Phanteks T30-120 Fan

[Dredi]

Increasing the distance between them even more isn't going to help things in any meaningful way.

Really? I guess you got some numbers up on that. I find it hard to believe that the amount of shrouds is optimal on most radiators out of the box. In the good old days people would build shrouds even to 25mm and get increasingly better results.

 

[maxfly]

Really? I guess you got some numbers up on that. I find it hard to believe that the amount of shrouds is optimal on most radiators out of the box. In the good old days people would build shrouds even to 25mm and get increasingly better results.

Sure and in the good old days we used gaskets to seal the fans up to the shroud. They did very little to improve temps but for a few outliers (Thermochill pa series). Even back then the shrouds were optimized to allow for the best airflow results possible.
What would give you the impression that rad companies would stop optimizing every part of their products, particularly the distance from shroud to fins?

 

[Oberon]

Really? I guess you got some numbers up on that. I find it hard to believe that the amount of shrouds is optimal on most radiators out of the box. In the good old days people would build shrouds even to 25mm and get increasingly better results.

Diminishing returns. You might get some sound improvement with fans in a pull configuration, but the 4-5 mm extra you get with most rads is plenty. The "dead spot" theory that using things like old fan frames as shrouds was meant to address isn't really an issue.

 

[Dredi]

Diminishing returns.

Yes, for sure. But what would be the improvement if we add the few mm to the fan depth to even out the size difference? That was my question. You claim the difference to be so little as to not to require any testing, but show no proof.

The "dead spot" theory that using things like old fan frames as shrouds was meant to address isn't really an issue.

Got any numbers on that too?

the best airflow results possible.
What would give you the impression that rad companies would stop optimizing every part of their products, particularly the distance from shroud to fins?

They optimize performance for a given total depth. I.e. adding more clearance at the cost of fin depth would make the product worse. If the total depth is not an issue, say, because you can use 30mm fans to go with it, then the equation changes.

all i’m saying is that total depth (fan+rad) testing would be interesting. Nothing more.

 

[maxfly]

Yes, for sure. But what would be the improvement if we add the few mm to the fan depth to even out the size difference? That was my question. You claim the difference to be so little as to not to require any testing, but show no proof.

Got any numbers on that too?


They optimize performance for a given total depth. I.e. adding more clearance at the cost of fin depth would make the product worse. If the total depth is not an issue, say, because you can use 30mm fans to go with it, then the equation changes.

How so?
The shroud to fin gap is the same regardless of fan thickness. We've been using 38mm fans with rads for years...30mm fans aren't changing anything in regards to the way the rads are designed.

 

[Dredi]

How so?
The shroud to fin gap is the same regardless of fan thickness. We've been using 38mm fans with rads for years...30mm fans aren't changing anything in regards to the way the rads are designed.

What is the fin gap in 10mm rads? 60mm rads? I believe it’s not the same. For thinner rads it is likely better to have more fins and less gap, compared to thicker ones.

A 25mm fan and 20mm rad is likely better than 10mm rad (including the fin gap) with a 25mm fan, compared to 10mm rad with a 38mm fan. Both have similar total thickness (45mm vs. 48mm).

Total thickness does matter, and it would be nice to see if adding thicker fans vs. more fin gap vs. thicker rad is the best, and by how much.

 

[Mussels]

Most radiators (with the exception of something like the TX series from XSPC) already incorporate shrouds to separate the fan body from the core of the radiator. Increasing the distance between them even more isn't going to help things in any meaningful way.

it helps a lot more than you might think, since it can also cover up random air gaps caused by differing fan shapes and radiator shroud shapes

 

[Oberon]

That's why you have gaskets...

 

[Mussels]

That's why you have gaskets...

Sure if you can buy them

Nowhere has stock of them, nor has for some time

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

Sure if you can buy them

Nowhere has stock of them, nor has for some time

A quick google search finds a lot of them.

