Slowing fans when cpu is idle?


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Is it possible to slow down my case fans when the system is idle? All 3 of them are currently spinning at 1134rpm each and the system isn't even doing anything. I downloaded the CommandCenter app for my MSI main board but the lowest range starts at 40c with fans at 50%.. I've set it to this and they are still spinning at 1134rpm, surely thats not 50%? they are 120mm fans.

 

It's really cool when doing nothing currently sitting between 20-25c so even if 1134rpm is 50% it still seems overkill and could be dropped further?

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You try speedfan or setting it in BIOS?

 

I downloaded speedfan but didn't really get it, i think i managed to modify the settings but it didn't slow down the fans so i either done it wrong or it's not working.

 

I checked the speed of the fans on manufacturers website and they are in fact running at full speed.. this is telling me something is not right because even at the default setting they should be running at 50% around 500-600rpm?

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I tried speedfan again but still not working, i couldn't even slow them down from the BIOS, i think i've narrowed it down to the case fans being rubbish, they only have 3 pins rather than 4.. the headers on the motherboard have 4 pins, apparently the 4th pin goes some way to allowing software to access the fans?

 

So now i'm in the market for 2 silent 120mm fans, any suggestions?

 

And while we're at it i'm also looking for a low profile cooler for haswell cpu, any suggestions?

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make sure your fan ports support variable speed first... I know on two of my motherboards (MSI and EVGA) there are a few connectors that are fixed speed, but still report RPM and appear to be speed controllable but they aren't... only a few of the connectors support dynamic fan speeds based on temperature on a lot of motherboards

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I tried speedfan again but still not working, i couldn't even slow them down from the BIOS, i think i've narrowed it down to the case fans being rubbish, they only have 3 pins rather than 4..

 

you don't need a 4pin fan to control speed, you need the fan controller on the motherboard to support variable speeds... I have 5 fans in my latest system all 3 pin except for the CPU fan. 3 of the 5 support dynamic speed, the other two are fixed speed fans

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Could try a few of these:

 

AK-CBFA05-05_f00.jpg

 

I have a few on my system, works well. It changes the normal 12v to 7v, therefore lower speeds.

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Could try a few of these:

 

AK-CBFA05-05_f00.jpg

 

I have a few on my system, works well. It changes the normal 12v to 7v, therefore lower speeds.

 

Thanks, may be use as a last/cheap resort as i'd really like something controllable.

 

you don't need a 4pin fan to control speed, you need the fan controller on the motherboard to support variable speeds... I have 5 fans in my latest system all 3 pin except for the CPU fan. 3 of the 5 support dynamic speed, the other two are fixed speed fans

 

 

Ah so it's not that then... it appears to support it, it's a MSI motherboard and in the BIOS it has the option to control the fan speed, it allows me to select a minimum and maximum based on temperature or manual speed.. this works when i control the CPU, but when i try to control SYS_1 and SYS_2 fans it does nothing.

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you have an msi board?

 

your best bet will be to install the MSI Control Center & turn on the smart settings for both fans (though i think that uses the 4th pins which you said your fans don't have)

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you have an msi board?

 

your best bet will be to install the MSI Control Center & turn on the smart settings for both fans (though i think that uses the 4th pins which you said your fans don't have)

 

Yup tried it.. does nothing :( so once again i need new fans? :) lol

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You need to have 4 prong plugs on your fans if you want to control the speed based on temps.

 

no you don't.. I have 3 pin fans that control based on temps also.... the 4th pin is only a control pin, and usually only used on CPU fans.. 3 pins are +12VDC, GND and SENSE.. the boards usually have temp sensors on the board when they are temp controlled fans close to the part they are measuring. My MSI board for example has 3 temp controlled fans, each one has a thermistor near the component that reports the temp to the motherboard which through BIOS tells a voltage controller on the motherboard to increase or decrease the voltage to the 3 pin fan port for it's associated device... you just need to know what ports are tied to thermsistors your motherboard manual tells you this

 

here's the big question... you have a fan, I assume it has a 3 pin connector, but does that three pin connector have 3 wires going to it from the fan? if it's just a red and black wire you need a new fan probably.. If you have a yellow wire also you have a true 3 pin fan... CPU's have red, black, yellow and blue

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no you don't.. I have 3 pin fans that control based on temps also.... the 4th pin is only a control pin, and usually only used on CPU fans.. 3 pins are +12VDC, GND and SENSE.. the boards usually have temp sensors on the board when they are temp controlled fans close to the part they are measuring. My MSI board for example has 3 temp controlled fans, each one has a thermistor near the component that reports the temp to the motherboard which through BIOS tells a voltage controller on the motherboard to increase or decrease the voltage to the 3 pin fan port for it's associated device... you just need to know what ports are tied to thermsistors your motherboard manual tells you this

 

here's the big question... you have a fan, I assume it has a 3 pin connector, but does that three pin connector have 3 wires going to it from the fan? if it's just a red and black wire you need a new fan probably.. If you have a yellow wire also you have a true 3 pin fan... CPU's have red, black, yellow and blue

He can have more control over the fans with 4 prongs and the right software. He will have an option to turn any case fan off if the machine is idle. All my fans have 4 prongs and are software controlled. Couple of the fans don't turn on till the case reaches certain temperature. Having options is very nice :-)  

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My current fans have 3 wires occupying 3 pins, i have absolutely no control over them from the BIOS, speedfan or the MSI motherboard software... my CPU has 4 wires occupying all 4 pins on a header and is controllable.

