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Fans... Worth the price?

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Go to solution Solved by TheProfosist,

Ok then, I do have a quick question. I did research on my entire build so I'm not fool when it comes to PC and I've built 2 so far... But I am a fool when it comes to fans. 

 

1. What does PMW (I think thats what it's called?) actually mean?

2. If I get 2 other fans that have different RPM for the H100i and do a push pull setup with say 1200rpm fans for pushing and 2000rpm fans for pushing does that put stress on the fans at all?

3. What's the difference between 3 pin and 4 pin fans?

 

I think thats all I really want to know so if you could answer those questions that'd be great. 

 

Also the people on the forum are outstanding, everyone has been so nice and friendly ever since I started here xD

PWM = pulse width modulation. Its is a better more efficient form of fan control. You can control many more fans off one header, its more power efficient, and wears the fans less.

no but i would suggest getting the same fans all the way around the case for easier control. this shoule be simple since the Air 540 is a great option for 140mm or 120mm.

3 pin is voltage control and 4 pin is PWM control. If the fan your looking at has a PWM option get it. Actually my preferance is to look for PWM first unless you looking for a very specific type of fan.

I5 4690k and h100i

GTX 970 not sure which brand yet

MSI Z97 Gaming 5

G SKill ripjaws

Corsair 850w (Overkill cause of future SLI and amazing deal)

Corsair Air 540 

Nzxt hue

Western Digital Hard drive 

Yeah thats pretty much my build, but thanks for fan recommendations 

Are you looking for fans of a specific color since you were asking about painting fans?

Ok then, I do have a quick question. I did research on my entire build so I'm not fool when it comes to PC and I've built 2 so far... But I am a fool when it comes to fans. 

 

1. What does PMW (I think thats what it's called?) actually mean?

2. If I get 2 other fans that have different RPM for the H100i and do a push pull setup with say 1200rpm fans for pushing and 2000rpm fans for pushing does that put stress on the fans at all?

3. What's the difference between 3 pin and 4 pin fans?

1. PWM is a way of controlling fans by pulsing 12v since plain undervolting doesn't work well at lower speeds depending on the fan. There are fans that fail to start and keep spinning at lower voltages and most fans run fine at 12v.

2. The stronger fan will wear out the weaker one. Push/pull is really worth doing on such a thin rad though.

3. 3pin allows for voltage control to alter the fan speed and can read the fan's speed while 4pin is similar but also supports pwm. 

PWM = pulse width modulation. Its is a better more efficient form of fan control. You can control many more fans off one header, its more power efficient, and wears the fans less.

It's not necessarily better. Due to how 12v is pulsed, there can result a ticking noise. The only fans I know that don't have much of an issue with this are Noctua's newer fans including the NF-F12, A14, A15, and S12A that pulses the 12v gradually called NE-FD1 PWM IC. http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=ne_fd1_pwm_ic

If you ever need help with a build, read the following before posting: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/3061-build-plan-thread-recommendations-please-read-before-posting/
Also, make sure to quote a post or tag a member when replying or else they won't get a notification that you replied to them.

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Are you looking for fans of a specific color since you were asking about painting fans?

1. PWM is a way of controlling fans by pulsing 12v since plain undervolting doesn't work well at lower speeds depending on the fan. There are fans that fail to start and keep spinning at lower voltages and most fans run fine at 12v.

2. The stronger fan will wear out the weaker one. Push/pull is really worth doing on such a thin rad though.

3. 3pin allows for voltage control to alter the fan speed and can read the fan's speed while 4pin is similar but also supports pwm. 

