The first picture shows you an NF-F12. This fan has relatively high static pressure compared to its nominal output. It should. It was invented to be a radiator fan. But then it entered a new life. It became an industrial fan, the NF-F12 industrialPPC. Noctua tells us: The Blade Master family of fans by Cooler Master have been around for some years. They have a wavy blade, and they’re pretty quiet. The two specimens in our testing were obtained at retail. Too bad they’re sleeve bearing fans. I won’t trust sleeve bearing fans on a heatsink. is the lowest RPM achieved on the B12-PS which is above the rated minimum RPM of 400. The maximum speed of the fan comes to 1650 RPM. Rated maximum speed is 1500 RPM. The fan stops spinning below 5.0V. Minimum speed on B12-P was 300 RPM at 4.5V giving us 11.94 CFM. The maximum reported speed comes out to 2130RPM which is 130 RPM above the rated speed of 2000 RPM. Thermal Testing Below you can find the best 40mm fans for computer cooling and for cooling other devices. These 40mm fans can also be used as replacement fans for various devices and components including Flex ATX PSU. 40mm Fans 12V Noctua NF-A4x10 FLX Fan The fans will be introduced, first, individually with descriptions and pictures. Next we see their specifications as a group. Then we shall look at their actual performance by comparing them with each other. So let’s get started. PWM Fans Arctic Cooling

It is very difficult to test system fans fairly as there are many factors that would need to be taken into account. However, since we can assume that the fan that moves the most air will provide the best cooling we can compare them on different fronts; their noise, features and longevity. The GlideStream PWM fan was supplied indirectly by Scythe when they provided the Ninja 4 for testing. The Glidestream has a 3-way switch, but the switch was left in H when the GlideStream was tested. To do this, both sets of fans were left running for one week in our test PC to see how audible they are during day to day activities and also how much dust would build up on the fan blades in this short time.Originally the house label for Newegg, Rosewill does offer their products for sale in other places these days. They produce a bewildering variety of fans. Not so bewildering are the Hyperborea fans, in 12 cm and 14 cm sizes. These have relatively low speeds as if the makers were aiming at their being used for case fans, as well as on heatsinks and rads. The two units here were obtained retail. Rosewill Hyperborea 12cm San Ace First the fans were placed in a test stand, where their free air RPM was observed. Then the fans’ noise was assessed. The standard proxy for what you can hear is the Sound Pressure Level (SPL), measured in decibels and given a type A weighting (dBA). A silent room is about 30 dBA. The idea here is to have an overall design in such a way that straight path for the airflow can be ensured and to reduce the possible noise that comes from the airstream. The noise on the airstream is more than the body-borne noise of the traditional axial fans. This is due to the vortexes produced at the end or tip of the blades. To counter this factor, special rotor design is implemented in these fans in which the tips of the blades have no end as there is one continuous frame covering the ends of the blades. The static pressure is rated at 1.475 mmH₂O at 12V. The air flow is rated at less than 58.1 CFM equivalent to 98.7 m³/h. The sound pressure is rated at less than 21.2 dB(A) at 100CM. The loudness level is 0.440 Sone (N) at 100CM. The MTBF is 140000 Std./hours. Operating temperature for the fans is -10°C to +60°C. The ambient noise for the current testing was 30 dBA. To measure noise levels that were softer than that, the sound pressure level was measured 10 cm from each fan. The sound pressure level was adjusted to 1 meter by subtracting 20 dB. The sound pressure meter was a Tenma 72-942. This fan tester has a microphone that is not accurate under 30 dBA. That means an adjusted measurement of 10 – 15 dBA is not accurate; the fan could easily be quieter than that. But this is the limit of all but the most expensive SPL meters. Test Stand

Fans come in a range of different sizes from 40mm all the way up to 220mm with the average PC chassis fan coming in two sizes including the 120mm and 140mm variant. Chassis Fans The next column shows the nominal fan speed in RPM. The next to the last column tells you how much noise the fan makes, the Sound Pressure Level at 1 meter, stated in decibels with an A weighting (dBA) which is reasonably close to what you might hear. And finally, the last column shows the airflow the fan produces, stated in cubic feet per minute, or CFM. The application comes with a clean and intuitive interface that is unlikely to give you any troubles. It is worth mentioning that the app scans your system for the audio drivers and, if it detects any issues, it prompts you to reinstall the utility or update the drivers to the latest version. As a side note, the tool does not provide the links for the newest drivers, so you need to look for that yourself. The Deepcool UF120 has been around since 2009. It is still for sale. This fan’s claim to fame is its rubber coating which attenuates vibrations. Further, it comes with four silicon vibration isolators. I have used most vibration isolators, and these are the best kind. Other accessories include a PWM-style 12-volt power tap (a so-called Molex adapter) and wires that shunt 12 volts and 5 volts together to get you a 7 volt Molex adapter. Both the GF120 and the UF120 were supplied by Deepcool.

