Fan choice: 4 80mm or 1 120mm?

[Jkasmann]

Currently my cause has a lot of intake and not a lot of exhaust, so I am going to add some. Right now i have 2 120mm's on the side blowing in about 150cfm, a 30cfm in front bottom, and an 80mm intake towards the front top (pc power cooling 3 HD cooler). So thats about 210cfm in. I was thinking about adding a high CFM (130-150cfm) 120mm at the top back (full tower case) and figured that with the PS would be nice exhaust. Im not too worried about noise, but less is always better ;) .

So my latest thought was using 4 80mms instead of the high output 120mm. If I got some around 40cfm, that would give me 210 intake and 190 exhaust which is pretty close to equal. Do you think this would be quieter than the 120mm? I am thinking so but am not really sure.

Thanks!

[phantom punisher]

geneeraly 120 is quiter than 80. but the biggest thing to me is the pitch. 120 are lower pitched and i can deal with it better

[Daemonfly]

1 120mm will usualyl be a lot quieter than 4 80mm. If you want CFM get a high CFM 120mm or even the 172mm Comair Rotron ;)

[Intrepid]

bigger fans are always all around better for CFM noise and over all performance. I have a bunjch of mathmatical forumlas and stuff to prove it but just take my word for it, use the bigest fans you can put in it, a single 192 wil lcool your whole comp without making much of any noise if you have a case that is wide enough to put it in somewhere.

[rogerdugans]

Just a post to concur with the others:D

Bigger fans = more cfm at lower noise levels

I have seen people use small fans for case cooling and get great results, but the noise levels are usually much higher.

This is what Dremels were invented for, isn't it? ;)

[Deathknight]

Ugg definatly go with the 120mm. Outside of the pure decibals of the whole thing 120mm fans have such a low pitch to them they are much easier to ignore.

[mazir]

Check out this link:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=25&page=1

Download the interactive Excel spreadsheet. It's really a useful tool.

[BoB NaPaLm]

Does the material that the fan blades are made out of make any difference to the noise levels? Just asking because I saw a big fan with metal blades on it...they say don't stick your fingers in there when that things working ;)

[Jkasmann]

Ok, thanks all....Ill check in on the larger fans and forget the small ones.

[Ferrett]

The Dremmel was invented for home Dentistry. lol
Ferret:beer: