PC fans are one of the most important computer components. They are mainly responsible for the proper ventilation of your computer. Without them, the temperature inside your case can become high, which can then increase the temperature of your main components, i.e. processor, graphics card, hard disk, memory, motherboard, etc.
This could cause gradual damage to the components, reducing their performance and life span. PC enclosure fans are available in different sizes, models, speeds and varieties from different brands and manufacturers. Some of them are of superior quality, performance and have a longer life.
In general, PC fans with higher speeds, poor quality bearings and non-optimized design tend to be noisier. Noisy fans can be very annoying because they moan or squeak, which is intolerable and frustrating. It is also an obstacle to your work.
So it is always best to use good quality, quiet PC fans that offer a good balance between performance and quieter operation.
You can clearly see that any noise level between 10 and 25 dBA is quite quiet and can easily be tolerated by us without causing disruption to your work. In this article, I will therefore list the best quiet computer fans with noise levels below 25 dBA.
How to choose a laptop fan?
The first thing to do is to determine which fan you want and need. Understanding these three things is the key to buying a fan. Once you know what you want and need, it will be easier for you to choose the best fan.
Know the size of fans
Computer fans are available in a variety of sizes ranging from 25 to 250 mm. But the most commonly used fan sizes are 80mm, 120mm and 140mm. The important thing to remember is that you need to find the right fan size for your case. You don't want to buy a fan that doesn't fit you.
If you don't know which fan size your case supports, you can consult the manual that came with your case and there is probably a diagram of all the fan brackets that are on your case. You can also use a ruler to try and measure the fans already in action.
Power Connector Types
All fans operate on 12 volts provided by the motherboard or power supply. Usually, the PC fan you purchase comes with adapters that allow you to choose between the two. The fans that connect to the motherboard are usually small 2-pin Molex connectors. The 3-pin fans have a tachometer signal that allows the motherboard to read the fan speed and the fan has 4-pin connectors with PWM signal for speed control.
Fans with 4-pin connectors tend to be slightly more expensive than the other two types. Personally, I recommend fans with a PWM signal because controlling the fan speed affects the noise level of the fan. But you don't need to buy fans with PWM to control the speed, you can buy speed controllers.
Fan hardware
Now, here's the part where you'll be most tempted - Cosmetics or Aesthetics. Most fans come with different models and lighting features that make them attractive to most people. You don't want to buy a fan that looks good and has awful performance.
Always check the specifications of the fan before considering the aesthetics. Yes, LEDs look cool, but they don't help move heat around inside your housing. In addition, some exceptional cases don't have LEDs, so that's what you want.