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Mobo & Case fans speed questions

Joshatdot

Joshatdot

Member
I am going to build a new rig soon, and have some questions about case fans speeds & mobo controlling them. I am not going to buy or use a separate fan controller .. just the mobo.

I have some variable speed 120mm fans picked out:

4pin - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835610003
3pin - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835214028

Now I know that PWM/4pin fans are speed controlled better, my questions are about 3pin fans.

Does it matter if I choose variable speed 3pin fans, if the mobo controls them?

Are single speed/rpm fans always at 100% when connected to the mobo?

Would variable be better, or does it not matter?
 
Fans that are connected to the motherboard header should not run at 100% speed all the time and it would be variable depending on the load. The same can't be said if you connect them directly to a molex header. Variable speed does matter if you mind the noise and durability of the fan running at 100% speed all the time.

There are even times when you don't need the airflow and a lot of airflow during idle would just result in getting more dust into your case. You would have to check your motherboard as well if it has 4 pin headers for all or a mix of 4 and 3 pin headers. Either way, you can plug in a 3 pin to a 4 pin and vice versa. I suggest getting the Artic Cooling AF12PWM instead.
 
Ok .. if the mobo controls the speed of the fan .. does it matter if I choose a single RPM or var. RPM? I mean since the mobo controls them .. I would guess the single is less change than the var RPM, am I right?

I chose the Nexus because it closely matches the rpm (500-2000) & cfm (up to 76) of the stock Hyper 212+ fan .. but it is about 6 dB quieter. The Artic you listed is slower (300-1350) & moves less air (up to 57 cfm) .. but I guess it should be fine for a CPU fan.
 
My original build, I had the fans hooked directly to the Molex power... it was pretty loud and, as DMA suggested, it did indeed suck in a bunch of dust. Now that I have a 4-channel fan controller, I get to control all the fans (except the CPU fans, and I may switch that, too.) They are off when I don't need them, and I get to set the speed when I do... I really like the flexability.
 
I have most of my 120MM fans undervolted. Generic Rosewill 4 pack for $7.
@Full speed connected to PSU or hooked to mobo...they were annoyingly loud.
Undervolted, they move air and are reasonably quiet.

Only ones that aren't are some low rpm scythe fans.
 
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