3 and 4 pin fans - any real difference?

[Grasshopper]

So, I am dumping my Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro for Thermalright Ultra-120A and as is looked for FAN for the new brick I asked myself: "Good old 3 pin FAN or a 4 pin PWM FAN?" The problem is I can get some decent 3 pin FANs (Scythe, Noise Blocker) here or Arctic Cooling 4 pin PWM FAN. I know what the books say but is there any real life difference in performenc/noise level?

[Wile E]

So, I am dumping my Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro for Thermalright Ultra-120A and as is looked for FAN for the new brick I asked myself: "Good old 3 pin FAN or a 4 pin PWM FAN?" The problem is I can get some decent 3 pin FANs (Scythe, Noise Blocker) here or Arctic Cooling 4 pin PWM FAN. I know what the books say but is there any real life difference in performenc/noise level?
If you manually control, or your bios allows for temp based control of 3 pin fans, then no. There's no difference.

[zCexVe]

4 pins should have less noise.Therotically that is.I'm unable to explain it right now coz I dont remeber that correctly.If I get through it I'll give you link or detail.

[Esse]

4-pin PWM works by temperatures and will regulate the voltage much better to speed up the fan when needed. Meaning you should not notice the speed of the fan when the temps go up.

[keakar]

4-pin PWM works by temperatures and will regulate the voltage much better to speed up the fan when needed. Meaning you should not notice the speed of the fan when the temps go up.

so the 4-pin PWM fan with have smoother action (speed adjustment) and therefor run quieter and be less noticable when speed changes?

[tiys]

the 3 pin connector would be better, because you can control the speeds via bios or windows.
:)

[Wile E]

so the 4-pin PWM fan with have smoother action (speed adjustment) and therefor run quieter and be less noticable when speed changes?

Not really. Rate of acceleration on a computer fan doesn't make any different noises. All that matters for noise is the individual fan's design, and the speed it is currently running.

PWM fans aren't really worth it if you have a fan controler, or BIOS control for your fans. If you have BIOS control, you can likely use Speedfan in windows to fine tune the temp based control anyway, effectively making behave like a PWM fan.

[keakar]

Not really. Rate of acceleration on a computer fan doesn't make any different noises. All that matters for noise is the individual fan's design, and the speed it is currently running.

PWM fans aren't really worth it if you have a fan controler, or BIOS control for your fans. If you have BIOS control, you can likely use Speedfan in windows to fine tune the temp based control anyway, effectively making behave like a PWM fan.

oh ok, i wasnt sure, as long as it works i wasnt worried about what changed with the newer design, i just accepted it as must be better