Fan Controller for Silent Wings 3 - Non PWM

[leSLIeX]

Hi,
I just bought 4 BeQuiet fans, 120mm Silent Wings 3 High Speed (The 2200 rpm version), these ones are the non PWM version, 3 pin connectors.
I have an old AeroCool fan controller (https://www.amazon.com/AEROCOOL-Touch2000-Temperature-monitoring-Retail/dp/B002BFSLM6)
But it can't control the fan's speed on these new fans.

What Fan controller would you recommend to me in order to properly control these fans?
thanx

 

[UsandThem]

I own two of these, and they work great for 4-pin fans:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B077YHLDSP

However, the specs of the controller states that 3-pin fans will run at full speed. I also looked at the specs of another fan controller I looked at (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VNW556I), and it states the same thing. So it's likely this is a common thing with many of the fan controllers I've looked at.

However, I did find one (there are likely others as well) that claims it can do what you are looking for: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00M0R05WE
http://www.phanteks.com/PH-PWHUB.html

Although in the future, I highly recommend only buying PWM fans as it will give you a lot more options (and easier) in controlling them exactly how you want them to.

 

[leSLIeX]

I own two of these, and they work great for 4-pin fans:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B077YHLDSP

However, the specs of the controller states that 3-pin fans will run at full speed. I also looked at the specs of another fan controller I looked at (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VNW556I), and it states the same thing. So it's likely this is a common thing with many of the fan controllers I've looked at.

However, I did find one (there are likely others as well) that claims it can do what you are looking for: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00M0R05WE
http://www.phanteks.com/PH-PWHUB.html

Although in the future, I highly recommend only buying PWM fans as it will give you a lot more options (and easier) in controlling them exactly how you want them to.

Thanks, good info. Will buy PWM in the future
But, what happened to the circuits of PC fans? back in the day (6 years ago) my old fan controller could control the speed of fans. Now you need pulse wave modulation or unusual controller

 

[UsandThem]

Thanks, good info. Will buy PWM in the future
But, what happened to the circuits of PC fans? back in the day (6 years ago) my old fan controller could control the speed of fans. Now you need pulse wave modulation or unusual controller

I'm honestly not sure what has changed. I've been buying only PWM fans for years now, so I haven't really kept up on that aspect. I'm sure someone else here likely has looked at why many fan controllers have dropped 3-pin control, and can give you the reasons for it.

 

[Paperdoc]

There are now two major fan designs. The older one is the 3-pin system in which the voltage supplied on Pin #2 varies from 12 VDC max down to about 5 VDC min - lower may stall the fan. The newer design are called PWM fans and they use 4 pins. In this system, Pin #2 always has the full 12 VDC. The extra Pin #4 delivers to the fan the Pulse Width Modulation signal. Inside the fan, a chip uses that signal to modify the flow of current from the +12 VDC supply line through the motor windings to achieve speed control.

To establish as much backwards compatibility between these as the PWM design was introduced, the electrical signals were kept as similar as possible and the mechanical design of the connector also is very similar. So you CAN plug either fan type into either header type and it will work - sort of. If you plug a 3-pin fan into a 4-pin header, the fan will always receive the full +12 VDC supply from Pin #3 and will not get the PWM signal it could not use anyway, becasue it lacks the special chip. You get good cooling but no way to slow the fan down. Of you plug a 4-pin fan into a 3-pin header, the fan gets no PWM signal to use so it cannot modify current flow. BUT it receives from Pin #2 the VARYING voltage, and hence its speed IS controlled in this manner.

OP needs a simple fan controller that uses only the older Voltage Control Mode. MANY do this. You can NOT tell from the number of pins on the output headers. Many controllers and almost all mobos use 4-pin headers but do NOT always use the new PWM signal system. They can ignore Pin #4 and use only the older Voltage Control Mode, and depend on the backwards compatibility feature of the 4-pin motor design to make that work. And of course, that Mode also controls 3-pin fans, so it appears to be a "universal" controller.

