What's the quietest 80mm PC fan? (1 Viewer)

[Marty Christion]

I'm trying to get my PC to be a little less loud, and the first thing I'll do is get new fans for the CPU and case. What is the best fan for the job? It seems panaflo's have a good rep. Any other recommendations?

 

[Mattak]

I don't think you want the quietest, especially for the cpu fan

However, yes, the Panaflo L1A line is very quiet. I also recommend the NMB fans that have about the same specs as the Panaflo L1A's, but they're hard to find. Vantec has a 80mm fan that puts out quite a bit more cfm and isn't all that noticably louder, but I don't recall the model (SVC sells/sold them). There are a few more around this volume, but I can't recall their names.

Edit: I don't mean to say Panaflo and the like can't be used for the cpu, since depending on your setup and heatsink they definitely can. I meant to say that the quietest fans you can find will not work, as they don't have high enough air flow.

 

[Gabriel_Lam]

Papst (not Pabst) makes some of the quietest 80mm. Their DC Axial 8400N series is rated at 12dB.

http://www.directron.com/papst8cm.html

What processor do you have?

 

[Tekara]

vantec stealth's are also a goo quiet line of fans.

though you should consider looking into purchaing a fanbus. A Fanbus consists of rheostats that will slow down or speed up fans as per the users whim. a good fanbus, purchased or homemade, will give you precise control over how quiet you want your computer to be.

 

[Scott L]

Get a fan speed controller, you'll wonder why you've never had one before.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...999-304&depa=1

 

[Gordon Moore]

Panaflo or Papst are the one's to get if you are doing a HTPC minus gameplay. However, a fanbus makes the most sense and is your safest alternative if you intend to play games or overclock.



Been there done that....I can't recommend YS Tech for noise reduction because initially it's pretty quiet considering the high CFM it kicks out but after 4 - 6 months it picks up a really nasty vibration that travels through your case. I'm not the only one who has commented on this. Their design is unique, novel even, but has quality issues I guess.

 

[Gordon Moore]

Get youself a Thermalright 900 series HS and throw a reasonably quiet 92 mm fan on there and you're cooking with gas.


Zalman makes an interesting 92 mm cooling solution as well.

 

[Mattak]

You're right, I actually meant Vantec as someone else recommended above.

 

[Marty Christion]

Thanks for the advice guys. I've ordered one of these fan controllers:

Super Flower Fan Master Fan Speed Controller

http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer...an_bus-06.html

and some of the Panaflo and Vantec fans. I'll experiment with them in different places in the case, and see how low I can get my noise and temps.

Oh, and to answer your question, I've got an AMD 2700 CPU with one of these heatsinks:

http://www.slcentral.com/SLK-900A/

Thanks again.

 

[Chris]

Put in another pro for the Vantec Stealth.. quiet, and put out a fair amount of air while doing it.

 

[PhilBoy]

I find most of my blow noise is from the PS.

 

[Eric_L]

My Vantec case fans are noisy as he11. I disconnected them on one computer and the temp seems to still be safe. Be sure you really need them first. My CPU fan seems to do just fine on its own.

 

[Shawn O]

Here's a list of recommended quiet fans: http://www.silentpcreview.com/module...rtid=63&page=1 .