The Best Computer Case Fans
- Case fans are a vital component of any computer system.power supply cooler image by Galyna Andrushko from Fotolia.com
Heat poses a serious threat to even casual computer users. Computers are usually not designed to work at 65 degrees centigrade or more, and higher temperatures will damage sensitive components. Most computers use an air-cooled design and rely heavily on their case fans to keep the air circulating so the computer remains intact under dangerous temperature levels. The best computer case fans move a large amount of air while not reaching extreme levels of sound. - Most cases have between two and seven slots dedicated to the 120mm fan size, making it a vital part of system cooling. Enermax offers the UCAP12 in three different colors and variable speed. The UCAP12 can be set anywhere between 700 and 1700 rpm to displace up to 71.76 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air. Even on maximum settings the fan only reaches 15 decibels (dB), barely audible to most listeners.
- Powerful cooling in a compact design, this 92mm fan boasts a three-speed controller and speeds of up to 2200 rpm; 38 CFM is reachable on the highest setting, yet the small fan never reaches sounds above 27dB. 30dB is the equivalent of whispering in a quiet library. The three levels of cooling are 1200, 1600 and 2200 rpm with corresponding 14.6, 21 and 27dB sounds.
- The MegaFlow 200 is a much larger fan at 200mm, and it moves far more air. The fan operates at a constant speed of 900 rpm, making it slower but stronger than the other designs. 110 CFM of air moves from just one of these fans and the slow rotation speed ensures that the noise output rarely reaches 19dB. 200mm fans are fairly rare, and many cases are not designed for such a large fan, making it less useful for regular users.
