Advice needed: Scythe Kama PWM 92mm or Nexus 92mm PWM??

vonbosch · Post by **vonbosch** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 12:03 pm

I want to replace the 92mm PWM fan on a Xigmatek HDT-S964 with a quieter fan (also PWM I guess). I can't find any good, 'spcr-grade' info recommending such a fan, but I assume that the Scythe Kama PWM 92mm or Nexus 92mm PWM are going to be goods bets. Can anyone recommend one over the other or share any personal experience with these models?

TIA!

frenchie · Post by **frenchie** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 5:51 am

I tried a Nexus 92mm PWM (the one with transparent blades) and it was quite noisy. However, it might have had something to do with the PWM logic of the motherboard, rather than the fan itself. I haven't tried it with another motherboard. This fan had a high pitch really annoying whine.

For the 92mm Scythe, I can't really help you. I tried a 120mm Scythe PWM and it was decent, but NOT the best 120mm fan you can get. It had a rubbing noise, almost like there was dust in the motor, or like the blades were rubbing on something.

Lawrence Lee · Post by **Lawrence Lee** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 1:53 pm

I use a Scythe Kama PWM 92mm on a similar heatsink in my second system at home and I'm perfectly happy with it (controlled via SpeedFan of course).

vonbosch · Post by **vonbosch** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 2:43 am

Thanks for the advice, it looks like +1 for the Scythe and -1 for the Nexus so I'll give the Scythe a shot. I also had a 120mm Scythe PWM which I was happy with so lets hope the 92mm one is as good.

Lawrence, why would you use SpeedFan instead of motherboard control?

vonbosch · Post by **vonbosch** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 3:50 am

Actually I have found another option, a Scythe 92mm S-FLEX (non-PWM). It is spec'd at 2000 RPM/25 dB (compared to 2500/31 for the Kama PWM). I could easily undervolt it to 5V or 7V. It might have to work quite hard because it is part of a single GPU/CPU airpath. This starts with a 120mm Scythe Slipstream pulling air off a HR-03 Rev. A reverse mounted on a 5770, passing through the Xigmatek HDT-S964 (and whatever fan I put on it) and finally exhausting through a 140mm Yate Loon.

Perhaps giving up PWM for a quieter, constant fan might be a good idea?

lodestar · Post by **lodestar** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 3:58 am

If you are going to do that don't forget the non-PWM 92mm Nexus, which has a top speed of 1500 rpm and is a smaller version of the 120mm reference fan. Claimed to be 19.2 dB and costs around Â£7.

frenchie · Post by **frenchie** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 4:11 am

lodestar wrote:If you are going to do that don't forget the non-PWM 92mm Nexus, which has a top speed of 1500 rpm and is a smaller version of the 120mm reference fan. Claimed to be 19.2 dB and costs around Â£7.

+1