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Best Upgrade I've Made (Noctua NF-F12 PWM review)

Post Date: 2013-03-06
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John1017 View Drop Down
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Posts: 59 		  Quote John1017 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: Best Upgrade I've Made (Noctua NF-F12 PWM review)
    Posted: 06 Mar 2013 at 3:06pm
I purchased my DS Storm Slade several months ago and I have been loving every minute.

However I came to realize that my ears were acclimatizing to the loud noise the PC made, which really didn't bother me because my old PC was loud as well. However after looking around on the internet I realized new PCs do not have to be loud, especially with the Corsair Obsidian Series 550D, "noise reduction case."

I realized the noise was coming from the two fans that came with the Stage 2: Digital Storm Vortex 120mm Radiator Liquid CPU Cooler. (the two fans attached to both sides of the radiator.

I did some research online and found the best fans to be the Noctua NF-F12 PWM Cooling Fans.   I debated a while because they are so expensive but I finally went ahead with the purchase, I bought two for $ 21.95 each on amazon (spending $ 45 total, pricey for just computer fans)

Today the fans came and I easily installed them,,, unscrewed the 4 screws on each fan, balance the radiator on the graphics cards and then installed the new fans, reversing the process, pretty easy 10 min.

The end result, WOW ohh WOW,,, what a huge difference!! As soon as a put the case back together I finally understood why the case is noise reduction,, I couldn't even tell my computer was on. The refrigerator I have close by makes more noise.

I would definitely recommend new fans (Noctua NF-F12 PWM) to any DS owner. Thanks guys, below are pictures

Digital Storm Slade
Intel i7-3770K 3.5 GHz
CORSAIR Vengeance LP 16GB
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7950 OC 3GB 384-bit
ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77
Corsair Neutron Series GTX CSSD-N240GBGTX
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bprat22 View Drop Down
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Posts: 20391 		  Quote bprat22 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 06 Mar 2013 at 3:16pm
Thanks alot.   This is great info for those in the same situation.    
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John1017 View Drop Down
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Posts: 59 		  Quote John1017 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 06 Mar 2013 at 4:09pm
The only noise I hear really is when I open a program and the little Assist Fans kick in on the Sabertooth Z77 motherboard, other than than there is relatively no noise.
Digital Storm Slade
Intel i7-3770K 3.5 GHz
CORSAIR Vengeance LP 16GB
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7950 OC 3GB 384-bit
ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77
Corsair Neutron Series GTX CSSD-N240GBGTX
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John1017 View Drop Down
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Posts: 59 		  Quote John1017 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 06 Mar 2013 at 9:53pm
Can I get some opinions here, I've seen conflicting ideas around the internet?

What is the best fan airflow direction?

Right now I have it set up for both fans to be blowing in the same direction, from inside the case Fan>Radiator>Fan>Out the back of case    The inside fan blows air through the radiator and the other fan blows that air out the back!    

Any ideas and/or suggestions would be appreciated, thanks.
Digital Storm Slade
Intel i7-3770K 3.5 GHz
CORSAIR Vengeance LP 16GB
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7950 OC 3GB 384-bit
ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77
Corsair Neutron Series GTX CSSD-N240GBGTX
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hallowed View Drop Down
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Posts: 111 		  Quote hallowed Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 06 Mar 2013 at 10:24pm
Seems right to me but I'm no expert.

fan blowing cool air on the rad(push),(pull)fan on the other side of the rad flowing the same direction pulling the heat away from the rad,the all hot air exiting the case.

I'm just assuming that's what push/pull is,and seems common.How are your temps now with the new fans?Thanks for the review

Looks like you have a place to mount a 140mm fan there on the back of the case,they would spin even slower and move more air at the same time being even quiter.I don't know how much of a difference 120-140mm would make,but glad those fans are working for you
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John1017 View Drop Down
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Posts: 59 		  Quote John1017 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 06 Mar 2013 at 10:41pm
*Update*

I decided to use the fan I had left over as another intake fan. I placed it on the bottom and attached an extension cord and a low noise adapter. I ran the cable out the back side of the case and up to the Case Fan 2 Pin. Here is what the airflow in the computer looks like now, how does it look?

CPU is steady at 30-33c





Edited by John1017 - 06 Mar 2013 at 10:45pm
Digital Storm Slade
Intel i7-3770K 3.5 GHz
CORSAIR Vengeance LP 16GB
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7950 OC 3GB 384-bit
ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77
Corsair Neutron Series GTX CSSD-N240GBGTX
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hallowed View Drop Down
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Posts: 111 		  Quote hallowed Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 06 Mar 2013 at 10:46pm
Looks good to me.That build has good cable management,good airflow.Everything has breathing room so I doubt you will have any heat issues.
My youtube channel

https://www.youtube.com/user/haIIowed1
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DST4ME View Drop Down
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 06 Mar 2013 at 11:05pm
Best flow for a rad is almost always push air thru rad and out the case.

If you had come here we could have saved you the time and lead you to the noctua or other quiet fans but you got it yourself so thats all that counts

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