I strongly prefer fans with fluid bearings (FDB). Very quiet, very good durability.
I don't know what's good in the 80mm size, but I love the Scythe S-Flex 120mm FDB fans. The SilenX ones are even better, but more expensive. > -----Original Message----- > From: hardware-boun...@hardwaregroup.com [mailto:hardware- > boun...@hardwaregroup.com] On Behalf Of DSinc > Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 1:17 PM > To: Hardware Group > Subject: [H] New Fans! > > I am getting ripe to order new 80mm cooling fans for my LAN machines. > Most/all of them have been running well for the past 12 or so years. > I now have two that have cooling fans with fan bearings going bad. > I need 18 80mm fans. !So many choices! > > I have already decided to buy 9 Noctua NF-R8-1800 fans from Newegg > (N82E16835608006). I have wanted to test this brand for the past 3 yrs > based on comments here on our List. Yes, these are expensive. But, I'd > like to have some practical experience with this vendor. > > Where I now get really foggy is with the remaining 9 fans. I thought it > would be a simple decision of fan bearings. I prefer ball bearings. > Nope! Now I have fan bearing choices I just can not picture in my mind. > And, 1 choice seems to have some hidden electronics in the wiring that > may vary actual fan speed. Hmm. So, I am a bit confused. > > I have seen the newer 3/4 pin interface and a newer 4/5 pin fan > interface. Scary this is 4Me. I own 3-pin cooling fan interfaces! > > I seek List opinion/suggestion! All my choices are from Newegg. > > N82E16811999069, Cooler-Master, 2-Ball, 2500rpm, 26dba, $7.99/ea. > > N82E16811999070, Cooler-Master, Ball, 2500rpm, 26dba, $3.99/ea. [cheap] > > N82E16811999071, Cooler-Master, SuperFlo, 1400rpm, 13dba, $5.99 Please > 'splain me a "SuperFlo" fan bearing...?? > > N82E16835103025, Cooler-Master, RIFLE, 2000rpm, 20.9dba, $6.99/ea. > **WTF > is a RIFLE bearing? > > N82E16835186013, Arctic-Cooling, Fluid Dynamic, 600-2Krpm, 9.5-21dba, > $6.99/ea. **I suspect some post m/b rpm/temp electronics here??? > Confused I am! > > Tell ya what! I'll order my Noctua fans now, and, wait for comments, > suggestions, and opinions! > Thank you, > Duncan
