Noctua cpu cooler fans upgrade

crowjon

crowjon

crowjon

Associate
Joined
20 Mar 2025
Posts
5
Location
UK
I am trying to use my original Noctua CPU cooler NH-D14. These fans are 3pin type. I woul like to replace them with later 4 pin pwm models. Is this practical please? Details below.

Original fans -
NF-P14 round with spring wire clamp NF-P12 square, ditto

The main board is:
ROG STRIX B760-A GAMING
CPU - i5 12600K LGA1700

I am not considering any serious overlooking. Hence retaining the Noctua cooler. If the opinion is don't bother, can anyone suggest a similar cooler, but not a water cooled version please. TIA
 
3 pin fans will work in 4 pin motherboards no problem, I'm using the same CPU cooler with stock fans, Y cable into one header.

Can't see the point, two noctua fans will not be cheap
 
Wow that was quick. That leaves me with the problem of the plug ends which are the small 4 pin type. Is there and adapter to convert to the larger format. I bought a splitter but it is the large format all ends. Thanks
 
3-pin fans will run on 4-pin headers, but if they are PWM control headers the fans will only run at full speed. This is because PWM control supplies 12v constant power on pin 2 and PWM control on pin4. Pin 4 sends signal to fan PWM controller to pulse the 12v power supplied by pin 2 to spin motor slower. 3-pin header has variable voltage on pin 2, and voltage is lowered to spin motor slower.

crowjon said:
I am trying to use my original Noctua CPU cooler NH-D14. These fans are 3pin type. I woul like to replace them with later 4 pin pwm models. Is this practical please? Details below.

Original fans -
NF-P14 round with spring wire clamp NF-P12 square, ditto

The main board is:
ROG STRIX B760-A GAMING
CPU - i5 12600K LGA1700

I am not considering any serious overlooking. Hence retaining the Noctua cooler. If the opinion is don't bother, can anyone suggest a similar cooler, but not a water cooled version please. TIA
Click to expand...
You can use most 140mm fans on NH-D14 and just spring the fan clips to hook into screw holes. Practice it before installing cooler to get clips sprung into shape .. and so you know how to get them clipped on. ;) I usually do a "practice" cooler install with no TIM to get a feel of exactly where coolers sets to get crossbar screws started. Doing this helps get a good TIM mate-up on final install.
 
Not used a 3 pin fan in ages
But positive it was speed controllable not stuck
At full rpm constantly
Far as I remember
My bios has pwm/voltage control/auto options
For the fan headers
Though has 2 pump headers those run at max
 
Mcnumpty2323 said:
Not used a 3 pin fan in ages
But positive it was speed controllable not stuck
At full rpm constantly
Far as I remember
My bios has pwm/voltage control/auto options
For the fan headers
Though has 2 pump headers those run at max
Click to expand...
Key words are "bios has pwm/voltage control/ auto options".
3-pin fan plugged into header set to PWM will run at full speed because fan has no PWM speed control.
3-pin fan plugged into header set to "voltage control" will be speed controlled.

I have seen motherboards with 12v 3-pin fan headers that had no variable voltage, so were always full speed. Dell for sure have/had mobos like this.
 
doyll said:
Key words are "bios has pwm/voltage control/ auto options".
3-pin fan plugged into header set to PWM will run at full speed because fan has no PWM speed control.
3-pin fan plugged into header set to "voltage control" will be speed controlled.

I have seen motherboards with 12v 3-pin fan headers that had no variable voltage, so were always full speed. Dell for sure have/had mobos like this.
Click to expand...
Yeah that's entirely possible
I have never used a prebuilt pc since
The very first pc i ever had 30 years ago
So have always picked the motherboard since then
And usually not the base model

The board the op has should be able
To pick voltage control is probably how I should have
Phrased it or added to my comment
 
Mcnumpty2323 said:
Yeah that's entirely possible
I have never used a prebuilt pc since
The very first pc i ever had 30 years ago
So have always picked the motherboard since then
And usually not the base model

The board the op has should be able
To pick voltage control is probably how I should have
Phrased it or added to my comment
Click to expand...
I understand you now. :D

I can't prove it but have been told some motherboard headers use PWM instead of variable voltage for 3-pin fan control.
 
doyll said:
I understand you now. :D

I can't prove it but have been told some motherboard headers use PWM instead of variable voltage for 3-pin fan control.
Click to expand...
How would they do PWM fan control over 3 pins? Ignore the sense wire and put PWM there?

Most motherboards will use a PWM technique to vary the DC voltage, that's how they work. But it's not PWM fan control then, it's PWM voltage control.
 
LuckyBenski said:
How would they do PWM fan control over 3 pins? Ignore the sense wire and put PWM there?

Most motherboards will use a PWM technique to vary the DC voltage, that's how they work. But it's not PWM fan control then, it's PWM voltage control.
Click to expand...
Use PWM controlled pulsed 12v power on pin-2 instead of variable voltage power. Unless user monitored voltage to see it's pulsed they wouldn't know the difference.
 
doyll said:
Use PWM controlled pulsed 12v power on pin-2 instead of variable voltage power. Unless user monitored voltage to see it's pulsed they wouldn't know the difference.
Click to expand...
I think that is literally how all DC voltage regulation works on motherboards. Some will do a better job than others, but that's how voltage is digitally controlled.

There's no linear regulators with adjustable voltages or potentiometers doing it. Has to be digital based, and PWM is that.
 
crowjon said:
I am trying to use my original Noctua CPU cooler NH-D14. These fans are 3pin type. I woul like to replace them with later 4 pin pwm models. Is this practical please? Details below.

Original fans -
NF-P14 round with spring wire clamp NF-P12 square, ditto

The main board is:
ROG STRIX B760-A GAMING
CPU - i5 12600K LGA1700

I am not considering any serious overlooking. Hence retaining the Noctua cooler. If the opinion is don't bother, can anyone suggest a similar cooler, but not a water cooled version please. TIA
Click to expand...

it would be cheaper and better to buy a whole phantom spirit cooler for £30, than 2 noctua fans for £30 each, and get better performance too
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom