The pins that stick out of the fan are very flimsy, I would advise tying the cable up to make sure any movement is away from the connector (see pic). The fan is noisy which is to be expected at high speeds and shouldn't be a factor, this fan does a job and does it very well, it can suck in smoke up to 8 inches (maybe 10). inches) away from your soldering work and, more importantly, far enough away that you won't inhale noxious fumes. With the exception of the pins, this fan is built like a tank, I'm not saying it can withstand a fall from a regular desktop or desktop, but it definitely looks sturdy and well made.