Reddit reviews Noctua NF-A6x25 FLX, Premium Quiet Fan, 3-Pin (60mm, Brown)

I have a day one ps2 (larger edition) , its working perfectly.

I changed the thermal pads ( ps2 doesn't have thermic paste)
https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Heatsink-Thermal-Pads-HSFPHASECM/dp/B0009B0K2I

I bought a new fan (60mm one)
https://www.amazon.com/Noctua-60x25mm-Blades-Bearing-Premium/dp/B009NQMESS/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1467542837&sr=1-7&keywords=fans+60mm

It's like new.

• 60mm of choice.
  
• 80mm of choice.
  
  Results are OK at best. But there is one thing I need to stress before anybody reaching here from searches knows: THIS IS WITH AN L-SERIES XEON. The L5630 I am using runs only 30% of the total TDP this server was designed to work with, and I am already uncomfortably close to hitting the thermal roof with moderate to light loads. If you dare try an E or X series xeon - at least with these fans, expect 100c shutdowns. I am using Gelid GC-Extreme TIM.
  
  -------
  
  After rigging this all up and booting, waiting the ages for it to get through POST and into ESXi, with my hands on the CPU0 heatsink the entire time in a fit of nervousness and doubt, I was able to log in. I am finding it's floating around 62-68 F for both CPUs ... pretty much the entire time. FreeNAS boot, ESXi boot, VMs booting from said virtualized/passthru FreeNAS setup... I am rather frustrated with the state of VMware's hardware status polling being so slow.
  
  Due to the air gap between the end of the fan shroud and the metal pressure barrier, I ended up cutting some strips of cardboard around the sides and over the top to force the fans to push air straight down the path of the CPUs. Though the CPUs were OK at best, motherboard temps were not. The Noctua is a great little fan. Super quiet. However, it's not necessary, really. The stock 60mm fan is actually not that loud believe it or not.
  
  Swapping the stock fan back in took motherboard temps from 45+C back down to 30C range. I'm sorry, but ambiet 45's is ridiculous. Even at full-speed the 60mm isn't a quarter as loud as those CPU blower stock 80mms.
  
  I can also stomp out the whole "Don't do it, the BMC/IPMI will scream at you!" myth. The stock fans are 3+1 RPM sensing+PWM control. The fans I am using are RPM sensing, standard, run-of-the-mill 3pin consumer fans. They are running full throttle obviously, and MUCH quieter (the C2100 isn't too loud to begin with) while doing so, but here we can see that even though the stock fans lowest speed is 3k RPMs on the 80mm side of things, with no BMC tweaks, there are no alerts/alarms/faults being thrown for these fans running as low as 2k RPMs.
  
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  Conclusion: Fan swapping a C2100 will work if you run L-series, low TDP chips - maybe even just one chip. Don't make my mistake going for low-profile fans. I'm probably going to up them later. I don't know what I was thinking. Get static pressure fans. Duh.
  
  The 60mm fan isn't a culprit here; you can swap it if you want, but it needs to throw air really well to cool off the "Northbridge" and any expansion cards. I know some Intel NICs and SAS controller cards get hot really quickly.
  
  You almost certainly will have to do some cardboard-ducting work to make this work properly. Or else the air resistance of the RAM, height changes in the CPU/RAM ducting, and CPU Heatsink fins, will have such a high resistance that the air will just leak out all over the place.
  
  And lastly, this isn't a production machine. Go easy on it if your temps don't look lower than mine. 60C idle is not very good.

The PSU case needs some love, too. It's like Creality shopped around for the loudest fans it could find, and that's what shipped with the Ender. Anyway, these two things make the PSU much better: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3384875 WellFan Noctua 60x25 remix https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2967389 WellFan PSU case mod and for fun https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2987473 cause, well, just cause (60mm fan guard) oh, and the fan: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B009NQMESS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Heyyyyy, you've added a buck converter and have 12v now, time to change the main board fan! It's a noisy bugger too! It ends up being the same fan as what comes on the factory hotend cooler. Annoyinggggggggggg. Like a mosquito in my ear!!! https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B009NQLT0M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Noctua 40x10mm fans are bolt in replacements for both of those, if you don't want to change the hotend cooler. I could have used a 40x10 on the Hero Me cooler I used - but the 40x20 looks cooler.

