best pwm fans

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nyhcbri
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best pwm fans

Post by nyhcbri » Wed Mar 03, 2010 5:36 pm

as far as silence goes what would be the best 120mm pwm type fan for use on a asus qfan motherboard. this would be for cpu cooling matched with a Prolimatech Megahalems type heatsink. it seams all the recommended fans are non pwm.

ces
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Post by ces » Wed Mar 03, 2010 8:51 pm

Anoxia has a device you can use to convert a regular fan to run off the PWM header of a mother board. Hook that up to a Noctua and you might really have something.

Akasa has the Apache fan (which appears to be manufactured by the same plant that manufactures the Noctua fans). It works well with high back pressure. I think it can generate something like 3.55mm of pressure.

I just saw a Coolermaster PWM fan (500 to 2000rpm) in a Microcenter store. It looked identical to the Akasa Apache. It had the Apache price as well.

SPCR has kind words to say about the coolermaster PWM fan on the Geminii Plus CPU heatsink.

The Akasa Apache is probably your best bet. There is a Scythe Slipstream PWM fan. That might be worth considering.

JamieG
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Post by JamieG » Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:57 pm

Also consider the Nexus PWM fan (500-2000rpm), Scythe Kama PWM (300-1300rpm) or some of the Arctic Cooling PWM fans (they come with an integrated PWM signal sharing system, so you could run two fans in push/pull off the same PWM motherboard header).

ces
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Post by ces » Wed Mar 03, 2010 11:34 pm

I think between me and JamieG you have the complete list of what is available. I don't think there are any other decent PWM fans other than what we have mentioned.

Here is the new coolermaster fan that looks like the Akasa Apache:
http://www.microcenter.com/single_produ ... id=0322507

Its on sale for $11.99 at Microcenter. A good price.

They also have 80mm and 92mm PWM versions, something that even Akasa does not have.

Looks like Coolermaster has these fans are set to run faster and stronger than the Apache.... at the cost of more noise.

If your motherboard gives you good PWM control over speed, I would try the coolermaster and throttle it back so it doesn't make noise unless it gets really really hot.

Next in line I would go for the apache. Then for the Noctua with the PWM controller device from Nanoxia.

I have read that some (most?) Asus boards can have trouble with the Scythe PWM fans because they go below 500 rpms and the motherboard then thinks it has a failing fan.

Parappaman
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Post by Parappaman » Thu Mar 04, 2010 12:41 am

Actually, there's still the Arctic F12 PWM which is the cheapest one of the bunch and a very good choice. :)

frostedflakes
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Post by frostedflakes » Thu Mar 04, 2010 8:21 am

I've been pretty happy with Arctic Cooling PWM fans (and their fans in general, even the non-PWM models). But just a disclaimer, I'm not nearly as sensitive to noise as some on this site and haven't compared them to other popular models, such as Scythe PWM. Not going to claim they're the best fans out there, but I haven't had any problems with them, and they're pretty affordable, come with a 6-year warranty, and have some features like the PWM sharing that can be handy.

danimal
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Post by danimal » Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:54 am

the mugen2 pwm fan would be an xlnt choice, but you'll have to buy the cooler to get the fan :D

coppice
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Post by coppice » Thu Mar 04, 2010 10:59 pm

I'm not sure I'd recommend the Akasa Apache. I bought several about 4 or 5 months ago. I was impressed by their quietness when I got them, and the little noise they did make was a very tolerable whoosh. Now they all seem to be rumbling in a very annoying way.

ces
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Post by ces » Fri Mar 05, 2010 6:57 pm

The Mugen uses the Scythe Slipstream PWM fan I believe. That fan you can buy separately.

I did. I forgot where...performance PCs or 'frozen CPU or Sidewinders maybe.

But you can buy it separately.

ces
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Akasa Apache

Post by ces » Fri Mar 05, 2010 6:59 pm

Coppice,

That is disappointing to hear about your problem with the Apache.

I have one that I have not yet used. I had high hopes for it.

Do you think the problem is a few bad fans... or a design flaw?

danimal
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Post by danimal » Sat Mar 06, 2010 4:36 pm

ces wrote:The Mugen uses the Scythe Slipstream PWM fan I believe. That fan you can buy separately.

