Author Topic: Fan recommendations? (Read 5022 times)

javeryh · « **on:** March 14, 2005, 03:19:33 pm »

I'm looking for a couple of cooling fans for my cocktail cab. I'm sure it will be hot in there with the computer and 27" monitor... I'm thinking of using 4 80mm fans (1 on each end and 2 on the base) and a 120mm fan on the monitor itself. Is this overkill? Also, I'd like them to be as quiet as possible. Any recommendations? Thanks!

pointdablame · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2005, 03:22:12 pm »

If you want quiet, use all 120mm fans. 120's will be significantly quieter assuming you buy quality fans.

Franco · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2005, 03:46:18 pm »

Ive got four 100mm fans, one either side of my computer drawing air in and two pushing it out of the top.

They aint the quietest but you soon forget about them when you crank the tunes up!!

Flinkly · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2005, 03:47:56 pm »

i recommend these.

javeryh · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2005, 03:59:23 pm »

I'm not too worried about the color because they are going to be either facing the floor or behind the 6"x9" speaker grills... Thanks! Anyone else?

SideShow Rob · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2005, 04:01:27 pm »

These are very good fans:

The 12cm fan listed below is exceptionally quiet at 18dB -

http://www.akasa.co.uk/spec/fans/spec_ak_183_l2b.htm

The 8cm fan is a little noisier at 20dB, but will probably be quieter than your PSU, graphics card, cpu fans etc...

http://www.akasa.co.uk/spec/fans/spec_ak_182_l2b.htm

PaulG · « **Reply #6 on:** March 14, 2005, 07:16:02 pm »

Panaflos are the best IMO. They rock.

http://www.casecooler.com/vanstealquie.html

SOAPboy · « **Reply #7 on:** March 14, 2005, 07:17:08 pm »

Quote from: PaulG on March 14, 2005, 07:16:02 pm

Panaflos are the best IMO.

pointdablame · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2005, 08:15:25 pm »

I'll second panaflos as GREAT fans... there are some that are quieter though, but at the cost of CFM.

Of course... if you use a 120mm Panaflo @ 7V... that's damn near silent

cholin · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2005, 11:30:30 pm »

Yeah I was just looking at the other fans posted here and they're only like 1400 rpm, so that would explain why their so quiet! If you attached a few batteries to your fan, im sure it wouldnt make alot of noise

(Ive tried it with a 9v and its quiet compared to the 12v)

pointdablame · « **Reply #10 on:** March 15, 2005, 12:46:50 am »

Quote from: cholin on March 14, 2005, 11:30:30 pm

Yeah I was just looking at the other fans posted here and they're only like 1400 rpm, so that would explain why their so quiet! If you attached a few batteries to your fan, im sure it wouldnt make alot of noise (Ive tried it with a 9v and its quiet compared to the 12v)

You don't need batteries. You can power them off of your computer's PSU and simply undervolt them.

mmmPeanutButter · « **Reply #11 on:** March 15, 2005, 09:40:43 am »

I got a fan (from work) that has a temperature sensor. It goes at one speed at lower temperatures and when the temperature goes up, so does the speed.

I have the fan installed, but haven't wired it up yet, so I can't comment on performance.

Do these two-speed fans work well in cabs? Makes sense to me.

mmmPeanutButter

pointdablame · « **Reply #12 on:** March 15, 2005, 03:06:11 pm »

Quote from: mmmPeanutButter on March 15, 2005, 09:40:43 am

I got a fan (from work) that has a temperature sensor. It goes at one speed at lower temperatures and when the temperature goes up, so does the speed.

I have the fan installed, but haven't wired it up yet, so I can't comment on performance.

Do these two-speed fans work well in cabs? Makes sense to me.

mmmPeanutButter

If the fan is of decent quality, I don't see why they wouldn't work. You could also always get a fan controller and mount it somewhere convenient on your cab. Some of them can handle up to 6 or 8 fans, and vary the voltage/power on and off right from the faceplate.

RayB · « **Reply #13 on:** March 15, 2005, 03:09:28 pm »

4 fans eh?

If you were to use only 1 fan, where should it go? Logic tells me to put it near the top, since heat rises. But my Galaga has the fan near the floor.

cholin · « **Reply #14 on:** March 15, 2005, 03:13:59 pm »

When I said batteries, I meant just as a test, I didnt mean run your fans off batteries normally, it was a statement to show undervoltage. If I were mounting one fan in there, it would probably be right by my computer, considerring that computers get pretty darned hot. One thing I would see helping out would be to make a custom heat sink thats huge and stick that on your CPU, since you have a ton of space in your cab.... Thermal sensored fans are sometimes good, but I hate them. If the temperature goes like one degree higher than the fan recommends, then the fan makes a ton of noise. Thats how it is with mine anyways.

mmmPeanutButter · « **Reply #15 on:** March 15, 2005, 03:56:40 pm »

Quote from: pointdablame on March 15, 2005, 03:06:11 pm

If the fan is of decent quality, I don't see why they wouldn't work.

The fan is a Thermaltake... which I assume are decent. I should really get this thing hooked up.

elvis · « **Reply #16 on:** March 15, 2005, 04:25:25 pm »

I'm using Vantec Stealth 80mm fans in mine as intakes, with dust covers so I'm not having to open the thing up and clean it every few weeks, but simply remove the detatchable covers, clean, and snap them back on.

The stealth series is nice and quite. Throw some rubber washers on them, and you also reduce vibration noise.

http://www.vantecusa.com/product-cooling.html

javeryh · « **Reply #17 on:** March 15, 2005, 04:59:58 pm »

I'm so confused... so many choices...

