AcoustiFan Ultra-Quiet 120mm Fan and Accessories:

Introduction 

   Few PC users would disagree with the statement:  Quiet is Good.  Noise concerns are the "in-thing" these days, a backlash of years of dealing with tornadic heat-sinks, screaming video cards and howling case fans.  Even near-silent water-cooled systems usually rely on some fans to keep the air moving inside the case.  Acoustifan recognizes that silence is golden, and they have put together a package of products that focus on stealth rather than bling.  Today we'll take a look at the Acoustifan Ultra-Quiet Dustproof Fan (120mm), and two accessories to help quiet the beast:  A soft silicone fan gasket and soft rubber case feet.

Acoustifan Ultra Quiet DustProof Fan

   We'll start off with the Acoustifan Ultra-Quiet DustProof fan, a slim-line 120mm case fan that touts itself as being both ultra-quiet and "DustProof".  The complete product specifications can be found here, but I'll summarize some of the data for you. The highlights of the charts shown are the noise level data and the airflow in CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) based upon voltage input.  Note that this is manufacturer supplied data and has not been verified.

   Acoustifan makes a pretty bold claim when it says that the fan is "DustProof", but don't be misled: The "dust proof" claim is in regard to the accumulation of dust inside the fan motor and bearings.  Dust accumulation inside the fan motor and bearings (sleeve or ball) is the single most important factor in determining the longevity of the fan.  Acoustifan claims a lifespan of 6 years for the fan, which, if true, far exceeds the lifespan of any fan I've ever tested.  Check back with me in a few years and I'll let you know if it is true or not :) I usually get anywhere from two to three years from a fan before it starts getting loud and crapping out.  I tend to do periodic dust-control cleanings on my cases,  but I know a few smokers that go through fans much more rapidly.  Keep your box off the floor and away from curtains, and your dust woes will lessen considerably.  At any rate, I inspected the fan motor casing closely, and it does appear that this fan is manufactured to slightly closer tolerances when it comes to the motor housing.  There is still a small gap between the blades and the motor, but it is tighter and more close-fitting than others I've seen.  Also of note is that the blades themselves appear to be impregnated with some sort of anti-static coating, which should also lessen the accumulation of dust.  My devious mind is still devising some sort of dust torture test to expose fans to, so down the road I may have some more empirical data to present to you on this score.

   The Acoustifan achieves its self-nominated Ultra-Quiet designation by way of voltage control.  The fan itself is rated at 12 Volts DC (much like all other 120mm fans), and its power supply cord is the standard 3-pin mini connector.  If you already have a voltage control device (like a BayBus or other fan controller) then you can easily control its supply voltage down to approximately 5 Volts.  A low starting voltage of 5 volts is very good for a 120mm fan.  If you do not have a fan controller, the Acoustifan package comes with a harness that will allow you to supply the fan with three discrete voltages: 12, 7.5 (approx), or 5.  Without a switch of some sort, the fan is fixed at whichever supply line you choose to use.  Not as elegant as some temperature controlled fans I've seen (the Globe 120mm fans with integrated temperature control are my current favorites), but it beats having to rig it yourself.  Slowing a fan to lower its noise output is standard practice among modders, and it's nice to see that Acoustifan has made this a plug-and-play affair. This quietness comes at a price, however:  CFM rating.  The Cubic Feet per Minute rating of a fan determines how much air it can push (or pull).  Even at maximum rated voltage (12V DC) the Acoustifan is at the low end of the 120mm fan spectrum. 56.3 CFM is adequate for a 120mm fan if it is used in an environment where ultimate cooling is not an issue, in other words, it needs to be used in a case where the airflow has been well thought-out and it shouldn't be relied upon to cool the entire case by itself.  Use common sense.  A non-overclocked machine running within specs should be just fine if everything has been well-designed for airflow and cooling.  Acoustifan wisely states on its packaging that a new installation should be monitored for heat stability.

   The harness has three tails that can be used: A native 12 volt pass-through, a resistor line that cuts the voltage down to approximately 7.5, and a 5 volt pass-through.  Each tail has a provision for monitoring fan speed, although you will need to dedicate an RPM-sensing header to it to take advantage of this function.  Again, if you already have a fan controller, the included harness is not essential to use.

