I have three intake fans and one exhaust fan, all running at 1200 RPM. Before installing these fans, my PC would heat up quickly while playing games like GTA 5. However, since adding the fans, it seems to take longer for temperatures to rise even during hot afternoons. So, I'm curious if higher RPM fans are necessary or if the fans I have are sufficient. I'm looking at fan speed alone, without considering noise levels. For context, I'm using a Ryzen 5 5500GT CPU with a stock AMD cooler and an RX 6600 GPU.
4 Answers
RPM alone isn't what you should focus on; instead, look at the cubic feet per minute (CFM) rating, which indicates how much air the fan can move. Noise level at specific CFM is also key. If your fans can push a good amount of air while being relatively quiet, then RPM isn't a major concern.
It really depends on your setup. My CPU and GPU generate more heat than yours, but I've got a better cooler. I typically keep my case fans running at 600 RPM, and it works just fine for me.
If your PC was heating up before and performs better now with the fans installed, that’s a solid indication that the fans are doing their job. Also, keep in mind that two fans at 1500 RPM can move more air efficiently and quietly compared to one fan spinning at 3000 RPM.
In general, I'd prefer having more fans running at lower speeds for less noise rather than just a couple of high RPM fans. More airflow with less sound is usually the way to go!

Related Questions
Lenovo Thinkpad Stuck In Update Loop Install FilterDriverU2_Reload