Overclock.net banner

Has Anyone Ever Used Fractal Design Venturi Series Fans?

4K views 8 replies 6 participants last post by  WallacEngineer 
#1 ·
I have been doing quite alot of research on the Fractal Design Venturi fans to try and determine if they are any good, the only issue being I can not find any definitive information.

Reason I love the idea of these fans:

Dedicated Engineering (High Flow and High Pressure specific fans), Sleek, simple black fans that would be extremely easy to hide mostly from sight to give the case a sleek finish.

The Venturi HF-14 and HF-12 fans both have amazing CFM levels according to specifications (110+ CMF and 80+ CFM respectively) and both spin at relatively low RPM on Fluid-Dynamic bearings meaning they are practically inaudible. Then you have the HP-14, which has an impressive 1.94mm/ H2O pressure along with a good 80 CFM again on a FDB at relatively low RPM.

So Fractal Design would have us believe that their fans are the best noise-to-performance fans that money can buy, period. Now, tests I have been able to find on the HF-14 support the 110+ CFM rating, while others report a rather poor 65 CFM, and some go as low as 44 CFM. None of these tests are conclusive, none of them test them in real-world application, and none of them accurately compare the results with other 140mm fans.

The only results I have found that are accurate are for the Pressure-Optimized CPU Cooler fan, the HP-14 (Im getting a dual Tower 140mm CPU Cooler). Results were very good, which gives me hope for these HF-14s and HF-12s.

So here is where the fans would be mounted in my case (Cougar Panzer Max ATX-Full Tower):



This is my front panel, behind it sit 3 X 120mm fans right now, but they are simple Corsair Air series and are not only not that great in airflow, but are extremely buzzy and noisy at full RPM (which they sit at max constantly as I am running a 3-pin fan splitter that is powered directly by PSU (4-Pin Molex). Please keep in mind whatever case fans I end up with in the end will be run the same way, as I do not care to turn them down, the point of this build is extreme air cooling at all times.

Now alot of test sites say their results of the HF fans did not come out so well because of obstructions and the fact that the HF series have practically NO static pressure to work with, as the blades on the HFs are specifically designed for high flow while sacrificing pressure. I am only concerned about one obstruction, my dust filters. There are no drive cages or indeed ANY object restricting flow in the Panzer Max as shown below:



So, taking into account the extremely optimized air-flow paths, but having to pull through filters first and push through on exhaust, can anyone tell me if the Venturi Series fans would work for me? And more importantly, does anyone have any real-world experience with them? Are they as good as I think they are? Is there any evidence anywhere to support these seemingly awesome fans?

If these fans prove to be a fraud, then I would like suggestions on what other fans I should look in to. The overall design will be Black and White Idealy (so plain black or white fans or smoke or some form of simple, plain color to suit). I am also looking to avoid LED fans at all cost as I will be installing an RGB LED strip kit at some point and when I change color I want a nice, uniform, single color. I know Noctuas are good but they are so ugly I just couldn't stand to use them. The fans also have to be somewhat affordable (I do not want to spend over $200 on fans or $20/each). The other fans I have been most interested in are Phanteks PH-120SP, 140SP, and 140 HP II.

Layout will more than likely say the same as it is now, but with 140mm intake upgrade, ideal layout is as follows:

Intake: 3 X 140mm (Front Panel) and 1 X 120mm (Bottom by PSU)
Exhaust: 2 X 120mm (Top Panel) and 1 X 120mm (Back Panel)
Result: Extreme air flow combined with positive case pressure
 
See less See more
2
#3 ·
The 120mm FD HP12s are one of the best 120mm I've heard. Very good performance to noise ratio when pushing/pulling through resistance.

The 140mm HP14s are decent, not the best 140mm fans, but on sale can be a great value. At list, not so much. Haven't used the HF series as I tend to use rather restrictive filters and pure airflow optimized fans tend to suffer too much performance loss compared to rad-optimized fans in my Demciflex'd systems.

The Phanteks 140SP is a great case fan. The HP II fans are among my least fav 140mm fans - noisy, weird harmonics for average performance. Many better 140mm fan options. Like the original HP series. The Thermalright TR-147a are far better imo than the HP II series. Or the Fractals. Or the Noctua (in black or grey)...
 
#5 ·
I would love to go with Thermalright 147-A except they are PWM 4-pin fans that wont work for the case.

The case must consist of 3-pin fans all the way around. Why? Built-in fan controller on case uses 3-pin connectors, and they are shielded, no possible way to use 4 pin case fans.

Also, the fans I select must be square 140mm mounts, as the top exhaust can actually handle two 140mm fans squished right next to eachother under the top dust panel, however the 120mm square mounts squish the 120mm fans right together as well, meaning 140mm fans with 120mm fan mounts will not work.

As Ive recently discovered, the Venturi HF series is out of the question for my case fans. They would be good if I removed my dust filers, but I cannot. I have a dog, sticking his nose into my fans would surely end up in broken parts.

The Venturi HFs have SO LOW static pressure that they ONLY push more than 70 CFM in open-air. That means with my filters in place, they could perform as badly as 44 CFM according to some of the indepent reviews. So it seems for me, Static Pressure fans are entirely necessary and required.

Ive been thinking about the Phanteks SP fans, I believe they are the way I will be going for the case fans. Amazing series, anyone I can find who has them says they are incredible, huge amounts of air movement with pretty much no noise whatsoever.

I will also be getting the HP IIs for my CPU heatsink. I understand one of you have recommended against it, but it has been proven on many independent reviews to be quite an amazing radiator fan, but ONLY when used as a radiator fan. As a case fan, it just does not do well. Thats why they are for my CPU heatsink ONLY.

This question has been brought up in another one of my threads, and we have collectively solved it with the Phanteks fans. I will be ordering them soon.
 
#6 ·
Edit: your post in other thread has made it clear you would rather insult than listen. I'm done.
 
#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by ciarlatano View Post

To answer your topic question - yes, I have. Many times in controlled testing environments for comparisons.
So have I.
thumb.gif
 
#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by doyll View Post

Edit: your post in other thread has made it clear you would rather insult than listen. I'm done.
Oh and you didnt Insult? Now you are back? Doesnt seem to make much sense but whatever.

I do like your idea of an entire PWM controlled cooling system though. I had actually thought about that in the beginning, but I was thinking more along the lines of full silent power 24/7. I suppose I will re-think the possibility of an entire PWM-based cooling system. I know from previous curiosity that Thermaltake makes some sort of SATA-Powered PWM control hub. Ill have to find that thing again. I certainly do want the actual voltage for my fans to be PSU-powered. I do not like the idea of trying to power 9 high-performance fans from the motherboard, no way I will ever try that.

But if you would like to take a moment to understand my point: I am completely willing to listen, but I am not willing to listen to peoples comments insulting my intelligence.

Its not like I sat here calling you a moron while I was tossing different fans at you. I was just chucking out ideas. You know the good old saying "you get what you pay for"? Well I always thought that Fractal made good stuff, so when I come across nice, high performance yet decent price fans from a company that makes good products like Fractal, of course I know they are going to be good.

You yourself said you like the HPs, and you showed tests that showed the HPs are pretty good, but you are right, I didnt know that high static pressure was necessary even for a thin dust filter. Its not like I was trying to use the HF series for my CPU heatsink, no way I would ever try that.

But considering the option of PWM once again... I suppose an array of Phanteks MP-Series (5 X 140mm and 2 X 120mm) fans and a couple HP-II's for the heatsink all tied into a External-Powered, yet PWM-Controlled Hub is a good idea and I like that you think outside the box, the way that I try to.

Anyways, still weighing my options.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top