   To give the fan a test "spin", I hooked it up to my machine sitting right here at my desk.  I pulled off the side panel, grabbed a 4-pin Molex connector and plugged it in using the supplied harness.  I tried the fan using all three of the included harness adapters, and I have to admit:  This is a quiet fan.  Easily the quietest I've tested (and I've seen and heard everything from Antecs to Sunons, YSTechs, Panaflos and even Radio Shack howlers).  Up to this point, the Panaflo has been my favorite for noise, but this fan is much quieter.  At 12 volts, there was a barely noticeable hum, and I mean barely noticeable. At 7.5 Volts, the hum disappeared, and at 5 volts I held the fan right up next to my ear and I couldn't hear it.  Surprisingly, at 5 Volts the fan still produced enough air to feel it at arms length.  I know, very scientific. To be fair, I did not test the fan with typical obstructions like grills, so the airflow will be somewhat less in the typical installation.  Even so, I could run this fan at 12 volts and it would still be the quietest fan in the system.

   The fan kit itself also comes with four clear zip ties to arrange wiring bundles, and four self-tapping fan screws of the typical variety.

   I'll leave the fan for a moment to talk about the other accessories that will complement it in your installation. I'll talk about the packages when used together in my final thoughts.

Acoustifan Soft Silicone Fan Gasket (and grommets)

    The fan gasket is used to mount the fan to the case, ensuring a soft seal against the case structure. A plastic fan against a hard case side will invariable vibrate to some degree.  Over time, the screws will loosen and noisy vibrations will occur.  The Acoustifan gasket is made from very soft and pliable silicone (Acoustifan labels the gasket with a "40 Shore A Hardness").  The gasket has a thickness of 2.5mm, and a soft lip that extends up to cup the sides of the fan. I installed it onto the fan and it was a good fit.  I didn't have to stretch it to get it to fit, and it also didn't slide around.  I should expect that they would fit well, coming from the same manufacturer. It fit on an Antec 120mm fan with the same mild "snug-ness".  120mm fans are very standardized since they are used in so many applications.  I've not noticed much variation in dimension from one fan to the next, except in thickness.  The gasket set also includes four silicone grommets and four screws for attachment.  This allows you to silence an extra fan, albeit not with the wrap-around design of the full gasket.

   Testing the effectiveness of the gasket was impossible with the Acoustifan, since the fan was so quiet to begin with.  I did, however, test it with another brand of fan that was a little louder, and although it did not rattle to begin with, the fan gasket did seem to dampen out the high frequencies a little bit.  In reality, the 120mm fans in my case are all but silent to begin with (and I have three of them). By far the loudest fan in my case is the one attached to my CPU, an older Thermaltake design.  So even though overall case noise wasn't reduced much, the individual fan did benefit from the gasket.  I guess I'll have to run through all the fans now and silence each one independently...starting with my CPU. 

Acoustifan Anti-vibration Silicone Case Feet

   The case feet come in a package of four, and each one has adhesive backing. I installed the feet onto the bottom of my case without issue.  I couldn't hear any difference with the feet installed, but a side bonus is that the case is less prone to sliding around, and actually feels like it is on little shock absorbers.  If you are getting any vibration off your desk or hard floor, then these are a good bet.  Otherwise, you probably won't hear the difference.  Every little bit adds up, though, so if you want to check every last block on the silent PC checklist, go for it.

Conclusion

   Taken individually, all three of the products do what they say they do.  When used in conjunction with each other, they complement each other very nicely.  The Acoustifan ultra-quiet fan is indeed very quiet, the quietest I've ever (not) heard.  The DustProof claim is open to question, and only time will tell.  The soft silicone fan gasket (or alternatively, the silicone grommets) fit well and reduce vibration, even if it is not audible vibration.  The silicone rubber case feet are for the fanatical, but again, they do what they are intended to do. 

   Overall I was impressed by the quality of the package items.  I found no signs of shoddy construction or shortcuts taken in manufacturing.  There could have been more included documentation with the fan, but even a novice should have no trouble.  In the quest for a silent PC, all three of these items will prove useful.

Pros

• Fan is very quiet.  Ultra Quiet, if you will.

• Fan Harness gives easy flexibility in voltage control.

• Fan Gasket fits well, very soft and pliable.

• Rubber case feet provide a good non-slip surface

Cons

• Fan Harness is not adjustable without disconnection.

• Fan airflow is below par for a 120mm fan.

• At $35.95 from QuietPC, it is somewhat pricey for a fan.  Any fan.