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Worth spending extra on 3 140mm case fans over a cheap pack of 3 120mm fans?

ynneB

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Hello all,

I plan to migrate my PC from a NZXT S340 to a new Be Quiet! Pure Base 500DX (Given to me free of cost, since i am assuming people will ask me to get different case maybe :roll:) And to maximize my airflow I plan on occupying all fan slots, though with budget in mind.

I live in a non air conditioned room and it's always summer where I live (lowest it can go in my room is maybe 27c, else its 30-32c on average)

Case fan I am contemplating purchasing for : https://www.amazon.com/Thermalright...puter-Cooling/dp/B0CJDLV3QV/ref=sr_1_3?sr=8-3 (This would cost me $30 for 3)

3-pack of 120mm fans: https://www.amazon.com/Thermalright...puter-Bearing/dp/B0CP7LBJP2/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1 (This set of 3 would cost me $12.90 total)

I will get 3x 120mm's for the front regardless because the front only supports 2x 140mm.

Is the extra $18 worth for the 3x 140mm's? If so, how much of a temperature difference would be there between the two fan options?

Thanks all :)
 
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Performance per dollar, you're not getting an extra $17.10 worth. The 140mm only gain ~9 CFM over the 120mm with the same relative dB for both. I doubt you'd see more than a 1-2 degree difference between the two.
 

bug

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Though you'd think 120 and 140 are pretty close values, when applied to the radius of a circle, 140mm gives you about 40% more surface area. Will that lower your temps? Like @Fokker said, probably not very much. But it will lower the noise when moving the same amount of air.
You say you need a 3x120mm for your front panel anyway. Get that, see if it feels noisy. If it doesn't get the same pack for your other panel. Otherwise, spend a little more.
 
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Shop around the online retailers and any local stores for sales on fans that are higher CFM than what you linked.
If you want to make an improvement to cooling potential you need to have more airflow.
Especially for cooling a GPU with the lowest front intake or a fan placed directly below it.
 

ynneB

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Performance per dollar, you're not getting an extra $17.10 worth. The 140mm only gain ~9 CFM over the 120mm with the same relative dB for both. I doubt you'd see more than a 1-2 degree difference between the two.
Though you'd think 120 and 140 are pretty close values, when applied to the radius of a circle, 140mm gives you about 40% more surface area. Will that lower your temps? Like @Fokker said, probably not very much. But it will lower the noise when moving the same amount of air.
You say you need a 3x120mm for your front panel anyway. Get that, see if it feels noisy. If it doesn't get the same pack for your other panel. Otherwise, spend a little more.
I see, Not very familiar with all these variables related to fan specs. I don't mind noise at all since I use iems so I will be getting the 2x 3 pack 120mm's. Thank you!

Shop around the online retailers and any local stores for sales on fans that are higher CFM than what you linked.
If you want to make an improvement to cooling potential you need to have more airflow.
Especially for cooling a GPU with the lowest front intake or a fan placed directly below it.
Unfortunately there's only amazon where I live, local is 3-4x expensive and has either off brand picks or popular brands that far exceeds my budget :)

Anyway thank you all, i've found out just what I need to get now
 
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I will get 3x 120mm's for the front regardless because the front only supports 2x 140mm.
Is there a reason you're against 2x140? My case also supports 3x120 or 2x140 in the front. I tried both and I like 2x140 better. That way I don't have to remove the HDD shroud at the bottom...

You also might be able to get a deal on 2x140 on eBay, I picked up 2x140 case fans for $11 a few weeks ago.
 
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