Question on Case fans

[Fzoulcmbyl]

I had not heard about BB ( Ball Bearing ) Case Fans before, what is the benefit over regular fans, and is it something I should upgrade in my computer?

Thanks,

Fzoul

[Drewby]

I am not an expert on fans types, but...

I would reccomend checking your temperatures to see how high or low they are and reporting back so we can inform you if they are good or not. No need to buy fans (I just spent $50 on fans for my computer) if you don't need them.

If you need a good free progie for checking temps, goolge Motherboard Monitor or MBM5 (same progie, different names).

Also be sure to tell us what CPU you have as that will affect what is seen as good and bad temps. :thumbup:

[Fzoulcmbyl]

I was actually thinking about getting a new Case altogether, the one that I have,..came with only 1 fan. I know that I can add fans to the case, but I also need to upgrade my power supply, as I currently have just a 350. So I figured I could take care of both problems by getting a new case with a 420-450w supply, and 2-3 fans.

My CPU is an AMD Athlon XP +2000, so it runs hot already, then I have a G-force 5700 Ultra, which also runs pretty hot.

I don't know my CPU temp. off hand,..but my Nvidia chip temp, is 54-57 while idle, and can get up to 70-80 while I'm playing a game. The warning temp. for it is 120, but I can hardly touch the card as it is right now, so I can't image what it would feel like at 120.

Fzoul

[Kalbrecht]

There are two basic fan types: ball-bearing and sleeve.

Ball bearing fans tend to be quieter and more reliable, as the 'technology' is smoother than the cheaper sleeve types.

As to how effective this is in real life? It really depends - cheap ball bearing fans can be just as nasty as sleeve fans. When you buy a good fan, it'll be a ball bearing one that also has good blades, so it's harder to tell the real effectiveness.

it's not to say that ball bearing fans are perfect, but when you get a good fan - it'll usually be a ball-bearing fan.

Case-wise, I would probably suggest either one of the big arse chieftecs with fans out the wazoo (including one on the side panel), or, like mine - an Antec P160.

Very light, and has space for 3 120mm fans. 120mm fans drive a nice amount of air, but are generally quieter than 80mm fans. Much fun! Also, the Antec P160 has a built in LCD monitor for checking CPU temps (there are two temp doohickeys so you can check 2 different spots like the GPU and the CPU). Construction is excellent, too boot. Easily the best case I've ever touched, even if the actual design might leave something to be desired.

I have a P4 2.8 in there with a ATI 9800. My idle temp is very stable at 28-29degrees Celcius (even with multiple windows etc open), and during intensive gameplay still stays below 45 degrees Celcius.

The cooler on the CPU is a good one, that is quieter than the normal P4 cooler, and pushes marginally more air than the stock P4 cooler. Which means that the case air movement is pretty good, as it is a very stable temperature in there.

:)

[0x64657200 0x6A61636B616C00]

With fans, look at the CFM and the db they rate and go from there.

You want a high rate of CFM for airflow and a low dBA rate for noise considerations.

Like Chai Chai the Aussie guy said, 120mm fans are the way to go for quiet factor, if you have to get some 80mm, I love these (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-999-602&depa=0). Got 3 of them in my system today :thumbup:

[Mr. Natural]

Definitely pay close attention to the db rating of the fans. I replaced all the case fans on my coolermaster case with panaflo L1a's. The stock case fans were ystech fans and were rated at 38db. My case had two in front, one on top and one in back. That's 4 fans running at 38db! It was pretty noisy and I finally got tired of it and replaced them with the panaflo which is known as among the quietest case fans out there. Rated at around 21db. Keep in mind a lower db rate can also mean a lower cooling rating, so you have to keep that in mind also. Since I had 4 fans I figured I could get away with a low db rating. Shoot for a db rating under 30 definitely. 28 db is ok, but 21 would be preferred.
If you can put a 120mm fan on the back that would be better since that is a critical cooling point and the larger fan will move air better at a lower spin rate.

[Feuerwizard]

Check out the db rating and as 09274892374723 said, check out the CFM(more is better), Vantec, Enermax and Thermaltake are good case fans' brands. You can get double ball bearing fans for your system with temperature control sensor and adjustable manual fan speed for under $16 each one.

