Best small fan

[TheRedViper]

Hello there, im wondering if any of you used small fans (40-50mm) in a pc before and what would you recommend?

 

The vrm heatsink of the x299 apex can hold a fan up to 50mm to help cool it.

[samcool55]

Noctua should have something that fits. Just don't expect much from them, they are quite small.

[LukaH]

hmmmm i know der8auer screwed a tiny noiseblocker fan onto a x299 heatsink.

[manikyath]

noctua, fractal design, etc.

 

pretty much any brand that makes decent large size fans will make similar quality smaller fans.

[mariushm]

I don't like those small fans.

I'd rather use squirrel case style fans instead of those...

 

For example, something like this :

 

with rpm and pwm wire (easier to fan control) but 10v .. 13.8v input : https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/sanyo-denki-america-inc/9BMB12P2F01/1688-1377-ND/6192093

with only rpm wire but can work with 7v to 13.8v : https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/sanyo-denki-america-inc/9BMB12F201/1688-1374-ND/6192090

 

 

The rectangle from which air comes out is around 58 mm by 38 mm , so pretty much what a 50mm fan would cover. Being wider also helps chill the whole wider heatsink.

 

At 4500 rpm such fan is NOISY but pushes loads of air, BUT the rpm can be controller through voltage or with the pwm wire ... fan can work with 7v to 13.8v so just use a fan controller or an adjustable switching regulator to adjust rpm speed.

For example find a fan controller with a temperature sensor, glue that temp sensor on the vrm heatsink and then set the curve to keep the heatsink cool while adjusting that monster fan's rpm.

 

There's more silent version which tops out at 3300 rpm but such fans are available from other manufacturers as well, and with different rectangle nozzle/whatever shape you want to call it

 

Or very cheap and smaller (around 32mm wide) and also with pwm wire : https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/delta-electronics/BFB0512VHD-SP01/603-1244-ND/2309198