"Sleeve Bearing" or "Ball Bearing"

**Asghar** · 22-03-2005, 12:23 AM

Which is generally quieter in operation and better quality?

I have seen Panaflo's with Sleeve Bearing.

**arthurleung** · 22-03-2005, 12:51 AM

Sleeve Bearing tends to be quieter but they do not last very long compared to Ball Bearing.

**Beck** · 22-03-2005, 01:04 AM

Also iirc ball bearing fans go generally faster than sleeve bearings.

**iranu** · 22-03-2005, 01:37 AM

Ball. i shall justify later if need be but I need bed now zzzzzz......

**Asghar** · 22-03-2005, 01:16 PM

I was just wondering because I currently use an AKASA RED 80mm LED FAN with Speed Control. I use the fan at 7v at it is still noiser than the thermaltake 80mm Smart Fan 2 I have running at 3800 RPM. The AKASA has a different kind of noise, it's not as smooth.

Yesterday I saw that AKASA also do the same 80mm LED FAN but without Speed Control and it uses "Sleeve Bearing" instead. I was hoping that this would produce a quieter/better quality noise. Otherwise I will have to find another 80 LED FAN with a high CFM output.

Thanks.

**schmunk** · 22-03-2005, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by Asghar

Which is generally quieter in operation and better quality?

I have seen Panaflo's with Sleeve Bearing.

Panaflo fans don't actually use a sleeve bearing iirc, it's a 'Hydrowave Fluid Dynamic Bearing' which is quieter than both.

**richard-wong** · 22-03-2005, 03:28 PM

right sleeve is quiet and doesn't get loud when its about to give. unlike ball bearing, it gets louder as time goes, usually 3 months later!

hydrowave...hmm. its really good for high RPM damn quiet, but at low RPM the bearing is noisy! i would know cos i have one of this panaflo 120mm fan, at 5V operation u can hear the bearing going, but at full 12V the bearing is really quiet and its just the air sound. (as the bearing has a very distinctive noise, very easy to hear)

**Butcher** · 23-03-2005, 04:22 AM

Sleeve are quiet but have roughly 1/3 the lifespan of ball. Also when they go they tend to just sieze. Ball bearing fans will keep on trucking but rattle loudly.

**CluelesPasty** · 23-03-2005, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by arthurleung

Sleeve Bearing tends to be quieter but they do not last very long compared to Ball Bearing.

The man is right, I used to build and repair motors and sleeve bearings ARE very quiet, right up to failure point, you don't get much warning if any when they go, fan seizes and lots of money's worth fries. Ball bearings are not intrinsically noisey and more reliable in the long run, when they start to go you hear them unless they are really crap.
I don't know why you are asking, presumably for fans in which case don't bother with sleeve. My preference is roller or needle bearings, same idea as ball but physically far better. As with anything, good and bad in all.
Good luck

**Kumagoro** · 24-03-2005, 12:42 AM

i had a sleeve one didnt seize up it just wore away (ever so slightly), became loose and then made a racket. That was a good few years of wear.

**TDK** · 24-03-2005, 04:00 PM

Good quality sleeve bearings fans are quieter than the equivelant ball bearing fan. If the ball bearing fan lifetime was measured in the time it takes to get considerably louder then the sleeve bearing fan would outlast the ball bearing one. Instead they are measured in the number of hours it take for the rpm to be reduced by 20%.

Ball bearing fans will be 3-5db louder after 1,000-3,000 hours.

**arthurleung** · 24-03-2005, 05:48 PM

Anyone know if rifle bearings (Coolermaster) are good?

**scotty6435** · 24-03-2005, 06:57 PM

Coolermaster fans are pretty good but louder than other 'quiet' branded ones.

**eldren** · 24-03-2005, 10:05 PM

Coolermaster's rifle bearings just seems to be an improvement of a sleeve bearing design. A page detailing the different bearing types is over at http://www.coolermaster.com/index.ph...tail&serial=46

Personally, I wouldn't use sleeve bearing fans, based purely on reliability. I also seem to recall reading that having sleeve bearing fans mounted in a certain position (Parallel to the ground, as in a blowhole, if I recall) causes them to wear much more quickly. Can anyone confirm this?

**nvening** · 24-03-2005, 10:38 PM

mmmmmm, im jacking this thread a bit, but i was gunna get 2 120mm blue led AKASA fans, will they be loud? Should i get silent ones instead?

**richard-wong** · 24-03-2005, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by TDK

Good quality sleeve bearings fans are quieter than the equivelant ball bearing fan. If the ball bearing fan lifetime was measured in the time it takes to get considerably louder then the sleeve bearing fan would outlast the ball bearing one. Instead they are measured in the number of hours it take for the rpm to be reduced by 20%.

Ball bearing fans will be 3-5db louder after 1,000-3,000 hours.

agreed!!

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