"Best" Choice 120mm Computer Fan
I own (4) Fantastic Endless Breeze fans Sometimes I want a much smaller fan that I can slip inside a "Pabellon" Pab-E-YOAN hammock tenting made of mosquito netting A computer muffin fan with twin ...
Forum Discussion
The silverstone FM121 is an excellent fan. 0.09 amps to 0.4, upto 110CFM@ 2400 rpm. Built in speed controller. 10K ohm 2 wire remote pot.
I've had one in continuous operation on my ceiling for 7+ years. Hours at 14.7v each day. It exhausts cooking fumes too.
But, without any doubt in my opinion, the Noctua Industrial NF-F12 industrialPPC 3000 rpm version is superior.
It too has 110CFM, but more than twice the static pressure rating at max speed, than the silverstone fm121 at max speed. Also at max RPM, it only draws 0.3 amps. 110CFM and the huge static pressure rating, for 0.3 amps makes it the most efficient 120MM fan available. It is also IP52 rated
https://noctua.at/en/products/product-line-industrial/nf-f12-industrialppc-3000-pwm
Noctua has a new PWM speed controller. The fan does not Whine at redced speeds on this controller.
https://noctua.at/en/products/accessories/na-fc1
I have 2 of the industriual Noctuas on their speed controller. Their speed controller can handle many fans at once, and splitter cables are provided.
If one rotates the Speed pot all the way CCW, it can turn the fan off, or if they press the button the little green light will come on and it will run the fans at minimum RPM. which is Very slow and dead silent. I use my Noctua speed controller as an on off switch. Minimum speed for both Noctua fans is somewhere around 0.03 amps consumption.
The Noctua fans do not whine at reduced speeds. These fans do well with restriction in front of OR behind the impeller, which is not true of the SilverstoneFM121(behind)
Noctua has a 6 year warranty
They answer Emails promptly.
They have come out with some newer fans that have only a 0.5mm clearance between fan blade tips and the housing.
https://noctua.at/en/products/fan/nf-a12x25-pwm
Noctua has 140MM industrial fans which are IP67 rated, and some of their 120MM fans at 24V are IP67 rated.
I have two NF-F12's 3000 rpm industrials as intake fans on the speed controller, next to a Silverstone fm181 fan. All three together at max speed use less than an amp.
I do not use a finger guard on the front of the noctuas as the hub support will keep all but a determined finger out. The rear on mine would require a tool to hit impeller, but these Noctuas do not come with a finger guard grille.
If you want the Mac daddy of all 120MM fans, Delta has a 120MM fan with 252CFM, which face down on a flat surface will hover and roam around the table at the limit of the power cord. It will also remove ones fingertip. I was not able to successfully control this fan via the 4th wire, the blue PWM wire.
I might have fried the PWM circuit trying inadequate methods to slow the fan. A regular PWM Motor speed controller feeding the power on red and black, cannot slow the fan enough to be useful.
It is ridiculously loud. Mine draws about 2.83 amps at ~12.2v. More at higher voltage. Will not spin up below 9v, and is still way too fast and loud at 9v. Nice to have that power available though.
https://www.amazon.com/Delta-Electronics-PFC1212DE-120x120x38mm-Cooling/dp/B004Z29YOM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1526877314&sr=8-2&keywords=252+cfm+fan
I had a regular 1500 rpm NF-F12 on my fridge conpressor for 5 years. I replaced it with the Noctua NF-a12x15 which is said to outperform 2 NF-f12's in a push pull orientation on an heatsink.
I movved the NF-f12 to exhaust my electrical cabinet at reduced speed of 1200rpm via the provided noise reduction cables
My Meanwell power supply Lid has a 60MM pusher and an 80 MM Noctua fan puller it. The keep its loid 40MM fan from coming on until mp output exceeds 32 of its 40Max.
MOney no Object, the Industrial Noctua nf-f12 3000 rpm and their speed controller are the best, especially considering the 0.3amp max draw.
