quiet fans

[Peter]

I guess one has to know where to look:

http://www.endpcnoise.com/cgi-bin/e/9dbPapst.html

Service life is at least 4 years. Note that this fan has sleeve bearings 
and spins at only 1000 rpm. Extrapolate to the usual 'screamer' at 5000 
rpm and you get under 1 year fan life with the same bearings. This 
reflects reality more or less (brand new screamers do not last 2 years 
as a rule). ebm/papst is a very well known fan manufacturer.

ebm/papst has a website for usa here:

http://www.ebmpapst.us/

Panaflo (panasonic division) is another well known maker. As to the rest 
of the strange-named 'ball bearing' fans on generic coolers, imho they 
are not talking about the kind of balls needed in fan bearings, but 
about those required to print such lies (80% of the cooler fans marked 
'ball bearing' have sleeve bearings).

Peter
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