4 pin fan to 3 pin fan for cpu cooler

[martinezkier.nvidia]

is it ok to replace my 120mm cpu fan cooler 4-pin with a stronger static pressure 120mm fan 3-pin? would it be bad for the mobo to have a 3 pin fan instead of a 4 pin one?

 

[PaulieVideos]

No, you just won't be able to regulate the RPM.

 

[martinezkier.nvidia]

is bad for the mobo or the aftermarket cpu fan if you cant regulate its rpm speed?

 

[Paperdoc]

Actually, there's a good chance you can have that new 3-pin fan's speed controlled by the mobo CPU_FAN header. The key here is that the header can control a 3-pin fan ONLY if it can be set to use the older Voltage Control Mode (aka DC Mode) rather than the new PWM Mode. In BIOS Setup MANY current mobos offer specifically on the CPU_FAN header the option to set to either of these Modes manually. (After making a change, remember to SAVE and EXIT to save the new setting.) Some mobos even claim to automate this adjustment so that you don't need to make a change yourself. So, go into BIOS Setup to where you configure the CPU_FAN header. Does it have such options available? If so, you can adjust for the new fan.

To prove it try this. The NORMAL process on start-up is that the fans all are started at full speed. After a few seconds when the system can read the fans' speeds and the mobo temperatures, they will slow down to the required speeds, then change later as needed. So, open your case and watch the CPU cooler fan you have now immediately after you start up. You should see this fast start-up followed by slower operation. Later, after you install the new fan, do the same thing. If it does start fast and then stabilize at a slower speed, then your mobo IS controlling it.

 

[martinezkier.nvidia]

https://www.thermaltake.com/products-model.aspx?id=c_00002638

would this be a decent not so expensive SP Fan?

 

[Paperdoc]

The Thermaltake Riing12 model you link can deliver 40.6 CFM max airflow generating 24.6 dBA noise at full speed, and can work with very reduced airflow up to a max backpressure of 2mm H20. It has a 1 year warranty. Newegg sells it for $11.54. It includes a single-colour LED ring that lights up when the fan is running, but it does not do some of the fancy changing lighting effects of the RGB fan types. I don't know whether you want that LED lighting feature.

If you do not want the LED feature, the Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM can deliver 70 CFM max airflow generating 25 dBA noise at full speed, and can work with very reduced airflow up to a max backpressure of 2.8 mm H20. It has a 6 year warranty. Amazon sells it for $13.90. This is a 4-pin (PWM fan, but a 3-pin version and a slower low-noise version (able to function against LESS back pressure) are available at virtually the same price. Noctua fans have a reputation for low noise compared to others and long life.

The Corsair Air Series SP120 High Performance Edition can deliver 63 CFM max airflow generating 35 dBA noise at full speed, and can work with very reduced airflow up to a max backpressure of 3 mm H20. It has a 2 year warranty. Amazon sells it for $22.92. It also has no LED feature, and is of the 3-pin design.

A couple general notes. A fan that CAN generate higher airflow against a higher backpressure at maximum speed general will NOT be run at that max speed because the mobo's automatic control system will slow it down to deliver only the air flow needed to keep your CPU's temperature under control. So a potentially "noisier" fan probably will not be that noisy under actual use. What it CAN do, though, is produce more air flow and cooling IF you need it for high workloads.

Many fans come with "Low Noise Adapters" that you can insert into the fan's power cord. All that does it reduce the Voltage to the fan so it runs slower and quieter, BUT at reduced air flow. These devices are useful IF your fan is NOT connected to the mobo for automatic speed control and is receiving a fixed full 12 VDC supply directly from the PSU. When you do use it under automatic mobo control, do NOT use that Low Noise Adapter - all it will do is limit the max performance of the fan. It will not give you low noise magically with full air flow.

 

[martinezkier.nvidia]

the noctua fan is not available in my place unless ordering it online, and corsair is a bit expensive, i found thermaltake riing 12 sold here at 10.57$ but any decent thoughts on this one ID Cooling SF 12025 http://www.idcooling.com/Product/detail/id/64/name/SF-12025 it has a stronger max air pressure of 3.2mmH20 compared to thermaltakes riing 12 at 2mmH20 and costs around 8.49$ here not much but i am looking on its max air pressure is it worth considering? or should i go with the thermaltake, i am cool without LED or blue LEDs since my theme is blue in my case as long as its air pressure is worth it.

 

[Paperdoc]

I am not familiar with that brand (ID-Cooling) so I cannot say anything about their reputation. The fan specs are good, though. That fan pushes more air against a higher backpressure and generates a lot more noise than the ones above. It also consumes more current than most to do this. That is not a real issue for you - any mobo fan header can supply up to 1.0 A max, and this fan pulls under 0.4 A. However, as I said, in actual use it will be run slower and quieter to deliver that same air flow as the other ones would be asked to do, so the noise may not be an issue. Their warranty statement is not clear and actually does not specify anything for their SF-series fans.

Maybe this can help understand two of the common specs, Airflow and Pressure. These two specs are NOT met at the same time; they are in fact opposite ends of a performance curve. Against NO airflow resistance (zero backpressure) the fan can deliver its max airflow at its max speed. Still running at max speed but against a high flow resistance (backpressure) its flow will be reduced unto flow becomes essentially zero at a back pressure of the "Pressure" spec, or higher. Between those two extremes a graph of flow versus backpressure is VERY roughly a straight line. So you could sketch out a graph with several lines, one for each fan you consider, of Flow versus Backpressure. Each line would run from high flow at zero backpressure down to no flow at max "Pressure" spec. A fan which has higher specs for BOTH of those two items will have a graph line that always show more air flow than the other, no matter what backpressure it encounters.

Thanks for Best Solution.

 

[martinezkier.nvidia]

noise wouldnt be an issue for me i play beside a large fan which covers my case noise and that case is not quiet i got 6 fans running on my case, but my cpu cooler fan is on the quiet side not on air pressure i think, its a deepcool ice blade, and i want to replace it with a high static pressure fan, would a difference of 3.2mmH20 compared to 2.1mmH20 be worth it, warranty aside. i'm not sure with the ID cooling since its no a known brand and not much feedback on their SF models compared to the riing 12 which is well known.

edit: i think i'll go thermal take, ID cooling specs are somewhat inconsistent at newegg it only have 1.3mmH20 on there site its 3+ and riing 12 got great feedback from reviews, thanks for your help sir.

 

[Paperdoc]

The difference between those two max backpressure values only becomes important when your system gets very hot under heavy use and requires max cooling on the CPU. At moderate workloads the fan normally will be running at less than max speed and airflow because that is all that is needed.

I agree with you that good customer reports on a fan from a know supplier are quite important and justify your final choice. Good luck!

 

[martinezkier.nvidia]

I went ahead and bought the Thermaltake Riing 12, I liked what I read on the reviews about it compared to the reviews with the other fan of my choice.
Installed it already and I get good readings compared to the high airflow fan on my cpu cooler, thanks for the input sir.

 

[Paperdoc]

Glad to hear it's working well for you.