Best 120mm Radiator fans

[Steevo]

My fans are starting to make noise, and with the addition of the 7970 and summer temps my GPU is reaching 56C and then it starts to artifact a tiny bit, CPU is perfectly happy where its at.

So who makes the best fans for moving air through a radiator? If it needs much more I will perhaps move the rig downstairs and use a long HDMI and USB cable to move the connections up here and let it sit down there where its cooler, and where it can make a little noise and I won't hear it.

 

[sneekypeet]

Sorry to be this blunt, but if you have issues with the GPU at 56 degrees, its time to either sort out the real issue or buy a new card.

Search for fans with high static pressure, 3.0mmH2O or better along with a decent CFM rating.

 

[Steevo]

Sorry to be this blunt, but if you have issues with the GPU at 56 degrees, its time to either sort out the real issue or buy a new card.

Search for fans with high static pressure, 3.0mmH2O or better along with a decent CFM rating.

The real issue is it wants more power, or a lower clock, both of which can be done.

But more power comes at the expense of more heat, and I am guessing that the light buzzing my yate loons are making and slow spinup of at least one means they aren't moving as much air as they could. So I want to replace them and see if it keeps temps down around the 45C mark like it has been, or if not either increase GPU vcore and or lower the clock.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

Anything with high static pressure like sneekypeet said, and no sleeve bearings.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Currently using EKWB vardar fans. Lovem!

 

[newtekie1]

Currently using EKWB vardar fans. Lovem!

+1

I was just going to suggest these. A little expensive, but damn are they good!

 

[FreedomEclipse]

+1

I was just going to suggest these. A little expensive, but damn are they good!

They are quite cheap over here in the Uk. Using a pair of 2200RPM F4s

 

[newtekie1]

They are quite cheap over here in the Uk. Using a pair of 2200RPM F4s

I'm using the all black 3000RPM ones, they are $20 a piece over here. The lower RPM Gray/Black ones are $18. That's towards the high end for 120mm fans over here.

 

[Steevo]

Well I'm knida torn between the BitFenix 120Spetre Pro and yate loon, the loon is louder, and according to other testing the bit fenix fans are actually better at static pressure than the loon.

I will check into the EKWB fans.

May just need to add another 240 radiator to the loop, but then again, some better airflow and or moving it downstairs may be better, can use higher pressure louder fans, and don't have to hear it, and cooler too.

 

[sneekypeet]

The BitFenix fans are sort of meh at best imho. 50-ish CFM and like 1.2mmh2O (no bueno)

Also I don't have the apparatus to back up the claims with testing properly, but the new Corsair fans from the new AIOs boast like 4.0mmH2O pressure!

 

[Steevo]

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6177/...or-fan-testing-eight-fans-with-corsairs-h80/4


This review, and

cough, this one.....

 

[sneekypeet]

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6177/...or-fan-testing-eight-fans-with-corsairs-h80/4


This review, and

cough, this one.....

In that Anand review the BF fans are second to last in performance Also from 2012!

Also these are the fans I was speaking of, on the new GT coolers.... http://www.corsair.com/en-us/hydro-series-h110i-gt-280mm-extreme-performance-liquid-cpu-cooler

 

[T.R.]

+1

I was just going to suggest these. A little expensive, but damn are they good!

I agree, but Noctua’s industrialPPC has a better performance than EK-Vardar.

Noctua NF-F12 industrialPPC-3000 PWM

• Dimensions: 120 mm × 120 mm × 25 mm
• Rotational speed: 3000 rpm
• Airflow: 186.7 m³/h
• Static pressure: 7.63 mm H2O
• Noise level: 43.5 dB(A)

EK Water Blocks EK-Furious Vardar FF5-120

• Dimensions: 120 mm × 120 mm × 25 mm
• Rotational speed: 3000 rpm
• Airflow: 181 m³/h
• Static pressure: 5.81 mm H2O
• Noise level: 42 dB(A)

 

[Zakin]

I've seen a few reviews now where the normal Spectres are actually better than the Pros, it's a bit confusing, but they're really only good as non essential case airflow, where they can do pretty well. Otherwise, Yate Loons/EKs are pretty king status. I have a few normal spectres I got for about five a piece on a great deal, they work well for case airflow but nothing super serious.

 

[mstenholm]

http://uk.hardware.info/reviews/5770/103-12cm-case-fans-review

 

[T-Bob]

I'm using the EK Vardar fans also and I would recommend them to any of my friends. In 140mm fans Noctua NF-A series are very good also.

 

[Nordic]

I used to use yate loons. They started making a rattling noise really quick. I switched to corsair sp120's just to try them. I could keep them on the silent setting and have the same cooling performance as my yate loons. So the corsair fans were quieter for the same performance. I could then turn them up all the way on rpm's for even better performance. I am sure those ek fans are even better though.

