The NH-D14 CPU cooler!!!!

[Guest]

I ordered the NH-D14 today (just waiting for it to get here!) cause I narrowed it down to my fav choice and with some help on other sites.
I'm sure it'll fit into my Enermax Ostrog GT mid tower case. The measurements are:
Dimensions (D)×(W)×(H)
485 x 244 x 495 mm

So my case has a clearance of 9.6 inches and the height of the cooler is 6.3 inches tall. It should be okay.

Now, I read somewhere on here that if you get a CPU fan error come up when you start up the PC, it's because the CPU fan was disconnected from the CPU_FAN slot. And to correct it you just hook the two fans up to the y-splitter that comes with the NH-D14 and plug the other end into the CPU header and it should remove that error. Apparently you're able to plug in a 3-pin to a 4-pin header if you have it aligned correctly, right? I've also heard that sometimes the fan on the cooler won't start when the PC is booted due to some "automatic fan controller in the BIOS", but my motherboard/BIOS doesn't have that option. :/ Will this be a problem for me as long as I just hook the two fans up to the y-splitter that comes with the NH-D14 and plug the other end into the CPU header and it should remove that error. Apparently you're able to plug in a 3-pin to a 4-pin header? I'm sure it will work for me. What do you think?

 

[photonboy]

Hi,

1) ERROR. That's a very odd way to fix an error for a disconnected fan. Why wouldn't you just shut down and make sure the fan is properly connected?

Using a y-splitter in this method makes no sense.

2) 3-pin/4-pin usage:

The NH-D14 is a 3-pin which will plug into a 4-pin, HOWEVER your ability to control the fans depends on the motherboard. *YOU may or may not have VOLTAGE speed control.

I have an Asus Z77 Sabertooth and ended up using my CASE FAN headers to control my CPU fans as they would spin but were locked to one speed using the CPU header. Not ideal but it ended up cooling more than enough and is very quiet.

3) Y-Splitter:
Just use this to control BOTH fans at the same time through the normal CPU_FAN output (again, assuming it has voltage control).

SUMMARY:
Your only issue is whether or not the CPU fans can be controlled. If the CPU_Header has no speed control (experiment with motherboard fan software) you might end up doing what I did and use a fan header instead (which again isn't ideal because then it doesn't use the correct temperature sensor).

 

[Guest]

Hi,

1) ERROR. That's a very odd way to fix an error for a disconnected fan. Why wouldn't you just shut down and make sure the fan is properly connected?

Using a y-splitter in this method makes no sense.

2) 3-pin/4-pin usage:

The NH-D14 is a 3-pin which will plug into a 4-pin, HOWEVER your ability to control the fans depends on the motherboard. *YOU may or may not have VOLTAGE speed control.

I have an Asus Z77 Sabertooth and ended up using my CASE FAN headers to control my CPU fans as they would spin but were locked to one speed using the CPU header. Not ideal but it ended up cooling more than enough and is very quiet.

3) Y-Splitter:
Just use this to control BOTH fans at the same time through the normal CPU_FAN output (again, assuming it has voltage control).

SUMMARY:
Your only issue is whether or not the CPU fans can be controlled. If the CPU_Header has no speed control (experiment with motherboard fan software) you might end up doing what I did and use a fan header instead (which again isn't ideal because then it doesn't use the correct temperature sensor).

I honestly don't think you understand what I meant about the CPU fan error, dude. I read on the official Noctua website and there's one of the FAQ that would apply to me because I have a HP motherboard. The question on the site was:

Can I install a Noctua cooler in my system from Dell, HP or Lenovo?

"Systems from Dell, HP or Lenovo often use motherboards which differ slightly from the specifications issued by Intel and AMD. While those changes are usually subtle, they can led to compatibility issues with coolers that where built to comply with these specifications.

Even in case the cooler is mechanically compatible and can be instaled, other issues can occur, e.g. proprietary fan connectors, BIOS errors due to a low fan speed, shutdowns, etc. Some of these problems can be avoided with some technical knowledge, but especially BIOS related can often not be resolved.

Due to the large number of possible issues with systems from Dell, HP and Lenovo, which can't be resolved with different mounting parts alone, Noctua does not officially support such machines."

What it means is that the fan speed is too low when you boot up the PC and you get a CPU fan error and my BIOS has absolutely no way of adjusting the fan speed or anything. The thing is, when I remove my stock cooler and put on the NH-D14, it doesn't have any 4-pin; it just has two 3-pin fans. So it comes with a y-splitter cable to plug both 3-pin fans into it and then the other end into the CPU fan header. Then I searched on here and it said to fix that you just plug the fans into the splitter and then the other end into the 4-pin header. I'm not sure what you're going on with... my BIOS doesn't have the option to control voltage. It's a HP motherboard; it's kinda old. >_<