Do new 60mm fans still exist, and would they be quieter?

TheMobRules wrote on Today, 05:23:

MattRocks wrote on Today, 05:08:

Have you tried cleaning inside and topping up with sewing machine oil? […]
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Have you tried cleaning inside and topping up with sewing machine oil?

My approach is to first clean the blades and housing with wet wipes. Then use a loose razor blade to lift the old sticker/seal, and use a cocktail stick to remove any black residue. I use a blower to try and push any more residue from bearings into the well, because the well isn't airtight - this effort might be pointless. Then add a drop of oil and blow on the blades to gently turn them. Repeat until it's spinning silently. Wipe off any excess machine oil using wet wipes. Leave to dry before resealing.

Old advice was to reuse the original sticker, but I find the original decades old adhesive too dry to reuse. I reseal with builders aluminium tape - the type used to waterproof house insulation. And, ideally you don't want adhesives dissolving into the oil so my approach can be improved upon.

Hypothesis: You can reduce noise levels by doing the same to new fans.

Oiling only really works on sleeve bearing fans, but those Athlon Socket A fans were usually of the ball bearing type. The bearings are sealed and cannot be re-lubricated, so when they're shot the fan is done unless you manage to get an exact replacement bearing, and in some cases they're just noisy even when new.

That is a misconception. The shielded or sealed miniature bearings become noisy because they are not oil-tight and the original oil escaped. If you are patient and mechanically sympathetic to the bearings then thin machine oil can re-enter the housing through exactly the locations the original oil escaped. That is actually why I emphasise making a durable seal. When the oil heats and turns to vapour under pressure it should penetrate the bearing shields and not the outer seal.

Besides, most of the noise comes from the shaft and not the bearings.

RetroLizard wrote on Today, 05:26:

Do new 60mm fans still exist, and would they be quieter?

Yes, if you want good quality fans for a decent price you can search on DigiKey or Mouser, choose 12VDC+60*60mm+3 wires and you'll get a list of options. You can sort them by noise (dB) to get the quieter ones, but keep in mind that it should be able to push enough airflow (CFM) for the heatsink/CPU you're using, not sure what the recommended CFM for those Athlon coolers is.

Or you can just buy a Noctua, but it will probably be more expensive.

TheMobRules wrote on Today, 05:36:

RetroLizard wrote on Today, 05:26:

Do new 60mm fans still exist, and would they be quieter?

Yes, if you want good quality fans for a decent price you can search on DigiKey or Mouser, choose 12VDC+60*60mm+3 wires and you'll get a list of options. You can sort them by noise (dB) to get the quieter ones, but keep in mind that it should be able to push enough airflow (CFM) for the heatsink/CPU you're using, not sure what the recommended CFM for those Athlon coolers is.

Or you can just buy a Noctua, but it will probably be more expensive.

I was thinking of getting this Noctua fan.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/168184849379

I'll look on Digikey and Mouser.

RetroLizard wrote on Today, 05:26:

Do new 60mm fans still exist, and would they be quieter?

Yes, but no. Maybe... 😉

The thing is, what was the fan designed to do? Most new 60mm fans are industrial and noisy - that is why ear defenders are a legal necessity when sending humans into server rooms. My ears may have been damaged by using cheap earplugs. Many quiet fans don't handle high pressure. You might want to compare the airflow specifications of original and replacement if possible.

I hear good things about Noctua. So far I haven't needed to try new fans because oiling is working for me.

MattRocks wrote on Today, 05:34:

That is a misconception. The shielded or sealed miniature bearings become noisy because they are not oil-tight and the original oil escaped. If you are patient and mechanically sympathetic to the bearings then thin machine oil can re-enter the housing through exactly the locations the original oil escaped.

Huh. Personally I've yet to see evidence that a ball bearing fan can be properly refurbished with light oil, especially considering ball bearing fans use thicker grease instead of oil as lubricant, so even if you manage to get oil in there it's going to mix with the old solidified grease remains. Here's an interesting document from NMB (a renowned fan manufacturer) comparing sleeve and ball bearing fans.

RetroLizard wrote on Today, 05:41:

I was thinking of getting this Noctua fan.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/168184849379

I'll look on Digikey and Mouser.

Ah, that seems like a good price for the Noctua... I really dislike their brown/beige or grey color schemes and prefer regular black fans for my retro stuff, but performance wise they're good.