Radiator Fans

[Fibbles]

In the "watercooling ideas - help needed thread", as I was reading this response:

Because low flow is better :p

Seriously though:

You can cool anything and everything without having to worry about flow restrictions. HDD, mosfet coolers etc are only really viable with smaller tubing.

It's far quieter because you don't need a powerful pump or powerful fans on the rad.

It's more tidy and far easier to fit in tight spaces.

It looks the dogs nads!!! (AquaTube!!!!)

Plug and cool connectors are a god send. They're so easy to use!


/edit
Welcome to WizD btw :)
the "It's far quieter because you don't need a powerful pump or powerful fans on the rad." made me curious about radiator fans. Back when I had a high flow 1/2" setup, I was using a double heatercore radiator with dual 100+ CFM Panaflo fans. They were pretty loud and I usually ran them on high. I have an Airplex EVO 240 now and I'm running a P4 3.0 @ stock (some light OC'ing, but I tend to run stock more) along with my Radeon 9800pro (OC'd to XT speeds). I have 1 green LED and 1 UV orange fan, both rated at 69 CFM and are really loud too. I'd love to buy 2 AOC Aluminum 80cfm fans at 30ish dba but I really lack money.

To make a long story short, what CFM rating can I get away with?

In case you're wondering and don't want to do any thread searching, I have a Cuplex EVO 1.1, an Aquastream 12v, an Airplex EVO 240, an Innovatek Tank O Matic (soon to be replaced with an Aquatube), and an Alphacool GPX.

[Pug]

To make a long story short, what CFM rating can I get away with?

In case you're wondering and don't want to do any thread searching, I have a Cuplex EVO 1.1, an Aquastream 12v, an Airplex EVO 240, an Innovatek Tank O Matic (soon to be replaced with an Aquatube), and an Alphacool GPX.
I personally use a pair of Papst Fans {120mm, 26dB, 55.3CFM, FGL-Series (4412 F/2GL)} on rheobuses for a similar setup but with NB, mosfets, PSU & HDD in the loop too. I've also used the FGML derivatives (32dB, 67.1CFM) for better temps in the past but these are quieter & I rarely ran the FGMLs at full anyway ('cept in bragging matches ;)).

[Fibbles]

Thanks. Looks like I'll need to save up now ^_^ Down the line I'll be adding two hard drive coolers as well. I'm not so sure on which one though, but that's another thread. :unsure:

[Starbuck3733T]

I'm running a P4 3.06@3.66 w\ a 85 ford econoline van heatercore, custom shroud that holds two aluminum panaflo L1A (the rare variety, polished to a mirror :cool:), and they run at 50% speed (PWM via speedfan) at idle. Keeps the whole thing rather happy. I believe the spec on them is 70CFM @ 32dB, but don't quote me on that.

[mnpctech]

I'd love to buy 2 AOC Aluminum 80cfm fans at 30ish dba but I really lack moneyI compared their alum 120 side by side w/ Panaflo L1A -68.9 cfm @ 30 dB @ 7 volts and AOC is noticibly louder. Dare I say AOC dB ratings are bogus? Not w/o proper dB test, but I've developed good ear for fans.

(ffieroboy @ ars-technica can test fan dB ratings. I'll remind myself to ask him about AOC fans)

Look great, but I wouldn't recommend alum AOCs for silence

http://prudhoe.codeword.com/mnpctech/1DUECE/MHQchss1.jpg

[Starbuck3733T]

As mnpctech and I know, the true king of aluminum fans is a polished aluminum frame L1A. Hard as hell to find, not cheap, and time consuming to polish... but MAN do they ever look magnificent!

http://www.uploadit.org/Starbuck3733T/prettyfan.jpg
See those bottles of blue moon to the side? I drank 4 of them in the time it took me to do a FINAL polish on that fan!

[kazuo]

yeah, those panaflos look great with polished frame. sometimes you can find them on ebay for about 10-20$.
i know they were installed in several computer systems but a specific modeltype would make it easier to find them.

anybody knows where they are/were installed ex works? dell, ibm, whatever?

[Starbuck3733T]

I know they were used in some IBM servers, but I don't know which ones.

[Fibbles]

I compared their alum 120 side by side w/ Panaflo L1A -68.9 cfm @ 30 dB @ 7 volts and AOC is noticibly louder. Dare I say AOC dB ratings are bogus? Not w/o proper dB test, but I've developed good ear for fans.

(ffieroboy @ ars-technica can test fan dB ratings. I'll remind myself to ask him about AOC fans)

Look great, but I wouldn't recommend alum AOCs for silence

http://prudhoe.codeword.com/mnpctech/1DUECE/MHQchss1.jpg
I have an 92mm AOC and it's pretty loud for its proposed DBA rating (got it for a nice looking attempt at quiet when I had a Thermalright SLK something or other). Right now I have a pair of Sunons (the same ones that Vantec re-lables as thier Stealths) at 30dba and 53 CFM. Not quite Pabst silence or airflow, but it does the job... I hope. That'd be neato to get him to check the DBA ratings. ^_^

I'm still leak testing, I had a little drip comming off a Plug and Cool bent fitting on the pump. It leaks only when it's oriented to the direction I plan to keep it, it's really annoying me!!!:angry:

[Darv]

I've got a single Papst 4412 F/2GL at 7v on an APE120. I can't hear it at all unless I was to stick my ear next to it.

It must be doing it's job because even in this hot weather we're having the core temp on my CPU is +5C over ambient. B)

[mnpctech]

Guess what I found today while searching through my junk?..... An Aluminum 120mm Panaflo :wub: I forgot I had bought from somebody after I lost the lock washer off another one. So its missing the shaft lock washer :( If I ever find out if another lock washer is compatible, the fan is up for grabs. damn, thats a bummer for all

[kazuo]

Guess what I found today while searching through my junk?..... An Aluminum 120mm Panaflo :wub: I forgot I had bought from somebody after I lost the lock washer off another one. So its missing the shaft lock washer :( If I ever find out if another lock washer is compatible, the fan is up for grabs. damn, thats a bummer for all Hehe, today i saw one on ebay.fr for 6Euro. Now guess who bought it? ^_^
I got 4 of them laying around but i've the same problem with one of them. The lock washer suddenly flew through my room. No chance :rant:

Edit: Take a look at this auction. 8fans left click me (http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3673&item=3486562848&rd=1&ssPageName=WD2V)