suggestions for case fans.....

[rob123]

i just tried 4 Scythe Ultra kaze 3000 rpm fans for my case. when i turned the system on the neighbour came over to see what was going on. (living room window was open).

needless to say they are LOUD.

i hear a lot of good about the noctua series. would they be a better choice?

if not plz suggest.

thx

rob123

[CTA]

try p12... (best performance ratio noise) or s12 if you want MORE quieter...


ps. please check HWC article/review about fan cooler ;p

[MpG]

The Ultra Kazes and Noctua are entirely different animals.

Basically, it boils down to what kind of noise tolerance you have. Some (stone deaf) people don't mind those Ultras. At your stage, almost any fan will be an improvement, as long as it spins slower. In fact, even a 2000rpm fan will seem much quieter in comparison.

Depending on what kind of hardware you have, and what kind of overclocking ambitions you have (if any), you may be able to get by with a much slower fan. Unfortunately, there's no magic fan for everybody, so a little trial and error is necessary.

The fan below are my personal favourites, and they're all well-known for their performance/quietness levels. The links below are to NCIX, but they can usually be had elsewhere as well, or at least price-matched to save a few bucks.

Noctua P-series - Opinions can vary a little, but the biggest complaint is their price and their ugly colour. Low speed, very good performance and very little noise for their speed. Might be a little too slow, depending on your needs.
Scythe S-Flex - Still a little pricey, but highly regarded. Long life, great for radiators and heatsinks. There are different rpm levels, denoted by the sixth character in their model number (D, E, F, or G). The F series are a nice balance, and will be MUCH quieter than your Ultras, while still moving a good amount of air. They undervolt excellently.
Yate Loons - Dirt-stinking-cheap, yet still solid performers. Pretty much the undisputed king of cheap fans. Maybe a little slow for your needs, it depends. There are faster models available, but they can be harder to find up here in Canada.
Panaflo's - A 38mm thick fan (like your Ultras), but with better bearing and blade design. The 1700rpm model (linked) is a nice balance between noise and performance. There are faster models available, but they're also noisier.

[enaberif]

7 volted panaflos move a ton of air.

[JD]

Could just buy a fan controller and slow your current fans down...

[Cptn Vortex]

Buy Zalman ZM-F3 120MM Sleeve Bearing Case Fan Black 900/1800RPM 20/34DBA 3PIN Connector

Nuff said

[CTA]

good price... how much for shipping to your door ;p

[burebista]

Maybe you take a look at Scythe Slipstream or Nexus.

[Cptn Vortex]

TDdirect.... I put 10 in my card, $9.98 shipping to my door. Or, you can just PriceMatch with NCIX! I'm 98% sure they will honor it....

[CTA]

i still can't find other than this article... X-bit labs - Roundup: 11 Fans for Two Super-Coolers and One System Case (page 14) i found it a little strange...?

do you know other links?

i will ask them to do pricematch and buy it if its better than or same as p12...

i wish HWC reviewer did mention that fan on p12 article...