I need help on buying and installing fans to chassis!

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David92

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Jul 5, 2012
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Hello everyone :)

I have some newbie questions to ask about buying and installing fans into my chassis. I would like to improve the cooling system inside my case since i am currently having some heat issues with it, i do fear the worse when summer comes :(

I think i do have only one of the fan with blue LED installed on the front it's located at HDD/SSD area. I'm planning on buying at least 3 fans and install them into my chassis to improve the cooling quality of it.

Here's what i have, a mid tower chassis made by Cooler Master which is Elite 431 Plus and i have a Asrock Z77 PRO3 Motherboard.

I already checked the official site for the specs of my chassis and my motherboard, here are the sites http://www.asrock.com/mb/intel/z77%20pro3/ and http://www.coolermaster.com/case/mid-tower/elite-431-plus/

My CoolerMaster Elite 431 Plus chassis maximum amount of fans can be installed are 5 fans.

My Motherboard specs

- 2 x CPU Fan connectors (1x 4-pin CPU_FAN1 and 1x 3-pin CPU_FAN2)
- 2 x Chassis Fan connectors (1x 4-pin CHA_FAN1 and 1x 3-pin CHA_FAN2)

1x 4-PIN CPU_FAN1 USED BY INTEL STOCK COOLER 1x 3-PIN CPU_FAN2 UNUSED
1x 4-PIN CHA_FAN1 UNUSED, 1x 3-PIN CHA_FAN2 UNUSED
1x Power Fan connector (3-pin) PWR_FAN 1 UNUSED

The fans connectors are currently not in used are 3-PIN CPU_FAN 2, 4-PIN CHA_FAN1, 3-PIN CHA_FAN2 and lastly 3-PIN PWR_FAN1.

I do believe my CPU stock cooler made by Intel has already taken the 4-pin CPU_FAN1 connector. and my blue LED 120mm? fan on the front is plugged and powered by my PSU? I'm not sure myself since my chassis connectors are not in used. Anyway, i just looked inside my case again and i found out that my 4-PIN CHA_FAN1 and 3-PIN CHA_FAN2, CPU_FAN2 and PWR_FAN1 are all unused.

Okay here are my questions

(Question 1)
I want to get 3x of 120mm fans with 3-PIN and i wonder will it work if i plugged 1 of my 3-PIN 120mm fan to my 4-PIN CHA_FAN1 connector? Will there be any problems with it? or should i plug in my 3-PIN 120mm fan to 3-PIN CPU_FAN2 connector instead? How about the 3-PIN PWR_FAN1? will it work if i plug in one of my 3-PIN 120mm fan into it?

OR should i get 1x 120mm fan with 4PIN, and 2x 120mm fans with 3-PIN?

I'm planning on installing 2x 120mm fans on top, and 1x 120mm on the rear, and having all of those 3 fans blowing out the heated air.

(Question 2)
Do i need to get screws and nuts to install the fans or they are included with the fans when you purchase them?

I really do need your help on this :) since this is probably my first time on installing new fans into my system so i need all the information and help that i can get :)

And please do feel free to drop recommandations on which brand of 120mm fans should i buy,
My budget is probably somewhere to 50 to 100 USD,i don't mind raising my budget if quality ones are above the budget price.
 
Solution
RaDiKaL_
I got them almost 2 years ago, the fan itself was launched around 2007-2008 I think.

Regarding the description:

Rotational Speed (+/- 10%) 1300 RPM: When connected directly to the mobo

Rotational Speed with L.N.A. (+/- 10%) 1100 RPM: When connected using its Low Noise Adapter (LNA).

Rotational Speed with U.L.N.A. (+/- 10%) 900 RPM: When connected using its Ultra Low Noise Adapter (ULNA).

Those last two are simply two cables that you can use between the fan and the mobo connector to achieve that speed resulting in a more silent solution, personally I'm using them directly.

It is one fan for 19.99$, quite expensive compared to others indeed but it's really worth it imo. It has only the 3-Pin connector, with an adapter for a molex...
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RaDiKaL_

RaDiKaL_

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Apr 17, 2006
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1.- You could easily get 3x 120mm 3pin, it will work in the 4pin connector, however a 4pin fan will allow you to control it's speed via software (if desired ofc).

Your fan positioning sounds good.

2.- They should come with all needed in their packages.

3.- There are so many choices out there, in the end if it's 120mm with at least 800rpm it will do the job, what it's gonna vary from one offer to another is how silent they are and how long will they last, for a silent long-term solution I suggest you a product from Scythe, Noctua or Zalman.


Finally, you mention having heat issues, while having a good airflow inside the case is always something good to have, maybe it's simply time to clear all the dust inside the case and most importantly replace the thermal paste in the CPU? thermal paste wears off after 1-2 years depending how much you use it so take that into consideration.
 