This is the LED strip lighting I used, it was expensive though, and I'm sure you could find much less expensive alternatives. https://www.rpelectronics.com/55-7160w-0-led-strip-outdoor-ip65-white-1m.html (white and red! z-rail and top rail!)

I printed a handle, and really like it, but it won't work without some love. Instead of modifying the 3d model I'm probably just gonna heatgun it into the shape I need it to be. Currently, it hits the Y-axis rail. It's here, if you wanna take a stab at it: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3313306

The Z-axis stepper is by far the loudest - I'm going to try to see if I can make a damper work, like this: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07CL356J5/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A28ZWXW3ZSVNZU&psc=1 ** disclaimer note: I haven't done this yet. I haven't received the dampers.

I printed a zillion links from this thing: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2920060 but didn't like the result after putting it all together. It motivated me to try and do something for cable management, though. I DID end up using a bunch of the start and end mounts, though, and cut off the link nubs. They worked super great for cable management.

I'm still not 100% happy with the cabling - I'm ordering these: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B074GZFYM1/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A23BY812APN9IU&psc=1 and will be trimming/cutting/hiding/wrapping them so it looks nicer. Don't get me wrong, it works fine the way it is, but I don't like that flat ribbon cable stuff. It's too... ugly. It's either these cables or I'm going to build my own, which I like doing anyway. This will be soon. I don't think it'll look much different, but I think individually wrapped cables running to the stepper motors would look cooler. More space-ship-ie.

There's probably more. For this list, there's another list like it of failed/ugly/discarded parts - it took some trial and error for sure. It's worth it though. I've actually printed more stuff for my printer than I have for projects I'm working on. 3d printing is so funny that way!

If you have questions, I'm happy to help :) I have pictures of all this if you need them. I haven't figured out imgur, but will add photos to this album as time goes on: https://photos.app.goo.gl/AEXNqvTXE5ZZhnhi8.

-Tunder

PS. Man this is a really big post. I didn't realize I did so many things. Rabbit hole, this thing is.

Mine is a X10SDV-TP8F.
Full credit on this to random FreeNAS forums poster.
But, the 60mm Noctua fans fit perfect on top of the heatsink these have. The box fan kit comes with little rubber anti vibration mounts meant for screw less installs, but if you install them on the fan by themselves they work to hug the sides of the heatsink and keep it from falling off.

Since you got a 4U, as long as your not turning it on its side all the time or flipping it upside down it should stay on just fine.
For craps and giggles before i did my install i even flipped the thing upside down to see if it would fall off, surprise it didn't, but some shaking made it fall off anyway.. Still always right side up no issues even with moving it on rails etc.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009NQMESS/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the fan for the electronics in the base, don’t worry it isn’t an affiliate link. It’s the Noctua NF-A6x25 FLX and it makes a big difference... However, the steppers are still super loud and so is the hot end fan.

Noctua NF-A6x25

I'm pretty new to this too, I bought my Ender 3 Pro around the same time as you. Quiet printing is pretty high on my list as well as being able to print high-temp exotic filaments in the long term while maintaining reliability.

First upgrades I purchased were stiffer bed springs so I would be less likely to throw the bed out of level while removing prints or working around the printer and Capricorn XS tube since it has a more consistent internal diameter, fits closer to the filament, and can work with slightly higher temps. I also picked up a pack of bowden couplers recently as I noticed the end nearest the extruder is sliding past the coupler jaws on de/retraction; don't worry about that unless it's an issue for you. That's about $30 alone since I don't have a supply shop locally and have to order those parts in bulk. I had a Pi 3B laying around unused and flashed Octoprint onto it. Highly recommended. I have a replacement Noctua hotend fan, buck converters, and 5015 blower on order to quiet the fan noise; about $32. Just replaced the Meanwell psu fan with a 60x25mm Noctua I had lying around (Note: there may be better options in the 92-120mm range to replace part of the PSU housing, but that's what I had laying around). Next upgrade coming is the SKR Mini E3 with TMC 2209 drivers ($28) to eliminate almost all of the stepper noise. Also looking into a replacement for the control board fan and some vibration isolating feet for the frame. As far as higher temp printing I haven't made a lot of progress aside from buying a titanium all-metal heat brake ($11) winch I have yet to install or inspect, and looking into enclosure and electronics relocation avenues.

