Best radiator fan

[guldan22]

Sup guys. I got 4x EK Vardar 120mm fans today for my 2x 240mm rads for my new setup. Heard they were pretty good and although temps are really nice I don't really like their noise profile. Past 1000 rpm they hum and are too loud for my taste. I don't think there's anything wrong with them- that's just a characteristic of the specific fan. The store said I could bring them back and swap them out for another fan so I've been having a look online. For my silence is almost as important as cooling performance so am naturally inclined towards something like the NF-F12. I would realllllyy  appreciate some suggestions. I know noise can be suggestive but I think my experience with the Vardar's might be a good reference point.

 

Thanks! 

[A Silver]

Noctua is the best choice but most people don't go for them as they are expensive. If you don't mind paying extra, go for the NF-F12

[guldan22]

Just now, A Silver said:

Noctua is the best choice but most people don't go for them as they are expensive. If you don't mind paying extra, go for the NF-F12

I've heard that the Silent Wings 3 fans are also super quiet. Do you have any exp with them?

[A Silver]

1 minute ago, guldan22 said:

I've heard that the Silent Wings 3 fans are also super quiet. Do you have any exp with them?

No, sorry. I would wait for more people to give input as I am not 100% sure

[loculus]

NF-F12 is not that good acoustically.

 

(it's the fan on the NH-U12S; spikier and concentrated in certain frequency bands is worse than broadband)

 

See here:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1343-page5.html

 

iPPC version (just listen to the values with rpm 1500 and below)

 

To be honest, most fans that are better on radiators frequently don't have the best noise profile at higher speeds.

 

Do you have relatively thick and dense radiators or not? Actually, the lower-restriction rads might work better without some high pressure optimized fans (for performance at a given acoustic annoyance level). Actually on a medium restriction, a lot of times the Corsair AF are better than the Corsair SP series, for example.

 

I don't think there are really huge gains to be had switching from the Vardars, which are pretty decent. You just have to live with the noise character or run them at the lower rpm.

 

In free air the Corsair ML120 are pretty good in that regard as here:

But on a rad it won't be quite the same.

 

[WoodenMarker]

What rads are you using?