PWM 120/140 options?

ttaskmaster

ttaskmaster

ttaskmaster

Soldato
Joined
11 Sep 2013
Posts
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Hi all,

Forgive what is probably a too-common question, but the Search doesn't turn up quite what I'm looking for.

I'm after some 120mm or perhaps 140mm fans - 2 for the H100, 2 or 4 for the front intake, 1 rear exhaust, possibly one underside intake.
I have a 200mm side fan, but could swap this for a pair of 120/140s.

I believe I'm looking for:
- PWM
- High static pressure
- Low noise

Looks and LEDs are a secondary consideration, so Noctua's 'SADF Nutria' colouring is not a worry. LEDs - If it comes with them, anything NOT blue or white will be just fine!

I'm using the stock fans that came with my H100 and Carbide 500R case, so that's the sort of noise I'm looking to combat. Doesn't have to be silent... just notably quieter. On my last PC, the loudest thing was the HDD spinning up!


Is there a chart that compares static pressure against noise, or something?
It's those two features I'll be looking to balance - What are people's thoughts?


Cheers,
Tasky.
 
Gah... after all those helpful posts, I just learned what PWM actually is... and that my rig is built around 3-pin fans anyway!!

OK, so how about just relatively quiet 3-pin fans?
I'll need 1 pair high static (120 or 140, whichever is better) ones for the H100 rad and 1 or 2 pair for the front HDD intakes (I could get a push-pull deal either side, or just stay with the push from the front) .
I'll also need some high airflow case fans for the floor & side intakes and exhausts - Up to 6.

For the case fans, I was thinking the Silverstone FN121-P (58CFM and 25db) would be better than a Corsair AF120 Quiet Edition (40CFM and 21db)... or have I misunderstood something again? :eek::)
 
Cor, this really does get complicated, doesn't it...!!

OK, the confusion arose because my mobo's CPU_Fan and Sys_Fan 1 headers are *definitely* 4-pin, but the Sys_Fan 2 (rear exhaust port) is only 3-pin...
The H100 is Molex-powered and connects to CPU_Fan, but only uses 3 of the 4 pins. Stock fans for H100 are also 3-pin, yet the four fan headers on the H100 pump unit are 4-pin!!
The H100 only uses the Ground, +12V and Sensor pins on the CPU_Fan header, but not the 4th Control pin... yet somehow still alters the radiator fans up and down. I'm guessing it checks the CPU temp and just bumps up the revs for a bit?

I'm thinking I could/should chuck some 4-pin PWMs into the H100 or not...?

Either way, I'm thinking 2 pair static pressure fans - 2 below to push air up and 2 higher pressure ones to pull up through the rad and exhaust out the top.
How does that sound?


The Carbide 500R front panel has a low-med-high switch and two cables for 3-pin fans, powered from the PSU by Molex. However, Corsair put flippin' proprietary connectors on everything!!
Unlike some other cases, these cables don't unplug fron the front panel either...

So... I'm now thinking I'd be best using some 3-pin high airflow case fans running off a fan controller (I really like the Lamptron FC models), so I can simply drop the volume when needed or bump them up if the rig starts warming up.

I had been reading up on PWM Splitters, but given that my mobo (MSI 970A-G46) has a reputation for being finicky, I'm a bit wary of putting more than one fan on a header unless they draw their power from Molex.
And yet, it sounds like I could put a 4-pin PWM on a 3-pin header (perhaps even into a fan controller) and just run them like 3-pins?
Just about every fan point in my case can take either 120 or 140, so I could feasibly choose anything I liked... and it's then down to just reading all the stats on all the fans, deciding between positive/negative pressure and choosing which fans I want?

Phew....
Does any of that make sense? :confused: :D
 
Well, trying out a pair of Noctua NF-P12 Vortex 120s on the H100, with another Noctua NF-S12A exhausting and a pair of Enermax T.B.Silence PWM UCTB12P for intakes.

They're all OK, I guess... but the whole 'silent' 8db idea is utterly wrecked simply because I have to move air through the intake meshes and I think THAT is what's making half the noise!!
Couple that with a noisy HD6950, plus the H100 pump, all in a case that has so much mesh it might as well be an open bench rig... and I think I've found the overall problem!!

I suddenly hate my case... :(
 
It is the 500R in part, as the rig was notably quieter in my previous case (some old generic HP or Packard Bell one).

The 6950 at least will be going once the insurance cheque clears, though!!
 
So far, despite trying all the different fans I have in various places, I get about 3db less fan noise, but get around 10-20ºC less cooling than from the crappy stock fans...!! :(

If the stock ones worked with the FC6, I'd probably go back to them.
 
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