2x 140mm vs 3x 120mm Fans Performance vs Sound

[M A J O R]

I was wondering which is better? 2x 140mm fans, or 3x 120mm?

 

I know the 2x 140mm = 280mm and 3x120mm = 360mm giving the triple 120s better coverage and performance. But which combination gives off most noise vs it's performance. I'm going to be running Corsairs Quiet Edition AF120/140s as intake (Noctua...too...ugly..) and was just thinking this over and I can't really decide based on my research.

 

In some forums they suggest putting a rad at the front but this isn't un my budget at the moment. Pretty much I'm aiming to keep things as quiet as I can without sacrificing a significant amount of performance.

 

So, 3x 120mm vs 2x 140mm?  

 

Thanks  

[cheeze_tartz]

(Noctua...too...ugly..)

 

uhh... black Noctuas A.K.A Industrial PPC Fans

 

Anyway.. 3 120's = better performance.. 2 140's = quieter

 

I would choose neither cuz corsair sucks ass

[LRC350]

I used to have the Corsair SP and AF fans yes they look nice, but man they suck and pretty noisy too.

I got the black Noctuas PPC 3000rpm fans. These fans move air like nothing else out there. Night and day difference between the Corsairs. They are actually pretty quiet under 1500rpm which allows them to move a lot of air still. Once you have these things singing at 3000rpm my god its a typhoon in the case. And I have 2 140mm at front! Worth it to save your pennies and buy these!

[M A J O R]

I used to have the Corsair SP and AF fans yes they look nice, but man they suck and pretty noisy too.

I got the black Noctuas PPC 3000rpm fans. These fans move air like nothing else out there. Night and day difference between the Corsairs. They are actually pretty quiet under 1500rpm which allows them to move a lot of air still. Once you have these things singing at 3000rpm my god its a typhoon in the case. And I have 2 140mm at front! Worth it to save your pennies and buy these!

Is there 2 different types of fans like the Corsair or are they the same? (Static Pressure and Air Flow?)

[Snadzies]

uhh... black Noctuas A.K.A Industrial PPC Fans

 

Anyway.. 3 120's = better performance.. 2 140's = quieter

 

I would choose neither cuz corsair sucks ass

 

There are also the Redux Noctua fans that are grey.

They are basically their previous generation fans re-released in grey.

[Damir]

Is there 2 different types of fans like the Corsair or are they the same? (Static Pressure and Air Flow?)

 

Airflows series for case air, and Static Pressure for CPU air cooling or liquid cooling radiators... if you are going with corsairs.

 

While 120mm might sound on paper about the same or a bit louder, remember that also there is noise being generated by what type of airflow restriction in might run into. You can test it yourself really, if you hold your hand near the fan while its spinning, the sound being generated gets louder. The faster the fan spins, the louder the noise can be generated by airflow restrictions as well.

 

So 3x120mm fans will generate more noise vs 2x140mm fans, is what I have experienced in the past. But you will loose some airflow with 2x140mm fans, and tend to have less static pressure to move air through air filters, so it would loose a bit more there to the 120mm fan.

[JohnnyPappis]

Funny, I've been pondering this exact question.  I was going to put some of the noctua industrial PPC fans.  I have the Air 540 with a H220x on the cpu and SLI 980 Classifieds I have noticed a rise in ambient temps in the case so I figure that will help solve the issue.  Would 3 x 120 mm really make that big of an impact over 2 x 140 mm?  

Edit: it seems the post above mine has answered most of my question feel free to add in, sorry for the thread hijack!

[M A J O R]

Funny, I've been pondering this exact question.  I was going to put some of the noctua industrial PPC fans.  I have the Air 540 with a H220x on the cpu and SLI 980 Classifieds I have noticed a rise in ambient temps in the case so I figure that will help solve the issue.  Would 3 x 120 mm really make that big of an impact over 2 x 140 mm?  

Edit: it seems the post above mine has answered most of my question feel free to add in, sorry for the thread hijack!

Hijack away Johnny haha. I've got most of he info I need. I'll probably go with whatever is the cheaper option. I think that either option should work fine until for the time being. I can always make changes later. It'll give me an excuse to mess around in there haha.