Should I upgrade my NH-D14 fans?

[partyHat2424]

So I have a case that I'd like to give better airflow...

I plan on buying a third fan. Should I make that fan a NF-P14 or should I buy two NF-A14's and replace the old NF-P14 (and leave it sit around)?

Is it worth it to spend $40 and leave a fan sit around should I just keep it simple?

 

[dark_strike]

Please specify what case you have. That way we could find a better and suitable answer. Some case's (albeit not many) Have terrible airflow no matter what you do.

 

[hwc1954]

The NF-P14 is still an excellent fan. The only reason to replace it would be if you have no way of hooking it up and need, for example, all PWM fans or something. As long as you have a way to hook it up and control it and a place to mount it, there's no reason not to keep using it.

I've got four Noctua A series PWM fans and two old B series Noctua FLX fans in my computer. Other than voltage control versus PWM control, there's no noticeable difference. I know they've "improved" the shape of the vanes and so forth, but I think those differences are buried in the weeds.

Does it fit where you need it to fit? Does it run at the speed you need it to run? Do you have a way of hooking it up and controlling the speed?

 

[partyHat2424]

Please specify what case you have. That way we could find a better and suitable answer. Some case's (albeit not many) Have terrible airflow no matter what you do.

FT03

 

[dark_strike]

Please specify what case you have. That way we could find a better and suitable answer. Some case's (albeit not many) Have terrible airflow no matter what you do.

FT03

I would say no. Your case is all about airflow. So their is no problem there. I would just replace the fans (when needed) with the same type if I were you. Save money. Only reason to change is if you were, say going to have the fans all connected to a fan controller due to lack of fan headers something of the like. If you are getting good airflow, good temps. Then if it is not broke. Don't fix it.

I hope I have been able to help you out.

 

[hwc1954]

Well, if I were buying new Noctua fans, I would always buy the PWM version. They can be used as 4-pin PWM fans or 3-pin voltage controlled fans, so you get more flexibility to use them in any application. Plus, PWM is the best available fan control mechanism. It's just that I wouldn't throw out non-PWM Noctua fans. As far as moving air, they are just as good as the PWM versions.