Pay attention to this..

If you can put a 120mm fan on the back that would be better since that is a critical cooling point and the larger fan will move air better at a lower spin rate.

[Ojnod]

Donjo approved fans...

Panasonic Panflo L1a
Vantec Stealth
Thermaltake Smartfan 2

I have used all of these and I can vouch for their quality. The Smartfan is controllable so you can crank it up really high incase you get the urge to OC one night. In fact once cranked up, it is the 2nd best fan on the market in terms of total CFM (only behind the vantec tornado, which sounds like it's name).

[0x64657200 0x6A61636B616C00]

You need a stamp or something;

"Donjo's choice"
"Donjo's approved"
"Donjo's golden seal"

[Ojnod]

Hmmm.... Maybe I will make one.

That idea was Donjo approved!

[Fzoulcmbyl]

Lol... :lol:

Hey, thanks for the input guys, ...so how much did you all spend on your cases? I'm just curious, cause it sounds like alot of you have "high-end" stuff.

I'm thinking with the fans ( 4 x16 ) and a decent power suppy ( 420-450w ), your looking at $100 to $110, and that's not including the price of the case..which I have seen on average is $60 for a nice one that gives you plenty of bays/slots and mounting space.

So what was the price of your case?


Fzoul

[Ojnod]

Well I have a Shuttle XPC system and that setup cost me 350 bucks... but then again I got a case, DVD drive, motherboard, wireless card, 6 in 1 media card reader, carrying bag, and a kitchen sink with it. So I guess that doesn't really count.

However I have many PC's and it seems I most often spend around 70 dollars on a case, give or take 20.

[Fzoulcmbyl]

Here's what I'm looking at....

http://www.ibuypower.com/images/pc-guardian-5color-large.jpg


5x 5.25" / 2x 3.5" exposed
3x 3.5" Hidden
Material: Plated Steel
Form: ATX
Expansion Slots: 7
Weight: 7.1 kg
Dimensions (WxHxD) : 200x430x451mm

Features:
1) 2x 80x80x25mm Silent fans(1x fan in rear, 1x Tri-Color fan on side panel)
2) Guardian Eye "Fade Motion LED"
3) Screwless Drivebay installation

$99

420w Power Supply +$15

Thermal Temperature Meter w/ 3x Fan Controller $19


Vantec "Stealth" 120mm Case fan, Model "SF12025L"
Specification:
http://images10.newegg.com/ProductImageCompressAll125/11-999-602-04.JPG
Compatibility: Case
Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 25 mm
Bearing Type: 2 Ball Bearing
Nominal Speed(RPM): 1500
Max Air Flow:(CFM): 53
Max Pressure: Not Specified
Heat Sink Material: N/A
Rated Voltage: 12V DC
Connector: 3 Pin & 4 Pin
Noise(dBA): 28
Special Features: Comes W/ A 3 to 4 Pin Adapter & 4 Fan Screws.

$10.99

Thermaltake "Volcano 7+" (With Fan Speed H.M.L RPM Setting Cable) Universal Cooler for Intel P4 478 and AMD AthlonXP

Model# VOLCANO 7+
Item # N82E16835106014
http://images10.newegg.com/ProductImageCompressAll125/35-106-014-04.jpg

Specification:
Compatibility: AMD 462 Athlon XP 3400+ & Intel 370 PIII
Dimensions: Fan: 70 x 70 x 25 mm
Bearing Type: 2 Ball Bearing
Nominal Speed(RPM): 3000/ 4800/ 6000
Max Air Flow:(CFM): 49.0
Max Pressure: Not Specified
Heat Sink Material: Copper
Rated Voltage: 12V DC
Connector: 3 Pin
Noise(dBA): 24/ 35/ 47
Special Features: Tiny fin technology and all Copper Material

$17.99


So, that's 3 fans w/ a temp. controller, and a Heat sink for the CPU, and then the case and power supply.

I'm sure, with shipping....it will come to the $175 mark.


