XSReviews

Introduction

Noiseblocker have been around the block a few times when it comes to cooling fans. They are hailed the world over for their near silent operation and cooling ability. Let’s see what all the hype is about.

Features

120mm XL1:

Size: 120x120x25mm
Loudness: 16 dB/A
Airflow: 58 m3/h
Connection: 3 Pin Molex

120mm XL2:

Size: 120x120x25mm
Loudness: 21dB/A
Airflow: 98 m3/h
Connection: 3 Pin Molex

92mm XE1:

Size: 92x92x25mm
Loudness: 17 dB/A
Airflow: 50 m3/h
Connection: 3 Pin Molex

92mm XE2:

Size: 92x92x25mm
Loudness: 21 dB/A
Airflow: 65 m3/h
Connection: 3 Pin Molex

80mm X1:

Size: 80x80x25mm
Loudness: 10 dB/A
Airflow: 28 m3/h
Connection: 3 Pin Molex

80mm X2:

Size: 80x80x25mm
Loudness: 18 dB/A
Airflow: 45 m3/h
Connection: 3 Pin Molex

Bits and Box

The Noiseblocker fans come in the typically blue NB packaging with the front showcasing the fan itself, and the rear showing off some of the specifications and features that these fans have.

The Fans

The fans themselves are pretty mundane but are also quite sophisticated. Their matt blue, slightly translucent blades pitted against the basic black frame make these fans stand out through their simplicity. They are hardly as cool looking as the AC fans, but they have their own bit of charm.

As said before, the blades are a translucent blue and have a slightly bumpy texture to them. This seems odd for a fan as it will increase air turbulence and therefore noise. It could also prove fatal with trapping dust over long periods of operating; our testing will let us know.

The back of the fans feature a centralized logo and the usual “Don’t throw this in the bin” labeling.

The Noiseblocker fans only feature the standard 3 pin motherboard connector. This could pose a problem for those with only a couple of 3pin slots on their mobos.

Testing

For the testing phase of this review I have decided to compare these fans to another brand of fan that are noted for their low DB and their build quality. The Noiseblocker fans will be compared to Arctic Cooling’s same offering (with their latest range of 120mm and 90mm fans).

It is very difficult to test system fans fairly as there are many factors that would need to be taken into account. However, since we can assume that the fan that moves the most air will provide the best cooling we can compare them on different fronts; their noise, features and longevity.

To do this, both sets of fans were left running for one week in our test PC to see how audible they are during day to day activities and also how much dust would build up on the fan blades in this short time.

Results

Over the week I heard almost nothing from the Noiseblocker fans and was very impressed that not once did I take note of them moving much above inaudible – even the slightly louder XL2 and XE2 were almost silent. The AC fans were much the same with almost silence being the name of the game. However, at some points they did make a dull hum; nothing to make a scene of, but there is a slight noise to the 120mm fan.

The PWM cabling of the AC fans was useful in terms of keeping the AC fan noise down, even during intense gaming with overclocks high they were very quiet indeed. The fact that this feature was not on the Noiseblocker fans was not really of any concern because they remained very quiet even at 100% speed, but it would be nice to know that they perhaps had a bit of extra juice when overclocking for example; at least you know that the AC fans are holding back slightly, waiting for when the RPM is needed.

In terms of dust build up, the AC fans were the clear winners. The smooth blades on the fans meant that at the end of the week there was barely any dust build up at all, with only a thin film in the corners of some of the fans. The Noiseblocker’s didn’t fare so well with dust being present, thinly, across most of the fan blades. The ridged structure of the blades made perfect pockets for dust; these fans will need irregular cleaning to keep them working properly.

Small amounts of dust build up

Cost

The Noiseblocker fans weigh in at slightly more than the AC fans in terms of cost. They cost around £7-£10 whereas the Arctic Cooling ones cost about £5 for an 80mm and £9 for a 120mm respectively.

Conclusion

Both the Arctic Cooling fans and the Noiseblocker fans are very capable of keeping your case cool while managing to keep things about as quiet as you can with active cooling. However, in terms of price, features and lack of dust build up the Arctic Cooling PWM fans win hands down. However, if you are after super silence throughout the RPM range, then the Noiseblocker fans are for you; just remember though, silence comes at a premium.

Pros	Cons
Inaudible	Lacks PWM support
Good cooling	Dust build up
	A bit pricey

I’d like to thank our sponsors Noiseblocker for providing us with these fans.

Discuss this review in our forums.