Case fans: Are 3% of them lemons ?

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03-09-2010, 06:48 PM
jcw

Case fans: Are 3% of them lemons ?

OK, been reading reviews on 120mm case fans. Seems like for the better models the reviews are typically something like ...
90% A+
7% B
3% F

And the worst reviews (the "F"s) talk about early failures, unexpected noise, unexpectedly low air flow.

So what gives? Are fans built such that even the best have a 3% as-built crap rate? And if I buy one of those I have a 3% chance that I get a lemon?
03-09-2010, 07:31 PM
PointlesS

People who have a bad experience are more likely to post a review than those who had a good one. I've bought a number of components, but it only occurs to me to write up a review when either it performs horribly or performs way beyond what I expected.
03-09-2010, 07:46 PM
Vindir

I'd say probably way lower. Most people are far more likely to post a bad review than come back to post a good one. 3% is pretty solid.
03-10-2010, 01:38 AM
Nater

One, never, ever trust reviews on a etailer's site. They're usually written by people that have no idea what they are doing. Second, know the OEM of your fan. Buying fans is a lot like buying a PSU, the company you buy from most likely doesn't make the fan. Unless you're buying a NMB, ebm-Papst, Sanyo-Denki, ect.
03-10-2010, 06:29 PM
RealBeast

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nater

One, never, ever trust reviews on a etailer's site. They're usually written by people that have no idea what they are doing. Second, know the OEM of your fan. Buying fans is a lot like buying a PSU, the company you buy from most likely doesn't make the fan. Unless you're buying a NMB, ebm-Papst, Sanyo-Denki, ect.

+1

Out of hundreds of cases and separate fans, I've never had a dead fan. Lots of noisy fans, but none dead.

edit -- and a pet peeve: on all the retail sites, reviewers call themselves experts and obviously are clueless. Very sad, if not for their self delusion, perhaps they would remember to turn on the power switch. :)
03-10-2010, 08:02 PM
Vindir

The Dunning Kruger Effect strikes again.
03-10-2010, 08:57 PM
RealBeast

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vindir

The Dunning Kruger Effect strikes again.

I much prefer illusory (or perhaps actual) inferiority, at least I'm still eager to learn. :D Run, Forrest, run!
03-11-2010, 02:58 PM
Spank_Me_Hard

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nater

One, never, ever trust reviews on a etailer's site. They're usually written by people that have no idea what they are doing.

I agree.

Bad reviews based off unrealistic expectations.
03-11-2010, 04:53 PM
MrDigital

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealBeast

Out of hundreds of cases and separate fans, I've never had a dead fan. Lots of noisy fans, but none dead.

You mean you've never had a DOA fan or just one die in general? Seems like you have amazing luck. I've had one DOA and quite a few (<10) die over the years. None personally but various business machines.
03-12-2010, 09:03 AM
wh666-666

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrDigital

You mean you've never had a DOA fan or just one die in general? Seems like you have amazing luck. I've had one DOA and quite a few (<10) die over the years. None personally but various business machines.

Same here. Some fans can be "lemons".

Most of the issues I find though, are where fans are damaged after exessive dust buildup.
03-12-2010, 10:52 AM
RealBeast

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrDigital

You mean you've never had a DOA fan or just one die in general? Seems like you have amazing luck. I've had one DOA and quite a few (<10) die over the years. None personally but various business machines.

Nope, none DOA.

I keep them pretty clean and replace them when they start to get noisy as the bearings wear out, so I would have had some die but I beat them to it. I have a box of a couple dozen saved up over time -- I should throw some things away. :)