Automatic fan controller?

[Phew]

Is there any device that will allow me to control 3+ fans based on the CPU core temperatures reported by the motherboard? I want to set up the fans on my radiator to automatically speed up as the CPU core temperatures rise.

To be clear, what I DON'T want:
-Manual rheobus control-I want it to be automatic
-Something that controls based off of external thermocouples (like the Lian-Li PC-5)-I want to use the motherboard-reported temperatures

Does such a device exist? I don't really care what interface it uses, PCI, USB, SATA; it doesn't matter. The closest I can think of would be using Speedfan and attach the fans to the motherboard headers, but I think they draw too much power.

 

[zerogear]

SilverStone Eudemon.
http://icrontic.com/articles/s...eudemon_fan_controller

Or your motherboard with Quiet fan option enabled

 

[Phew]

Zerogear,

That silverstone uses external thermistors, it doesn't interface with the CPU on-board temperature sensor in any way. So it's functionally equivalent to the Lian-Li PC-5 that I mentioned. I'm researching now about whether I can use the motherboard fan headers.

 

[Phew]

Also, it looks like motherboard control is out, this board only has 2 controllable headers, the other 2 are full speed all the time (at least when used with 3-pin fans like I have). Not to mention that my 7 watt fans are probably too much for the motherboard headers anyway.

EDIT-the Sunbeamtech Theta TP-101 Fan Controller almost does what I need, but it's discontinued and apparently the software was crap anyway.

 

[zagood]

Use the motherboard header to control the CPU fan based off core temps (speedfan, smartfan in BIOS, whatever). Then use something like the mCubed bigNG to control case fans.

The CPU mobo header will probably be able to handle a 7w fan.

-z

 

[Phew]

I will have three 7w fans on a 3x120 mm radiator, and I want to control all 3 of them off of one temperature (CPU core0 temperature or something). This seems like a very fundamental application (seems like most people using water cooling would want something like this), yet there doesn't seem to be a product that fits the bill.

My motherboard can only control 2 fans from headers. There are reports all over forums of people unable to control ANY fans with the UD3P/R, they just run full speed regardless.

The best thing would be some kind of amplifier that took the CPU fan header and augmented it with enough current to drive 3 (or more) fans. Does anything like this exist?

EDIT-Even that wouldn't work, because apparently the CPU fan header requires a PWM fan (4-pin) to control the speed. Only the SYS_FAN2 header has an internally-generated PWM signal, but apparently this header can only control based off the north bridge temperature or something (not the core temps). What a pain!

There are hundreds of posts out there with people having issues controlling fan speed on this motherboard. I'd rather use another method.

 

[zagood]

I don't have any experience with watercooling, but why don't you get a fan controller that bases fan speeds off thermistor readings, and put one one of the thermistors into the reservoir, or even on your CPU block? While it would be more accurate to base them off the core temps, this should still work.

I'd recommend splicing the 3 fans together, but be careful with the max output of whatever controller you get.

FYI - you can control 3-pin fans on the UD3P via voltage control, there's a setting in BIOS to swich from PWM. I used that before I installed my rheobus.

-z

 

[Phew]

Apparently the newer versions of the BIOS no longer support controlling 3-pin fans in the 4-pin headers. See this thread (and MANY others):

LINK

I was planning on doing what you suggested, put a thermal sensor in the reservoir and control the fans based on this. However, that's easier said than done. Every automatic fan controller I've looked at (Lian-Li, Silverstone, etc) has a thermal channel sensor for each fan control channel. Thus, if you want to control 3 fans, you need to hook up three temperature sensors (or split the temp sensor signal 3 ways; that's getting iffy). I haven't found one that lets you control 3 fans based off one thermal sensor. I can't just splice all 3 fans into one fan controller channel, because then I'm pushing 21 Watts through one channel, and I haven't found an automatic fan controller that can handle that much power (nor can the motherboard header I'm sure).

So basically I'm still out of luck. I may have to give up on automatic fan control altogether, and just do manual control on a rheobus. I really like having the computer be quiet while I am doing office work and have the fans ramp up while gaming though.

 

[Phew]

Screw it, I'm just going to buy the mCubed BigNG. It looks like the software does anything you could ever want a fan controller to do.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Phew
Apparently the newer versions of the BIOS no longer support controlling 3-pin fans in the 4-pin headers. See this thread (and MANY others):

LINK

Looks like gigabyte screwed the pooch again.

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry

Originally posted by: Phew
Apparently the newer versions of the BIOS no longer support controlling 3-pin fans in the 4-pin headers. See this thread (and MANY others):

LINK

Looks like gigabyte screwed the pooch again.

Wow...they sure did. Just speculating here, I'm no electrical engineer, but I wonder if the way they implemented their voltage fan control messed with LLC?

Originally posted by: Phew
Screw it, I'm just going to buy the mCubed BigNG. It looks like the software does anything you could ever want a fan controller to do.

Let us know how that works out for you...I've been wanting one of those for a long time.

 

[aigomorla]

im fairly sure you need to get that ESCA crap or whatever it is nvidia had.

Basically dont... get a nice static fan, and turn it to the point where you will tollerate it and let it be.

Something being on automatic means theres a chance for it to mess up, and that is not worth the trouble.

 

[Phew]

The motherboard already shuts the computer down if any CPU core reaches 80C, that's fail-safe enough for me.

I use H1 120x120x38 Panaflo fans. I know watercooling folks like their Yate-loons and Scythe fans, but Panasonic has never let me down. I would never use a regular sleeve bearing fan, I've heard too many start to make a scraping noise after a couple years. Fluid or good ball bearings is where it's at.

Panaflo airflow vs. noise

The only fan that beats the Panaflo H1 for noise in the 60-80 CFM range is the $25 Sanyo Denki San Ace 1011 fan that is apparently hard to find (it's REALLY quiet though). I already had 2 Panaflos, so buying one more for $15 beat paying $75 for 3 new Sanyos.

 

[daw123]

Originally posted by: Phew
Screw it, I'm just going to buy the mCubed BigNG. It looks like the software does anything you could ever want a fan controller to do.

I am also looking at buying the mCubed BigNG and analogue extension set mainly for the emergency hard shutdown for my liquid cooling set up (once I get it up and running), but I wasn't sure how it connects. Does the BigNG go externally with a permenant USB connection? Then how heck do you run the sensors from inside the case externally.

Maybe I've got it completely wrong - I would appreciate input from others as I would like to have the whole kit and kaboodle inside my case.

 

[Phew]

Motherboards have internal USB connections (for front panels and whatnot). I assume it uses these.

 

[aigomorla]

mcubed BigNG is a very nice controller. Handles a lot of things automatically, and is mostly used by people who want to automate there h2o setups, as it has attachments for pumps and such.

Its a very nice program, however i would like to wait and see the koolance solution thats coming out soon.

 

[Zepper]

If you can find a Cooler Master Aerogate 3 out there (been discontinued for some time), it has 4 temp sensors, but not sure if it just measures the temp or actually controls the fans by them. I think the Silverstone Eudemon did/does control the fans by the sensors.

.bh.

 

[daw123]

Originally posted by: Phew
Motherboards have internal USB connections (for front panels and whatnot). I assume it uses these.

Yep it does have an internal USB connector. Thats good to know. Here's a useful article on the BigNG.