Case fan comparisons

KillerCroc · Aug 3, 2008, 03:26 AM

Does anyone have an opinion on 120mm case fans? In particular, I'm interested in any empirical experience with Yate Loon vs Thermaltake vs Zalman vs Nexus for use in, say, an original CoolerMaster Stacker case.

Lowfat · Aug 3, 2008, 04:20 AM

XS Fan Review - Part 2 - XtremeSystems Forums

Here, you really can't get a better fan comparison than Vapor's tests on XS.

KillerCroc · Aug 3, 2008, 04:48 AM

excellent info, exactly what I was looking for (even though ThermalTake wasn't included, the review gave lots of info on the others).

Lowfat · Aug 3, 2008, 06:26 AM

He didn't include the Nexus version of the Yate Loon's unfortunately, but I presume they be pretty similar to the better version of the Yate Loon's he tested if not better. I love my Nexus D12SL-12, and wouldn't trade them for anything.

mkk · Aug 3, 2008, 01:24 PM

Can't go wrong with the Nexus Real Silent fans, but I'd be more happy with them if they started up at 5V. I'm looking to eventually switch out my case fans for the Scythe Slip Stream 800rpm model, but they're so new they're not yet widely available.
Check out this article and the previous ones in the same series:
Fan Roundup #5: Attack of the 120 Scythes | silentpcreview.com

The dirt cheap Zalman 120mm is not bad for the price though and come with both silicone mounting straps and a resistor cable that lowers the speed from the crazy 1800rpm to a useful 900-ish. Should do just fine for most but for me they still produce a bit too much noise.

Neshi · Aug 11, 2008, 06:48 PM

I ordered the Scythe Slip-Stream 1200rpm model and will post what my personal experience is with those as soon I got them mounted and going in my computer.

T3hn0 · Sep 26, 2008, 12:58 PM

hi...if i countinue this debate...with my needs of course

i've got thermaltake xaser vi, and after buying (and waiting to get) mCubed t-balancer, i have to replace case fans...i had 2 SilenX 120 led fans until now, but yesterday they both died ^^

i've got option for adding four (4) 140mm fans, and one 120mm fan.
other option is to buy 5x 120mm (case supports 140 or 120mm fans)

but i was thinking that it would be nice to have 4 slower rotating 140mm fans than 120mm. i've seen scythe fans, but i'd prefer ball bearing, because it would last longer, and it should be a bit quiter than sleeve bearing at higher rpm.

could you suggest me any 140mm fans? or if you think that 5x 120 would be better choise...i need opinions...

so on short, i:
1. 5x 120mm or 4x 140mm + 1x 120mm fans?
2. which one? if 120, i was looking @ noctua nf-s12 (p12 should be used for cooling CPUs, GPUs, etc.)

// edit:

oh...price is not really important, because i'm planning to buy fans, and have peace for few years > so they should have long life time

and they don't have to have <1000rpm, because T-Balancer is adjusting speed

higher rpm is welcome, but that doesn't mean that they should be loud as lawnmower

just as quiet as possible

KillerCroc · Sep 26, 2008, 03:55 PM

My preferences lean towards the 4 x 140 + 1 x 120mm fans; the larger fans move more air at slower speeds and remain quieter (much as how we've moved from 80mm to 92mm to 120mm in the past). I recently saw 140mm Yate Loon fans on eBay, and I know Thermaltake and a few others are coming out with them, but they're still not as common as 120mm so there are fewer choices (for the moment

)

Zardon · Sep 26, 2008, 04:49 PM

good advise killercroc. (Yate Loon are good).

I also like the noiseblocker fans, ive had good experiences with those.

T3hn0 · Sep 27, 2008, 10:40 AM

KillerCroc: yeah..i have the same opinion about 4x140 fans...but as you've said they are not as common as 120mm fans

and that's exactly the thing that bothers me

i found this page...but as far as i've read this article, they said that ball bearing is better (longer life time - which is important to me)

and i'd like to know another thing...is PWM availible or not?
i don't want to repeat accident with SilenX (look at my previous post)

well, i do have option for analogue power, but i'd prefer PWM if availible...but that kind of info is very hard to get...or at least i can't find it

T3hn0 · Sep 27, 2008, 10:42 AM

oh...another thing about Yate Loon - shouldn't they have bigger air flow? some 120mm have bigger air flow... :o

only their fastest fans have 140cfm air flow...

KillerCroc · Sep 27, 2008, 02:09 PM

I haven't seen ANY 140mm fans that are PWM as of yet; hey 120mm PWM's are still not as common as they should be (they're out there, but nothing compared to the shear numbers of 120mm analog fans).

T3hn0 · Sep 27, 2008, 03:59 PM

could you recommend any good 120mm with PWM support?

do you know if noctua has support for it? as far as its said in their FAQ, they don't support it, but it doesn't say that it's meant for all fans

KillerCroc · Sep 27, 2008, 04:06 PM

Nexus makes both 120mm and 80mm PWM fans but no 140's as of yet; I've read the same as you on Noctua's site - so my assumption is also that they don't support PWM yet

RoyBatty · Sep 27, 2008, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerCroc

I've read the same as you on Noctua's site - so my assumption is also that they don't support PWM yet

I have two NF-P12 fans and they have only 3 pin connector, so you are right - no PWM.

