PWM vs Normal (Difference?) Advice/Recommendation

TheyCallMeAndy

TheyCallMeAndy

TheyCallMeAndy

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Hey all


Im probably being stupid but what is the difference between PWM & Normal type fans ive been looking at fans and no idea what the difference is, im only looking at fans as im trying to buy them for a watercooling rig and i am not sure what ones to get PWM or Normal fans so any recommendations would be recommended. Not sure whether to use a fan controller too would probably be the best so recommendations on that would also be good!

Thanks

Andy
 
PWM fans basically are like normal 3 pin fans but with extra electronics stuff so that they can be switched on and off really fast. Your choice of fan should be largely driven by your motherboard control options. Some can't do very good 3 pin control, either necessitating PWM fans or some sort of conversion circuit. The other consideration is how automatic you want your fan control. Your motherboard is ideally placed to monitor the CPU and system temperatures and change a PWM signal going to your fans so they can slow down or speed up.

Ive only tried one or two PWM fans but I find they tick at low speed. My VGA card fan is PWM and it ticks. My Alaska apache fan ticked too.

If you don't like PWM fans then the glory of PWM control can be yours with 3 pin fans and a converter circuit. That's what I do.
 
Bart_Hunt said:
I am using these Enermax 3-pin fans and Lamptron FC6 fan controller.
If you want PWM, Enermax also makes those and they are a bit faster yet still quiet.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Lamptron FC6 5.25" Bay Fan Controller - Black £29.99
1 x Enermax T.B.Silence PWM UCTB12P 120m Fan £11.99
1 x Enermax T.B.Silence UCTB12 120mm Fan £4.80
Total : £56.38 (includes shipping : £8.00).

Click to expand...

Well i have an MSI Z87-G45 Would you say to go for the PWM or the Normal because i love the look and performance of the Enermax fans, i don't want the corsair overpriced looks fans seeing as they look the best in my opinion, which would you recommend for a custom loop and my board!

Thanks!
 
What's your case and how many 120 and how many 140 fans can you instal in it and where?
You can use PWM fans with controller too. I don't really like my motherboard controlling them. I found they were always spinning to slow.
When I found those Enermax fans, I was a little reluctant because of the price being so low, but now I was using them for a few weeks and I can tell you, I will never look back at PWM fans.
I would go for those normal fans, push/pull on radiators. You get 2.5 fans for the price of 1 Corsair SP120, quieter and similar performance maybe a bit lower static pressure, but with push pull it wont matter that much. I checked and these Enermax fans on max speed have enough to cool 40mm radiator in push-only, with thicker rads push/pull would be a good idea. And they are really quiet. I can only hear mine when I put my ear to the case.
 
Bart_Hunt said:
What's your case and how many 120 and how many 140 fans can you instal in it and where?
You can use PWM fans with controller too. I don't really like my motherboard controlling them. I found they were always spinning to slow.
When I found those Enermax fans, I was a little reluctant because of the price being so low, but now I was using them for a few weeks and I can tell you, I will never look back at PWM fans.
I would go for those normal fans, push/pull on radiators. You get 2.5 fans for the price of 1 Corsair SP120, quieter and similar performance maybe a bit lower static pressure, but with push pull it wont matter that much. I checked and these Enermax fans on max speed have enough to cool 40mm radiator in push-only, with thicker rads push/pull would be a good idea. And they are really quiet. I can only hear mine when I put my ear to the case.
Click to expand...

I will have a Corsair Carbide Air 540, would you still go with the same recommendations?
 
paulstung said:
You need to be careful with PWM fans going through a controller, a lot of them will make a low pitched humming noise, which is bloody awful. I found with mine that if you get a PWM splitter cable works the best

I connects to either a molex or sata for the power, and then a single 3 pin connector goes to a motherboard header, just for the speed control.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-079-AK

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-070-AK
Click to expand...

Thankyou for the advice i just went for the normal 3 pin fans and im going to hook them to a fan controller.!
 
Cool :D
I think I am main culprit behind these fans going low on stock, hehe.
Bought 17 myself and recommended them in dozens of threads :D
 
PWM equals Pulse-width modulation, instead of a constant delivery of power PWM fans Pulse, Width is the time delay between the pulse which is a Modulation technique, so in other words its like having a normal fan plugged into the wall, and you flicking the switch accordingly to determine your output

PMW fans are best suited to CPU header and normal 3pin fans better suited to fan controler or directly in to the molex
 
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