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David92

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Jul 5, 2012
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Thank you for telling me about it :) i didn't know there's a difference between 3-PIN to 4-PIN. But i might just go along with 3x 120mm fans with 3-PIN. And i guess i should take your answer as a yes? 3-PIN fans will work on any 3-PIN connectors like PWR_FAN1, CPU_FAN2, CHA_FAN1, CHA_FAN2 as well?

But i wonder will those 120mm fans running on 800 RPM handle the heat? or should i get 1200RPM, 1500RPM or 2000RPM fans? I mean i already tested and know what's my maximum temperatures during gaming on the sunny afternoon. And yes could you let me know what are the models of the fans you're referring to?

It's 31c to 33c during the afternoon where i am currently living at, and during gaming without my air conditioner turn on, my temperatures of my CPU is somewhere 75c above, wheres my GPU is around 65c above never hits 70c before, as for my HDD one was at 40c another one is at 38c, I have no idea about my RAM temperatures since HWMonitor doesn't monitor it for some reason:(

 
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RaDiKaL_

RaDiKaL_

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Apr 17, 2006
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Yes I meant they will work in PWR FAN1 etc.

Up to you which RPM to get, the faster the louder, however a quality product will remain silent even at 2000rpm+

Personally I have 2 of these ones:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608004

Really great product, silent, durable and efficient.

You could also go with something cheaper like the Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 I think it was... had them before, cheaper, somewhat noisier but still great product, LED was nice at first but being unable to turn it off was annoying when trying to sleep heh.

Seeing your high ambient temp, you might have to consider having at least one fan in the side pushing fresh air onto your CPU, the one in the front might not be enough to provide cool air into the case.
 
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David92

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Jul 5, 2012
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Hmm.. the one that you have linked it to me is really nice! i like the pinkish color of it. May i know when did you get those fans? and how old are the fans now? And after looking on it, it did managed to pop a couple of questions on my head and i would like to tell you about it :)

I have absolutely no clue about this it posted at the description there at newegg.

Rotational Speed (+/- 10%) 1300 RPM
Rotational Speed with L.N.A. (+/- 10%) 1100 RPM
Rotational Speed with U.L.N.A. (+/- 10%) 900 RPM

Can you explain it to me? And i wonder does it only contains 1 of the fan for $19.99? Since you have some of them, it makes this easier, does Noctua NF-P12-1300 120mm Case Fans has both 3-PIN and 4-PIN cables included? or they will give you an adapter 3PIN to 4PIN?
 
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RaDiKaL_

RaDiKaL_

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Apr 17, 2006
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I got them almost 2 years ago, the fan itself was launched around 2007-2008 I think.

Regarding the description:

Rotational Speed (+/- 10%) 1300 RPM: When connected directly to the mobo

Rotational Speed with L.N.A. (+/- 10%) 1100 RPM: When connected using its Low Noise Adapter (LNA).

Rotational Speed with U.L.N.A. (+/- 10%) 900 RPM: When connected using its Ultra Low Noise Adapter (ULNA).

Those last two are simply two cables that you can use between the fan and the mobo connector to achieve that speed resulting in a more silent solution, personally I'm using them directly.

It is one fan for 19.99$, quite expensive compared to others indeed but it's really worth it imo. It has only the 3-Pin connector, with an adapter for a molex 4pin (not the 4pin PWM).
 
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Solution
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David92

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Jul 5, 2012
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Yeah it's pretty expensive! :( seeing it has 6 years warranty it's worth it i guess :) The only thing that i am afraid of is i might not be able to find them on my local shops here. So do you have know anymore 120mm reasonable priced fans that great as well?
 
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RaDiKaL_

RaDiKaL_

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Apr 17, 2006
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hmm perhaps the NZXT Performance:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835146001

Or the Nexus D12SL-12:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835610006

Ultimately the Cooler Master SickleFlow 120:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=cooler+master+sickleflow+120&N=-1&isNodeId=1

You get what you pay for, while the CM SickleFlow worked just fine for me, reading some reviews turns out it's not really good haha, so think twice before getting them.
 
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navyfalcon

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Oct 12, 2007
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The below article describes how to install a side chassis fan. You can install it with a speed controller or without. The speed controller is to reduce the noise. Also the rubber washers reduce the noise. The larger the fan, the less the noise because they do not need the speed to get the required airflow. Also you should have a slight positive pressure to lessen the dust intake.
hope this helps
falcon

http://freetutorials.name/Reference1/Dell%204700%20Cooling.html
 
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DustinV

DustinV

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Dec 22, 2015
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This is a dead thread from January 2015! You shouldn't be replying to it
(Anything 2 months old or more is dead)

I'm going to select an answer so no one else will necro this thread.

Also unless your environment is really dusty a negative airflow doesn't bring in much dust and it also cools better.
 
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