Versions

The NB-eLoop X B14-P ARGB works in a range between 0 and 1500 RPM, thanks to PWM technology, generating a considerable static pressure of up to 2.310 mm H2O. However, it becomes absolutely impressive when looking at the airflow, i.e. the air flow rate. A remarkable 186 m³/h (109.47 cfm) at maximum are generated here despite the low speed range. At 12 Volt voltage and full speed the fan is still not louder than a maximum of 29.6 dB(A) - this is a remarkable achievement in the world of air cooling. Cable management, Decoupling and LightingFurthermore, the NB-eLoop has cable management: Only a very short 4-pin cable is attached to the fan itself, the length of which can be varied using two supplied adapter cables. Thanks to the choice of a polycarbonate material, in particular Makrolon, the chassis is also vibration dampened and additional dampeners are still included as standard. All sorts of products from heatsinks to fans are made by Deepcool. Their GF120 fans have special airflow channels. We can only speculate what they might do for unrestricted airflow, but as you will see below these fans are surprisingly good at pushing air through a rad.

These fans come under their IT series of fans which are marketed for the PC users and the enthusiasts. We are reviewing the B12-PS and B12-P versions of the eLoop in 120mm category. The B12-PS fans are rated at 12V DC with an input power of 0.95W using the 0.082Amperes. The starting voltage for these fans is 6.2V. The fans are rated at 400 to 1500 RPM at 12V. Answers to comments: SPL I can measure and put numbers to. The "tone" of a fan is highly subjective. Ask Noctua and Nidec. As said before, the blades are a translucent blue and have a slightly bumpy texture to them. This seems odd for a fan as it will increase air turbulence and therefore noise. It could also prove fatal with trapping dust over long periods of operating; our testing will let us know. Radiators for PC liquid cooling come in all sorts of sizes and configurations, from single 120mm radiators (one fan placement per side) all the way up to monstrous 560mm radiators. Other than choosing the correct size you need to ensure the fans offer high static pressure. The bionic loop fan is the world’s first such design to feature a bionic frame and bionic rotors. Combination of these two with the SLI2 and position invariant magnetic bearings have enabled the NB to deliver a product which delivers the same or better performance level as can be had from the axial fans but at much less noise level. The fans are modular as well. Unlike standard axial fans with fixed power connector, these fans don’t have fixed connectors.

80mm PC Fans

FDB = Fluid Dynamic Bearing, a patented evolution of the sleeve bearing which causes the lubricating fluid to be recirculated within the bearing. In our first testing we, try to validate the stated/rated airflow value by the manufacturer. The rated airflow value of B12-PS is 58.1 CFM at full speed. In my testing, the airflow value comes to the 64.25 CFM validating the rated airflow value. The rated airflow value for B12-P is 77.9 CFM. The tested value is 89.90 CFM. Case fans generally come in two core sizes including 120mm and 140mm versions. Apart from the fan diameter and location of the holes to attach to the chassis both are pretty much the same. Occasionally cases have a front or top 200mm - 230mm fan but with manufacturers producing more slim and sleek case designs, the larger fans are getting integratedless. Water Cooling Radiator Fans

Another 5V 40mm USB fan but this one is cheaper and comes with almost the same features as found in AC Infinity MULTIFAN Mini 40mm Quiet USB Cooling Fan. The fan comes with ball bearing, a metal grill for protection, and a 3 Speed fan controller. The fan has a maximum speed of 5300 RPM but airflow is a bit lower at 4.4 CFM, considering the fan speed. However, it is still adequate and can be used for ventilation of VR glasses, TV boxes, Raspberry Pie, Router, Small PC Case, PlayStation, Xbox, DVR / NVR, DIY Projects, and other small electronic equipment ventilation. The fan is on the noisier side and has a maximum noise rating of 27 dBA. The USB cable is 3.3 feet long which I think is pretty decent for normal use. So, if you want a cheaper alternative then you may go for this one. Noctua’s industrialPPC line also uses a 3-phase motor. Most motors you see have four poles inside. These have six. The Deepcool GF120 was a fine runner-up. Notice how much quieter the two winners were than their neighbors. They also pushed a lot more air through the restrictive rad than fans of similar unobstructed output. What made the Deepcool fan a runner-up and not one of the winners was the fact that it was a lot noisier than they were. Buy GDSTIME 40x10mm 5V Brushless DC Fan USB 40mm Fans 5V AC Infinity MULTIFAN Mini 40mm Quiet USB Cooling Fan Among computer enthusiasts, Scythe is a famous name. We have reviewed the Ninja 4 and the Fuma heatsinks here. We have also reviewed the Slip Stream DB fans here. Slip Stream and GlideStream fans focus on airflow, but they can push air through a rad. The Slip Stream PWM was part of a Mugen 2 that was bought retail. The Slip Stream DB fans were provided directly by Scythe. Only the PWM model is tested here.

USB 40mm Fans 5V

On the other hand, Cooler Master has brought out the Jet Flo fans, in 120 mm and 140 mm. They have a POM bearing, where a combination of oil and plastic lubricate this fan. Given that the POM, which is like Teflon, forms the mainstay of this bearing, it seems safe to use this on your rads. Jet Flo fans come with red, white, blue, or no LEDs. The six examples here were provided by Cooler Master.