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Need help figuring out how to control two fans.

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  • 20-09-2017 7:53am
    #1
    lewis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭


    I've just built my first PC.... https://pcpartpicker.com/user/mloc/saved/PVKP6h... The problem I'm having is I can't seem to figure out how, if possible, to control/change the speed of my two fans.

    I'd like them to spin very slow or off, when I'm doing light work or nothing, then for them to kick in gradually, based on the level of work I'm doing..

    From what I've read, my options maybe, get another 4-pin fan, once that's hooked up with my other 3-Pin fan, I'd be able to control them in my motherboard bios.

    Second option was to get a fan controller, but since my existing fans are only 3-Pin, I don't think I'd be able to control them...?

    Since I've installed them, they have not changed speed, no matter what I'm doing, or no matter what I try and change in the motherboard's bios, I've also tried Speedfan, I couldn't get any joy with that.

    Any help would be great, cheers.


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    #2
    Grahamer666
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,168 ✭✭✭Grahamer666


    Download a program called SpeedFan. It allows you to control fan speed to your liking. It can be a bit fiddly but there are plenty of tutorials on YouTube. I use it myself.

    Edit : Just saw you used it. No reason why it shouldn't work for you. It's not as simple as just changing the numbers on it. You have to set it up in order for it to work.


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    #3
    2ndcoming
    Registered Users Posts: 3,572 ✭✭✭2ndcoming


    lewis wrote: »
    I've just built my first PC.... https://pcpartpicker.com/user/mloc/saved/PVKP6h... The problem I'm having is I can't seem to figure out how, if possible, to control/change the speed of my two fans.

    I'd like them to spin very slow or off, when I'm doing light work or nothing, then for them to kick in gradually, based on the level of work I'm doing..

    From what I've read, my options maybe, get another 4-pin fan, once that's hooked up with my other 3-Pin fan, I'd be able to control them in my motherboard bios.

    Second option was to get a fan controller, but since my existing fans are only 3-Pin, I don't think I'd be able to control them...?

    Since I've installed them, they have not changed speed, no matter what I'm doing, or no matter what I try and change in the motherboard's bios, I've also tried Speedfan, I couldn't get any joy with that.

    Any help would be great, cheers.

    That's a bit unusual, I've an almost identical mobo (AS Rock z170 Pro4) in a budget Corsair case that came with two case fans (more than likely the cheapo cousins of AF120s) and I've always been able to control them by setting a custom fan curve in the bios...

    Have you gone right through setting target fan percentages by temps and saved changes?


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    #4
    lewis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭lewis


    2ndcoming wrote: »
    That's a bit unusual, I've an almost identical mobo (AS Rock z170 Pro4) in a budget Corsair case that came with two case fans (more than likely the cheapo cousins of AF120s) and I've always been able to control them by setting a custom fan curve in the bios...

    Have you gone right through setting target fan percentages by temps and saved changes?

    I thought I did.

    Do you have a step by step guide, I'm new to all this.

    Also is there a way to test the settings once set, like through software or something?


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    #5
    2ndcoming
    Registered Users Posts: 3,572 ✭✭✭2ndcoming


    lewis wrote: »
    I thought I did.

    Do you have a step by step guide, I'm new to all this.

    Also is there a way to test the settings once set, like through software or something?

    You'll hear the difference. I had intake shutting off on startup until a certain temp was reached and you could hear it stopping as Windows booted. In work now but when I'm home I'll have a look and post details.


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    #6
    Grahamer666
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,168 ✭✭✭Grahamer666


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OkBRELqEgM&t=463s


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    #7
    lewis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭lewis


    Grahamer666 wrote: »
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OkBRELqEgM&t=463s

    I'm actually in the middle of this video, not having much luck, I've found the pwm that seems to control the case fan, but I can't find what controls my two front fans..

    I've a feeling that since my two front fans are 3-Pin, I don't seem to have the option to find or control them...


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    #8
    Spear
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Help & Feedback Category Moderators Posts: 25,316 CMod ✭✭✭✭Spear


    3 Pin fan connectors are the DC ones then, if that helps.


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    #9
    lewis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭lewis


    Spear wrote: »
    3 Pin fan connectors are the DC ones then, if that helps.