My silverstone FM181, a 180MM fan, is 0.08 amps at slowest speed which is still ~65CFM and 0.27 amps at max RPM and ~165CFM. Much Much quieter, more air moved. Hard to get 180MM fingerguards/grills.
I eagerly await new Computer fan designs, but do not require any more air movement, even parking in direct sun mid summer.
I've had one in continuous operation on my ceiling for 7+ years. Hours at 14.7v each day. It exhausts cooking fumes too.
But, without any doubt in my opinion, the Noctua Industrial NF-F12 industrialPPC 3000 rpm version is superior.
It too has 110CFM, but more than twice the static pressure rating at max speed, than the silverstone fm121 at max speed. Also at max RPM, it only draws 0.3 amps. 110CFM and the huge static pressure rating, for 0.3 amps makes it the most efficient 120MM fan available. It is also IP52 rated
https://noctua.at/en/products/product-line-industrial/nf-f12-industrialppc-3000-pwm
Noctua has a new PWM speed controller. The fan does not Whine at redced speeds on this controller.
https://noctua.at/en/products/accessories/na-fc1
I have 2 of the industriual Noctuas on their speed controller. Their speed controller can handle many fans at once, and splitter cables are provided.
If one rotates the Speed pot all the way CCW, it can turn the fan off, or if they press the button the little green light will come on and it will run the fans at minimum RPM. which is Very slow and dead silent. I use my Noctua speed controller as an on off switch. Minimum speed for both Noctua fans is somewhere around 0.03 amps consumption.
The Noctua fans do not whine at reduced speeds. These fans do well with restriction in front of OR behind the impeller, which is not true of the SilverstoneFM121(behind)
Noctua has a 6 year warranty
They answer Emails promptly.
They have come out with some newer fans that have only a 0.5mm clearance between fan blade tips and the housing.
https://noctua.at/en/products/fan/nf-a12x25-pwm
Noctua has 140MM industrial fans which are IP67 rated, and some of their 120MM fans at 24V are IP67 rated.
I have two NF-F12's 3000 rpm industrials as intake fans on the speed controller, next to a Silverstone fm181 fan. All three together at max speed use less than an amp.
I do not use a finger guard on the front of the noctuas as the hub support will keep all but a determined finger out. The rear on mine would require a tool to hit impeller, but these Noctuas do not come with a finger guard grille.
If you want the Mac daddy of all 120MM fans, Delta has a 120MM fan with 252CFM, which face down on a flat surface will hover and roam around the table at the limit of the power cord. It will also remove ones fingertip. I was not able to successfully control this fan via the 4th wire, the blue PWM wire.
I might have fried the PWM circuit trying inadequate methods to slow the fan. A regular PWM Motor speed controller feeding the power on red and black, cannot slow the fan enough to be useful.
It is ridiculously loud. Mine draws about 2.83 amps at ~12.2v. More at higher voltage. Will not spin up below 9v, and is still way too fast and loud at 9v. Nice to have that power available though.
https://www.amazon.com/Delta-Electronics-PFC1212DE-120x120x38mm-Cooling/dp/B004Z29YOM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1526877314&sr=8-2&keywords=252+cfm+fan
I had a regular 1500 rpm NF-F12 on my fridge conpressor for 5 years. I replaced it with the Noctua NF-a12x15 which is said to outperform 2 NF-f12's in a push pull orientation on an heatsink.
I movved the NF-f12 to exhaust my electrical cabinet at reduced speed of 1200rpm via the provided noise reduction cables
My Meanwell power supply Lid has a 60MM pusher and an 80 MM Noctua fan puller it. The keep its loid 40MM fan from coming on until mp output exceeds 32 of its 40Max.
MOney no Object, the Industrial Noctua nf-f12 3000 rpm and their speed controller are the best, especially considering the 0.3amp max draw.
My silverstone FM181, a 180MM fan, is 0.08 amps at slowest speed which is still ~65CFM and 0.27 amps at max RPM and ~165CFM. Much Much quieter, more air moved. Hard to get 180MM fingerguards/grills.
I eagerly await new Computer fan designs, but do not require any more air movement, even parking in direct sun mid summer.
