SilenX Case Fan Round-Up IXtrema Pro Series 120mm and Quiet Fans 120mm Review

Computers are becoming a lot more than something to look up your e-mail on, even surfing the web isn’t the only application the PC is being used for anymore. Computers are being used as multimedia machines, HTPC’s (Home Theater PC’s), and much more. Due to the fact that PCs are starting to become the cornerstone of all of our electronic equipment, the PC is starting to find its way into our living rooms, bedrooms, and many other rooms you wouldn’t have seen a PC in the past. The only problem with the PC’s new applications is the fans. You will not ever see your surround sound system or your DVD/Bluray player being louder than your speakers, because of their internal fans. This is where companies like SilenX come in with their new IXtrema Pro Series 120mm and IXtrema Pro Quiet Fans120mm models. These fans push a decent amount of air while still remaining very quiet. Let’s get a better look at these fans and see how well they stack up next to other “silent fans” on the market right now:

Provided by: SilenX

Closer Look:

The packaging for both of the SilenX IXtrema Pro Series 120mm fans is very well designed. I was again impressed with the window-styled packaging, being able to see what you are buying is important. All of the important specs and features you would need are displayed right on the packaging, which in my opinion is key for any consumer that knows exactly what they want in a case fan.

Both of the fans also come with the needed hardware and rubber mounts depending on just how quiet you want the fans to be. One thing I really liked about these fans is the addition of a Molex converter which the GELID Solutions fans did not have. This is important for anyone that doesn’t have enough fan ports on their motherboard. On the downside, I would have liked the converter to be an inline jumper style so you could hook more than one fan to any, one Molex connector.

 

Although these fans won’t appeal to case modders that like LED’s, the metallic topcoat on these fans looks very sharp. The fans are well built; other fans I have seen used very flimsy plastic whereas the SilenX fans use much better-quality plastic.

 Pro Series:

 

Pro Series Quiet:

 

 

Let’s check out the specs and features on these fans:

Specifications:

Quiet:

Pro Series:

Features (Both):

The ultimate in airflow to noise ratio, iXtrema Pro Quiet Fans are the only fans in the industry to be designed with silence and optimal airflow in mind. Smaller, domed motor hub, larger, more dramatic fan blade sweep area, no other fans on the market come even close in performance! There might be fans that offer more airflow or lower noise levels, but when it comes to a balance between the two, these fans can’t be beaten. 

Let’s get to the testing:

Testing Setup:

• Processor: Intel Core2 Quad Q9450
• Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X48-DQ6
• Memory: OCZ 2 x 2GB
• Video Card: Nvidea 260GTX
• Power Supply: Mushkin 800w Modular Power Supply
• Hard Drive: Seagate 750GB SATA
• Optical Drive: LG DVD
• OS: Windows Vista Ultimate
• Thermaltake armor

Testing:

For testing, I will be running the 3 fans as exhaust. The competing fans will be The Thermaltake 120mm, Ixtrema Pro Series (red box), Ixtrema Pro Series Quiet (yellow box), GELID Silent 12PWM, and the WING 12 UV Case Fan’s. There will be measurements of idle and load temperatures. All of the testings will be done in a 29 Degrees C regulated room for consistency in temperatures. The temperatures measured will be CPU and ambient case temps.

As I mentioned in previous fan reviews the exhaust fan isn’t directly linked to CPU temps. While it does suck out the hot air fairly well it is not a major factor. Case temps on the other hand are absolutely linked to the performance of the exhaust fan. The SilenX fans did very well but due to the major difference in CFM’s the GELID fans have over the SilenX fans you did see a notable difference in the case temps. Let’s see the final thoughts on these units.

Conclusion:

Both of the fans performed very well and they were much quieter than the other two GELID fans used. The temps were a bit off from the other two GELID fans, but again if silence is what you are going for, these fans are a perfect choice. HTPC’s are a great application for these fans because they are not very notorious for their high temps so these fans would more than suffice for that application.

Would I recommend these fans? Yes, while they were not powered house performers they did offer more than other fans I have seen in the past. They get major bonus points for the metallic coat and Molex converters. As I mentioned before an HTPC application would be perfect for these or a simple workstation that wants more than your average generic fan has to offer but doesn’t want the unneeded noise to go with it.

Pros:

• Molex Converter
• Metallic Top Coat
• Very Quiet
• Quality Plastic is More Durable Then Some

Cons:

• Lower CFM is not Ideal for Power Users (but again not what this was designed for)