Fzoul

[Kalbrecht]

Fzoul. I paid about USD140 or so for my case - Antec P160.
http://www.antec-inc.com/us/pro_details_enclosure.php?ProdID=81600

Not including an extra 120mm fan - which was an all-aluminium jobbie (by Evercool - 2200 RPM, 85 CFM, 32 dba) or the CPU cooler (which was a Spire Copperstream - good design, not too big/heavy and quiet yet powerful).

okay - that case you're looking at there doesn't have set holes for a 120mm fan, so unless you're planning on getting extra holes drilled, it probably won't mount properly. Most cases these days have specific sizes for the fans, especially on the side panels, and the back panels (due to being close to the PCI slots etc).

Apart from that - it is apparently a very good case.

[Tavo]

The "Thermaltake Smartfan 2" that Donjo pushes a lot of air but it sounds like a hurricane! I can't have them at full speed without having to turn the volume way up in games.

[Ojnod]

Fzoul, First off you have an 120 mm fan picked out for a case that only supports 80 mm fans, so you would have to drill your own holes and stuff. 2nd, I don't recommend that heatsink, I bought it one time and I wasn't very pleased. I will give more suggestions once I get to school.

[0x64657200 0x6A61636B616C00]

I'm still using the case that came w/ my Alienware ~4 years ago....

Outside of the 120mm fan issue, all looks good from here. :)

My only sticking point is that CPU fan. I'm always leery of the fans that have 3 listed dBA levels, when the system is at idle you are running at the lowest, when you're gaming and loading the CPU, that thing will sound like its name sake, "Volcano".

If you have the space in the system and don't mind the price, may I suggest this (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-118-108&depa=0). I love the one on my P4 3.2 at home and I didn't bother w/ the fan control. Check Zalman's site (http://www.zalman.co.kr/usa/product/code_list.asp?code=005) for compatability issues before you buy though.

[Ojnod]

I didn't get a chance to post any today in school, but anway, the heatsink I was going to recommend is the same one genx recommended. The 3 dba levels on the fan are controllable by you, not temp controlled. However you need the medium if you want to adequately cool and that is rather loud. The low is crappy and the high is like a vaccum. I have that fan that genx mentioned in my HTPC is it is running great and very very quiet.

[Fzoulcmbyl]

Ok guys...you got it. I changed the CPU heatsink/fan to the one you suggested. I'm going to stick with the 120 fan, just to see if i can find a place for it, I may not need to drill any holes at all.

Jackel....what do you mean by "If you've got the space in the system"? Is this fan huge?

Anyway,..I checked out Newegg for all the parts I had listed, and found that they are selling them cheaper than the website I was looking at.

Case-$84

Temp control- $22

120 Fan- $10.99

CPU Fan- $35.99

and with free shipping, that ought to do nicely.....thanks for all your help, I'm going to go ahead and place the order.


Fzoul

[0x64657200 0x6A61636B616C00]

Jackel....what do you mean by "If you've got the space in the system"? Is this fan huge?

Fzoul


Yuppers, a lot of CPU fans are 60mm, this one sports a 92mm fan and the heat sink actually makes it closer to 95mm in diameter. If you have a computer shop around you, go check them out.

Here's an little idea of the footprint this has on your CPU.

http://www.zalman.co.kr/images/product_img/cooler/7000a_alcu_462motherboard.jpg

And here is (http://www.zalman.co.kr/product/cooler/7000a-462_motherboard_list_eng.html) the motherboard list

[Fzoulcmbyl]

Well, ...not a moment too soon,....my CPU fan is making all sorts of different noises.....not all the time, but enough to know it's dying a slow death.

I have a 120 fan sittin inside the case to help cool thing off, but I had forgotten to turn on the AC this morning, and I came home and the Tower was shut down and wouldn't power-up. I guess the plug in my surge strip had blown, because I plugged the Tower into another outlet, and it came on....although the CPU fan whirred....sputtered....started turning slowly....and finally spun up to speed.

I think I'm going to have to re-format too, I get a Windows Explorer error, everytime I power-up, it happens at the very end of the items that load into my systray.....which, the last item to load-up is my "Wireless Network".......it hangs for about 1-2 min, as if it's searching for the Network, and as soon as it connects....then I get the Error Message. I'm still able to play games across the Network, and to transfer files.....but when the error happens, it "unloads" all the icons from my systray, except, the volume speaker, and the little "talking" computers that represent the Network.


Oh well....no biggie...


Fzoul