter. This test would not have happened without their generosity..

THIS TEST IS DONE!!

[Hondacity]

i should have gotten the gt1600, that would have blown the nb s1


thanks for the 2000hrs of testing Martin

[Vapor]

[SpuTnicK]

Martin, and what about feser fans -tiembwerk-or what it is called?
Just curiuos.

[Sadasius]

Martin, and what about feser fans -tiembwerk-or what it is called?
Just curiuos.

What's the point? Nobody can afford them!

[JOCKTHEGLIDE]

What's the point? Nobody can afford them!

I know im not suppose to laugh at all the jokes about that fan till testing comes in, but man at 35 bucks a pop I dont see anyone buying so im laughing away...

[Russ_64]

Martin - Thanks for a great job, you are the man! Timing was perfect for my rebuild of my 2 rigs - I chose 2 S-Flex F for my dual rad and will move 2 NB SX1's to push/pull on single rad. Notice you did not test any Akasa fans, but I only use them as case fans anyway .............

Oh and no mention of Papst fans these days? mine are due for retirement after 3 years of service ..........

[Martinm210]

Martin, and what about feser fans -tiembwerk-or what it is called?
Just curiuos.

I will test those later when I get them, but it'll probably be a couple of weeks yet before I even see them. Shipping international on big packages seems to take forever for me, I've seen up to 4 weeks for my own stuff going out.

Anyhow, I plan to do those, but it's going to be a while yet.

[Freaky Freezer]

I've just go to say it one more time to show my appreciation. Martin, this thread brings a #$%ing tear to my eye. great job and thanks again.

[Brodholm]

Now this thread should be sticked!

STICKY STICKY STICKY

I just got one word. Awesome!

[Boogerlad]

when noise testing, was there a radiator? The cfm looked kinda low...

[Martinm210]

when noise testing, was there a radiator? The cfm looked kinda low...

Yes, all testing was done with the XSPC RS120 radiator both the charts and the video were done the same, so the numbers reflect CFM through the radiator. The fan spec CFM is open air CFM without any sort of restriction imposed. This number will be a fair amount higher than what you'll actually get on a radiator. The result through the radiator depends on both the fan's maximum CFM and it's pressure capabilities along the entire curve. So it's not something you'll find in specs unless they give you the full PQ curve and you know what the pressure drop curve for the radiator is.

Fans in general are extremely weak in overcoming resistance and producing pressure ESPECIALLY at low RPMs. Most produce less than .1" H2O, where your standard water cooling pumps produce over 200" H2O in pressure as a comparison.

In the end, It doesn't take very much restriction at all to significantly reduce flow rates.

Some examples:

Rad Actual CFM / Open Air Spec CFM

Delta AFBSHE
106/152 = 69%

Scythe UK3
67/133 = 50%

Scythe S-Flex G
36/75 = 48%

Gentle Typhoon Ap-15
34/58 = 58%

Scythe UK1
11/44 = 25%

So you can see as much as 70% of open air CFM with the really powerful fans, but as little as 25% with the ultra slow speed fans (and some unique fans like the GT that has a special impeller to maintain higher efficiency at lower RPMs).

This comes back to fans being many times more efficient at high speeds as they are at slow speed and why fans do so poorly at ultra slow speed ranges. It's not at all linear to the RPM, fan performance simply falls on it's face bad at ultra slow speeds.

The good news is most pumps have plenty of power so you can run multiple rads to make up for it..

[babalouj]

I just received my 3 Gentle Typhoon 1850rpm and they are silent on my mcr320. They are much quieter than my Yate mediums and move alot more air.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

I just received my 3 Gentle Typhoon 1850rpm and they are silent on my mcr320. They are much quieter than my Yate mediums and move alot more air.

That is my experience with the 1850rpm models as well, I have them in an air cooled computer.I was astounded to say the least, I thought they gave me the wrong fan in the 1850rpm box, I had to open up the case again to check.

[Brodholm]

Martin, Can you make a Rpm vs noise graph? I think that it would help you firgure out how the higher fans are at lower volts compared to there low rpm models. Lets say a Sflex F at 1000 rpm vs a S-flex E at 1000rpm. Who is best? Stuff like that would be easy to check with a RPM vs NOISE graph.

This Is the only thing I'm really missing in this review/test.

[woffen]

Martin, thank you very much for this testing. Thanks to this I have 6 Scythe GT 1850rpm inbound. Can't wait for them to arrive!!

[SimpleTECH]

Martin, thanks for testing out the Koolance 38mm fan. I heard a few members comparing it to the San Ace. In the video, it sounded like a low hum which is perfectly fine for me.

Went and bought 3 of them.

[orangekiwii]

um since this is a fan thread i thought i'd ask the question


I wanna do a radiator sandwhich like so in the bottom of my tj07

brown = psu / back of case

airflow goes either direction whichever is better

red = fan

black = radiator (rx480 and rx240 respectively)

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/Untitled.png


which setup is better



all Yate Loon 120 mm ds12l LED fans

or all gentle typhoons at 1450


I mean I know hte gentle typhoons are better...

but any idea on how much? or how much louder the yates would be...

i can't decide between bling and performance

[Hondacity]

um since this is a fan thread i thought i'd ask the question


I wanna do a radiator sandwhich like so in the bottom of my tj07

brown = psu / back of case

airflow goes either direction whichever is better

red = fan

black = radiator (rx480 and rx240 respectively)

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/Untitled.png


which setup is better



all Yate Loon 120 mm ds12l LED fans

or all gentle typhoons at 1450


I mean I know hte gentle typhoons are better...

but any idea on how much? or how much louder the yates would be...

i can't decide between bling and performance

LED is not even bling lol, id get the GT performance(1850s) and silence

[ILikeCosmosS]

how would the sharkoon golf ball 2000 compare to the GT ap15?

[Martinm210]

um since this is a fan thread i thought i'd ask the question


I wanna do a radiator sandwhich like so in the bottom of my tj07

brown = psu / back of case

airflow goes either direction whichever is better

red = fan

black = radiator (rx480 and rx240 respectively)

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/Untitled.png


which setup is better



all Yate Loon 120 mm ds12l LED fans

or all gentle typhoons at 1450


I mean I know hte gentle typhoons are better...

but any idea on how much? or how much louder the yates would be...

i can't decide between bling and performance

1450 is somewhere between 9 and 10V, or about 23CFM through the RS120
The Yate SL-LED at 12V produced about 17cfm

So the CFM difference is (23-17)/17 or 35%.

Knowing that radiator performances don't scale 1:1 with CFM, you need to reduce that gain by some factor. Being a sandwich setup, you probably get more thermal gain per CFM, I'd probably throw something like 85%RAD Perf./CFM gain at it.

So with that assumption, you'd probably see .85X35% = 30%.

You'd probably see about 30% more performance from the GT's at 9.5V would be my guess. If you had a 10C water/air delta, the difference would be 10-10/1.30 or 2.3 degrees, 5C water delta would be half that, it depends on your heat load.

Hope this helps
Martin

[Mech0z]

If I made a PA120.3 with 3 gentle typhoon in push and then 3 low speed yate loons in pull would that be a bad idear? I guess the most powerful have to be the one pushing as the others just need to move air away from the fan?

Btw how much amp and watt do the GT 1850 draw?