Final update:
This is my final update on the matter of the P12 Max with ball bearings as for the P12 Max white Arctic has decided to go for an FDB and i have already seen Pictures of the Box of a (black) P12 Max Rev.2 with a FDB as well. So as the time progresses the chance to get a black P12 Max with an FDB will increase and the P12 Max white will never have the issue of loud ball bearing noises. Still i have recorded two more P12 Max together with a P12 RGB to show that there acutally are P12 Max with quiet ball bearings out there:
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Update4: Arctic sent me another 2 replacement fans and one of them has way less noticeable bearing noises (although still audible typical ball bearing noises) than the fans i have recorded so far and it is far more comparable to the P12 PWM PST CO i also did record. I will record this fan and upload the video as soon as possible.
Update3: My P12 Max (and the replacement fan) are back at Arctic for inspection. Not sure when i will get another replacement.
Update2: The clicking noises on my replacment fan started getting worse and it is now way louder than my first P12 Max:
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Update: The bearings on my replacment fan have way less of that chirping noise but the grinding noise is still very much audible and there is some clicking noise. Still its less annoying than my first fan. Ball bearings will never be as silent as FDBs or sleeve bearings. Will upload the comparison video between both fans as soon as possible.
Updated video without the high frequency noise can be found here:
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As the P12 (A)RGB is the closest thing to the P12 Max in Arctics fan lineup i decided to record both of the fans side by side at the most similar rpm as possible to figure out what influence the bearing has on the noise produced by the fans. I determined the rpm for both fans through the lowest steady peak shown in the frequency diagram (((frequency*60s)/amount of fanblades))=rpm)
The chattering noises coming from the bearing used in the P12 Max makes it way more noticeable than the P12 RGB, throughout the whole prm range of the P12 RGB.
In my oppinion this is neither Arctics nor the P12 Maxes fault, as i think it was designed to run at or near its maximum rpm for most of its lifetime. At rpm above 2500rpm the bearing noises (on the fan i have recorded) start getting overpowered by the sound of the airflow and at max rpm i cant hear any bearing noises over the noise caused by tremendous amounts of air moving. Therefore the bearing is no issue for its intended purpose but rather helps increasing lifetime and reliability of the fan.
