Is there a non-whiney 120mm fan for use on a PWM fan controller?

H3LL5P4WN · 11-July-05, 12:14 PM

I have a Noise Isolator PWM fan controlle r, and have a pair of Enermax fans strapped to my heatercore. When I turn those fans' channel down, they emit a bit of an annoying whine, especially about 8 o'clock to 11 o'clock, and 2 o'clock to 5 o'clock on the dials.

Does anyone know of any 120mm, 3-pin fans that don't whine when you use a PWM controller on them?

BigAkita · 11-July-05, 12:34 PM

Is it the controller or the fans that are causing the noise? Pulse Width Modulated controllers are known to emit noises.

H3LL5P4WN · 11-July-05, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAkita


	Is it the controller or the fans that are causing the noise? Pulse Width Modulated controllers are known to emit noises.

I want to say that it is the fans.

I do know about the noise issue with PWM controllers, however the fans on my second and third channel do not do this. When I had an Enermax on the second channel in my old case it made this noise, only to a lesser extent, and I attributed this to there only being one Enermax fan on this channel.

Thanks for the quick reply too.

BigAkita · 11-July-05, 12:45 PM

PWM controllers get louder the lower you turn them down since the pulses are coming less frequently which brings it into a range the human ear can pick up. Double check where the noise is coming from and if it is the fans, you'll want to get a pair with a low noise blade design. Most people don't realize that it isn't the fan that makes the noise, the sound is the air as it exits the blade.

H3LL5P4WN · 11-July-05, 12:47 PM

The electric motor would have to make some noise correct?

The noise I'm hearing definatly isn't an air turbulence noise (I do have that, but that's not an issue for me).

BigAkita · 11-July-05, 01:41 PM

If they are sleeve fans they may be rubbing on the center hub. If they are bearing fans a bearing could be failing. If that is the case, just one of the pair should make the noise.

H3LL5P4WN · 11-July-05, 04:27 PM

Hmm.

It's possible, but I've only had them for 6 months, at the max.

nev_payne · 11-July-05, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAkita


	Is it the controller or the fans that are causing the noise? Pulse Width Modulated controllers are known to emit noises.

I htought that was only at higher voltages? Or maybe im thinking of the rheo rather than the fan. Have you triend another fan just to see if it emits a similar noise?

cpjlam · 20-August-05, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H3LL5P4WN


	The electric motor would have to make some noise correct? The noise I'm hearing definatly isn't an air turbulence noise (I do have that, but that's not an issue for me).

When using a particular pulse width, it's possible to develop some resonance with the motor armatures. If it's not mechanical noise (rubbing, grinding, air buffetting, etc.) it's possible that it may be coming from a resonant condition.

H3LL5P4WN · 22-August-05, 08:21 AM

Nope, its not any sort of mechanical noise. Plus, eventually there would be some sort of indication that the fans are wearing out, either dust from the wearing part, or a smell, or a rise in temps perhaps.

cpjlam · 22-August-05, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H3LL5P4WN


	Nope, its not any sort of mechanical noise. Plus, eventually there would be some sort of indication that the fans are wearing out, either dust from the wearing part, or a smell, or a rise in temps perhaps.

In which case it's probably a resonant conditon, otherwise presuming that your controller is not (due to limit of design) directly causing the issue.

11-July-05, 12:14 PM		#1 (permalink)
H3LL5P4WN Apex Master Tech Apprentice	Is there a non-whiney 120mm fan for use on a PWM fan controller? I have a Noise Isolator PWM fan controlle r, and have a pair of Enermax fans strapped to my heatercore. When I turn those fans' channel down, they emit a bit of an annoying whine, especially about 8 o'clock to 11 o'clock, and 2 o'clock to 5 o'clock on the dials. Does anyone know of any 120mm, 3-pin fans that don't whine when you use a PWM controller on them?

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11-July-05, 12:34 PM		#2 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer	Is it the controller or the fans that are causing the noise? Pulse Width Modulated controllers are known to emit noises.

11-July-05, 12:45 PM		#4 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer	PWM controllers get louder the lower you turn them down since the pulses are coming less frequently which brings it into a range the human ear can pick up. Double check where the noise is coming from and if it is the fans, you'll want to get a pair with a low noise blade design. Most people don't realize that it isn't the fan that makes the noise, the sound is the air as it exits the blade.

11-July-05, 12:47 PM		#5 (permalink)
H3LL5P4WN Apex Master Tech Apprentice	The electric motor would have to make some noise correct? The noise I'm hearing definatly isn't an air turbulence noise (I do have that, but that's not an issue for me).

11-July-05, 01:41 PM		#6 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer	If they are sleeve fans they may be rubbing on the center hub. If they are bearing fans a bearing could be failing. If that is the case, just one of the pair should make the noise.

11-July-05, 04:27 PM		#7 (permalink)
H3LL5P4WN Apex Master Tech Apprentice	Hmm. It's possible, but I've only had them for 6 months, at the max.

22-August-05, 08:21 AM		#10 (permalink)
H3LL5P4WN Apex Master Tech Apprentice	Nope, its not any sort of mechanical noise. Plus, eventually there would be some sort of indication that the fans are wearing out, either dust from the wearing part, or a smell, or a rise in temps perhaps.