 

[Mussels]

A quick google search finds a lot of them.

that are out of stock, or have reviews saying they're the wrong size and materials

 

[Methodical]

While it is nice that Phantek was able to beat out the "King," they couldn't do it pound for pound. They had to resort to building a larger fan to beat out a smaller fan, which says a lot about Noctua fans. To impress me, I'd like to see it done with the same size fan. What if Noctua goes to a 30mm fan? Uhmmm...

With that said, it is an impressive fan, especially having 3 fan speed modes and wiring options, but unfortunately, I don't have room to fit them on my radiators (a limiting factor for such larger fans). Also, not a fan of the gray color. So, I bought the mighty Noctua NF-A12x25 Chromax fans to replace the Vardar F4-120mm ER fans. The Vardar fans, while good, has a scratchy sound (sounds like ballbearings rubbing together) that I no longer wanted to deal with. The Noctua is a much quieter fan at a higher rpm (1000 vs 800 rpms). They just sound like air...no rattling, grinding, no nothing...just air. I have to put my ear practically on the radiator to hear the fans at 1000 rpms. Plus, they perform even at such lower rpms. Now, I am waiting to see how Noctuas new 140mm fans will sound because the current A14 fans sounds like some crap.

 

[Dr_b_]

While it is nice that Phantek was able to beat out the "King," they couldn't do it pound for pound. They had to resort to building a larger fan to beat out a smaller fan, which says a lot about Noctua fans. To impress me, I'd like to see it done with the same size fan. What if Noctua goes to a 30mm fan? Uhmmm...

With that said, it is an impressive fan, especially having 3 fan speed modes and wiring options, but unfortunately, I don't have room to fit them on my radiators (a limiting factor for such larger fans). Also, not a fan of the gray color. So, I bought the mighty Noctua NF-A12x25 Chromax fans to replace the Vardar F4-120mm ER fans. The Vardar fans, while good, has a scratchy sound (sounds like ballbearings rubbing together) that I no longer wanted to deal with. The Noctua is a much quieter fan at a higher rpm (1000 vs 800 rpms). They just sound like air...no rattling, grinding, no nothing...just air. I have to put my ear practically on the radiator to hear the fans at 1000 rpms. Plus, they perform even at such lower rpms. Now, I am waiting to see how Noctuas new 140mm fans will sound because the current A14 fans sounds like some crap.

Bought a lot of both, and can say that at least subjectively, the Phanteks fans are louder or have a worse acoustic profile than the noctuas

 

[Methodical]

Bought a lot of both, and can say that at least subjectively, the Phanteks fans are louder or have a worse acoustic profile than the noctuas

I agree but not from personal experience but only based on the sounds posted on youtube.

 

[FoulOnWhite]

so is the 7.11mm H2O at 3000rpm on the advanced profile? if so that is at 39DB which is too loud. I tried these on my rads but did not like the noise, so stuck with the Noctua NF-a12x25

 

[D-9]

Please review Phanteks M25-120mm [PH-F120M25] Non-RGB vs DRGB vs others.

 

[webdigo]

Alot of opinions.
Im looking for a good heatsink fan.

I was looking at the BeQuiet Silent Wings 4. Run two of them at 800RPM and call it a day.
But this 30mm thick fan will do a better job with same low RPM?

Also about this note here in the final thought:
"don't use voltage control please!)"

Does this means its bad to control this phantek fan with an fan controller and adjust it?

 

[Methodical]

Alot of opinions.
Im looking for a good heatsink fan.

I was looking at the BeQuiet Silent Wings 4. Run two of them at 800RPM and call it a day.
But this 30mm thick fan will do a better job with same low RPM?

Also about this note here in the final thought:
"don't use voltage control please!)"

Does this means its bad to control this phantek fan with an fan controller and adjust it?

You have better control of fans via PWM.

I was hoping to be able to use these fans on my new build but they won't fit up top in the 5000D. They just barely clear the MB but won't clear the CPU cable plug in clip.