Between these two fans, which for front intake?

[Heis]

Comparing between these two fans, which one would you suggest I buy as intakes for the front of my case? I will be buying 2 for front intake.

Noctua NF-A14 PWM: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-case-fan-nfa14pwm

or

Phanteks PH-F140SP: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/phanteks-case-fan-phf140spbk

Which of these two fans have more static pressure in order to move more air?

The case I will be using is the Phanteks Enthoo Luxe, I’m going to be connecting these fans to the provided fan hub in the case. These Phanteks fans are actually the same fans that come with the case for the rear exhaust and top exhaust which I will leave them there and be using. I heard the Noctuas will be voltage controlled, I’m not sure what this means, if somebody can clarify this.

Thanks in advance!

 

[lehtv]

That F140SP is a 3-pin fan, it's not the same as your default case fans. You need 4-pin PWM fans because the fan controller in Enthoo Luxe is a PWM fan hub. edit turns out the PWM fan hub takes 3-pin fans.

That particular Noctua is not voltage controlled, but PWM controlled. Which is what you need.

 

[Heis]

That F140SP is a 3-pin fan, it's not the same as your default case fans. You need 4-pin PWM fans because the fan controller in Enthoo Luxe is a PWM fan hub.

That particular Noctua is not voltage controlled, but PWM controlled. Which is what you need.

But I would consider both of those overpriced. Noctua Redux P14r 140mm PWM is one of the cheapest 140mm PWM fans at $19 and one of the best too. Noise test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TfSb2_PHdM

You can reduce its noise further with a separately bought Noctua Low Noise Adapter: http://www.amazon.ca/Noctua-NA-SRC7...5068&sr=1-2&keywords=noctua+low+noise+adapter. Should go from 450-1500RPM to about 350-1200RPM.

Are you 100% certain that that PH-F140SP is not the same as the defult fans that come with the case?

According to this site in the overview it says it uses the PH-F140SP: http://www.phanteksusa.com/products/phanteks-enthoo-luxe

As for the fan hub, how did you find out that the fan controller is 4-pin? Unless all PWM's are 4- pin(?) This was something I actually was trying to find out.

 

[lehtv]

You're right, that is the same fan. And contrary to what I said earlier, you need 3-pin fans for the fan controller! I looked a bit more closely this time and the fan controller is a PWM fan hub but it uses standard 3-pin connector fans - a very interesting solution. Didn't even know you could control 3-pin fans using a special controller that takes PWM input from the motherboard. Scroll down the page here: http://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/phanteks-enthoo-luxe-review,6.html

Since you're already familiar with the Phanteks fans, they're certainly a safe bet, but I still consider them a little overpriced.

BeQuiet 140mm Pure Wings 2 are very good quality, quiet, and just $15 a piece.

Noctua Redux 140mm (3-pin this time!) has a little higher max RPM if you prefer that. $19.

 

[Heis]

You're right, that is the same fan. And contrary to what I said earlier, you need 3-pin fans for the fan controller! I looked a bit more closely this time and the fan controller is a PWM fan hub but it uses standard 3-pin connector fans - a very interesting solution. Didn't even know you could control 3-pin fans using a special controller that takes PWM input from the motherboard. Scroll down the page here: http://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/phanteks-enthoo-luxe-review,6.html

Since you're already familiar with the Phanteks fans, they're certainly a safe bet, but I still consider them a little overpriced.

BeQuiet 140mm Pure Wings 2 are very good quality, quiet, and just $15 a piece.

Noctua Redux 140mm (3-pin this time!) has a little higher max RPM if you prefer that. $19.

Alright, thanks for the links. So just to confirm, the Noctua NF-A14 PWM will not work with the fan hub since it's a 4 pin?

Should I still keep this fan and hook it up to the PSU or the motherboard instead of the hub if it can't be used there? Or do you recommend me just getting 3 pin fans to use with the hub?

 

[lehtv]

All the connectors in the fan hub are 3-pin, as you can see in the guru3d link I posted. Perhaps you can still connect a 4-pin fan but the PWM wire will not be used, in which case it should adjusted with voltage like any 3-pin fan. This is probably what you were referring to earlier when you said "I heard the Noctuas will be voltage controlled".

If you already have the Noctua A14 PWM then yes, no reason not to use it. Connect it to a case fan header on the motherboard (assuming it has 4-pin case fan headers) so you can control its speed according to CPU temp.

 

[Heis]

All the connectors in the fan hub are 3-pin, as you can see in the guru3d link I posted. Perhaps you can still connect a 4-pin fan but the PWM wire will not be used, in which case it should adjusted with voltage like any 3-pin fan. This is probably what you were referring to earlier when you said "I heard the Noctuas will be voltage controlled".

If you already have the Noctua A14 PWM then yes, no reason not to use it. Connect it to a case fan header on the motherboard (assuming it has 4-pin case fan headers) so you can control its speed according to CPU temp.

I do have a few questions to help me understand fans better so I can make the right decision.

In a case, there are only 3 places where a fan can be connected right?
1. the fan hub
2. case fan header on the motherboard
3. the PSU
Is this correct?

So if I still went and bought that Noctua NF-A14 PWM (4-pin), there should be only 2 places where I can connect it to, either the motherboard or the PSU, correct?

If I connect it to the motherboard (if it has spare 4 pin case fan headers) then it would be controlled the same way as my cpu fan (they will spin in sync)?

If I connect it to the psu, then the fans will run at full speed always? From when I turn it on to when I shut down?

