Looking at getting the noctua NH-d14 today, and see there is a choice. The se2011 version with pwm fans and get the 1155 kit to go with it or the 1155 version with non pwm fans and get the 2011 mount to go with it?
At some point I may be going to 2011 and am thinking the pwm fans would be a plus on either socket? I use asus boards pretty much exclusively.
Thanks
Noctua NHL-d14 with pwm fans or non pwm?
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Re: Noctua NHL-d14 with pwm fans or non pwm?
Typically Asus motherboards if set to the Silent profile can control 3 pin fans in around the 7V to 12V range. A chassis fan header has to be used for this because the CPU header is PWM only. With PWM fans the Silent Profile gives a 20% to 100% duty cycle range, although this is not linear - 20% duty cycle is held until the CPU temperature reaches around 40C and only then does fan speed begin to rise. With the Noctua PWM fans 20% duty cycle would give idle speeds in the 300 to 400 rpm range, significantly less the 3 pin Noctuas of the NH-D14 at 7V.