Noise
We can't readily tell the difference between no load and 50 per cent load; the fan is practically silent in both situations, running at sub-500rpm. It does steadily and smoothly ramp up after then, but even so, it tops out at around 1,500rpm. The point is you are very unlikely to hear it over the noise produced by the other components.
Keeping costs in check means the rifle-bearing fan isn't technically as good as, say, the Silent Wings 3 line, but it's unfair to expect the latter at this price point.