It's not necessarily better. Due to how 12v is pulsed, there can result a ticking noise. The only fans I know that don't have much of an issue with this are Noctua's newer fans including the NF-F12, A14, A15, and S12A that pulses the 12v gradually called NE-FD1 PWM IC. http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=ne_fd1_pwm_ic

Yeah I'm looking for fans with a red/black theme. I will have the Corsair 540, two 140mm fans in the front and one 140mm fan in the back. To start out as well I think I will just be doing push on my radiator since I will not be doing a high OC and I can always buy more fans later. The fans I have been looking at the most are the Corsair Air fans with the colored rings but they are defiantly expensive. Also is it possible since the 100i supports 4 fans, can I plug a splitter into one one of the splitters included. (As in 2 cables with 4 fan support and for one of those cables I add another splitter for a total of 5 fan support). I think that covers everything I need to know. I guess also I heard it was better to just have static pressure fans for your entire case? Also lets say you have a splitter or something that support 3 fans and all of those fans are 4 pin but have different RPM, what would happen if I try to control them all as one? Sorry I keep dragging this thread on but this next build is my baby and I really want to get this one right as I learned alot from my first build. 

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Yeah I'm looking for fans with a red/black theme. I will have the Corsair 540, two 140mm fans in the front and one 140mm fan in the back. To start out as well I think I will just be doing push on my radiator since I will not be doing a high OC and I can always buy more fans later. The fans I have been looking at the most are the Corsair Air fans with the colored rings but they are defiantly expensive. Also is it possible since the 100i supports 4 fans, can I plug a splitter into one one of the splitters included. (As in 2 cables with 4 fan support and for one of those cables I add another splitter for a total of 5 fan support). I think that covers everything I need to know. I guess also I heard it was better to just have static pressure fans for your entire case? Also lets say you have a splitter or something that support 3 fans and all of those fans are 4 pin but have different RPM, what would happen if I try to control them all as one? Sorry I keep dragging this thread on but this next build is my baby and I really want to get this one right as I learned alot from my first build. 

Static pressure optimized fans have their uses but aren't always the best. If you split a pwm signal, every fan receives the same signal.

There aren't any good red/black fans that aren't silly expensive: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/aerocool-case-fan-ds120mmred

There are plenty of great black options though: 

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-case-fan-rocf11004

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-case-fan-rocf11003

If you ever need help with a build, read the following before posting: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/3061-build-plan-thread-recommendations-please-read-before-posting/
Also, make sure to quote a post or tag a member when replying or else they won't get a notification that you replied to them.

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Static pressure optimized fans have their uses but aren't always the best. If you split a pwm signal, every fan receives the same signal.

There aren't any good red/black fans that aren't silly expensive: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/aerocool-case-fan-ds120mmred

There are plenty of great black options though: 

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-case-fan-rocf11004

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-case-fan-rocf11003

Ok last question, then I'm done xD, the fans that come with the case are the Corsair Air Series AF 140mm fans. Are they good fans because if they are then I can just spray paint them red since they come white for some odd reason. 

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Ok last question, then I'm done xD, the fans that come with the case are the Corsair Air Series AF 140mm fans. Are they good fans because if they are then I can just spray paint them red since they come white for some odd reason. 

Corsair fans in general are average at best. 

If you ever need help with a build, read the following before posting: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/3061-build-plan-thread-recommendations-please-read-before-posting/
Also, make sure to quote a post or tag a member when replying or else they won't get a notification that you replied to them.

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Corsair fans in general are average at best.

Agreed
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@WoodenMarker I have mainly used 3 different brands of PWM fans if I recall correctly. The Main one being Noctua, and the second being Arctic 24/7 DBB. im tryign to remember the third at the moment. I have also used other brands here and there but have never experienced any ticking.

I will say my worst experience with fans has been undervolting AF-140's.

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@WoodenMarker I have mainly used 3 different brands of PWM fans if I recall correctly. The Main one being Noctua, and the second being Arctic 24/7 DBB. im tryign to remember the third at the moment. I have also used other brands here and there but have never experienced any ticking.

I will say my worst experience with fans has been undervolting AF-140's.

The ticking is generally pretty quiet and would generally only be heard at lower noise levels. 

If you ever need help with a build, read the following before posting: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/3061-build-plan-thread-recommendations-please-read-before-posting/
Also, make sure to quote a post or tag a member when replying or else they won't get a notification that you replied to them.

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