3x 120mm vs. 2x 140mm case fans - best approach?

t2na

t2na

t2na

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What's the general consensus for front intake fans? Typically I've gone with the approach that less fans = less noise - but then if I'm able to run more fans at a lower RPM then that sort of makes that point redundant. I could have three 120mm fans running at 600 RPM each to generate the same amount of cooling as running two 140mm fans at 900rpm.

I don't have front mounted radiator so it's not a concern about cooling the rad (I either use a D15s air cooler or a top mounted 240mm AIO) - so the front intake is purely for getting cool air into the case.

Is it a 'six of one, half a dozen of the other' where it doesn't overly make a huge amount of difference?
 
There's also
Consideration of cost
How much is 2 x 140
Vs 3 x 120mm
If there's nothing behind where the fans are
Static pressure won't really matter
So yeah I would think
Won't be great deal of difference between them
 
Cheers all, I'm in a lucky position to have both options available to me with parts from other builds.

I'll try 2x 140mm to start - see how it is noise wise and then try the 120mm fans afterwards.
 
Ended up trying both options - preferred 3 x 120mm fans as my Noctua 140mm fans made this weird humming noise between 700-900rpm.

Everything is happily running cool and quiet - and even at load it doesn't make much more noise either!
 
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