I just set up six Gamdias Notus M1-1203 Performance Hydraulic Bearing 120mm case fans in my new Lian Li Mini Flow V2 case. For the bottom three fans, I had to mount them in reverse as intakes, and also the two side fans. However, all of the reverse-mounted fans are making a grinding sound. I checked by totally removing the fans and spinning them by hand on a flat surface, and they still grind, even without being attached to the case. I'm considering switching to be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM fans, which are designed specifically for reverse mounting. Is that a good idea? Here's a short video of the grinding noise: [link to video].
5 Answers
I don’t know if the case necessarily 'requires' reverse fans. It really seems more about aesthetics in most builds. However, if the store recommended it for airflow reasons, they might know something specific about this model.
It sounds like you might be using the fans incorrectly. The Gamdias Notus M1 fans actually come with both standard and reverse blades. Instead of mounting the fans backwards, try swapping out the blades for the reverse ones that should be in the box. Also, make sure the motor side is what’s against the surface you're mounting them to, not the blade side.
Any fans from reputable brands like be quiet!, Noctua, or Arctic should serve you well. Those brands design their fans to operate effectively in either direction, so it may just be that the Gamdias ones are lower quality.
Consider getting spacers or washers to help with the installation. By the way, the Gamdias fans are meant to include reverse blades in the package. If you didn’t get those, it might be worth checking back where you bought them.
It sounds like you may have something brushing against the fan blades. Check to see if any cables are touching them. I've noticed my Gamdias fans wobble a bit too, which could indicate they're not the best quality.
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