Fan Control of Asus Vanguard B85

[kimi7918]

Hi guys, I am about to get Vanguard B85 but have some questions.

This board has 4 4-pin chasis fan connectors and features "Thermal Radar Core" to control each fan individually.

But I'm wondering what if I plug in 3-pin fans? Can fan speed still be controlled depending on system temperature or be customized?

In easy way to ask, are the 4-pin CHA_FAN connectors support only PWM mode or both PWM and DC modes?

I don't want my FN V2 running at full speed all the time.


PS. Sorry for bad English, I'm from Taiwan. Thanks bro.

 

[coffeejunkee]

The headers are 4-pin but they all use voltage control except the cpu header. You can see this in the manual.

 

[kimi7918]

Thanks for replying but why the 4th pin is "+5V"?

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Thanks for replying but why the 4th pin is "+5V"?

That's the PWM control pin. ASUS's fan control can operate both PWM and normal 3-pin fans. What's better, you can mix-'n'-match to suit your needs.

F.x. I have a P8Z77-V board. The CPU fan is PWM controlled, the rest of the case fans are voltage controlled.

 

[kimi7918]

That's the PWM control pin. ASUS's fan control can operate both PWM and normal 3-pin fans. What's better, you can mix-'n'-match to suit your needs.

F.x. I have a P8Z77-V board. The CPU fan is PWM controlled, the rest of the case fans are voltage controlled.

Thanks for replying.

I checked P8Z77-V's manual and found that the pin definitions are same as Vanguard, so 3-pin fans could be voltage controlled on Vanguard too...right?

BTW, does it mean PWM signal use +5 Volt?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

That's the PWM control pin. ASUS's fan control can operate both PWM and normal 3-pin fans. What's better, you can mix-'n'-match to suit your needs.

F.x. I have a P8Z77-V board. The CPU fan is PWM controlled, the rest of the case fans are voltage controlled.

I believe that is quite true, but this feature goes back to earlier-generation boards -- for instance, my P8Z68-v-Pro. And frankly, anything singular and positive I might find on the Z68 boards, I'd find on Z77 and Z87 boards as well.

Howsoever many PWM-operable fan ports you get -- I get three of them-- they are fitted with guides to use 3-pin fans, and they will control either -- whether they be 3-pin or 4-pin-PWM. Generally the boards, BIOS' and bundled proprietary software allow ASUS' double-duty fan-ports to be controlled for either type of fan according to CPU temperature alone.

Somebody else might know if the newer flagship boards like the Maximus or Rampage provide any other motive determinant for fan speed -- like the board's own temperature. Having just recently installed an ASUS "Direct II Cu" 780 GTX graphics card and the "ASUS Tweak" software, I confirm that the same refinements are more or less passed on through the graphics card, but that has not been particularly special for several years I know of.

I suppose if you think of it, the mix-and-match nature of their two sub-markets probably would make a unification of the software into an option single interface less profitable or marketable. But -- really -- the two proprietary softwares bear the design preferences of the same group of folks. And it is pretty good, I think.

If there are any shortcomings found by folks with the "AI Suite," "Probe" or "Tweak" software or versions, please post your experience if you wish.

 

[coffeejunkee]

That's the PWM control pin. ASUS's fan control can operate both PWM and normal 3-pin fans. What's better, you can mix-'n'-match to suit your needs.

F.x. I have a P8Z77-V board. The CPU fan is PWM controlled, the rest of the case fans are voltage controlled.

Yes, it's normally the pwm control pin but it doesn't actually transmit a pwm signal. Else it wouldn't say 5V in the manual. Why it's connected to the 5V rail, I have no idea.

You can connect a pwm fan to the case fanheaders but it will be controlled by voltage. You can also connect a 3-pin fan to the cpu fanheader but you will not be able to control it.

 

[kimi7918]

Yes, it's normally the pwm control pin but it doesn't actually transmit a pwm signal. Else it wouldn't say 5V in the manual. Why it's connected to the 5V rail, I have no idea.

You can connect a pwm fan to the case fanheaders but it will be controlled by voltage. You can also connect a 3-pin fan to the cpu fanheader but you will not be able to control it.

Thanks for clear explanation.

So we can say the case fanheaders are "fake" PWM headers and cpu fanheader is real PWM header on these mobos...

 

[coffeejunkee]

Yes, you could call them 'fake'. My theory is that it is cheaper for Asus to buy only 4-pin headers in bulk, so lets say 100k 4-pin headers are cheaper than 30k 4-pin headers + 70k 3-pin headers.

 

[lindtaylor]

You should change it to a new one sir.

 

[kimi7918]

I just brought a Vanguard home. Everything works well. Ai Suite III works perfectly on controlling my all 3-pin FN V2 fans -- even able to stop a fan below certain temp. This mobo is wonderful.

Thank you guys for great help. Love u all.