Either way the mods I purchased came in at around $100 US which should quiet the printer and help with reliability. Also looking into picking up a good M3-M4 bolt kit if any exist in the US.

Here are some links to the things I picked up and will, which may be helpful if you're in the US. Mostly from Amazon.

Type | Name | Link | Price
---|---|----|----
Reliability | 8mm x 20mm yellow springs | Link | $6.98
Reliability | Capricorn XS Tubing | Link | $11.49
Reliability | PC4-M6 / PC4-M10 Pneumatic Bowden Fittings | Link | $11.99
Silence | Noctua 40mm x 10mm 3-pin fan | Link | $13.95
Silence/Various | LM2596 Adjustable Buck Converters | Link | $10.95
Silence | 24v 5015 Radial Ball Bearing Fans | Link | $7.19
Silence/Various | SKR Mini E3 w/ TMC 2209 drivers | Link | $28.81
High Temp | Titanium All-Metal Heat Brake | Link | $11.52
TOTAL: $102.88 US + Tax

Parts already purchased/ bought with printer

Type | Name | Link | Price
---|---|----|----
Reliability/High Temp | OEM Ender 3 Glass Bed | Link | $20
Reliability | Feeler Guage Set | Link | $5
Reliability | 608zz Bearings, using with this(My Remix), this, and this, though I like this design a bit better | Link | $5.98
QoL Improvement | Raspberry Pi 3B w/ Octoprint | Link | $34.46
Silence | Noctua 60mm x 25mm 3-pin fan, goes with this mod | Link | $14.95
TOTAL: $80.39 US + Tax

Future planned upgrades

• Bl Touch (Note: if you have a Pi you don't need a separate ISP to flash a bootloader to the stock Melzi control board)
  
  
• Extruder | Zesty Nimble, Bondtech BMG, or SeeMeCNC EZR
  
  
• Cooling Duct | Either Smooth Fang or Hero Me Gen 3 in PETG/ABS
  
  
• Direct Drive | Kit or Printed (this, this, or this)
  
  
• Electronics relocation enclosure and wiring (need to research this more)
  
  
• Vibration Isolation Feet with Yellow Dot Squash Balls
  
  
• Linear rails (maybe)

How's the noise on that fan? I was literally just looking to upgrade my fan, because I have a little 25mm on my GearVR and it's not doing the job anymore. I was looking at this, which I know will be quality and a known dB level.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009NQMESS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1Z5H6ZGWCMTNX&psc=1

Sure thing. I got 2 of these 40mm FLX for the hotend and electronics box. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009NQLT0M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_HOlODbHSE71M2 and one 60mm FLX for the PSU. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009NQMESS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_eRlODbEZJZ1TK last but not least I ordered this pack of 5015s for the part cooling fan. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WFKPLWY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_cSlODb030FK1T Make sure it's the 24v quiet versions as well as these are dual ball bearing fans as opposed to other cheaper fans. While my printer is running I cant hear any of these fans at all.

Noctua 60x25mm A-Series Blades with AAO Frame, SSO2 Bearing Premium Fan - Retail Cooling NF-A6x25 FLX (3-pin connector) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009NQMESS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UBgzzbV1TFGSW

They should sell this locally (microcenter/Fry's/etc) as well.

I got a cheap $10 40mm one from my local Microcenter and printed a new shroud. Not even the Noctua that everyone clammers about. A few weeks later I printed a dual shroud and leveraged the 40mm for part cooling and got even better results since. I’ve seen the noctua for as cheap as $15 on amazon. But if you want local. Try a Radio Shack, MicroCenter or Fry’s elecronics.

Noctua fan:
https://www.amazon.com/Noctua-60x25mm-Blades-Bearing-Premium/dp/B009NQMESS

40mm fan I have:
http://www.microcenter.com/product/347963/40mm_Case_Fan

BTW, I see people strugle with screws to put these on the shroud... small zip ties work like a charm. Just splice and solder on the new fan.