Use the mobo to controll fan speed? Or get a bay device to do it?

[mdashoot]

Here is my dilema, I've come to find that building a computer yourself can get addicting. If you look at my specs you will see that most of my hardware is good accept for the graphics, so I've decided to upgrade to an XFX GeForce 8800gt 512mb 256bit. Well I couldnt stop there when I noticed the new Intel E8400 processors, which I dont have yet, but I did get a new Zalman CPNS9700 NT cooler for when I do get one. Now, my motherboard has four fan controllers on it, that includes the one for the cpu, it uses a utility called Q-Fan. I only have the CPU on it right now but I have four 120mm fans in my case. They go direct to the Power supply so they are constantly on, even in standby, im wondering if it would be better to use a bay device fan controller or the mobo? I could daisy two fans together so all are plugged to the mobo, I guess. How do you set your fans up? do you use a fan controller, the mobo, or just run constant power to them from the PSU?

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

depends on what u want.

 

[mdashoot]

well, it is kind of annoying hearing the fans run constantly, I think plugging them to the mobo is my best bet, then I dont have to screw around with turning them down on a bay device as the mobo will do it. But can I daisychain two fans together to one plug on the mobo?

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

i dunno if u can daisychain but my mobo has a port for every fan i have and all of them a speed controlled by temps

 

[mdashoot]

ok, it looks like my mobo has 6 fan ports, CPU_FAN, CHA_FAN1, CHA_FAN2, CHA_FAN3, CHA_FAN4, and PWR_FAN. Im not sure what the hell the PWR_FAN port is for but they are all 3 pin accept for the CPU of course. So I think im good.
Thanks! and do you know what the PWR_FAN is for?

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

im not sure .. dont use it though if u dont need it ...

 

[mdashoot]

one more question, I have the Antec P182 case, it comes with three 120mm fans that are tricool, meaning they have a switch attached to them that lets you adjust the speed, but they do not have a 3 pin connector, only a 4 pin. So I will probably buy some more fans to replace those, Antec does make a tricool 120mm fan with a 3 and 4 pin connector and they say fan speed can be controlled by the mobo, so I assume you set the fan switch to the highest setting and let the mobo do the rest right?

 

[JrRacinFan]

PWR_Fan? I am assuming if you want toinstall a 3rd party case fan to your power supply (after extending wires) and attach it to the motherboard.

 

[CarolinaKSU]

Ive got a Zalman fan controller in a bay too and I love it. Right now its only controlling my CPU fan but when i get a new exhaust fan it will be in there too. I have the Xclio A380 case so it has the 2 huge fans on the front and side. However, I fried a set of wires that the side fan uses after trying it in the controller (the stupid thing makes you use its own controller on the back taking up a PCI slot) so be careful with the controllers too.

 

[Darknova]

Firstly. When it comes to 3-pin adapters. The names are only there so you can tell which one your fan is plugged into when you are in the BIOS/using a monitoring program. It does not designate WHAT you plug in, any 3-pin fan will work.

Second. By 4-pin, you mean molex right? If that's so, then how come I have 2 120mm fans plugged into the PSU that turn off when the PC is turned off?

 

[King Wookie]

I replaced the Antecs on my P180 with Noctuas, (going for quiet) which run off a Zalman fan controller.

I love being able to adjust my case cooling simply by turning a few knobs.

 

[Wile E]

I don't use mobo control for my fans. The noisy fans I have are on controllers.

 

[mdashoot]

Firstly. When it comes to 3-pin adapters. The names are only there so you can tell which one your fan is plugged into when you are in the BIOS/using a monitoring program. It does not designate WHAT you plug in, any 3-pin fan will work.

Second. By 4-pin, you mean molex right? If that's so, then how come I have 2 120mm fans plugged into the PSU that turn off when the PC is turned off?

you are correct, what I meant was, as I remember from my POS dell when I would put the pc on stand by, everything would shut down even the fans, then when you hit a key or move the mouse everything would start up again. My new pc doesnt do that, the fans stay on in stand by and I think that is because they are direct to the PSU, if I let the mobo controll them I think they will shut off.

 

[Wile E]

you are correct, what I meant was, as I remember from my POS dell when I would put the pc on stand by, everything would shut down even the fans, then when you hit a key or move the mouse everything would start up again. My new pc doesnt do that, the fans stay on in stand by and I think that is because they are direct to the PSU, if I let the mobo controll them I think they will shut off.

I wouldn't be comfortable with my fans shutting off completely. Slowing down? Sure. Shutting off? Ummm, no. Better safe than sorry, imho.

 

[mdashoot]

well I know if you go in to hybernate, everything shuts down and is stored in memory, then when you power back up windows will resume with whatever you were doing if anyhing, mayabe the fans slowed down so much in stand by on the dell that I just couldnt hear it, but I dont think so.

 

[Wile E]

well I know if you go in to hybernate, everything shuts down and is stored in memory, then when you power back up windows will resume with whatever you were doing if anyhing, mayabe the fans slowed down so much in stand by on the dell that I just couldnt hear it, but I dont think so.

I know, it's just a personal preference. I prefer to leave my fans running.

 

[mdashoot]

do you use hybernate or standby? I dont use hybernate but I like to use standby sometimes when im going somewhere for a while or going to bed and I know im going to be right back on the PC when I wake up, then you just hit a key and your running. I just confirmed on a dell PC that when you go in to stand by all the fans shut off and the power LED flashes. The only reason I like this is because my PC is in my room and the fans can be annoying when im trying to fall asleep. Also mayabe its just a dell thing and that wont happen on my Asus mobo, mayabe the fans will just slow way down, which would be fine.

 

[Wile E]

do you use hybernate or standby? I dont use hybernate but I like to use standby sometimes when im going somewhere for a while or going to bed and I know im going to be right back on the PC when I wake up, then you just hit a key and your running. I just confirmed on a dell PC that when you go in to stand by all the fans shut off and the power LED flashes. The only reason I like this is because my PC is in my room and the fans can be annoying when im trying to fall asleep. Also mayabe its just a dell thing and that wont happen on my Asus mobo, mayabe the fans will just slow way down, which would be fine.

I used to use standby, but not anymore. I'm not so impatient as to wait for the machine to boot up. The energy savings of off takes precedence for me, as my computer draws enough juice while I'm using it. lol.

I haven't seen an option in my Maximus BIOS to turn fans off.

Not only that, I prefer some white noise while I'm sleeping. Fans actually help me sleep.

 

[mdashoot]

well, I guess I could just plug them in to the mobo and see how that will go and if I dont like it I'll just put them back the way they are. Im not doing this untill I get everything for my upgrade, new fans (ordered), new sata cables, one with a 90degree angle (ordered), Zalman CNPS9700 NT (have it), XFX GeForce 8800gt 512mb 256bit alpha dog (soon) thats why I need the 90degree Sata because the card goes right over my HDD sata, and im thinking of getting the new Intel E8400 processor. Then I will do some better cable management.