    DC?

    That got something to do with voltage?

    I'm in my UEFI and selected DC mode for the two front fans, then choose silent mode and BAM, straight away the two fans slowed right down, nice and quiet now.

    Now all I need to figure out is setting the CPU temps and assign a respective fan speed for each temp.


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    #10
    Grahamer666
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,168 ✭✭✭Grahamer666


    lewis wrote: »
    I'm actually in the middle of this video, not having much luck, I've found the pwm that seems to control the case fan, but I can't find what controls my two front fans..

    I've a feeling that since my two front fans are 3-Pin, I don't seem to have the option to find or control them...

    You can get 3 pin to 4 pin adapters. Pretty cheap on Amazon and the likes.


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    #11
    lewis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭lewis


    Grahamer666 wrote: »
    You can get 3 pin to 4 pin adapters. Pretty cheap on Amazon and the likes.

    I already got this splitter, would this have the same result as a 3-pin to 4-pin splitter?


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    #12
    Grahamer666
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,168 ✭✭✭Grahamer666


    Same type as i use and i can control my 3 fans with SpeedFan. Both being powered by the fan headers on my mobo.


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    #13
    lewis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭lewis


    Grahamer666 wrote: »
    Same type as i use and i can control my 3 fans with SpeedFan. Both being powered by the fan headers on my mobo.

    This is my motherboard and I've the splitter plugged into No.16.

    Can you manually control the speed from here, or just control it based on the temp curves?


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    #14
    Grahamer666
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,168 ✭✭✭Grahamer666


    Uncheck that Automatic fan speed. Try lowering the Aux and Aux1 and see what happens.


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    #15
    lewis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭lewis


    Grahamer666 wrote: »
    Uncheck that Automatic fan speed. Try lowering the Aux and Aux1 and see what happens.

    Nothing happened.

    I went in to the motherboard UEFI and I have these options for the header the splitter is plugged into... I selected CPU, then the other option is... I choose PWM mode.

    Now when I pick PWM mode, the two front fans kick into high gear, even LEDs get brighter, but I can`t seem to manually adjust them.

    If I pick DC mode, they go silent and still the same, I can`t manually adjust them.

    For both options I can`t seem to figure out a good temp curve and for it to work....


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    #16
    2ndcoming
    Registered Users Posts: 3,572 ✭✭✭2ndcoming


    For both those chassis fan settings choose custom and it will allow you to set up a custom fan curve based on internal temps. That way you can attain near silence for normal use and only have them ramp up when needed.

    You don't really need any intake running under 30degrees, I mean the air inside your room is unlikely to be much lower than that anyway most of the time.

    I don't think you should need more than one intake period tbh. Exhausting heat is more important so if the case allows it I'd put one exhausting at the rear, one exhausting at the top and one intake on the front. If not just one in front one out rear.

    If silence is your goal this would help a long way. Fans should only really be noticeable during heavy gaming sessions, ie when you're too engrossed to care.


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    #17
    lewis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭lewis


    2ndcoming wrote: »
    For both those chassis fan settings choose custom and it will allow you to set up a custom fan curve based on internal temps. That way you can attain near silence for normal use and only have them ramp up when needed.

    You don't really need any intake running under 30degrees, I mean the air inside your room is unlikely to be much lower than that anyway most of the time.

    I don't think you should need more than one intake period tbh. Exhausting heat is more important so if the case allows it I'd put one exhausting at the rear, one exhausting at the top and one intake on the front. If not just one in front one out rear.

    If silence is your goal this would help a long way. Fans should only really be noticeable during heavy gaming sessions, ie when you're too engrossed to care.

    I know my fans are overkill, but there a good overkill, lol. My Photoshop is only going to get more demanding and of course, there will be some games on it, not planned, but not having any games on a PC just seems odd.

    Just frustrating that I can't get control of the fans from what I've watched and read.

    I've a feeling that if I had bought fans with 4-pins, I'd not have these problems.


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    #18
    Grahamer666
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,168 ✭✭✭Grahamer666


    My fans are only 3 pin and have them connected to splitters like the pic you posted earlier and I can control them with SpeedFan. How many pins is on the connection to the splitters you have connected to your mobo?


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    #19
    lewis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭lewis


    Grahamer666 wrote: »
    My fans are only 3 pin and have them connected to splitters like the pic you posted earlier and I can control them with SpeedFan. How many pins is on the connection to the splitters you have connected to your mobo?

    4-pin.

    PLEASE could you share with me how the hell you set it up...even in a benchmark my fans won`t kick in....


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    #20
    srsly78
    Registered Users Posts: 7,157 ✭✭✭srsly78


    OP Speedfan will do what you want, but need to put the effort in to figure it out.

    After lots of tweaking speedfan I have lovely silent case/cpu fans. GPU fan however still sounds like jet engine under load >.<


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    #21
    lewis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭lewis


    srsly78 wrote: »
    OP Speedfan will do what you want, but need to put the effort in to figure it out.

    After lots of tweaking speedfan I have lovely silent case/cpu fans. GPU fan however still sounds like jet engine under load >.<

    Don`t get me wrong, I`m trying my best to try get this to work..:)

    My two fronts fans are the ones that sounds like that, lol.


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    #22
    srsly78
    Registered Users Posts: 7,157 ✭✭✭srsly78


    Well try this -> configure -> advanced tab -> select chipset -> set all PWM modes to manual. Then go to temperatures tab, specify desired ranges etc. Then main screen tick auto fan speed.

    Also disable all that fan control stuff you set in BIOS, it may override speedfan.


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    #23
    lewis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭lewis


    srsly78 wrote: »
    Well try this -> configure -> advanced tab -> select chipset -> set all PWM modes to manual. Then go to temperatures tab, specify desired ranges etc. Then main screen tick auto fan speed.

    Also disable all that fan control stuff you set in BIOS, it may override speedfan.

    How does this look?

    Another thing, in the motherboard UEFI, which should I select for the front fans, DC mode or PWM mode?


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    #24
    srsly78
    Registered Users Posts: 7,157 ✭✭✭srsly78


    Yep looks like mine. Now untick the auto fan speed, and adjust the speeds manually. Going from 0->100 should show if it works or not.

    Note that nuvotron chipset is mainboard only, doesnt affect gpu.


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    #25
    Grahamer666
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,168 ✭✭✭Grahamer666


    In your fan configuration in UEFI make sure the chassis fans are set to auto and not PWM.


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    #26
    lewis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭lewis


    Grahamer666 wrote: »
    In your fan configuration in UEFI make sure the chassis fans are set to auto and not PWM.

    These are the only options I have, I don't see any auto..


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    #27
    srsly78
    Registered Users Posts: 7,157 ✭✭✭srsly78


    Just reset bios to defaults :) Dunno what those modes mean, maybe standard will let speedfan take control.


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    #28
    Grahamer666
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,168 ✭✭✭Grahamer666


    If your fans are connected with that 4 pin splitter to your mobo then SpeedFan should work. I don't use the fan settings on my Asus mobo but just use SpeedFan. Keep trying.


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    #29
    lewis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭lewis


    Grahamer666 wrote: »
    If your fans are connected with that 4 pin splitter to your mobo then SpeedFan should work. I don't use the fan settings on my Asus mobo but just use SpeedFan. Keep trying.

    Do you think changing, if possible, the fan connections on my motherboard, or are they correct?


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    #30
    Grahamer666
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,168 ✭✭✭Grahamer666


    If they are connected to the headers marked chassis fan or sys fan then you have them in the right headers.


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    #31
    lewis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭lewis


    Grahamer666 wrote: »
    Same type as i use and i can control my 3 fans with SpeedFan. Both being powered by the fan headers on my mobo.

    Where do you have that plugged into?

    What's the label?

    EDIT: I think I`m onto something here, lol. I did another benchmark along with some messing around with Speedfan and the front fans were adjusting... not sure what settings are best, but it never did this before...


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