T3hn0 · Sep 27, 2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyBatty

I have two NF-P12 fans and they have only 3 pin connector, so you are right - no PWM.

how can PWM mean that fan has to have 4 pin connector?

t-balancer has only 3-pin connectors for fans...and it says that supports PWM mode...besides, when i tried pwm mode on SilenX, i could see the difference...on analogue mode led lights were a bit dimmed, while in pwm mode they flashed...and then, they died

T3hn0 · Sep 27, 2008, 05:18 PM

oh...and look what i found: LFM1514SPV, LFM1514HPV

and if you look specs, you can see that it's air flow is very high 175.0 m3/h (102.94 cfm)

but unfotunate it's industrial fan, so i can't really buy that 100 pieces

RoyBatty · Sep 27, 2008, 05:57 PM

Well, according to the PWM fan specifications the pin 4 is used for the PWM control signal and pin 3 for monitoring. So I thought no pin 4 = no PWM.

T3hn0 · Sep 27, 2008, 06:12 PM

weird...i guess that t-balacer is capable of creating pwm signal and send it via +12V (well...you know what i mean)

so i guess that PWM fans are out of question for me...

well...at least i found some new info! tnx btw...and now...still searching for good case fans...

KillerCroc · Sep 27, 2008, 07:25 PM

Good find - leave it to German engineering...too bad they're n/a here in the USA... You may want to check with some of the listed distributors to see about a small purchase - the spec sheet says they're packed in cartons of 100; doesn't mean you have to buy 100 ;-p

T3hn0 · Sep 28, 2008, 07:07 AM

i wrote to distributors, because nobody sells this fan

i'll report when i get any answers

KillerCroc: maybe they can send it to usa

KillerCroc · Sep 28, 2008, 02:32 PM

That would be interesting to check out - but as the USD is doing so poorly lately against the Euro (and almost all other currencies!) I can only imagine the cost here...but as they say: hope springs eternal

Aug 3, 2008, 03:26 AM	#1
KillerCroc DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Bern, NC, USA Posts: 20 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Case fan comparisons Does anyone have an opinion on 120mm case fans? In particular, I'm interested in any empirical experience with Yate Loon vs Thermaltake vs Zalman vs Nexus for use in, say, an original CoolerMaster Stacker case. __________________ remember...Murphy was an optimist!

Aug 3, 2008, 04:20 AM	#2
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 4,254 Rep Power: 101	XS Fan Review - Part 2 - XtremeSystems Forums Here, you really can't get a better fan comparison than Vapor's tests on XS. __________________

Aug 3, 2008, 04:48 AM	Thread Starter #3
KillerCroc DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Bern, NC, USA Posts: 20 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Thanks! excellent info, exactly what I was looking for (even though ThermalTake wasn't included, the review gave lots of info on the others). __________________ remember...Murphy was an optimist!

Aug 3, 2008, 06:26 AM	#4
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 4,254 Rep Power: 101	He didn't include the Nexus version of the Yate Loon's unfortunately, but I presume they be pretty similar to the better version of the Yate Loon's he tested if not better. I love my Nexus D12SL-12, and wouldn't trade them for anything. __________________

Aug 11, 2008, 06:48 PM	#6
Neshi S.N.A.F.U. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wellington, NZ Posts: 3,380 Rep Power: 177 System Specs	I ordered the Scythe Slip-Stream 1200rpm model and will post what my personal experience is with those as soon I got them mounted and going in my computer. __________________ If one does not attach himself to people and desire, never shall his heart be broken. But then, does he ever truly live? Life is just too damn short for if's and maybe's

Aug 3, 2008, 01:24 PM	#5
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,495 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	Can't go wrong with the Nexus Real Silent fans, but I'd be more happy with them if they started up at 5V. I'm looking to eventually switch out my case fans for the Scythe Slip Stream 800rpm model, but they're so new they're not yet widely available. Check out this article and the previous ones in the same series: Fan Roundup #5: Attack of the 120 Scythes \| silentpcreview.com The dirt cheap Zalman 120mm is not bad for the price though and come with both silicone mounting straps and a resistor cable that lowers the speed from the crazy 1800rpm to a useful 900-ish. Should do just fine for most but for me they still produce a bit too much noise. Last edited by mkk; Aug 3, 2008 at 01:35 PM.