Daniel270 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 15, 2005, 06:57:59 pm »

Wouldn't 2 be adequate? One at the base for intake, one up top for exhaust?

cholin · « **Reply #19 on:** March 15, 2005, 07:41:30 pm »

You would probably be better putting both near the bottom and just a vent towards the top.

armax · « **Reply #20 on:** March 15, 2005, 07:59:42 pm »

it seems to me that wouldn't help the heat that may capitvate at the top of the cab. I would second fans at the top rather than the bottom (heat rises).

rdagger · « **Reply #21 on:** March 15, 2005, 08:08:49 pm »

I'm using Nexus fans and they are suppose to be the quietest.

GGKoul · « **Reply #22 on:** March 15, 2005, 08:44:52 pm »

I have silenx fans and they are suppose to be the quietest...

RayB · « **Reply #23 on:** March 15, 2005, 10:20:57 pm »

Intakes at the bottom... does that = more dust being sucked in?

NeeBick · « **Reply #24 on:** March 15, 2005, 10:36:45 pm »

I second Silenx. I'm new to arcade cab building but not to pc building. Silenx makes quality parts and is well respected in pc modding community. Now on size of a fan, bigger is better. If your cab can fit it, the bigger the fan the more air flows and less noise is produced.

elvis · « **Reply #25 on:** March 16, 2005, 12:45:48 am »

Quote from: RayB on March 15, 2005, 10:20:57 pm

Intakes at the bottom... does that = more dust being sucked in?

You should ALWAYS have intakes at the bottom. Hot air rises, and you want to use that to your advantage. Putting intakes at the top of a system hampers your cooling efforts greatly.

There are plenty of places that sell snap-on, washable dust covers for cooling fans. Use them on your intakes, and make sure you wash them once every few months.

javeryh · « **Reply #26 on:** March 16, 2005, 10:12:14 am »

OK, now I'm really confused... I've got 4 of the 6x9 speaker grills that are standard on the Midway cocktail cabinets. I am putting 2 grills on each end of the cab and using one to hide the speaker and the other to hide a fan. I was also planning on cutting some holes in the bottom and putting fans down there too - is this not what I should be doing? I just want everything to be cool inside so it's not a fire hazard or anything... Any help would be great! Thanks.

Wade · « **Reply #27 on:** March 16, 2005, 11:44:27 am »

I try not to use PC 12V fans because all the ones I have don't flow that much. They are just standard 3" 12V PC fans.

For most games, a single 5-6" intake fan on the bottom of the machine, and some vents at the top, is plenty. Also, having them on the bottom panel of the game helps to make the noise far less noticable.

I have used the $20 6" 120/110V fans from Radio Shack and I've been real happy with them. When the game is on you'd never notice the noise from the fan, and they push a lot of air. Compared to expensive "quiet" PC fans, it seems like a much better value for the airflow.

I know a lot of people disagree, but I have never understood the quiet fan idea on an arcade machine. It seems like a non-issue to me. None of my games have "quiet" fans, and I (and probably no one else) has ever noticed the noise. If I'm playing a game, I have it turned up reasonably loud (not enough to bother you or have to talk loudly... but loud enough to hear it).

Wade

CheffoJeffo · « **Reply #28 on:** March 16, 2005, 06:13:41 pm »

Is it me, or are people missing the fact that he is talking about a cocktail, not a standup ... vents at the top aren't gonna work here folks.

I am at the stage on my cocktail project where I will be installing 100mm fans shortly and my plan is to have a single intake down low and a single outflow up high. Am planning to be flexible, but haven't seen any heat issues so far with no fans installed.

The original configuration on this machine (it's a salvage) had vents drilled in the floor and a big outflow about halfway up the back.

Cheers,

JAKD

javeryh · « **Reply #29 on:** March 17, 2005, 10:32:25 am »

Quote from: CheffoJeffo on March 16, 2005, 06:13:41 pm

Is it me, or are people missing the fact that he is talking about a cocktail, not a standup ... vents at the top aren't gonna work here folks.

I am at the stage on my cocktail project where I will be installing 100mm fans shortly and my plan is to have a single intake down low and a single outflow up high. Am planning to be flexible, but haven't seen any heat issues so far with no fans installed.

The original configuration on this machine (it's a salvage) had vents drilled in the floor and a big outflow about halfway up the back.

Cheers,

JAKD

Thanks. Is there a difference between intake fans and outtake fans or is it just the way you face the fan when you install it?

1UP · « **Reply #30 on:** March 17, 2005, 04:08:34 pm »

You just face the fans the way you want the air to go.

I personally don't think you need intake fans. More noise, and they aren't really necessary. One exhaust fan will do the job, just make sure you do have an intake vent, probably near the bottom and on the opposite side of the cabinet from the exhaust. That way, the air gets sucked in thru the intake vent, across the PC/monitor, and blown out by the exhast fan.

I would suggest putting it midway up on one of the sides you don't really see. The front of your monitor tube is not what gets hot, it's the neck/back. As long as you have air moving across the back and middle, I wouldn't think there'd be a problem.

I have 2 120mm exhaust fans on my cab, as 4 fans were too noisy and ultimately overkill. I have a 27" monitor, a 2.6 Ghz PC, powered sub, and lots of AC adapters inside, but it's always nice and cool even without intake fans. The exhausts are at the top of the cab, and the intake slots are near the bottom, below the PC. Makes for a very effective airflow, never toasty.

javeryh · « **Reply #31 on:** June 28, 2005, 11:35:18 am »

Thanks everyone. This is all very helpful info - I've ordered 4 120mm Vantec fans from newegg. If 4 ends up being overkill then I can always use 2 of them for the next project!


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Author Topic: Fan recommendations? (Read 5022 times)

Franco

SideShow Rob