Ordered a Noctua 140mm FLX fan but they sent a PWM instead, is it worth sending back?

[Joshua D]

Don't really care about the extra $2, and I know I can just plug it into a 3 pin header, I just don't want to hold up my build!

 

[clutchc]

I wouldn't. Most modern MBs don't even allow BIOS speed control with 3 wire fans anymore. They all have 4 pin headers intended for PWM fans. If your MB still has 3 pin headers, just use it as a 3 pin fan.

 

[hwc1954]

I would rather have the PWM version anyway. You can connect it to a three-pin header if you want and you still have the opportunity to use it as a PWM fan in the future.

Some of the PWM versions have a little higher max rpm than the FLX versions. That's good if you are using any kind of automatic speed control (PWM or voltage).

There's no downside to the PWM version that I can think of.

 

[IamTimTech]

This is secondhand knowledge from silentpcreview but from what I read and what I could surmise is that PWM can sometimes not work well on cheaper chassis fans. You can run into fan noise not otherwise heard from the 3pin counterparts when you try to adjust the speed. Not a problem you will run into on a Noctua, I just thought I would share

 

[hwc1954]

I have run Noctua fans in my computer, some running on variable speed PWM 4-pin headers. Some running on variable speed voltage controlled 3-pin heades. They work fine either way.