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Help choosing case fans

756 views 8 replies 5 participants last post by  New green 
#1 ·
Good day, i want to buy some case fans and i figure where better to ask than here. I've read lots of threads here that helped me choose a cpu cooler and many other parts so thanks for that. The case i will be using is NZXT s340 elite (white). I plan on using the stock fans as rear/top exhaust unless suggested otherwise. I don't think i really have to spend money for replacement fans but i'm far from an expert in that aspect

https://iponcomp.de/webshop/group/huto/389/?srcFtr_134%5B%5D=498

This is the website that i can buy from, anything on there is game except the over-the-top stuff. I don't really care about leds or rgb, it's too tacky, i'm building a simplistic black/white pc. The cpu cooler i will be using is thermalright le grand macho, and it would be nice if the fan's could be black/white to match it but it's not 100% a necessity. I think 2 140's in front for intake and the default exhaust setup would be decent. So far my first choice are the Noctua NF P14s redux 1500 (i assume 1500 can move more air at less rpm than the 1200? and the fans have good SP which would be important since the front of the case is restricted). Most of the other fans offer 1 or 2 years warranty and the Noctua has 5, i could even get 6, and it's not the ugly color scheme either. It doesn't fit perfectly but it'll blend in somewhat. I think the Phanteks FP-140SP are decent and would fit fine but not sure if better than the Noctuas given the information i have. So are there any fans that beat the Noctuas price/performance?

That's pretty much it. Everyone that's available to chime in, i welcome it
 
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#2 ·
The Nocs are very good, but a bit pricey for the Redux series on that site. The Phanteks SP/XP are as good and a better value too. (Unlike where I live)

Even better value is the 140mm NZXT FX V2 - same blade config as the Thermalright TY-147a, but the FX V2 spins up to 2000rpm. Pretty fast for a case fan - too fast, but that's what PWM control is for. @ehume's review on overclockers here.

The Arctic Cooling F14 is a great value too. Not quite as smooth sounding as a Noctua, but half the price.

A premium option is the BLACKNOISE NB-eLoop 140mm. Or the Be!Q Silent Wings 3.
 
#3 ·
I should have mentioned i can get the Noctuas for 2-3 euro cheaper. I like the looks of the NZXT/Arctic/Phanteks. I think i don't want to cheap out since i already blew a lot of money for my new build, so i'll get either the NZXT or Phanteks. I definitely don't want to blow more than that on fans
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Would there be a noticable cooling difference between the NZXT and Phanteks?
Or rather at same level of performance, which one is quieter?
What about the stock fans, do they need to be replaced or are they decent?
Is the warranty a factor when choosing? I don't know how often fans die, and even if they die after 2+ years of working, buying a new fan or 2 shouldn't be that big of a deal i guess...

Thanks
 
#5 ·
Quote:
I have serious doubts about the accuracy of their testing.

They are using the same test system they used on 120mm fans .. a 2m length of 120mm ID tubing. This is all fine and good for the 120mm fans on a 120mm ID tube. But putting 140mm fans on this 120mm ID tube compromises the 140mm fans' flow. A 140mm ID tube has has a 1.3354% bigger cross-sectional area than a 120mm ID tube.
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While the use of a airlfow tube 120mm in diameter might not be restricting the flow of air from 120mm fans, it surely is on 140mm fans. 140mm ID cross-sectiona areaq is 1.3354% bigger cross-sectional area of a 120mm ID tube. This means the 140mm fans have much more resistance to their airflow than 120mm fans do.

Now for a little explanation of what a fan does to the air coming out of it. The spinning action of the fan tends to flow air out of in a spinning / spiraling pattern similar to the spiral of a drill bit. This needs to be straightened and balanced / equalized to flow straight or the flow meter cannot accurately determine the speed of the flow.

They put an 'airflow straightener' in the tube which is definitely a good thing, because the air flowing out of the fan needs to straighten and equalized in the tube. And while it is not the best 'straighter' out there because the straws are much more restrictive then commercial airflow straighteners used in airflow laboratories, it does straighten / equalize the airflow through the tube.

Now a simple explanation of how an anemometer works. 'Hot wire' Anemometers use very small wire in a hole in their probe. This wire heats up because of the friction between it and the air flowing around it. The anemometer's probe holes (mine has a 4x10mm slot with this very small wire across the middle & next to that is another 5mm hole with a temperature probe in the middle of it)The friction created by the air flowing around this very fine wire heats the wire. The anemometer measurement of both the temperature the air flowing past this wire and the air temperature in this small area of the probe. It then uses the difference in temperature between the 'hot-wire' and the air to calculate the air speed (fpm) that is flowing through these small holes in it's probe.

So we have swirling air that is being straightend by the 'airflow straightener andwe have an anemometer fitted into the tube.

The problem as I see it, is where the anemometer and airflow straightener are placed. They are measuring the airspeed of the swirling air because the anemometer is before the air is straightened. Now I might be wrong, but my understanding is the fan's airflow needs to be straightened & equalized before an accurate airflow speed can be measured. common sense seems to be that each section of the air swilring it's way through a 2 meter tube is moving much faster than air that is flowing straight through a tube. A spiraling line between to points is much longer than a straight line.
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I sure hope that makes sense to you guys.
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#6 ·
That's all nice and informative but doesn't really help me pick
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Do you have any recommendation as to which fans to use? I'm not doubting MicroCat, the nzxt fx v2 are my current top choice considering the prices all around, but i'd like some more input
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And should i bother replacing the stock exhausts or is it a waste of money? To my understanding multitude of factors affect a fan's performance, from case, filters, any obstructions so i can't really trust any online reviews by that logic. I've read your guide and you seem to be a fan and cooling expert, so which fans would you pick if you were me?
 
#7 ·
My 2 cents: if your after a quiet setup noctuas are a good option. I own 2 140mm noctuas (can't remember the exact model now sorry but they're not redux and they're circular design) but they are VERY quiet at full speed and seem to move a lot of air. I've used them on a radiator with LNA and they did an amazing job at cooling my heavily overvolted 2500k + GPU. using my phone so I'm not gonna look up the exact models I have but I have multiple noctua fans and if you ask me the performance to noise ratio is very very good. Sure there's a bit of a price premium but again, if you want a quiet setup it's worth it.
 
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