Cooling fan configuration

[Seirrah]

I have the option to either use 3x120mm fans or 2x140mm fans on the front of a NXZT H440 case. These are Aerocool Dead Silence fans - which I already own.

What would be the better option with regard to cooling? I'm guessing that two 140mm fans would almost certainly be quieter.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[Make]

Quieter it is, but it is hard to say what has a better performance in that case. That case's fans are quite blocked for air, so 3x 120mm might have a better performance, while staying quiet due to the case being sound-dampened.

.. But, 2x 140mm's might be just as good with half the noise. The best way is to just test it, since you already have the fans. We're enthusiasts afterall

Edit: please let me know if you do test.

 

[doyll]

According to specs:
DS 120 = 81.5cfm & 2.29mmH2O @ 23.1dBA 3x fans = 244.5cfm @ 27.9dBA @ 1500rpm; 187.5cfm @ 1.25mmH2O @ 19.6dBA @ 1100rpm

DS 140 = 93.4cfm & 1.98mmH2O @ 23.4dBA 2x fans = 186.8cfm @ 26.4dBA @ 1500rpm; 142.4cfm @ 1.41mmH2O @ 18.5dBA @ 1100rpm

You could try both and see which work the best for you.

 

[phate1337]

Just go with whatever pushes the most air as the front or that case is extremely restrictive.

 

[doyll]

• Hard to say which will more more air.
• 120mm = 2.29mmH2O & 244cfm @ 1500rpm, but 187.5cfm & 1.25mmH2O @ 1000rpm
• 140mm = 1.98mmH2O & 186.8cfm @ 1500rpm, but 141cfm & 1.41mmH2O @ 1000rpm
  
• 120mm is better at 1500rpm; and has higher cfm with lower mmH2O at 1000rpm Without Without having a P/Q curve it's hard to say which will be better.
  
• CFM rating is airflow with no resistance.. like setting on open bench
• mmH2O is maximum height of H2O when resistance stops airflow.
• Neither is a condition we use fans at. There is always some resistance.. grill, filter, cooler, etc.
• And fan is worthless at mmH2O rating because it's moving no air.. Static = Stopped, no air movement

 

[phate1337]

if they are going on a radiator, i'd go with the 120's at 1500rpm as they will give better coverage of the radiator with better directed airflow (presuming you would be using a rad with a standard 120mm width).
if not going on a rad, i'd go 140's at 1500rpm/120's at 1000rpm for lower noise, but 120's @ 1500rpm for pure cooling power (my choice would be this). logic dictates that you have the ultimate say on how noisy you want your fans to run. if you are putting them on a rad, going with highest H2O will be (generally) best if not, highest CFM will (generally) be best.

 

[doyll]

As OP says front of a NXZT H440 case I'm assuming they are case intake fans.

 

[Seirrah]

Thanks all. I'll stick with the 3 x 120mm fans at the moment as they should provide the greatest flow of air. With regard to noise, the stock fans with my Kraken x60 are by far the loudest thing in the case - so looking for options...

 

[smilertoo]

It's a shame they crippled this cases performance in order to have a slightly smoother look.