Sep 26, 2008, 12:58 PM	#7
T3hn0 HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Slovenia Posts: 65 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	hi...if i countinue this debate...with my needs of course i've got thermaltake xaser vi, and after buying (and waiting to get) mCubed t-balancer, i have to replace case fans...i had 2 SilenX 120 led fans until now, but yesterday they both died ^^ i've got option for adding four (4) 140mm fans, and one 120mm fan. other option is to buy 5x 120mm (case supports 140 or 120mm fans) but i was thinking that it would be nice to have 4 slower rotating 140mm fans than 120mm. i've seen scythe fans, but i'd prefer ball bearing, because it would last longer, and it should be a bit quiter than sleeve bearing at higher rpm. could you suggest me any 140mm fans? or if you think that 5x 120 would be better choise...i need opinions... so on short, i: 1. 5x 120mm or 4x 140mm + 1x 120mm fans? 2. which one? if 120, i was looking @ noctua nf-s12 (p12 should be used for cooling CPUs, GPUs, etc.) // edit: oh...price is not really important, because i'm planning to buy fans, and have peace for few years > so they should have long life time and they don't have to have <1000rpm, because T-Balancer is adjusting speed higher rpm is welcome, but that doesn't mean that they should be loud as lawnmower just as quiet as possible

Sep 26, 2008, 03:55 PM	Thread Starter #8
KillerCroc DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Bern, NC, USA Posts: 20 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	case fan comparisons My preferences lean towards the 4 x 140 + 1 x 120mm fans; the larger fans move more air at slower speeds and remain quieter (much as how we've moved from 80mm to 92mm to 120mm in the past). I recently saw 140mm Yate Loon fans on eBay, and I know Thermaltake and a few others are coming out with them, but they're still not as common as 120mm so there are fewer choices (for the moment) __________________ remember...Murphy was an optimist!

Sep 26, 2008, 04:49 PM	#9
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	good advise killercroc. (Yate Loon are good). I also like the noiseblocker fans, ive had good experiences with those.

Sep 27, 2008, 10:40 AM	#10
T3hn0 HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Slovenia Posts: 65 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	KillerCroc: yeah..i have the same opinion about 4x140 fans...but as you've said they are not as common as 120mm fans and that's exactly the thing that bothers me i found this page...but as far as i've read this article, they said that ball bearing is better (longer life time - which is important to me) and i'd like to know another thing...is PWM availible or not? i don't want to repeat accident with SilenX (look at my previous post) well, i do have option for analogue power, but i'd prefer PWM if availible...but that kind of info is very hard to get...or at least i can't find it

Sep 27, 2008, 10:42 AM	#11
T3hn0 HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Slovenia Posts: 65 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	oh...another thing about Yate Loon - shouldn't they have bigger air flow? some 120mm have bigger air flow... :o only their fastest fans have 140cfm air flow...

Sep 27, 2008, 02:09 PM	Thread Starter #12
KillerCroc DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Bern, NC, USA Posts: 20 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	I haven't seen ANY 140mm fans that are PWM as of yet; hey 120mm PWM's are still not as common as they should be (they're out there, but nothing compared to the shear numbers of 120mm analog fans). __________________ remember...Murphy was an optimist!

Sep 27, 2008, 03:59 PM	#13
T3hn0 HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Slovenia Posts: 65 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	could you recommend any good 120mm with PWM support? do you know if noctua has support for it? as far as its said in their FAQ, they don't support it, but it doesn't say that it's meant for all fans

Sep 27, 2008, 04:06 PM	Thread Starter #14
KillerCroc DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Bern, NC, USA Posts: 20 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Nexus makes both 120mm and 80mm PWM fans but no 140's as of yet; I've read the same as you on Noctua's site - so my assumption is also that they don't support PWM yet __________________ remember...Murphy was an optimist!

Sep 27, 2008, 05:18 PM	#17
T3hn0 HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Slovenia Posts: 65 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	oh...and look what i found: LFM1514SPV, LFM1514HPV and if you look specs, you can see that it's air flow is very high 175.0 m3/h (102.94 cfm) but unfotunate it's industrial fan, so i can't really buy that 100 pieces

Sep 27, 2008, 05:57 PM	#18
RoyBatty HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 1,941 Rep Power: 122 System Specs	Well, according to the PWM fan specifications the pin 4 is used for the PWM control signal and pin 3 for monitoring. So I thought no pin 4 = no PWM.

Sep 27, 2008, 06:12 PM	#19
T3hn0 HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Slovenia Posts: 65 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	weird...i guess that t-balacer is capable of creating pwm signal and send it via +12V (well...you know what i mean) so i guess that PWM fans are out of question for me... well...at least i found some new info! tnx btw...and now...still searching for good case fans...

Sep 27, 2008, 07:25 PM	Thread Starter #20
KillerCroc DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Bern, NC, USA Posts: 20 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Good find - leave it to German engineering...too bad they're n/a here in the USA... You may want to check with some of the listed distributors to see about a small purchase - the spec sheet says they're packed in cartons of 100; doesn't mean you have to buy 100 ;-p __________________ remember...Murphy was an optimist!

Sep 28, 2008, 07:07 AM	#21
T3hn0 HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Slovenia Posts: 65 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	i wrote to distributors, because nobody sells this fan i'll report when i get any answers KillerCroc: maybe they can send it to usa

Sep 28, 2008, 02:32 PM	Thread Starter #22
KillerCroc DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Bern, NC, USA Posts: 20 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	That would be interesting to check out - but as the USD is doing so poorly lately against the Euro (and almost all other currencies!) I can only imagine the cost here...but as they say: hope springs eternal __________________ remember...Murphy was an optimist!