The sound level is a significant difference between a 200mm fan and two 120mm fans. One 200mm will most likely have to spin much slower to achieve the same amount of airflow, resulting in a lower sound level. Larger the fan, the slower the spin, and the quieter the operation.
However, two 120mm may provide better airflow. The fan blades of 2 120mm fans have been designed to effectively focus airflow and reduce noise. Given the low cost, this is quite effective.
Feature-wise Difference Between 200MM Fan vs 2 120MM
In both cases, the larger the size, the better the performance. However, DC motors are more efficient than AC motors on average, using 1/3 the energy of a typical AC motor. Furthermore, they are usually twice as powerful for turning the fan’s blades.
The reasons why 200mm fans differ from 2 120mm fans are illustrated below:
1. Fan Size
The most widely used fan sizes that case manufacturers currently support are 200mm and 140mm. 120mm fans are 4.7 inches. The standard case fan diameter here is 120mm.
There are a variety of fan sizes available for your system, including 80mm, 120mm, 140mm, 200mm, and larger. One of the primary advantages of a larger fan is that it can push more air per rotation than a smaller fan. This allows them to spin much more slowly than their smaller counterparts.
2. Noise Levels
The 200mm is clearly more efficient per decibel (5.78cfm/dBa vs. 3.68cfm/dBa). However, two 120mm lenses in tandem would equate to around 140cfm and 38dba. 140cfm vs 110cfm is a 27% increase.
Noise level is usually measured in decibels (dBA). You’ll want to find the lowest number possible. Be cautious, as some manufacturers have been known to be less than scientific in their noise tests, all in the name of being silent. Purchasing from a well-known brand ensures that what is written on the box is accurate.
3. Pin Types
200mm and 2 120 mm fans both are available in 3 or 4-pin types. 4-pin allows the fan to be controlled by software.
Fans can have a variety of pin types. This is simply the connector used to connect the fan to a power supply. The only significant difference between a 3-pin and 4-pin connector is the additional wire. If you choose a 4-pin fan, the extra pin allows for some Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) control.
4. Design And Styling
Based on the fan blade design, 200mm provides the perfect balance of Air Pressure and Air Flow. T is inspired by both jet engine and helicopter blade designs. 2 120mm fans are also available in various styling.
If you spend a little more on your case fans, you can get one that looks great while keeping your system cool. These fans can have different colored fan blades, frames, and even RGB LEDs to allow you to personalize your system. If you already have RGB in your system, adding an extra RGB fan will make it shine.
Are 200MM Fans Better | Special Features
The 200mm fan revolution was short-lived. They benefit from higher airflow (CFM) while contributing less noise to the system. However, large fans are still available, but the gaudy era of putting a 200mm fan in every slot didn’t last long. The benefits of 200mm fans are:
- Larger fans allow more air to pass through a larger hole at a lower RPM. This reduces noise while theoretically providing similar, wide-area cooling.
- Larger fans also allow for a wider spread, making for excellent side-panel cooling options that can hit a little bit of everything – the VRM (voltage regulator module), GPU, and memory can all be cooled with a single fan that’s only 160mm away (side panel)
Best 200mm Fans
The top five 200mm fans are:
- Cooler Master MasterFan MF200R RGB
- AeroCool Silent Master 200mm
- Noctua NF-A20 PWM
- Thermaltake CL-F015-PL20BL-A
How Many CFM Do I Need for a 120MM Fan?
The amount of CFM that you need for a 120mm fan is listed below:
- Around 60CFM for your regular, quiet 120mm.
- Around 50CFM or less for silent ones.
- Above 100CFM for loud ones.
- Above 170CFM for jet engine types.
Are 120mm Fans Enough?
8x 120mm 1200rpm fans are defiantly satisfactory. However, you might want to set them to a lower rpm to make your pc quieter if you aren’t utilizing your PC’s full potential.
Conclusion
200 mm fans come with smart fan sensors. They keep cables and components from becoming snagged or pulled by fans. However, a combination of noise reduction technology and sound-absorbing rubber pads are used in both 200mm fans and 2 120mm fans. So, peace is maintained even when your PC is working hard.
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