Bearings or sleeves for fans?

[JamesMJ]

I am not sure wether or not there is really a difference. I was just curious if one method was better then the other. I have heard that bearings last longer, not sure if this is hear say or not. Bah who needs fans when there is H20! Woot!

James.

[xroyal]

Absolutely go for bearings, doube ball bearing vs a cheap plastic sleeve. More dependable, longer life and quieter.

[JamesMJ]

Cool. Thanks for the info. I had a feeling there had to be a difference. I didn't realize the sleeves were plastic, boy thats crap!

[Todd a]

Actually from what I have hear the sleeve bearings are a tiny bit quieter, but they do not last anywhere new as long. Most bearing fans have one sleave and one bearing. Dual bearing fans are a bit more expensive and are primarily used for servers as they are designed to run for 70-100 thousand hours average. Sleave plus bearing last about 40-60 thousand and sleave last about 20-30 thousand.

[Shinma]

Bearings: Louder but better dealing wth heat.

Sleeve: Generally quieter but durability/longevity is affected if near a heat source...