Sys Fan vs CPU Fan: Everything You Need To Know

By: Editorial Team

Today’s computers have a lot of different components, and each one of them generates heat.

To keep all of these components running as efficiently as possible, it’s important to know the differences between a CPU fan and a sys fan.

If one of your goals with your computer is to keep it as cool as possible, you’ll want to learn about the different types of computer fans and how they work.

Here’s everything you need to know about sys fan vs CPU fan and some of the key differences between the two.

What does SYS fan mean?

A sys fan is a fan that’s built into the computer. They’re typically found in laptops and desktop computers, but desktop computers also include a number of other components for which there may not be a built-in fan.

This means that all of these additional components have to draw air from outside the case.

The fan inside the PC draws air in through vents on either side of the case and pushes it out through vents on either side of the CPU or motherboard.

System fans can create noise, especially if they’re located in close proximity to other components such as hard drives, RAM, or power supplies.

How TO install a case/sys fan in PC

In addition to that noise, they also consume more power than other types of fans and can cause heat buildup in your PC if they’re running at high speeds without sufficient airflow.

If you want to minimize noise and heat buildup while still keeping your computer cool, consider using a case with good ventilation or upgrading your system fan with a quieter one.

Difference Between Sys fan and CPU Fan

A CPU fan is usually a component that helps cool the processor.

A sys fan is usually used to cool other components in the computer, like the motherboard and case. Sys fans are typically used more often because they don’t require any additional hardware to function.

A CPU fan must have at least one tiny heatsink attached to it to work properly.

Sys fans use convection currents for cooling, which is where hot air rises up and cooler air falls down, providing efficient cooling for the system as a whole.

HARDWARE NEEDED:

CPU Fan: One tiny heatsink attached to it

Sys Fan: No extra hardware needed

PC Fan Types Explained

Can you use sys fan for CPU fan?

If you want to use a CPU fan for your sys fan, yes, you can. One of the key differences between the two is that the sys fan has a bigger surface area than the CPU fan.

The bigger surface area means it will generate more airflow.

Is SYS fan necessary?

The answer is that it depends. If your computer has a powerful processor and you have a lot of programs running at once, then you may need to turn on the sys fan to keep things from getting too hot.

There are also some other factors that determine whether or not you should use the SYS fan.

For example, if your PC case is very hot (you can tell by touching the side of it), then you’ll need to turn on the SYS fan to cool it down.

How Many Case or System Fans Do I Need?

The answer to this question will depend on your budget and the size of your computer. The larger the computer is, the more case fans you’ll need to cool it.

However, you should also consider the amount of cooling liquid that you have available in your system. This is because it takes a lot more liquid to cool a large computer than it does a smaller one.

If you want to stay away from unnecessary noise, then you should choose systems fans that are quieter. But if your goal is maximizing airflow, then go with high-speed or low-noise sys fan options.

Do I Need Both Sys Fans and CPU Fans?

When it comes to cooling your computer, you’ll need both a sys fan and a CPU fan. What this means is that the computer itself has a system fan, which is usually located on the motherboard.

The other is the CPU fan, which can be either on the motherboard or in the machine itself.

The main difference between the two types of fans is their location. With a sys fan, it’s inside of your computer (if there is one).

A CPU fan typically sits outside of your machine. This helps with airflow since you’ll want an air flow coming in and out of your case, even if you’re not using it right now.

Can I plug CPU fan into system fan?

No, you can’t plug a CPU fan into a system fan. The CPU fan is for the central processing unit (CPU), whereas a sys fan is for the system as a whole.

The system includes all of the components inside your computer, not just the CPU and motherboard. A sys fan is usually located in the back of your case, but it can also be on top or in the front.

A sys fan’s job is to move air over all of those components and keep them cool by reducing heat and raising cooler air around them.

As you may have guessed, putting a CPU fan on top of your sys fan will do nothing because they don’t work together.

Types of Fan Header Connections

There are two types of fan headers commonly found on motherboards: 3-pin and 4-pin. These headers can be used for either the sys fan or the CPU fan.

If you have a 4-pin header, it means that your motherboard supports both a sys fan and a CPU fan.

The pinouts for these connectors will be slightly different from one another, so check to see which header is being used before attempting to connect either type of header.

There is also a 3-pin connector that does not always correlate with the 4-pin connector, but it does sometimes end up being connected to it.

If you’re having trouble understanding why you can’t find any 4-pin connectors on your motherboard and you only have the 3-pin connector, this is likely what’s going on.

pc fan
AMD PC Fan

Summary

A sys fan is usually located inside the chassis of your computer, while a CPU fan is almost always located on the outside of the case.

The difference between these two types of fans is that a sys fan moves air within the case, while a CPU fan draws cool air into and circulates it throughout the computer.

A sys fan will often be controlled manually by an onboard switch, but a CPU fan can sometimes be controlled automatically by its settings.

A lot of people have seen a large number of different terms used to describe different types of fans in computers.

Some common terms are intake (the opening into which air flows), exhaust (the opening out of which air flows), and intake/exhaust fans.