Keeping the systems cool is one very important thing. A proper cooling system can greatly increase the performance and then the PC can be used for a prolonged period of time. The other components inside the case function for a longer period of time.
Now, to keep the system cool there we use radiator fans for liquid cooling so that the inside of the cabinet maintains an even temperature.
The stock case fans which already come with the case do not deliver the best performance. In order to keep your gaming PC cool while intensive usage you need to install some additional radiator fans or just a single high performance radiator fan.
The question that might pop is- do you really need an additional radiator fan?
The answer to this question depends solely upon your needs.
If you need us to point out some reason to opt for an additional radiator fan then here are some reasons:
- Great cooling means that you can easily overclock your gaming PC.
- If your gaming PC already heats a lot, going for an additional or some additional radiator fans is a must.
- While gaming, performance matters a lot. Otherwise you would not be able to play any games smoothly. So scattering the heat is really important.
- The generation of heat can also significantly reduce the life of the inside components present inside the PC case such as the motherboard, sound card and RAM.
- Sometimes radiator fans come with some cool RGB LED lighting. So your gaming PC can become aesthetically appealing.
- Upgrading your gaming PC is always beneficial. So, installing more number of radiator fans or simply replacing the old ones can be beneficial.
Now let us talk more about the different kinds of radiator fans that you can find in the market.
The radiator fans come in different sizes. The sizes range between 25mm to 250mm.
Choosing the right size is really important because sometimes you might buy a radiator fan that does not fit into your gaming PC case.
The size of the radiator fan also determines the airflow and the noise generated while operation.
The bigger the radiator fan, more noise it will produce. Although at the same time it will push out more air and heat with it.
The case would be opposite with a smaller radiator fan. The smaller the radiator fan, the less will be the noise generated while operation.
Also it would not be able to push out much site and heat with it. It is so because bigger fans do not have to rotate much in order to move the air while the smaller fans will have to rotate at a much higher speed to move the air inside the case.
There are multiple fan sizes but the most commonly used radiator fan sizes are 80mm, 120mm and 140mm. You can know more about it in this detailed post.
These sizes are the most prevalent because it is much harder to place bigger sizes fans inside a PC case.
Also, most of the users these days want to have a compact system rather than the standard large sized PC system. Smaller systems fit in easily and are also portable.
Now you have to choose whether you want to have great airflow or you want your gaming PC to generate less noise.
Also, do make sure you check the manual of the PC case so that while buying the radiator fan you don’t have any confusions regarding the size that fits into the PC case.
Aside from the size of the radiator fans, there are some other factors to check while making the purchase:
- Check the power connector of the radiator fan.
- Determine the airflow.
- Check the noise generated while operation.
- Look for the most aesthetically pleasing radiator fan for your PC.
- Do check the warranty period.
- Read reviews of existing customers.
Some fans connect to the motherboard and these kind of radiator fans have a 2-pin connector. Then there are 3-pin connector radiator fans also. They have a tachometer signal that permits the motherboard to read the RPM of the radiator fan. There are also 4-pin connector radiator fans with a PWM signal for controlling the speed.
The 4-pin fans tend to be more expensive than the other two. These fans are recommended for people who want to control the fan speed in order to control the air flow and the noise.
The 2-pin connector radiator fan is recommended for those who do not have enough number of fan plugs on the motherboard for all the fans installed.
While choosing between the right power connectors, you will have to understand the plugging system.
Air flow is the most important thing to be kept in mind while buying a radiator fan for your gaming PC.
Air flow is measured in CFM (Cubic Feet Per Minute). The higher the CFM, the better will be the air flow delivery. RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) also have a great impact on the performance and the noise generation of the radiator fan.
The radiator fan noise is measured in decibels. All the radiator fan manufacturers provide the information regarding the noise generated at full operation and while standard usage.
You would want to buy a radiator fan which produces the least sound while working.
Now, most of the people would want their gaming PC to look cool too. For this, people use components which come with RGB LED lights.
There are radiator fans that too come with some dynamic RGB LED lights.
Some come with simple single colored LED lights while some have different vibrant colors and glowing patterns that can be controlled according to the usage.
The radiator fans with RGB lights are obviously more expensive than the regular ones so it is completely your choice whether you want a more budget friendly radiator fan that only performs good or you are looking for aesthetics along with good performance.
Though in the most cases, if you are making a latest strong gaming PC, going for the RGB version is suggested as it looks visually appealing and truly gives your PC an enthralling look.
Lastly, the radiator fan you would be going for shouldn’t be too expensive and at the same time should provide decent performance.
It shouldn’t be much expensive because putting in too much money for such simple component would be foolishness. We would recommend you to cut the cost and invest your money in a better GPU or a processor.
We hope that this post must have helped you and given you great information as to choosing a great radiator fan for your gaming PC.
Do share your views in the comments section below. We would be happy to answer to your queries if any.