I did. I forgot where...performance PCs or 'frozen CPU or Sidewinders maybe.

But you can buy it separately.
aren't slipstreams low-pressure case fans? the blade design is different.

at any rate, it's not the same fan.

read the original spcr mugen2 review.

ces
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Post by ces » Sun Mar 07, 2010 12:08 am

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mugen 2 Fan From SPCR Article

Dimension: 120 x 120 x 25 mm
4 3/4 x 4 3/4 x 1 inch
Weight: 115 g, 0.25 lb
Speed: 324 ~ 1,200 rpm (±10%)
PWM Function
Noise Level: 0 - 26.50 dBA
Air Flow: 0 - 74.25 CFM, 0 - 126 m³/h
Bearing: Sleeve

The stock fan is a PWM version of the SY1225SL12M from the acclaimed Slip Stream series.

Stock Fan Specifications
Manufacturer Scythe Power Rating 2.16 W
Model SY1225SL12LM-P Airflow Rating 74.25 CFM
Bearing Type Sleeve RPM Rating 1200
Frame Size 120 x 120 x 25 mm Noise Rating 26.5 dBA
Hub Size 1.41" (35.9 mm) Header Type 4-pin PWM
Weight 110 grams Starting Voltage ~5V

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

This same fan is available from FrozenCPU for $10.95

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10026 ... d=D93MHDPp

Scythe Slip Stream 120mm x 25mm PWM Fan - (SY1225SL12LM-P)
Brand: Scythe

The Scythe Slip Stream 120mm x 25mm PWM Fan uses a nine-bladed design to achieve remarkable near 3:1 Airflow to Noise ratios! The Slip Stream's aerodynamic design grants it 20 ~ 40% more airflow that similar fans. It can connect with the energy efficeint PWM 4-pin connector.

Model Number: SY1225SL12LM-P
Fan Speed: 0 - 1300 RPM
Noise: 0 ~ 26.50dBA
Airflow: 0 ~ 74.25 CFM
Rated Voltage: DC12V
Rated Current: 0.18A
Dimensions: 120x120x25mm
Connectors: 4-Pin PWM
Bearing Type: Sleeve Bearing
MTBF: 30,000hours

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

These fans seem to have the same fan configuration as the other members of the standard slipstream series. They also seem to have the same hub size.

Looks like everything is the same except the motor windings and the electronics, etc.

danimal
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Post by danimal » Sun Mar 07, 2010 12:50 pm

i think that you are probably right, thanks for the link... the model numbers match, and the pics look very similar... it makes sense that they would put the fan up for sale seperately.

it's kind of confusing, because scythe has also released a 1900rpm pwm fan also:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/ ... s_id=27544
In Order to take advantage of PWM function, please use the motherboard with PWM features build-in.
Maximum Band 740 (±25%) ~ 1900 (±10%) 9.8 ~ 37.0 dB 37.15 ~ 110.31 FM
Minimum Band 470 (±30%) ~ 1340 (±10%) 7.05 ~ 27.3 dB 23.0 ~ 76

time for another round of spcr fan testing!

ces
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Post by ces » Sun Mar 07, 2010 9:22 pm

Yes the new PWM Scythe fan is very interesting. It seems like the same thing except that you can adjust the band of rpms that the pwm operates within.

I don't think anyone has done that before.

ca6
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Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2003 12:54 am

Post by ca6 » Wed Apr 21, 2010 11:48 pm

I had four Scythe PWM 120mm fans in my P182 (with a Asus Maximus II Formula mobo), but they didn't push through enough air, so I upgraded to three Noisblocker multifram thingys. They seem to have better range than the Scythes, and can run at slower and more silent speed, but also can spin faster and push through more air when needed.

The NB's were not cheap tough.

ces
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Post by ces » Thu Apr 22, 2010 2:53 am

ca6 wrote:I had four Scythe PWM 120mm fans in my P182 (with a Asus Maximus II Formula mobo), but they didn't push through enough air, so I upgraded to three Noisblocker multifram thingys. They seem to have better range than the Scythes, and can run at slower and more silent speed, but also can spin faster and push through more air when needed.

The NB's were not cheap tough.
Are you talking about Noiseblocker PWM fans?

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