Fan question

[Dawelio]

You’re all probably going to chop my head off for even asking this question in the first place...

But for someone who hasn’t been all that involved in building and fans in general, I just wanted to hear your guys thoughts on which fan is ”better” for an AIO: The Corsair ML120’s or an Noctua Industrial 2000RPM PWM one?

As I’m thinking of the Fractal Design Define Nano S and wondering which one would be best suited.

But still, want to hear your guys thoughts on this and also, does anyone here know if it’s possible to change the brightness of the ML LED ones or are they just stuck to the brightness which they come?.

Thanks,
Dawelio

 

[Warchild]

Depends on how fast you intend to run the fans. Either of those are good, Noctua being the better one.

But for noise, the magnetic levitation technology should be quieter. the ML120 LED i think is a fixed brightness and is not effected by the PWM being run through the fan.

Some fans with LED get dimmer as you lower the fan speed because of how they are powered, but for the ML120 I think its just static colour and brightness. Dice can probably tell you as he uses them.

 

[NeverBackDown]

I'd say Noctua is quieter. I can run the brand new fans at like 1300rpm and hear just a whisper of air moving. Although at 2000rpm it's a wind tunnel

 

[Senzelian]

But for noise, the magnetic levitation technology should be quieter.

If the bearing was the only part of a fan that made noise, then the Corsair fans would be quieter, but the aerodynamics of the fan blades, the frame and also coil whine are sources for noise.

I could be wrong here, but I'd think that the Noctua fans have better fan blades and frames and therefore are overall quieter.

 

[Warchild]

If the bearing was the only part of a fan that made noise, then the Corsair fans would be quieter, but the aerodynamics of the fan blades, the frame and also coil whine are sources for noise.

I could be wrong here, but I'd think that the Noctua fans have better fan blades and frames and therefore are overall quieter.

Many reviews are placing the ML120 at 40db at max 12v, and the Noctua around 42. Sadly I cant find a review that tests both in the same environment so its not apples to apples comparison

 

[coffeefoot]

I'm running Noctua's at 700 rpm and they are just about silent.