How To Choose Case Fans

If you just want a solid case fan that will improve airflow in your PC case, check out which fan diameters your case supports and then get a well-reviewed case fan. It will do its job well enough in most cases.

But, if you want a specific set of features, well, read our buying guide.

Don’t Mess Up Fan Diameter And Check For RGB Support

Before you even consider getting a case fan, check out which fan sizes are supported by your case. Then, check how much fans your case can fit. Only then start searching for compatible case fans.

Also, if you have a full tower case, check how long connector cable is. Most cables should be long enough for regular and ITX cases but full tower cases might be too large for some cables to reach fan headers.

Before you install the fan you bought, connect it to the fan header so you can see which way to turn it depending on do you want the fan to blow air out of the case or draw cool air into your PC case. It’s better that way than to install it first and then realize you messed up the orientation. Finally, check if a case fan you’re interested in has RGB LEDs.

You Can’t Have Minimal Noise And Incredible Airflow

Choose one of those two, you can’t have both. The good news is that silent case fans can come with excellent airflow. Not record-breaking airflow levels, but great regarding their noise, which can be virtually inaudible. For most users, silent case fans are the better choice.

But if you like to overclock and if you live in a hot climate, the best possible airflow could be more important for you. If that’s the case, forget about next-to-nothing noise levels. If you want superb airflow, get ready for more than perceptible noise coming from your case fan.

Learn About Different Connector Types

Different case fans come with different connectors. Most fans come with 3-Pin and 4-Pin connectors, which work with every fan controller, motherboard fan header, and fan hub. There are also fans with old-school Molex connectors, but these are quite rare these days.

There are also fans with 9-Pin connectors. These are usually RGB fans and they need these connectors to be able to support various RGB effects. If you’re buying a case fan with a 9-pin connector, it is advisable to get it alongside RGB controller from the same manufacturer so you don’t have to worry about connecting your fan and playing with RGB effects.

Static Pressure vs Air Flow Fans

There’s a lot to be said about differences between static pressure and airflow fans. In short, the first ones are great for liquid cooling radiators and case intakes blocked by hard drive cages. Airflow fans are better for case intakes without any obstacles.

What Is PWM?

PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) allows for smart fan control. Users can create various profiles that can control all their case fans with just a few clicks. This allows case fans to be virtually silent until the rig is under serious load.

Only under heavy load, the fans will start spinning faster and become audible. PWM fan control is great to have so if you’re looking for a quiet fan, make sure it supports PWM. Those looking for performance case fans and aren’t bothered by the noise should be fine without PWM. But we are still recommending for everyone to look for fans with PWM support.

You can even get a standalone fan speed controller. They can be used for in-depth control of each of your case fans and can even be installed into your PC case.

A Word Or Two About Different Fan Bearing Types

Fan bearings affect performance and noise levels. The best technology (at least for us) is Noctua’s self-stabilizing oil-pressure bearing that is extremely silent and that can last a lifetime.

Other quality bearings are fluid dynamic bearing, which is also very silent and long-lasting but not as enduring as the self-stabilizing oil-pressure bearing. Ball bearings are extremely durable, especially at high temperatures. They are also very quiet.

Rifle bearings are very quiet and durable. They aren’t as durable at high temperatures as other types of bearing mentioned here. Finally, magnetic bearings are high-tech bearings that don’t use lubricants. In magnetic bearings, the fan is repelled from the bearing by the magnetic field. These are the quietest and incredibly long-lasting. But also very expensive.

As long as your case fan of choice has some type of ball, rifle, or fluid dynamic bearing, you should be fine. Magnetic ones are cool but very expensive and not worth their price.