Bling makes fans quieter - Nexus D12SL-12WL ???

potsy · Post by **potsy** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 6:09 am

After a couple of years my Noctuas are starting to whine, so I thought I'd try a Nexus D12SL-12, since it's on the recommended list.

When I looked it up, I noticed that the specs on the Nexus site say that the version with the hard clear plastic and the blue LEDs is 18db at 1m, as opposed to 23db for everybody's favourite orange thing. Man, 18db at 1m would be quieter than anything else on the recommended list.

The specs otherwise look the same:
Dimensions: 120x120x25mm
Weight: 123 grams
Voltage: 12 Volts
Voltage Range: 6.5 ~13.8 Volts
Input Current: 0.30 Amp Max
Rotation Speed: 1000 RPM
Airflow: 36.87CFM
Operation Temperature: -10 to +65 C
Warranty: 3 Years

Here are the links: real silent case fan and real silent and blingy too!

I would have just bought the see through thing with the pretty lights, but somehow I just didn't believe it. I mostly distrust the fancy shiny shiny stuff. But maybe I shouldn't let my prejudices get in the way, and just accept that there is a special magic in blue LED lights that makes everything better.

What do you all think?

flemeister · Post by **flemeister** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 6:18 am

Depends on the method Nexus use to measure fan noise.

frenchie · Post by **frenchie** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 6:29 am

I've had terrible experience with their clear plastic PWM fans, but I love their black and white (same as orange) fans...

walle · Post by **walle** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:35 am

The only clear plastic / painted fans I've had any good experiences with have been Noisblocker fans.

JamieG · Post by **JamieG** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 3:45 pm

I have a clear blue LED Nexus fan that I bought a while back. I haven't compared it side by side with any of the other Nexus fans (I have both the orange and black and white versions) but I seem to recall the blue LED fan being distinctly noisier when used in a horizontal orientation. I don't think the opaque Nexus fans suffered so much.

potsy · Post by **potsy** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 6:51 pm

Thanks for the replies. Looks like the consensus is to stick with what we know and steer clear of the bling! I'm tempted to get a clear LED fan as well just to see how it goes and report back. It would take me weeks to get round to it, but I'll update this thread if I do.

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Fri Aug 06, 2010 4:11 am

Yes, and don't believe the manufacturer's specs! Clear plastic rings if you flick it with your finger or tap it with a pencil -- so that resonance will make it louder than an opaque plastic fan; all else being equal.