If these 5 little fans do the job as well as a full size box fan, I have to wonder:
1. Are box fans just really terrible? I would expect the amount of airflow from a box fan to absolutely demolish these little case fans.
2. Does airflow not actually matter that much? Assuming the box fan really does move far more air, that would imply that air filtration is somehow not driven by air flow. Or else the testing methodology is flawed.
The 5 little fans are on high while the box fan is on low. The box fan is capable of much higher airflow, but the objection is noise.
The PC case fans have been specifically designed to be as quiet as possible. The Lasko box fan ... well, these are cheap fans. They're designed to be manufactured at the lowest price possible while still meeting the low quality bar of "It's acceptable considering I got the cheapest option that WalMart carries". But in general yes, box fans are terrible.
I’m surprised that those little fans can push more air than a box fan while still being quieter. But I guess each of those 5 little fans cost as much as the box fan so maybe my surprise is unwarranted.
Box fans are a fire hazard when used continuously to pull air through filtration media. They are not designed for that.
Computer cooling fans also might not have been designed to handle that much "load", but in the case of the box fan, we have an actual report of someone who almost burned down the house:
Yeah, it's just as likely they had it plugged in improperly or the wires were fraying or something. Might as well say it was spontaneous combustion.
I had a dishwasher catch fire because the installers didn't properly connect the power cable. That doesn't mean dishwashers are inherently a fire hazard.
1. Are box fans just really terrible? I would expect the amount of airflow from a box fan to absolutely demolish these little case fans.
2. Does airflow not actually matter that much? Assuming the box fan really does move far more air, that would imply that air filtration is somehow not driven by air flow. Or else the testing methodology is flawed.