Don't mount Cougar fans horizontally?!?!

decidence

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My case has a radiator up top in which I am using 3 Cougar CF-V12HP's (120's) as exhaust.

Ever since I got them they had been louder than I expected so I dampened some of the noise by taping some steel washers in the middle (no I'm not slowing the blade), I can use more weight to make them virtually silent (again, not slowing the blades) but I felt this was a <removed by moderator> solution to a problem that the manufacturer should deal with.

So I emailed the manufacturer and attached a picture of my setup:

http://imgur.com/3F25wiW

They responded:

Hi,

The CFV-xxx fans are not recommended to be mounted horizontally blowing air up.

Blowing air down is preferable.

Customer Service
HEC Group USA

Does this sound like <removed by moderator> or what? I asked what type of fans they could recommend and they responded:

We don’t know of any particular type that could sustain mounted in that position. Guess there is a tradeoff in cost/performance.

For service of end-users we are limited to exchange of identical product as we are not set up for monetary transactions. You could still send them in for exchange for a set of new ones if you wish by filling out the attached RMA Form.

HEC GROUP USA

So, I ask here then, what type of fans could I use to get some silent exhaust performance? Whats the point of water cooling otherwise...

Thank you

<Watch your language in the forums>
 
i think the fans are cheaply made. i've used several different kinds and price ranges mounting in your position. never had troubles.

what I can see ( very limited ) is that the fans have a certain "roundness" to them. try taping off the edges so air doesn't bleed by but goes directly through the fan blades to the radiator.
 

decidence

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Sep 1, 2009
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Did you suggest the F-12 specifically because they are better at pulling air through a radiator than other Noctua models? I see there is a P-12 and S-12 as well, not sure the differences.

My max CPU temps with my current crap fans is 55-60C under load @ 4.2Ghz.