Best 120mm Case Fan 2012? Your recommendations.

[skaz]

Hello,

I will be replacing the two front intake fans on my incoming fractal R3 case. I'm looking for the best 120mm case fan with both good airflow and low dBA. Leaning towards the fan being as quite as possible. Unfortunately the fractal appears to have 120mm fan enclosures on the front so the 140mm fans with 120mm mounts wont work.

I've been doing some research but can't seem to find "the" one. I've found some fans where people will say they are quite and others will say they are loud and its hard to judge with so many different opinions and options on the interwebz.

I have at least narrowed down to some specific fans so feel free to comment on what Ive found so far but also feel free to recommend anything else besides them. They include...

- kingwin db-123
- Scythe - (the options in models are overwhelming so any help narrowing that down is appreciated)
- Thermalright x-silent

Manufacture's specs are terrible to go by in regards to fan shopping so I'm really looking for personal experience and recommendations of case fans you have actually used. Or any site links to fan comparisons that I might have missed during googling.

Trying to keep each fan below $20. Thanks.

 

[davcon]

Running 2x120mm X-Silent = under 20db is no lie.
Had to check them a few times the first week to see if they were spinning.
Have these on my cooler push/pull
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/9652/fan-609/Thermalright_X-Silent_120mm_x_25mm_Stealth_Silent_Fan_-_1000RPM.html?tl=c15s60b34
Run Antec Tri-Cools on low in my case(902)- not bad but when they wear out i'll be replacing them with Enermax T.B. Silence.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835214028
Nexus BASIC D12SL-12
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835610006
I'd go for the Enermax at that price.

 

[skaz]

Thanks for the replies guys.

davcon, I'm digging the enermax t.b. silence fans you linked. Awesome price too at the moment. Say price wasn't an issue and your had to replace only the case fans would you choose the x-silents or t.b. silence fans? Or would you say they are pretty equal in airflow and sound?

bigmack70, thanks for the link. unfortunately I wouldn't be able to fit that fan controller on my case because of the door. But luckily the case does come with a rear mountable fan controller.

 

[skaz]

Not sure if I want to use the fan controller to be honest. I'd rather not have to manually control them constantly.

 

[davcon]

Thanks for the replies guys.

davcon, I'm digging the enermax t.b. silence fans you linked. Awesome price too at the moment. Say price wasn't an issue and your had to replace only the case fans would you choose the x-silents or t.b. silence fans? Or would you say they are pretty equal in airflow and sound?

bigmack70, thanks for the link. unfortunately I wouldn't be able to fit that fan controller on my case because of the door. But luckily the case does come with a rear mountable fan controller.

I'm definitely going with the TB's when the time comes.
They have led versions which i prefer for my particular case.
The cfm is better and the ability to remove the fan from the housing for cleaning is a big plus.(pets,dust,i smoke)
Nice sleeved cables too!
I'll buy the X-Silents again for my cpu coolers.(cheap in Canada where i shop $7)
Certain makers don't lie about db's and Thermalright,Scythe,Enermax,and a few others are among them.
Anything 30db and under is considered quiet.
Under 20db = silent.

 

[skaz]

I'm definitely going with the TB's when the time comes.
They have led versions which i prefer for my particular case.
The cfm is better and the ability to remove the fan from the housing for cleaning is a big plus.(pets,dust,i smoke)
Nice sleeved cables too!
I'll buy the X-Silents again for my cpu coolers.(cheap in Canada where i shop $7)
Certain makers don't lie about db's and Thermalright,Scythe,Enermax,and a few others are among them.
Anything 30db and under is considered quiet.
Under 20db = silent.

You the man. Thanks for the details. Man $7 is a steal. Cheapest I could find with shipping in the states was around $14 for the x-silents. Enermax TBs on the other thing are set pretty reasonable with mail in rebate too (although I know how those MIRs go sometimes).

Do you think rubber screws are worth getting at some point for the fans? http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0332542

 

[Dogsnake]

Wish my TriCool would wear out lol Antec 1200. Always looking to tinker.

 

[skaz]

2 Enermax t.b. fans in route.

Thanks for the input guys. Gotta run.

 

[skaz]

Best answer selected by skaz.

 

[davcon]

Wish my TriCool would wear out lol Antec 1200. Always looking to tinker.

Yeah mine aren't dying either!
Been looking at these for two years now
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/12711/fan-827/Enermax_TB_Silence_120mm_x_25mm_Twister_Bearing_LED_Fan_-_Blue_LEDs_UCTB12N-BL_.html?tl=c331s518b16

 

[davcon]

You the man. Thanks for the details. Man $7 is a steal. Cheapest I could find with shipping in the states was around $14 for the x-silents. Enermax TBs on the other thing are set pretty reasonable with mail in rebate too (although I know how those MIRs go sometimes).

Do you think rubber screws are worth getting at some point for the fans? http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0332542

Enermax took a different approach to vibration suppression by using an aluminum ring around the housing.
Tell us about them once they're installed.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey