When buying case fans for you, you must decide between gettingPWMorDC.
Based on brands and features, the price between them varies considerably.
So which should one go for?
PWM fans are better at cooling while remaining quiet.
DC fans, on the other hand not so much.
But thats not all.
So, follow alongside me, and lets dive right in.
What is a DC Fan?
All PC fans are DC controlled.
DC, as you would have guessed, stands forDirect Current.
These fans typically run at the max speeds all the time, which makes them super loud.
Normally you get a three-pin connector with such fans.
Apart from the power and ground pins, the third pin monitors the fans speed.
So whenever a fan stops spinning, your PC can report it to you.
you might run these fans at low speeds by lowering their voltage.
The BIOS can help you do that.
A drawback of DC fans is you get limited speed control.
You cannot lower the speed below 40%, or it will stop moving entirely.
This makes these fans relatively noisy.
All those case fans you see on Amazon, which hardly cost anything, are basically DC fans.
What is a PWM Fan?
Normally a DC fan comes with three pins.
Modern fans add an extra one, and these are known as PWM fans.
What is different is that it uses digital signals to control the speed of the fan.
The fourth pin, as mentioned before, tells the fan motor when to turn on or off.
So how does that relate to the fans speed?
This is referred to as the duty cycle.
The result is a more silent fan than its counterpart.
Not only that, but it consumes less power too.
This entire process is handled by the motherboards power circuits.
So you could easily monitor the fan speeds and alter them using many popular fan control software out there.
Wondering how toconnect the PWM fan cable to the motherboard?
Check our dedicated article when installing a new PWM fan on your PC.
DC Vs. PWM: Which is Better?
PWM fans are better than DC in two key areas Fan noiseandPower draw.
The fans will operate silently without making any noise like a leaf blower all the time.
But one disadvantage with PWM fans is that they tend to be more expensive than DC fans.
Yes, you get more features, such as ARGB lighting, but they still cost more.
Now coming to who should get these fans.
PWM fans are great for consumer PCs where noise is a concern.
you’ve got the option to run a near-silent gaming PC without compromising on temperature.
Thats where the low price comes in handy because you need many units on a single server rack.
Also, its noise is not a dealbreaker in this use case.
DC fans are also good for basic PCs.
The low cost makes them a good choice as they can cool equally as well.
Closing Words
PWM fans are more popular these days, often used with cutting-edge PCs.
Your final decision may rest on whether your motherboard supports a particular jot down of fan or not.
So, before purchasing it, do not forget to check whether your motherboard has the correct fan header.
Thats it for today.
Hope you had a great time reading this piece.
