Best Fans That Aren't Noctua?

[_ASSASSIN_]

I've always wondered, what are the best options for watercooling (i'm planning on using the Thick, EK rads) fans that aren't ugly Noctuas that I have to bother to dye/paint

What I think

Gentle Typhoon
Gelid Wings
???????????

might make this a poll, but post sources when saying which preforms better

remember

NOT NOCTUA

*EDIT* 
let me add, I would like it to be QUIET
thanks

[Hyydrah]

SP120s or Spectre Pros if you don't mind the higher temperatures.

[bennyino]

noiseblocker eloop's are awesome :D

[extremescouter]

Corsair SP 120mm Quiet editions are also great choices. 

[xToFxREAPER]

i like silverstone air penetrators as an alternative to noctua, matter of preference i suppose

[BoomLiam]

I got a pair of Corsair SP120 fans yesterday. So far, they're performing great! :D

[Deaven]

Noiseblockers are good, atleast the one Bennyino mentioned. The eLoop's

[LIGISTX]

SP 120's! I love mine, and they look amazing. I have the higher RPM version (not quiet edition ones...) and at full RPM they are on the loud side, but at low RPM they will perform well imo.

[_ASSASSIN_]

I got a pair of Corsair SP120 fans yesterday. So far, they're performing great! :D

BUT THEY'RE SO LOUD, had one, never used it again

[CaramelPleasure]

My favorites are:

1: Corsair SP120 quiet edition's

2. Phobya NB-eLoop's

3. Noctua NF-F12's

Ignore the noctua's my OCD stopped me from not being able to right my top 3 lol

[BoomLiam]

BUT THEY'RE SO LOUD, had one, never used it again

I honestly cannot hear mine... Are you sure some odd voltage wasn't  being sent to them, causing the motor to whine?

[LIGISTX]

My SP120's are pretty loud, the quite edition ones are not, but the normal ones at full 12V are loud. If you plug them into a mobo header that isn't giving full 12v at the time, this could be the issue, well I guess non-issue. haha. I have a fan controller, and when gaming I ramp em up to just about full and you can't hear them over the time, but once you quite, you won't forget to go turn them down again ;)

[d33g33]

noiseblocker eloop's are awesome :D

Do know if you can mount 2x on a 240mm Rad? because they are almost 140mm fans with 120mm mounting holes aren't they?

[LinusTech]

I also really like Air Penetrators and Gelid Wings, but nothing performs as well as Noctua.

[Nicktrance]

Noise Blockers, Corsair SP120s or Scythe Gentle Typhoons

 

 

Click on pictures for full res.

 

 

It doesn't take static pressure or the type of noise in consideration and it was made before the latest NB fans were released but it does give a good idea of the noise vs performance, Corsair SP120s destroy everything in this particular comparison unless you care more about airflow than noise, in which case the Gentle Typhoons are better. What might come as a surprise to some Noctua is in the second group.

 

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/120mm-fan-roundup-4_24.html#sect0

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/120mm-fan-roundup-3_13.html#sect0

[bennyino]

BUT THEY'RE SO LOUD, had one, never used it again

thats exactly the opposite of what they are known for, make sure you dont have a broken fin or something :)

[teeejay]

What about some Be Quiet! fans? Could they be used for radiator mount also? I ask, because I got their PSU and it is just awesome, quiet and great looking. I am really impressed with Be Quiet! so far  :)

[hadesjoy]

I started some time ago using Akasa Apache 120s/140s on both air and water (AIO until I can build my own) cooling solutions...so far very satisfied with temps and noise levels....

[Henry]

Noctua is making black fans, so wait for that to come.

I saw them in a computex video by @LinusTech

[naca1227]

Be quiet fans?

[teeejay]

You do not know Be Quiet!? http://www.bequiet.com/en