What's the best 80mm and 92mm fan?

Scythe Kaze-Jyu Slim SY1012SL12M

UK price (as reviewed): £5.87 (inc VAT)
US price (as reviewed): $9.99 (ex tax)

Although the Scythe Kaze-Jyu Slim SY1012SL12M is actually a 100mm fan, which means that it can be screwed onto the underside of a 3.5in hard disk, it’s also compatible with 92mm fan mounts. At just 12mm thick, it’s extremely thin, so it can fit in many places where other fans are simply too fat. Unfortunately, it also proved to be quite noisy, most likely due to its blades spinning at 2,000rpm.

In the listening room, we measured its sound pressure at 33.8dBA, as opposed to Scythe’s claim of 29.2dBA. Scythe claims that it has an airflow rating of 27.6cfm, but we found it to be much lower at 20cfm. Costing £5.87, the Scythe is more sensibly priced than the Noctua NF-B9, but it’s also louder and doesn’t shift as much air. Like most of the 92mm fans we’ve tested, it’s also completely trounced by the Revoltec RL042 (above), which is not only quieter and has a higher airflow, but is also a quid cheaper.

Revoltec RL042

UK price (as reviewed): £4.81 (inc VAT)
US price (as reviewed): NA

If there were a prize for the range of fans most able shrug off the recession, it would have to go to Revoltec. The 92mm RL042 costs just £4.81; like the 80mm RL037, this is significantly less than any other similar-sized fan. Spinning at 1,500rpm, Revoltec states an airflow of 30cfm, but we found this to be closer to 23cfm. Noise also proved to be less desirable than Revoltec’s stated 21.5dBA, with our equipment recording 26dBA.

Anything below 30dBA is unlikely to be an issue in an air-cooled system, and the Revoltec RL042 excelled itself in the noise stakes, proving to be the quietest 92mm fan on test at stock speeds despite its bargain-tastic price. In terms of airflow, only the Noctua NF-B9 was better, but that fan was much louder at 31.3dBA and costs a three times as much. As such, the RL042 is streaks ahead of all other 92mm fans we tested.

Score Guide