Computer Hope

Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: skykaptain on March 19, 2008, 09:57:15 AM

Title: Recommendations for a fan controller
Post by: skykaptain on March 19, 2008, 09:57:15 AM

I bought and installed a new 780i mobo and it does not seem to adjust my CPU fan at all. It is always on 100% and sounds like an F-22 on full afterburner, not that I don’t really mind since I’m in the USAF but I would like it to be a little quieter when I nap or just online in general. My older Gigabyte motherboard changed the RPM’s with a direct relationship to CPU load. I talked to EVGA and tried to change the fan controls in BIOS to manual at 5% but it still is at 100%. Therefore, I would like some recommendations for a fan controller. I would like one that can be controlled from the front and can have at least 4 fans attached to it. My CPU cooler is a ThermalTake 120 Ultra with a ThermalTake Smart fan attached.

Here’s a link to the fan: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=925072&CatId=802

PC specs:
EVGA 780i SLI mobo
Core 2 Duo E6600 @ 3.2 GHz
EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS 640 MB
4 GB of OCZ SLI-ready RAM
500 GB Hitachi HHD (boot) and 1TB Hitachi (storage/backup)
Windows XP Pro SP2

Title: Re: Recommendations for a fan controller
Post by: homer on March 19, 2008, 07:15:15 PM

there is a variety of fan controllers to choose from, however, i have always been a fan of the scythe kama-meter.

http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/acc/015/sckm1000_detail.html (http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/acc/015/sckm1000_detail.html)

Title: Re: Recommendations for a fan controller
Post by: Betaa on March 20, 2008, 01:39:10 AM

This may sound like a stupid question but when you hooked up the fan did you plug it into the motherboard or directly into one of the cables from the PSU.

Title: Re: Recommendations for a fan controller
Post by: patio on March 20, 2008, 08:33:19 AM

With a 3 pin fan connector how's he going to do that ? ?

Title: Re: Recommendations for a fan controller
Post by: soybean on March 20, 2008, 08:45:54 AM

Before you go out and buy a hardware device to control fan speed, you could try SpeedFan  (http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php)as a software solution.  I don't know whether it will let you control fan speed with your specific motherboard but it won't cost anything to try it.  It's freeware.  And, you might want to keep in installed, even if it won't control fan speed for you; it provides other info on your system such as temperatures (CPU, hard drive, etc.), and voltage readings.

Title: Re: Recommendations for a fan controller
Post by: skykaptain on March 20, 2008, 10:06:24 AM

SpeedFan does not work and I plugged it into the CPU fan connector on the mobo, i know it is because it is the only four pin connector, its tghe closest to the socket, and it says CPU fan.

Title: Re: Recommendations for a fan controller
Post by: homer on March 20, 2008, 04:46:16 PM

what do you think of the kama meter?

Title: Re: Recommendations for a fan controller
Post by: skykaptain on March 20, 2008, 06:55:34 PM

It looks pretty good and seems better than most of the ones I have looked at. I will look into getting one when I get back from my trip, unless someone has a better choice.