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Aurora R11, liquid cooled top fan replacement
Replaced my stock Top Fan with a Corsair ML120 Pro (no LED, no RGB) today.
Thanks for all the great info! The great news is that it's much quieter!
System specs: Aurora R11, 1000w PSU with liquid cooler / i9 10900k / RTX 2070 super / 32GB 3200MHz RAM
Also have 1TB M2 / 2TB 3.5" 7200 RPM / and (2) 2TB 2.5" 5200 RPM drives in the lower bays.
Stock fan: Speedfan RPM readings: Top fan system idle - 1137 RPM Decibels: 44 idle/balanced = 27% fan speed : 54 performance setting = 41% fan speed in AWCC
Corsair ML120 Pro: Specs: 400 - 2400 RPM / 37 dBA / 75 CFM Speedfan RPM readings: Top Fan system idle - 723 RPM idle (40% slower RPM than stock) Decibels: 41 idle/balanced = 17% fan speed / 51 performance setting = same 41% fan speed in AWCC
So the Corsair RPM's is about 40% slower at idle/balanced setting (723 RPM). With the stock fan, the 1137 RPMs was loud enough to bother me.
The upgrade results in a 3 decibel drop of noise. Might not sound like a lot, but it's significant. And it's a lower-end slight hum vs. the higher pitch 'whine' of the stock.
Temps are no problem with the upgrade.
At idle: 31 CPU / 31 GPU with balanced setting and web-browsing etc.
Far Cry 5: 65 CPU / 77 GPU @ 1440p resolution (get around 120 fps)
The bad news:
It's a pain-in-the-neck to get to the fan screws! Took me about an hour to replace. A small jeweler-type screw driver worked well to fit up through the slots. I needed to use a small pair of vice-grips to twist the screwdriver to break the screws loose.
And placing Scotch tape loosely around the screws (use the original screws) before installing new fan (with the screws not seated) was a critical step.
I was able to do it all without removing the pump etc. - just removed the connections for the pump and top fan from the board header.
I also read this helpful Dell thread here.
Thanks again to all here, and good luck to the next guy!
C H
31 Posts
0
August 3rd, 2020 18:00
yeesh - how do you edit a post? It removed all the formatting from my last post!
(Chrome doesn't show the 3...dots to access edit)
Works in Edge brower.
But now it says time expired to edit.
DOH!
r72019
6 Professor
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August 3rd, 2020 18:00
Too late. You can only edit within the first 15 minutes or so.
C H
31 Posts
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August 3rd, 2020 19:00
Anonymous
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August 3rd, 2020 20:00
@C H
Great job! Drop some photos here if you have them available.
What program are you using to read fan rpm? I have heard that AWCC can be wacky for non-Dell fans.
C H
31 Posts
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August 3rd, 2020 21:00
AWCC reads/controls the Corsair fan fine.
I've heard of problems when fan goes above 70%, but my cooling is fine at 40% max.
I tried 8 fan control programs also- only 1 can read the fan controller: Speedfan
It needs to be set up properly to work though.
It can read and control the top fan.
The last picture, you need to add a fan controller by clicking the 'Add' button.
Jump_Fight
18 Posts
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August 4th, 2020 08:00
Congrats! I also want to do an upgrade to my top fan without removing the pump but I am really new to desktop (Even the memory upgrade tool me a while). Do you know a youtube video that shows me how? Also, how did you get a Corsair ML120 Pro (no LED, no RGB), I think it is out of stock everywhere.
Jump_Fight
18 Posts
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August 4th, 2020 09:00
Thanks for the info! Do I have to replace both top and front fans together? From my observation, all noise is coming from the top fan, so I prefer to only replace the top one if possible. My main concern is, to replace the front fan too I would have to remove the GPU liquid cooling, which is kind of nervous for a newbie like me. Would it cause any power/frequency sync issue if I only replace the top one?
ECJoker19
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August 4th, 2020 09:00
@Jump_Fight "Also, how did you get a Corsair ML120 Pro (no LED, no RGB), I think it is out of stock everywhere."
You have to purchase it directly from Corsair website. 1 fan is for $28 and 2-pack ones are $40. https://www.corsair.com/us/en/Categories/Products/Fans/c/Cor_Products_Cooling_Fans?q=%3Aprice-desc%3AfanSize%3A120mm&text=&pageSize=12#rotatingText
C H
31 Posts
1
August 4th, 2020 10:00
The thread I linked to has some pictures and useful information.
It's not rocket science, but it does require patience and some dexterity.
And replacing just the top fan works fine - AWCC works the same as before.
I got the fan from Amazon after 1 month back-order.
The only way I did the fan without removing the pump was to use a jeweler-type screwdriver.
And a pic of the stock fan with tape on screws to show the idea.
Anonymous
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August 4th, 2020 14:00
@ECJoker19 1 fan is for $28 and 2-pack ones are $40
Be careful, as that 2-pack is not "Pro".
Look for the black fan blades.
Jump_Fight
18 Posts
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August 4th, 2020 15:00
Wow, amazing. Thanks
Jump_Fight
18 Posts
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August 4th, 2020 15:00
Wow, thanks. Almost bought the 2-set one.
Any idea if I have to replace both the top and front fans together?
r72019
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August 4th, 2020 17:00
No, you can do just one fan.
r72019
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August 4th, 2020 17:00
Also the front fan doesn't require an ml120 pro. Pretty much any 3 or 4 pin 120mm fan will work in that header.
C H
31 Posts
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August 5th, 2020 12:00
@DELL-Chris M ""
Thank you - looks great!
And Chrome is now showing the 3 dots edit etc interface.
Seems the forum server chokes on occasion.