Question 3 pin full speed fan, or 4 pin PWM fan for CPU heatsink??

[zoldos]

I currently have a standard 92MM 3 pin fan on my CPU heatsink that spins at full speed. Honestly, temps are great since I removed the front of my case to expose the 120MM fan that was behind it (cheap HP case).

But, would a Noctua PWM fan work better? Is it worth swapping it out?

Thanks!!

 

[Lutfij]

Make and model for your motherboard? If temps improved after the front panel was taken off, then the case is your issue apart from the cooler.

 

[zoldos]

It's a "Blizzard" 894B 10 generic motherboard that came with my HP ENVY TE02-0000i (3Y3Q8AV). And even with the front panel off, it looks fine. Just black metal with some holes, and the 120MM is behind a grill. It actually looks better!

But, like I said, temps are great now, no issues at all. Should I just leave well enough alone?

 

[Paperdoc]

Why fix what ain't broken? (Old saying.) Well, that is not always right but ...

3-pin versus 4-pin has virtually nothing to do with max cooling capacity. The pin factor is merely a matter of how the fan speed is controlled. And MOST of the advantage of 4-pin PWM fans is in the MINIMUM speed area, NOT at full speed.

Right now you are running that 92 mm full speed always. IF you actually wanted to have its speed reduced when at low workloads, your mobo MIGHT be able to do that - most current mobos have an option for that in header configuration - but you may NOT have a choice with that board. And you may not want to anyway.

If you want more cooling (or if, in future, you need to replace the unit because it fails), you probably cannot up-size the fan because 120 would not fit onto the heatsink part of your current cooler. You would have to upgrade to a new fan-and-heatsink system. In that situation look for reviews of CPU coolers that give some specs or results for actual heat removal capacity.

 

[zoldos]

The board supports 4 PWM fans. I have a 120MM PWM in the front for intake, and a 92MM 3 pin for exhaust and one on the CPU heatsink. No biggie. There are a tonne of excellent 92MM fans that I can drop in when needed. The CPU heatsink itself seems pretty nice.