TickleOnTheTum Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 I am a bit of a beginner with all this stuff so bear with me please! I would like to know a couple of things about the H100i before buying one. 1) Can the pump and radiator be used on their own (IE without the USB thingy connected (as I don't have any spare USB m/b sockets) and with the fans being run off a separate fan controller (Lamptron FC Touch)? 2) Would 4 Corsair CO-9050008-WW Air Series AF120 Performance Edition Fans (the ones with the coloured rings) perform better with the H100i than the stock fans? Corsair Air Series Performance Edition 1650 RPM 63.47 CFM 3.1mm H20 30 dBA 0.13A 1.56W 3-pin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted May 10, 2013 Corsair Employees Share Posted May 10, 2013 1) Can the pump and radiator be used on their own (IE without the USB thingy connected (as I don't have any spare USB m/b sockets) and with the fans being run off a separate fan controller (Lamptron FC Touch)? If you are not planning to use the Corsair Link software, then yes, the cooler will still work like any other closed LC minus the Corsair Link features. 2) Would 4 Corsair CO-9050008-WW Air Series AF120 Performance Edition Fans (the ones with the coloured rings) perform better with the H100i than the stock fans? You better of using the PWM SP120s instead. The SP version was specifically designed for radiator mounting, which requires higher static pressure. AF series fan are ideal to be used as case fans which where you can take advantage of its phenomenal air flow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TickleOnTheTum Posted May 10, 2013 Author Share Posted May 10, 2013 I'll repeat this from other thread in case you only want to reply to one of them: Thanks for the help Ram Guy, I hadn't noticed the PWM SP120's (told you I was new to this!). So the blade design gives them a restricted airflow and drives more air through the radiator? It is all rather complicated isn't it! Have I got this right?: CFM = volume of air moved per (minute?)? mm H20 = the pressure exerted by that air? The force of the air? Blade Shape = Restricted airflow concentrating the air in one direction and 'zone'? One more thing, ill they work correctly when connected to the 3-pin connectors on my Fan Controller? According to reviews the Fan Controller headers have enough spacing to accommodate 4-pin connectors. From what I can gather the pins in fans, etc. are: Ground Power = +12V Sense = RPM Control = PWM So I assume that my Fan Controller will just vary the voltage to vary the RPMs? In this case wouldn't these do the same job: http://www.corsair.com/en/cpu-cooling-kits/air-series-fans/air-series-sp120-high-performance-edition-high-static-pressure-120mm-fan.html Always fun to learn new things! When it comes to a case fan (I need one for the bottom of my case to draw air up and in) is higher CFM what I need to look for? 1) SP120 PWM Perf. = 62.74 CFM (3.1 mm/H20) (Concentrated directional airflow) 2) AF120 Perf. = 63.47 CFM (1.1 mm/H20) (Turbulent spread airflow) 3) Other Brand = 82 CFM (1.273mm H20) (Concentrated directional airflow) So am right in thinking that: 1) Moves the lowest amount of air per minute, at a high pressure in a concentrated direction? 2) Moves the medium amount of air per minute, but at a low pressure and wide spread airflow? 3) Moves the most amount of air per minute, but at a low pressure and in a concentrated direction? Therefore, the SP120 Perf (3 or 4-pin) is best for a radiator and the 'Other Brand' is best for a case? I know you won't want to comment/recommend another brand (hence no name) but I really want to understand how all this works! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryman Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 CFM = cubic feet/minute amount of air moved in cubic feet per minute believe PWM fans work by not controlling voltage while non PWM fans work by adjusting voltage yes SP fans best for radiators AF best if your going to use as a case fan without something super close to it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wytnyt Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 pwm is Pulse Width Modulation meaning it sends pulses of current to regulate fan speed,like turning the on/off switch rapidly to get desired rpm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TickleOnTheTum Posted May 13, 2013 Author Share Posted May 13, 2013 Thanks everyone for the info. So this is what I'm understanding: Terminology CFM: The volume of air moved in cubic feet per minute. Higher is better. mm H20: The pressure (force) exerted by that air. Higher is better when the air needs to be forced through something like a radiator that restricts the airflow. Blade Shape: Certain blade shapes (wider/flatter) restrict/shape the airflow concentrating the air in one direction and 'zone'. Other shapes (narrower) spread the air out over a wider area, while still others (grooved, curved) reduce the drag/vortex effect reducing noise. RPM: Revolutions Per Minute, the speed the fan spins at. Slower is quieter. PWM: Pulse Width Modulation controls the fans speed by sending control pulses along the Control line. Size: Fans come in all different sizes (commonest being 80mm 120mm, 140mm, 200mm and 230mm). The larger then fan then the more air it can shift for a given RPM. This makes a larger slower fan able to shift the same amount of air as a smaller faster fan without making as much noise. Connections 3-pin fans Ground Power = +12V Sense = RPM The Power/voltage line is varied to speed up/slow down the fan. 4-pin fans Ground Power = +12V Sense = RPM Control = PWM The control line is used to send pulses to the fan to control it's speed, however it is also possible to use just the first 3-pins and control it using the power/voltage line as per a 3-pin fan. Still not sure about 1) Is m3/h comparable to CFM or mm H20? I'm guessing CFM as it appears to be a measure of volume moved per time? 2) Does the depth of a fan make any major difference? I've noticed some are 20mm, 25mm and 30mm? Is there a relationship between depth and airflow, noise, etc.? I am now trying to grasp the differences between bearing types! Here's what I think is right so far: Sleeve bearings: The shaft and stator are touching but lubricated by oil or grease. This results in higher wear on the parts and a reduced life span. They are fairly quiet at low speeds, but become noisier with higher speeds and as they age. The work best when mounted vertically and are generally the cheapest fans available. Rifle bearings: These are similar to sleeve bearings, but are quieter and last almost as long as a ball bearing fan. The bearing has a spiral groove in it that pumps fluid from a reservoir. This allows them to be safely mounted with the shaft Horizontally (unlike sleeve bearings), since the fluid being pumped lubricates the top of the shaft. The pumping also ensures sufficient lubricant on the shaft, reducing noise, and increasing lifespan. Ball bearings: The shaft and stator are separated by ball bearings. As there is physical contact there is gradual wear on the parts. They are relatively quieter than sleeve bearing fans at high speeds. They can be used without problems both horizontally and vertically. Fluid bearings: The shaft is kept away from the stator by a fluid so their is no contact between them which leads to very little noise and a high life expectancy. They are expensive. They can be used without problems both horizontally and vertically. Magnetic/maglev bearings: The shaft is repelled from the stator by magnetism so there is no contact. These are the quietest and last a similar time to fluid bearing fans. They are expensive. They can be used without problems both horizontally and vertically. Is the above right (not sure at all about the orientation information for sleeve and rifle bearings. I found these articles after writing all this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_fan http://www.fantronic.com/case_fan_guide.html http://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/692-how-many-case-fans-should-you-have http://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/695-basics-of-case-fan-noise-and-airflow-quieter-gaming http://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/779-computer-case-fan-bearing-differences http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpage/Anatomy-of-Computer-Fans/1039 They are very useful for understanding all this stuff. Of course after understanding the fans I've got to learn about radiators, pumps (and may even go into reservoirs and tubing)... sorry if I'm annoying anyone with all the questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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