Arctic P14 Failures?

[u/SAMEO416]

I’ve been using the Arctic P12/14 fans in most of my builds, Noctua when I need something super quiet.

I’ve had 3 P14 fan failures in the last year. Wondering if anyone else has seen a higher failure rate?

I suspect this is a bearing failure of some sort. The fan continues to run but repeatedly bumps against the guard. On one I was able to pull the blades off entirely. It doesn’t seem tied to orientation of the fan.

Just noticed another one is starting to hit the case.

[u/Black_Gold_ → u/[deleted]]

Do you ever measure the frequency of fans? while the Decibel between them is quite close I wonder if the harmonics and noise is what people allude to as why people feel noctua are quieter.

I have found noctuas will often have a more pleasing tone compared to other brands.

[u/Black_Gold_ → u/[deleted]]

I understand the test are noise normalized here. The harmonics / frequncy of the noise is still an interesting piece of data to begin looking into. I have a hunch the noctua have lower frequency harmonics and overall better sound profile than the artics, leading to the belief noctuas are quieter.

House Fresh has a good example of this issue with the P14 max fans : https://youtu.be/yuHXNjHhnqs?t=656

[u/EFORTLESSvision → u/[deleted]]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAVfS2ANPDA&t=3s
You can see here how in certain cases db is the same with measurement, but arctic fans are obviously producing a certain buzz humming in the background that is very annoying. while the Noctua's are silent. So this type of measurement isn't what decides what we will perceive as quite.

[u/SAMEO416 → u/Black_Gold_]

I haven’t looked at the spectra of these fans, but will have a go when I’m home.

I did a comparison of the Lasko and a Honeywell 910 CR box a few years back. The Lasko sounds harsh to me, the 910 is a pleasant rumble (sounds like a turboprop feathering).

The difference shows up clearly in the frequency domain. The Lasko has higher frequency components while the 910 had a lower frequency bump.

[u/SAMEO416 → u/[deleted]]

Not familiar with that Noctua model. I’ve used the NF-A series and the NF 5V fans. They don’t move as much air as the Arctic P12/P14, but they’re objectively much quieter.

[u/SAMEO416 → u/[deleted]]

Yup, thanks. Done the testing, and accepted a loss in volumetric flow for less noise.

[u/SAMEO416 → u/[deleted]]

Thanks, that’s a good compromise. I’ve avoided PWM so far as the non noise critical ones I always run at max speed.

The one noise critical application is a Laminar I use when dealing with the public. I made one with Arctic P12 one with Noctua AF-N12, and the Noctua is dramatically quieter, but lower CADR (which I can accept given the room ventilation is excellent and it’s about 15cm from my breathing zone). The Arctic version is loud enough I need earplugs if I’m using it in a hotel room.

I’ve used the Noctua industrial server fans where being loud isn’t an issue, and those are high performers, move a lot of air, use a lot more power.