Difference between 5$ fans and 20$?

[no_clntrol]

I am on a tight budget and need cooling for my system, looking at the fans, the 5$ one has a 1 year warranty and the 20$ has none. It pushes the same amount of air, is 50RPM slower and is 3db louder. Paying 15$ for 50RPM and silence seems stupid, so what is the actual difference? 5$ one is named like Arctic Cooling (I believe), 120mm.

Edit: Arctic Cooling F12 PWM is the name, and had a 6y warranty, not 1.

[thatguyyouknow75]

the air being moved wont really change, its just a matter of noise. On a budget buy the cheap fans, there are tons of cheap little mods you can do to quiet a noisy fan

[Xenift]

Well sometimes is that the bearing is more expensive to product, or that the product has not entered it's sales stages yet.

If the reviews are good, i don't see any reason not to get the cheaper one.

[QueenDemetria]

I am on a tight budget and need cooling for my system, looking at the fans, the 5$ one has a 1 year warranty and the 20$ has none. It pushes the same amount of air, is 50RPM slower and is 3db louder. Paying 15$ for 50RPM and silence seems stupid, so what is the actual difference? 5$ one is named like Arctic Cooling (I believe), 120mm.

Arctic cooling is fine.

[Enderman]

I used the arctic cooling fans before, they work, are loud, and one of two failed after a few months

[no_clntrol]

the air being moved wont really change, its just a matter of noise. On a budget buy the cheap fans, there are tons of cheap little mods you can do to quiet a noisy fan

Okay, but I do not really mind them being noisy, if it is cheaper. Okay, will do!

[no_clntrol]

I used the arctic cooling fans before, they work, are loud, and one of two failed after a few months

Good thing there is a warranty

[no_clntrol]

Well sometimes is that the bearing is more expensive to product, or that the product has not entered it's sales stages yet.

If the reviews are good, i don't see any reason not to get the cheaper one.

4/5 stars, the reviews that downgraded it were ones about noise and vibrations.

[thatguyyouknow75]

Okay, but I do not really mind them being noisy, if it is cheaper. Okay, will do!

Just in case it bugs you, using fishing wire and mattress type foam padding to tie them into place can be surprisingly quiet (I used to be REALLY poor and used all sorts of fans and sketchy heatsinks)

[no_clntrol]

Just in case it bugs you, using fishing wire and mattress type foam padding to tie them into place can be surprisingly quiet (I used to be REALLY poor and used all sorts of fans and sketchy heatsinks)

Yeah that was my thought as well, because the only visual difference I can spot are the rubberized edges, which is a really easy fix. Do you know if 140mm fan slots support 120mm? The Arctic Cooling ones looked good but couldn't find them in a bigger size

[thatguyyouknow75]

you can always make it! otherwise no, 140 is bigger and takes up more space

[no_clntrol]

you can always make it! otherwise no, 140 is bigger and takes up more space

Alright, since I dislike loose and spinning components I suppose it's time to check out some budget 140's. Thanks for the help!

[thatguyyouknow75]

Alright, since I dislike loose and spinning components I suppose it's time to check out some budget 140's. Thanks for the help!

Good luck!

[shibbs]

Look into getting "rubber screws" if you want to keep fans quieter.

[no_clntrol]

Look into getting "rubber screws" if you want to keep fans quieter.

I don't mind it being louder if it performs the same for quarter of the price. Is not possible to use some kikd of foam/matress between the case and the fans?

[Sauron]

dB are exponential, so 3dB more are not irrelevant. If you don't care, the cheap fans should be fine.

[no_clntrol]

dB are exponential, so 3dB more are not irrelevant. If you don't care, the cheap fans should be fine.

Yeah I know that the difference between 30 and 36 etc. is a lot more than it seems, but my current one is like 50db on idle haha

[Drunkaroos]

I recommend shelling out a bit more money and getting a good Noctua air cooler. Can recommend as there in one in my current build keeping my i5-6600 at a cool 39 degrees at idle. They are a really ugly beige and brown color style though...

[no_clntrol]

I recommend shelling out a bit more money and getting a good Noctua air cooler. Can recommend as there in one in my current build keeping my i5-6600 at a cool 39 degrees at idle. They are a really ugly beige and brown color style though...

Yeah but that is for the CPU where I do not really mind spending money since I know it makes a difference, this was alm about the case fans. But thanks for looking out for me!

[Drunkaroos]

Yeah but that is for the CPU where I do not really mind spending money since I know it makes a difference, this was alm about the case fans. But thanks for looking out for me!

Ooops I thought you were talking about CPU cooler 

[CeremonialSnips]

Maybe a mid range case fan... one from a known brand... but not a silence obsessed brand... something like a Corsair or Fractal.... maybe get a better bearing and longer life than a 5 buck bargain brand...that said, if the bargain brand fails in a year or two your only out 5 bucks...in summary... buy what you can afford based on needs, not what youtubers suggest or people with alot of disposable income fanboy over.  I'm pretty sure LTT made a video regarding this exact subject...