Radiator fans...which ones?

[Onion]

I am tired of my noisy 38 dba stock radiator fans. I want something quiet, but still with decent airflow. I found these 3 on petra's, what do you guys think?

 

Trusty old yate loone, I know that they don't lie on dba, but it isn't all that powerful, nor quiet.

 

http://www.petrastechshop.com/12yalod1cafa1.html

 

Next up, xigmatek. Same cfm as the yate, but only 24 dba, compared to the 33 that yate has. Do they lie on their dba? Even if they lie, is it quieter than yate?

 

http://www.petrastechshop.com/12xixlcafan61.html

 

Last is scythe. I'm pretty sure their dba is what you actually get. Same dba as the yate, but more cfm.

 

http://www.petrastechshop.com/12scsysstcaf3.html

 

Which do you guys think I should get? I am really liking the xigmatek because it is very quiet. Btw, if you have any recommendations, post it, I might buy it if its good.

[Nuclear]

My top three rad fan choices are:

 

1. Yate Loon (Only from Petra...he buys direct from Yate and his Yates are different from jab-tech, performance-pcs, etc...). You cannot beat their price vs performance

2. Zalman F3: Another great fan that is very cost effective

3. Scythe S-Flex: Stay away from the slipstreams if you can, they lack the static pressure needed to push air through a rad properly.

[Onion]

I guess I'll go for the yate. Is 5 decibels a big difference? I want something that is nearly inaudible.

 

Edit: This looks great because it has variable speeds. It doesn't say the CFM on any website though, do you have any idea what it is?

 

http://www.petrastechshop.com/12zazmsicafa.html

Edited April 8, 2009 by l33t p1mp

[Nuclear]

I guess I'll go for the yate. Is 5 decibels a big difference? I want something that is nearly inaudible.

 

Edit: This looks great because it has variable speeds. It doesn't say the CFM on any website though, do you have any idea what it is?

 

http://www.petrastechshop.com/12zazmsicafa.html

 

I don't have my spec sheet right in front of me, but I believe the Zalman F3 have a cfm rating of 37cfm @ 900rpm and 76cfm @ 1800 rpm. At 76 cfm they create around 33-35dba, so they are decently quiet a nice radiator fan.

[Onion]

Oh yeah, that's really good. I think I'll grab 2 of them. Thanks.

[Onion]

Anyone have anything to say or recommend before I buy?

[abid]

silverstone FN121

[TheConqueror]

I would go with Scythe's, I bought one of their fans and couldn't be happier.

[Verran]

I have 10-15 Yate Loons spread throughout all my cases, so I think my vote is pretty obvious

 

I really don't think they can be beaten given their very reasonable prices.

[DLS2008]

I have 4 of the Scythe S-Flex 63.7CFM in my rig and they are pretty quiet. They're quieter than my 4870s. And if you're getting the Zalmans just be cause they're adjustable, get a fan controller instead.

[Onion]

I have 4 of the Scythe S-Flex 63.7CFM in my rig and they are pretty quiet. They're quieter than my 4870s. And if you're getting the Zalmans just be cause they're adjustable, get a fan controller instead.

 

When you buy fans, can you ask them to give you longer wire or no? My rad is mounted outside and my case is a full tower, 30 centimeters is barely enough to get to the pins on the motherboard.

[Nuclear]

When you buy fans, can you ask them to give you longer wire or no? My rad is mounted outside and my case is a full tower, 30 centimeters is barely enough to get to the pins on the motherboard.

 

Generally, no. Your shop will simply pull the fans from their stock rooms and box them up for shipping. Performance-PCs is normally very accepting to "custom" orders like that if you contact them, but I'm not sure on a price. I believe they make 3 pin extension cables you could purchase or you could extend them yourself, it's really not hard.