 

[Steevo]

Mine are getting kind of a buzz and two of the three take longer to spin back up if I stop them, and the top one is really noticeable and from their airflow it feels like they are only spinning at half speed, so after many years of service I think its time to retire them.


I will do some research on the presented items and see which one will fit best.


Thanks guys

 

[FreedomEclipse]

I agree, but Noctua’s industrialPPC has a better performance than EK-Vardar.

Noctua NF-F12 industrialPPC-3000 PWM

• Dimensions: 120 mm × 120 mm × 25 mm
• Rotational speed: 3000 rpm
• Airflow: 186.7 m³/h
• Static pressure: 7.63 mm H2O
• Noise level: 43.5 dB(A)

EK Water Blocks EK-Furious Vardar FF5-120

• Dimensions: 120 mm × 120 mm × 25 mm
• Rotational speed: 3000 rpm
• Airflow: 181 m³/h
• Static pressure: 5.81 mm H2O
• Noise level: 42 dB(A)

Yeah.... but the price though....

EK-Furious Vardar FF5 = $20

NF-F12 industrialPPC-3000 PWM = $31.90


I always find in most fan reviews that Noctua tend to exaggerate their specs a little, though they arent the only company guilty of doing it. They do make good fans though.

Youre not gonna run either of them at full rpm anyway as they will most definitely sound like a jet engine

 

[Ferrum Master]

starts to artifact a tiny bit, CPU is perfectly happy where its at.

I just solved the same problem with with my WF3 last week... The cooler mounting clip (RAM heat spreading plate). It is so old, it deformed and doesn't apply the force evenly on the GPU die anymore(the main heatpipe block is attached to with with 4 screws, half of the chip becomes hotter, despite the temperature diode says it is OK.

I just put a copper shim, that I use for laptops, and problems disappeared... everything fine and dandy.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I'm a sucker for Rexus Panaflo. My server has two of them and they've been running non-stop with no signs of stopping for more than five years. They're not silent but they aren't obnoxiously loud either. It's a nice, constant whir. Because T.R. made such a nice list:

• Dimensions: 120 mm × 120 mm × 38 mm
• Rotational speed: 2500 rpm
• Airflow: 176.4 m³/h
• Static pressure: 6.8 mm H2O
• Noise level: 41.5 dB(A)

Edit: Pretty extensive list of high performance fans here: http://forums.evga.com/Computer-Fans-Information-and-Recommendations-m592209.aspx

 

[Steevo]

I just solved the same problem with with my WF3 last week... The cooler mounting clip (RAM heat spreading plate). It is so old, it deformed and doesn't apply the force evenly on the GPU die anymore(the main heatpipe block is attached to with with 4 screws, half of the chip becomes hotter, despite the temperature diode says it is OK.

I just put a copper shim, that I use for laptops, and problems disappeared... everything fine and dandy.

View attachment 65304

Its just hot, it was 80F in the house and running at full tilt on GTA5, noticed a few little patches of corrupt rendering, if I alt-tab out of the game for a few minutes and let it cool it was fine, but touching my radiator and it was actually hot, cooling a 1100T and 7970 both overclocked with 360MM and the fans are also responsible for pushing air through the case and the power supply as its fan barely turns, so they have a lot of load, and they have been essentially running 24/7/365 for 7 years now.

 

[T.R.]

Yeah.... but the price though....

EK-Furious Vardar FF5 = $20

NF-F12 industrialPPC-3000 PWM = $31.90

Yes, EK-Vardar is cost-effective.

I can't find any static pressure figures for it but I'd guess around 6.

It is 66.7 Pa, equals about 6.80 mm H2O.

Source: http://www.nmbtc.com/fans/part-numbers/DC-Axial/FBA12G12H1BX/5482

 

[Caring1]

I'm a sucker for Rexus Panaflo. My server has two of them and they've been running non-stop with no signs of stopping for more than five years. They're not silent but they aren't obnoxiously loud either. It's a nice, constant whir. Because T.R. made such a nice list:

• Dimensions: 120 mm × 120 mm × 38 mm
• Rotational speed: 2500 rpm
• Airflow: 176.4 m³/h
• Static pressure: 6.8 mm H2O
• Noise level: 41.5 dB(A)

Edit: Pretty extensive list of high performance fans here: http://forums.evga.com/Computer-Fans-Information-and-Recommendations-m592209.aspx

They would be worth running at 3/4 power still to cut noise.
I'm getting old and my hearing is going, but over 40dB is still noisy to me.

 

[Countryside]

Currently using EKWB vardar fans. Lovem!