Case fans: Are 3% of them lemons ?

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Thread: Case fans: Are 3% of them lemons ?

  1. 03-09-2010, 06:48 PM #1
    jcw
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    Question 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?
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  2. 03-09-2010, 07:31 PM #2
    PointlesS
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    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.
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  3. 03-09-2010, 07:46 PM #3
    Vindir
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    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.
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  4. 03-10-2010, 01:38 AM #4
    Nater
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    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.
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  6. 03-10-2010, 06:29 PM #5
    RealBeast
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nater View Post
    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.
    Last edited by RealBeast; 03-10-2010 at 06:31 PM.
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  7. 03-10-2010, 08:02 PM #6
    Vindir
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    The Dunning Kruger Effect strikes again.
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  8. 03-10-2010, 08:57 PM #7
    RealBeast
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    Quote Originally Posted by Vindir View Post
    The Dunning Kruger Effect strikes again.
    I much prefer illusory (or perhaps actual) inferiority, at least I'm still eager to learn. Run, Forrest, run!
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  9. 03-11-2010, 02:58 PM #8
    Spank_Me_Hard
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nater View Post
    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.
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  11. 03-11-2010, 04:53 PM #9
    MrDigital
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    Quote Originally Posted by RealBeast View Post
    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.
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  12. 03-12-2010, 09:03 AM #10
    wh666-666
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    Quote Originally Posted by MrDigital View Post
    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.
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  13. 03-12-2010, 10:52 AM #11
    RealBeast
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    Quote Originally Posted by MrDigital View Post
    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.
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