Fans

Fans will primarily offer 2 things to a computer system, performance and aesthetics. RGB fans are a big part of expressing a certain style in your build, and the performance benefits of the extra cooling provided cannot be understated. that being said, there are a couple of things to consider in picking your ideal kit.

Fan Size: The major factor in compatibility will be the size of the fan, as all cases have a limited amount of fans they can fit, as well as a limited range of sizes they are designed for. While the majority of cases will have compatibility for 120mm and 140mm, some cases will also require smaller fans, and others will allow ginormous fans up to 200mm

Connector: There are 2 main connectors to look out for on a fan, the power connector and the RGB connector, each of which come in 2 styles.

• Power Connectors come in 2 variants, 3-Pin and 4-pin (or PWM), these 2 connectors both provide power to the fan, but 3-pin is less precise in its speed control, whereas 4-pin can very precisely control the speed of the fan, allowing it to react to heat or other factors, leading to quieter and more efficient cooling.
• RGB Connectors also come in 2 variants, which confusingly are also 3-pin (or 5V ARGB) and 4-pin (or 12V RGB). Both will allow control over a fans lighting, however 4-pin will only allow the user to set a single colour for the whole fan, whereas 3-pin allows the user to address each individual LED, allowing a lot more customization.

Manufacturer: While not strictly necessary, it is usually a good idea to ensure that your fans, cooler and case are produced by the same manufacturer if possible. Manufacturers will often make parts of their lighting hardware proprietary, such as only offering customisation within their app, or having unique fan connectors that only work with their hubs.

Aesthetics: Lastly, one of the biggest factors in deciding on a fan for your build will often be aesthetics, as fans are one of the most visually striking parts of a build, picking a kit that matches your case, or suits the style of your build, is a fun way to express style in any pc build.