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Looking for advice/opinions on fans and where to put them?

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I'm going to get all new fans for my computer, because the cooler master fans I have now (save for the one on my heatsink) aren't supported by my 18watt 3 channel automatic 12v fan controller (18 watts total, or 1.5 amps), and many of them plain suck. That being said I have 5 120mm fan positions (cooler master 1000) 1 back outtake, two top outtake, one front bottom intake, one HDD fan/bottom front intake. I would like the computer to be quiet, but it is also a gamming/ overclocking rig so it does put out some heat. Good cfm to dba ratio is a must, and some fans can be loudish because I have my automatic fan voltage controller (works off of temperatures). Budget is no more than 50$, and I want to get GOOD fans. here is my plan.

Back outtake (on controller)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Top Outtakes (both on same controller channel)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Intake (also on controller)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

And HDD/intake
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

what ya'think?

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tkgclimb said:
I'm going to get all new fans for my computer, because the cooler master fans I have now (save for the one on my heatsink) aren't supported by my 18watt 3 channel automatic 12v fan controller (18 watts total, or 1.5 amps), and many of them plain suck. That being said I have 5 120mm fan positions (cooler master 1000) 1 back outtake, two top outtake, one front bottom intake, one HDD fan/bottom front intake. I would like the computer to be quiet, but it is also a gamming/ overclocking rig so it does put out some heat. Good cfm to dba ratio is a must, and some fans can be loudish because I have my automatic fan voltage controller (works off of temperatures). Budget is no more than 50$, and I want to get GOOD fans. here is my plan.

Back outtake (on controller)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Top Outtakes (both on same controller channel)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Intake (also on controller)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

And HDD/intake
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

what ya'think?


just because you have spots for 5 fans doesn't mean you need 5 fans. less fans=less noise. if the fans are good and move enough air to cool your rig, 2 to 3 120mm should be fine. one front, one back and one top. make the top and rear move more cfm than the front and you have a good negative pressure system. will draw in the cooler air it needs. remove as much case material and obstuctions from in front or behind your fans as possible. if its blowing directly on something it makes more noise. smooth airflow is quieter.

the case is well pretty set up and is very negative pressure, so much actually that if I shut off by back exhaust the two tops blow more air. My cable management in and outside the case is good. I have 5 fans in now and it's not too loud and I figured will get quieter if i can get fans that work with my fan controller. but I do want good airflow, once I get a better heatsink, I'm going to overlock my CPU and down the line I'm hopping to get multiple GPU's, so good airflow will help that a bunch. The only problem I can see with the three fan set up is that for those fans to be effective they all have to be up more to achieve the same cooling.

So getting more fans could be quieter and more powerful (when needed) the philosophy of a lot of quiet fans instead of a few powerful ones. I also figured fans that arn't as important (hdd) would be quiet fans.

Best solution

Just adding a quick comment.
Get fans with a max speed of 1200.

Most fan controllers don't go below 40% power, so trying to control a 2000 or 3000rpm fan to keep it quiet never works out as well as you'd hope. 1200 rpm is a much better speed. Also buying reputable fans means you'll likely also get better bearings which will extend life and silence - cheapest isn't always better.

(I made this mistake recently, 2000rpm AC Ryan UV fans, will not be using those again)
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Huh, Because I've had no problems taming a 2000rpm fan with a knob voltage controller done to low RPM's

And if you only recommend fans with a max rpm of 1200 which ones would be good,

as for brands and bearings I know sleeve/rifle isn't the best but scythe is a good brand and the IPCq's are cheap and have good reviews (but it is newegg) and the other fan is a Magnetic

All good if you don't have any issues :) 
I just find most of my fans end up at 500-800 rpm.
All the 2000 rev fans I've owned seemed to result in a burr noise when turned down and just never seemed as quiet. The AC-Ryan fans were especially bad at this (well my ones were, a single one of these would out-volume all the other fans in one go at any speed).

At the moment I'm using NZXT fans, but I do like the look of Scythe, that was going to be the next brand I try out.

Whats weird with fans for me is that my 120mm cooler master fans, one with a max rpm 0f 2000 the other's around 1200, don't work on my auto controller. They work on a knob, but when hooked up to the auto (silver stone fp52 I got for 10$ of amazon) they click and don't seem to spin at the correct RPM's (like you said).

But then my 92mm cooler master fan 1800rpm it works fine. and all fans are within power specs, go figure. The guys at silver stone and cooler master couldn't offer and explanation

The scythe fans look like the best, expect for the sleeve bearings but good price, brand, and dba to cfm ration.
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