 

Some are saying you need 4 pins, some are saying 3... I think full control is the target here so 4 pins are the way to go.

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My current fans have 3 wires occupying 3 pins, i have absolutely no control over them from the BIOS, speedfan or the MSI motherboard software... my CPU has 4 wires occupying all 4 pins on a header and is controllable.

 

Some are saying you need 4 pins, some are saying 3... I think full control is the target here so 4 pins are the way to go.

 

4 pins are for fans that require more power (ala CPU fan). You can completely shut down a fan with 3 pin also... You set the speed to 0% when a temp is below a set point... I know I can do this with my MSI Z77A-GD65 motherboard easily with 3 pin

 

If you currently have zero control over the fans, something else is wrong... check for a firmware update for your motherboard and see if that helps

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I've updated the firmware and the fans are still full speed, the system is cool without them running so if some control is available, they shouldn't be running at full speed.. i tried manually altering from the BIOS and got no change in speed in either direction. I once again tried to alter the CPU fan which was altered as expected so i dont think there is an over all issue with the motherboard.

 

I'm going to test gaming without the fans but with no internal airflow i think things are going to get nasty.

 

If people are adamant that 3 pin fans can be controlled i'm a little worried about spending nearly ?50 on those 3 noctua's if i may get the same results.

 

Is it possible that the fans dont support it? I read a review of the case and it says:

 

 

The fans are fairly smooth sounding and efficient, though at this price-point, we were expecting some kind of fan control option. Still, given the ubiquity of motherboard-embedded fan control systems these days, this is not much of a minus.

..although, i'm not sure if this is simply referring to an integrated fan controller.

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I've updated the firmware and the fans are still full speed, the system is cool without them running so if some control is available, they shouldn't be running at full speed.. i tried manually altering from the BIOS and got no change in speed in either direction. I once again tried to alter the CPU fan which was altered as expected so i dont think there is an over all issue with the motherboard.

 

I'm going to test gaming without the fans but with no internal airflow i think things are going to get nasty.

 

If people are adamant that 3 pin fans can be controlled i'm a little worried about spending nearly ?50 on those 3 noctua's if i may get the same results.

 

Is it possible that the fans dont support it? I read a review of the case and it says:

..although, i'm not sure if this is simply referring to an integrated fan controller.

Here you go. All you need to know http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_control

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If people are adamant that 3 pin fans can be controlled i'm a little worried about spending nearly ?50 on those 3 noctua's if i may get the same results.

 

 

What MSI board do you have anyways? I know the Z77A-G65 Standard and gaming board has a 4 PIN for the CPU plus 2 other's the rest are 3 pin.. but as I said before, I have full control of these fans on my system and I'm running 3 pin for everything but the CPU

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What MSI board do you have anyways? I know the Z77A-G65 Standard and gaming board has a 4 PIN for the CPU plus 2 other's the rest are 3 pin.. but as I said before, I have full control of these fans on my system and I'm running 3 pin for everything but the CPU

 

MSI H87M-G43 i only have 3 headers in total, 1 for cpu and 2 system fans. all have 4 pins

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neofuse, i've looked into it further and 3-pin fans can be controlled, but only if the motherboard supports voltage control on the headers, apparently it's not that common, if the motherboard doesn't then you either need PWM (pulse width modulation - 4-pin) fans or a fan controller which does it with voltage control. I fall into the latter i think, so either a fan controller or 4-pin fans are my only options.

 

edit; just realised you mentioned voltages in your earlier post which is the way you'll be doing it, this isn't supported on my board.

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neofuse, i've looked into it further and 3-pin fans can be controlled, but only if the motherboard supports voltage control on the headers, apparently it's not that common, if the motherboard doesn't then you either need PWM (pulse width modulation - 4-pin) fans or a fan controller which does it with voltage control. I fall into the latter i think, so either a fan controller or 4-pin fans are my only options.

 

edit; just realised you mentioned voltages in your earlier post which is the way you'll be doing it, this isn't supported on my board.

If you have 4 pin headers, I'd use them just because it is easier to control. but my point was you can control 3 pin also. I thought most MSI boards supported Voltage Regulated fans and PWM but maybe that is just the line I buy. I'd say just get some 4 pin fans and be done with it since you do have 4 pin headers

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