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Cyber Cooler 80mm Blue LED Fans |
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Written by Mikhail Ivanenkov
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Sunday, 01 July 2007 |
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Page 1 of 2
Thanks to Kool Cases for the product samples.
It appears as though lighted fans are all the rage, and with good reason. It all started with semi-transparent fans (Enermax), which quickly gained mass approval. Soon they evolved into completely clear models and it was only a matter of time before people came up with the bright idea (no pun intended) of adding lights. After all, this was during a time (actually over a year ago) when cold cathodes were gaining ground and LazerLEDs first made an appearance. After experimenting with different mounting techniques (from LEDs on the outside hanging down to those within the motor), several stores began to carry DIY kits, allowing the user to transform a fan into a visual treat.
To my knowledge, Antec was the first company to actually sell fans with multiple LEDs mounted on the side, and this quickly became the norm for all lighted blowers thereafter. This design is most efficient, as it requires no extra clearance (unlike the DIY kits) and will shine regardless of orientation (as opposed to in-motor LEDs, which only lit up one side). It's also fairly easy to build, and come to think of it anyone with a steady hand and a drill bit can make one without any problems.
Seeing as how I just received a case with a side window for my main system, I thought it was high time for me to add a few lights myself, going for the somewhat common blue/black theme. These fans, made by Cyber Cooler, have been circulating for some time and with recent price drops have become a little more widespread within the enthusiast community. At $7 a piece (less than half of what similar fans cost a year ago), they're more affordable than ever. Each fan was nicely packed in a display shelf container, with a couple extras. The fan itself is transparent sky blue, so it looks nice even during daytime when the LEDs don't get much accomplished.
The front of the motor has a silver-ish Cyber Cooler sticker while the back has a black one (think Delta Black Label). Neither is permanently attached so if they bug you (or if you just want to see the insides), they can be removed without too much effort or icky residue. The fan is the 3-pin variety with the standard tachometer wire for RPM monitoring. Also included in the package was a 4-pin pass-through molex connector so you don't have to sacrifice any needed PSU plugs. On top of all that you also get four self-tapping steel screws for attaching the fan to wherever you please. As for the specs, here they are from the back of the package:
- Voltage: 12V
- Current: 0.14A
- RPM: 2500
- Airflow: 30CFM
- Noise: 28dB
- Bearing: ball
- Life: 50,000 hours
Though rated at 0.14A (a little high for fans this quiet/slow), you have to remember that the LEDs are powered by the same motor that spins the blades. Although I don't have the proper equipment and therefore can not lay scientific claim to this, I have played with enough fans in my time to judge that these do not provide 30cfm of airflow. The noise level is low, I'll give them that much. Alone, each fan is silent from two feet, and comparable to a whisper a few inches from the blades. Together all four are no louder than a "normal" 35dba mid-range Sunon. Ball bearings and 50,000 lifetime is pretty standard so I'll spare the rant on that.
Aside from the three wires (positive, tach, ground) leading into the fan, there are also two thinner ones that go out to power the LED "strip" which lies around the fan's perimeter. This strip is simply a piece of foil (or so it seems) extending all the way around, with one terminal connected to the positive and the other to ground, connecting all three LEDs in series. The lights themselves are incredibly unobtrusive; they're inserted into pre-drilled holes within the frame and jut out no more than a millimeter.
Cyber Cooler went ahead and took another step in the right direction by taping a cloth-like strip on top of the metal and the plastic layer. This matters because when handling the taped-on strip more than a few times it's easy for it to come loose, leading to all sorts of mishaps. Unfortunately this adds a tad bit to the fan's overall dimensions (just like the LED tails which extend out a bit), making it difficult to fit into cases with precise fan cages (i.e. anything that looks like an Antec), though no impossible (worked for me anyway).
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Last Updated ( Friday, 20 July 2007 )
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