the QUESTEST 80mm FAN?
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the QUESTEST 80mm FAN?
hey guys,
i think it'll be helpful to many if we make a consensus on what's the quietest fan we have if we run it at low volts (5v) for 'virtual silence'.
okay well, after reviewing numerous sites, i have a few contenders in no particular order.
1. Enermax, UC-001B-TC
2. Panaflo FBA08A12L (apparently this site's favorite).
3. Papst 8412NGL
please add on your favorite. these three tend to have the best rep for being the quietest.
i think it'll be helpful to many if we make a consensus on what's the quietest fan we have if we run it at low volts (5v) for 'virtual silence'.
okay well, after reviewing numerous sites, i have a few contenders in no particular order.
1. Enermax, UC-001B-TC
2. Panaflo FBA08A12L (apparently this site's favorite).
3. Papst 8412NGL
please add on your favorite. these three tend to have the best rep for being the quietest.
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My belief is that the papst 8412NGLV, the variable speed version of the 8412NGL where the maximum noise and airflow is equal to that of the papst 8412NGL, is the quietest 80x25mm fan there is. It is rated at 12db and 19cfm at max noise level and as low as 10db at 12cfm. As mike pointed out in one of his articles, the panaflo L1A reference fan at 5V was calculated to be 10cfm (I also got this result) and we both seem to agree it is almost entirely inaudible at this speed, so I suspect the 12cfm of the papst would be similarly inaudible. For those of you looking to buy this incredibly rare fan, you can contact ebm (american distributor for papst) directly by email to order for approximately $30 per fan. This price is for the variable speed 8412NGLV. Anyone care to add any other possible quietest fans?
-Ken
-Ken
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How about also at 7v, for near virtual silence, since that is the other common low V reference point. And many fans might be silent but useless at 5v.SungHyun7 wrote:i think it'll be helpful to many if we make a consensus on what's the quietest fan we have if we run it at low volts (5v) for 'virtual silence'.
Damn, how badly we need a real many-brands test in an anechoic chamber with accurate noise, back pressure and CFM readings.
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To be honest, i think that the papsts, panaflos and enermaxs must be so close in performance that the specific enviroment that you put them in would be the largest factor in determining which is best. Its also worth taking into account that different noises annoy different people, so one might find papst the least annoying, whereas someone else might prefer a panaflo...
Are we too obsessed about finding the best fan? Is there a clear 'best fan'? How many products can you think off which have a clear 'best' one?
Are we too obsessed about finding the best fan? Is there a clear 'best fan'? How many products can you think off which have a clear 'best' one?
I noticed this page which somehow rates the Panaflo FBA08A12L1A very unfavourably at "53dBA"(???):
http://www.directron.com/directron/noise.html
http://www.directron.com/directron/noise.html
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http://forums.silentpcreview.com/forums ... .php?t=152shunx wrote:I noticed this page which somehow rates the Panaflo FBA08A12L1A very unfavourably at "53dBA"(???):
http://www.directron.com/directron/noise.html
I had a feeling I read that post somewhere, thanks.MikeC wrote:http://forums.silentpcreview.com/forums ... .php?t=152shunx wrote:I noticed this page which somehow rates the Panaflo FBA08A12L1A very unfavourably at "53dBA"(???):
http://www.directron.com/directron/noise.html