Sys Fan/Airflow - 3-pin vs 4-pin

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MrN1ce9uy

MrN1ce9uy

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Aug 20, 2009
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My case came with a 3-pin fan in front, but I want to replace it with a 4-pin fan.

Do front case fans need to be static to maximize airflow? or can they have a variable speed to reduce noise when things are cool?
 
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scout_03
since motherboard have sys 1 10 sys 3 with 4 pins header and cpu opt as a 4 pins header you wont nned to buy this from newegg just get 4 pins fan and plug them to those .
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geofelt

geofelt

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Oct 9, 2006
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A 3 pin fan is voltage controlled and can sense speed.
If you plug it into a 3 pin header on your motherboard, the motherboard or an app like speedfan can control the speed.
A 4 pin fan is pulse width controlled, and you will need a second pwm header on your motherboard to control the fan. The cpu pwm header will be reserved.

Maximum fan speed maximizes airflow. The down size is perhaps higher noise.

What is your case, and what cpu/gpu do you need to cool?
 
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MrN1ce9uy

MrN1ce9uy

Judicious
Aug 20, 2009
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Case: Corsair Spec-01 (2x PWM 120mm Cryorig fans, 1x 3-pin 120mm Corsair fan)
CPU: i7-4790K
Cooler: CRYORIG H7
GPU: EVGA GTX 1060 6GB SC
Mobo: GA-Z97X-Gaming 7 (3x 4-pin sysfan headers, 1x 3-pin sysfan header)

*I suppose my question is, is there anything wrong with having a PWM fan for a front intake fan on my case? I don't have the motherboard yet so I can't test it out. I have a mobo with only a 3-pin for my front fan until the new mobo arrives.
 
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