Fan controller or new fans for quieter case ?

[RobPhoboS]

Hey guys,

About a week ago I finished building my watercooled (XSPC Raystorm 750 EX360) Xigmatek Elisium case. Now the case itself is ok (not hugely impressed once I started working with it) but it could do with quietening down a touch. There are quite a few breathing holes, which I'll be patching up at some point with some triple layer acoustipack stuff.

Currently it's running on stock fans (3x120mm for the rad, 2x120mm HD, 1x140mm rear [replaced already], 1x200mm side/gpu), however I wondered if I'd be better off replacing the fans or getting a cheap controller to wind them back down ?

Nesteq FanMax 8

Kaze Q-8 (prefer the look of that)

What do you think would be more effective ?

It's more cost effective to go with the controller for sure (I'd rather not spend too much more at the moment) but at the end of the day, I need it a touch quieter.

Thanks for any help/thoughts.

 

[yassarikhan786]

I'd say go for a fan controller. It helped me massively with my obsidian 650d. The 650d's integrated fan controller only has three settings and on the first two settings, the larger fans made a buzzing noise. After hooking them up to a fan controller, the buzzing disappeared and they also sounded quieter at high RPM's.

 

[fcb]

I think a fan controller will definitely be a better investment instead of having to replace all the fans again. You'll be able to continue using the fan controller in future systems as well.

 

[malarky13]

My fans were well loud so I got some 7v resistors and they are now much quieter. Resistors are cheap but for the price of four you can get a decentish fan controller. I never liked the look of any controllers and wont be changing fan speeds so its good for me. If you will be changing speeds a lot or want fans at different speeds get a controller.

 

[RobPhoboS]

I bought the Scythe controller, and it'll be mounted internally in the case, hopefully it'll help out

 

[yassarikhan786]

I bought the Scythe controller, and it'll be mounted internally in the case, hopefully it'll help out

I have a Scythe fan controller and it is very good.

 

[kilobravo]

Lamptron make some good fancontrollers and they support 25-45w a channel.That is a good one if you use fansplitters.