How Many Fans Do You Need For A Gaming PC?

Gaming systems are some of the most powerful machines you will find, as they can flawlessly run any game.

However, even the best machines can have their limitations. Sometimes, the PC might begin heating up, as it can become overloaded.

The best way to resolve the issue is to ensure airflow with cooling fans. Here is what you need to know about the fans you need for a gaming PC.

How Many Fans Do You Need For A Gaming PC?

As a general rule of thumb, you need to have a minimum of three case fans for your gaming PC. It will ensure excellent airflow while regulating the heat and guaranteeing cooling. You can also use two case fans, but three is the ideal number.

We recommend that you keep an intake fan on the front panel and an exhaust fan on the back panel. The intake fan will take the cool air, and the fan at the back will ensure that any hot air is thrown away. As they do this, the temperature will be maintained.

It is up to you to keep two intake fans and one exhaust fan or the other way round. You can decide what works best for your gaming PC.

iBUYPOWER Pro Gaming PC Computer Desktop SlateMR 281a (AMD Ryzen 5 5600G 3.9 GHz, Nvidia Geforce RTX 3060 12GB, 16GB DDR4, 500GB NVME SSD, WiFi Ready, VR Ready, Windows 11 Home)

What Speed Should You Set For The Gaming PC Fans?

You can put up the ideal number of fans for your gaming PC, but if the speed is not right, it will cause issues to your system. You might be tempted to set the speed at maximum to manage the airflow in the best way. However, you should not do this as it will cause problems.

For example, when the fan is at full speed, it will make a lot of noise that will disrupt your gaming experience. On the other hand, it will also reduce the lifespan of your cooling fans. We recommend that you adjust the fan setting depending on the heat that your gaming system generates.

It might take you some adjustments to find the best fan speed for your gaming PC. However, when you do, it will function in the best way possible.

Are Two Fans Enough For Cooling The Gaming PC?

Many people use two fans for their gaming PC, and that will only suffice if their gaming PC is low-end. For example, two fans will be enough if you plan on playing light games on the PC. On the other hand, if your hardware is powerful, then you will need more than two case fans for your gaming needs.

We recommend that you determine your PC’s hardware and how you plan to use it. If you want to play powerful games with high-end graphics, then you will need at least three fans. On the other hand, if you are a lightweight gamer, then two fans will easily suffice.

Does More Fans Mean Better Cooling?

Keeping the PC cool is important, but it doesn’t mean that you need to put in as many fans as possible. Many rookie gamers install more case fans than needed, and it can hinder the gaming experience. That is because stacking fans on a PC will hinder the airflow rather than make it better.

The fans will interfere with one another, which means that the system will circulate less air and cool down. Negative airflow is real, and it can be because of too many fans. This happens when the fans pull too much air inside the gaming PC, and the exhaust fan is not able to remove it with ease.

When that happens, the heat will remain in the gaming PC for a long time, which will even lead to more dust. In simple terms, you don’t need a lot of fans to cool your gaming PC. You can stick to two or three to ensure balance and better airflow.

What Should The RPM Of The Gaming Fans Be?

It is crucial to have the right RPM to offer excellent airflow to your gaming PC. As a general rule, case fans should have an RPM between 900 and 1,000. Such an RPM will offer the ideal speed that will guarantee the perfect airflow to your gaming PC.

The noise will be low at such a speed, and your PC will cool down without any issues. Keep in mind that you should set the same speed for all fans. If you don’t, it will cause negative airflow and trap the heat inside your gaming PC.


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Thomas Sage
By Thomas Sage

Thomas Sage is Senior Editor of PC hardware at Pcfolks, covering everything related to PC components.


PC Folks is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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