 

[lehtv]

In a case, there are only 3 places where a fan can be connected right?
1. the fan hub
2. case fan header on the motherboard
3. the PSU
Is this correct?

In your case, yes. It's also possible to buy a third party fan controller device which gives you manual control over the voltage supplied to the fans.

So if I still went and bought that Noctua NF-A14 PWM (4-pin), there should be only 2 places where I can connect it to, either the motherboard or the PSU, correct?

Not necessarily. As I said in the previous post, you might be able to connect a 4-pin PWM fan to the case's fan hub, it'll just function as a normal voltage regulated fan because the fan hub's headers have no connecting pin for the PWM wire. If your current CPU fan is a 4-pin PWM fan, you can try it out in the fan hub. If it works just like the Phanteks case fans, then you know that the NF-A14 will also work.

However, I don't see a good reason to buy the NF-A14 when you can get a 3-pin Redux version for less $.

If I connect it to the motherboard (if it has spare 4 pin case fan headers) then it would be controlled the same way as my cpu fan (they will spin in sync)?

Each fan header is independently controlled, you can set whatever fan profile you want for each header. In Asus motherboards, for instance, you have Silent, Standard, Turbo and Manual profiles. This is done in the motherboard BIOS. If you set the case fan header to the same fan profile as the CPU fan, then they will "spin in sync" as you put it. You may also have to choose whether the fan speed adjusts to CPU or Motherboard temperature.

If I connect it to the psu, then the fans will run at full speed always? From when I turn it on to when I shut down?

It will run at a fixed voltage. The maximum RPM is achieved at 12V, but it's possible to use a cable that undervolts the fan (typically to 7V or 5V) which will greatly reduce its RPM.

The Noctua NF-A14 PWM doesn't come with a cable that can connect directly to the PSU - you would need a separate 4-pin molex adapter cable. But it does come with an undervolting cable (which Noctua calls "L.N.A" or Low Noise Adapter) that fits between the fan and the molex adapter cable.

Out of all these options, I think using the fan hub makes the most sense because it only needs to connect to the motherboard with one cable. This allows you to easily control all case fans with just one fan profile (set in the BIOS).

 

[Heis]

In your case, yes. It's also possible to buy a third party fan controller device which gives you manual control over the voltage supplied to the fans.



Not necessarily. As I said in the previous post, you might be able to connect a 4-pin PWM fan to the case's fan hub, it'll just function as a normal voltage regulated fan because the fan hub's headers have no connecting pin for the PWM wire. If your current CPU fan is a 4-pin PWM fan, you can try it out in the fan hub. If it works just like the Phanteks case fans, then you know that the NF-A14 will also work.

However, I don't see a good reason to buy the NF-A14 when you can get a 3-pin Redux version for less $.



Each fan header is independently controlled, you can set whatever fan profile you want for each header. In Asus motherboards, for instance, you have Silent, Standard, Turbo and Manual profiles. This is done in the motherboard BIOS. If you set the case fan header to the same fan profile as the CPU fan, then they will "spin in sync" as you put it. You may also have to choose whether the fan speed adjusts to CPU or Motherboard temperature.



It will run at a fixed voltage. The maximum RPM is achieved at 12V, but it's possible to use a cable that undervolts the fan (typically to 7V or 5V) which will greatly reduce its RPM.

The Noctua NF-A14 PWM doesn't come with a cable that can connect directly to the PSU - you would need a separate 4-pin molex adapter cable. But it does come with an undervolting cable (which Noctua calls "L.N.A" or Low Noise Adapter) that fits between the fan and the molex adapter cable.

Out of all these options, I think using the fan hub makes the most sense because it only needs to connect to the motherboard with one cable. This allows you to easily control all case fans with just one fan profile (set in the BIOS).

Thanks for clearing up those questions for me. To be honest, I'm contemplating whether or not I should even swap out the front 200mm, whether it's actually worth it. The reason why I wanted to change the 200mm fan in the front is because I've read from numerous other posts from people who also own this case that the 200mm in the case isn't good. They all suggested to switch it out for 2 quality 140mm to move much more air for better airflow. Now, when your comparing 2 140s to the single 200, it may make the 200 look bad, but overall is the 200 actually "bad"? Like is the 200mm good and that 2 140s is better(?) Or is the 200mm actually useless?

They all called it useless but there is a difference between these two scenarios in that its actually a good fan but when compared to 2 quality 140s, it's useless.

At the end of the day, how good would you say the 200mm fan is? Should I even bother swapping it out for 2 140s? I'm going to be using the GTX 980Ti MSI 6G, I won't be over clocking it.

I think this is the 200mm that comes preinstalled, it's the only 200mm under products: http://phanteks.com/PH-F200SP.html

 

[lehtv]

Can't see how 110 CFM of airflow is useless by any stretch. Typically 200mm fans move a decent amount of air even if you don't run them at max speed. They're just not very good at directed airflow. But if you look at tests done with cases that use multiple 200 mm fans, temperatures tend to be top notch and noise isn't too bad. Cooler Master HAF X for instance, or Rosewill Thor V2.

All in all if there's nothing wrong with temperatures and you're not bothered by the 200mm fan's noise output, then it's not really worth the money to replace it with dual 140mm's.

 

[Bearmann]

Well, the surface area of the 200mm is approximately equal to that of two 140's, excluding the dead space of the hubs. However, the 200mm will probably be able to spin slower and quieter for an equal air output (compared to one 140mm definitely, but I'm not positive about two 140's) I would suspect that the Phantecs 200mm fan is good quality, though I have no personal knowledge about it.