120 x 38mm fan suggestions sought

fri2219 · Post by **fri2219** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:03 pm

I have a mini server build (pictured) that is set up to work under positive pressure...

I originally tried a Noctua NF-P series fan, but they weren't really all that quiet, the subjective properties of its noise were annoying, and it didn't develop enough pressure to be effective.

The 1000 rpm, 120x38 mm Scythe Kaze Maru fan has worked well for around 15 months, but it's getting increasingly louder and less effective as the bearing wears out and I'd like to replace it with something more durable (ball bearing based).

Any suggestions for specific fan models?

Are there any Delta fans I could undervolt? (As far as I can tell, all of them draw too many amps to work with a Noise Magic Thermocontroller)

If I can't get a Delta to quiet down, are Panaflo fans my best option for moderate noise and performance?

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:10 am

Hi,

It is not a 38mm thick fan, but I would use a GlobalWin NCB fan, with it's ceramic bearings: http://www.coolerguys.com/840556025054.html

edh · Post by **edh** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:22 am

Do you need the 38mm depth? This will limit your choice of quiet fans. A lot of the 38mm fans are not specific PC cooling fans and are frequently intended for high airflow industrial applications.

If the extra depth is just to bring the airflow towards the CPU heatsink, why not just cut out an old fan so that you can use the frame as a duct to focus the airflow onto the heatsink?

fri2219 · Post by **fri2219** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:10 am

edh wrote:Do you need the 38mm depth? This will limit your choice of quiet fans. A lot of the 38mm fans are not specific PC cooling fans and are frequently intended for high airflow industrial applications.

Static Pressure, as in overall case cooling with this layout works best with increased static pressure. The 38 mm thickness helps.

If the extra depth is just to bring the airflow towards the CPU heatsink, why not just cut out an old fan so that you can use the frame as a duct to focus the airflow onto the heatsink?

Most of the heat dispersal issues stem from the case design (there wasn't anything smaller that would take six 3.5 drives when it was purchased), the drives, and the RAID controller (pictured here after replacing the stock heatsink/fan with a Zalman NBF 47). The CPU stays under 65C with no fan at all, unless I get stupid and try "make world" updates on 8 FreeBSD virtual machines simultaneously.

I appreciate your responses- if the GlobalWin fan doesn't have bogus specs, it would replace the Scythe perfectly.

gbyss00 · Post by **gbyss00** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 2:15 pm

if you have a fan controller give San Ace 109R1212H1011 a look

made in Japan by Sanyo Denki

although this is not silent fan unless you run it at around 7 volts but still move good amount of air at decent static pressure

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0321137303

other options are panaflo and nidec
or Delta with 250+ cfm at 55dBA+ lol

slimeballzz · Post by **slimeballzz** » Thu May 07, 2009 11:54 am

gbyss00 wrote:if you have a fan controller give San Ace 109R1212H1011 a look

made in Japan by Sanyo Denki

although this is not silent fan unless you run it at around 7 volts but still move good amount of air at decent static pressure

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0321137303

other options are panaflo and nidec
or Delta with 250+ cfm at 55dBA+ lol

How fast (rpm) are they spinning at 7 volts?

gbyss00 · Post by **gbyss00** » Fri May 08, 2009 12:53 pm

about 1700~1800

here's some testing done on fans

http://www.overclock.net/water-cooling/ ... tests.html