 

[aigomorla]

Thanks, good info. Will buy PWM in the future
But, what happened to the circuits of PC fans? back in the day (6 years ago) my old fan controller could control the speed of fans. Now you need pulse wave modulation or unusual controller

no you never need pwm to control the fan speed.
And fan headers still will control them via voltages if your fan is not pwm.

But why is pwm taking over?
Because the technology is more mature now.
PWM's also are more efficient in DC motors, and fixes some issues some fans had which click noises.

Lastly, people would rather let there boards handle the fan speed per cpu load or temperature then have to do it manually via knob or dial.

But if you really want a manual fan controller something like this guy is probably your best bet:
https://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-...ke+controller&qid=1553656686&s=gateway&sr=8-4

That is the lamptron FC6 which thermaltake basically makes now.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Slightly off topic, would there be any value having a whole bunch of PWM fans like more than 6?
What would determine what speed they run at?

 

[Paperdoc]

The speed they run at is determined by the fan controller they are connected to. The most easily used are the fan headers built into the mobo, which provide both power and speed control of the fan. Ideally, for use with PWM 4-pin fans METHOD the header should be using to accomplish control is PWM Mode although they will work under the older Voltage Control Mode (aka DC Mode). Then there's the question of HOW the speed is decided. Almost all mobo headers offer four options:
1. Automatic control (default setting) based on the TEMPERATURE at a sensor (either one inside the CPU chip for the CPU_FAN header, or one on the mobo for the CHA_FAN header) and pre-set values for the temperature target and a "curve" of fan speed versus temperature;
2. Automatic control based on your own custom fan "curve" settings;
3. Always full speed; or,
4. Always a fixed slower speed.

Another common choice is a third-party add-on fan controller, typically a module mounted in the case front (or sometimes a simple switch pre-mounted in the case) which almost always makes the USER the "controller" in the sense that what speed is chosen depends on you, and is NOT automatically adjusted according to system workload. YOU set the speed, and you are responsible for making any changes manually. For these the METHOD of control typically is the older Voltage Control Mode which is required for older 4-pin fans, and can work with 4-pin fans.

More recently we've seen a third kind of option. Many third party suppliers of components like AIO CPU cooler systems and RGB lighting systems sell their own controller boxes or "Hubs" that you mount inside the case to supply power and control to those devices. But many of these units also have fan motor power and control ports so they can be used for that added purpose. In some cases these units use manual controls, either cable-connected or using a separate hand-held radio remote control box. The fancier ones use a connection to a mobo USB2 port, and a software utility you install that communicates though this USB connection to allow you to monitor and configure this control system. Because it is software running on the mobo, this system has access to some mobo information and CAN do automatic control of fans similar to what the mobo's own system could do.

Lots of PWM fans? Not normally a big advantage, because few system require that much air flow to keep case components at target temperatures. However, some heavy system users, like gamers with high-performance video cards and heavy processing loads, may need that much cooling. For most users, just using lots of fans so they all run slower and generate less noise PER FAN may not actually reduce noise TOTAL from all those fans.

 

[UsandThem]

Slightly off topic, would there be any value having a whole bunch of PWM fans like more than 6?
What would determine what speed they run at?

I have 5 PWM fans in my Be Quiet case; 3 x 140mm front, 1 x 140mm rear, and 1 x 140mm top.

Like Paperdoc explained above, I do it this way to have all the fans run at low RPMs to keep my PC quiet, yet keeps my temps down when I do things like Folding@Home for long periods (especially in warmer months).

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I have 5 PWM fans in my Be Quiet case; 3 x 140mm front, 1 x 140mm rear, and 1 x 140mm top.

Like Paperdoc explained above, I do it this way to have all the fans run at low RPMs to keep my PC quiet, yet keeps my temps down when I do things like Folding@Home for long periods (especially in warmer months).

The speed they run at is determined by the fan controller they are connected to. The most easily used are the fan headers built into the mobo, which provide both power and speed control of the fan. Ideally, for use with PWM 4-pin fans METHOD the header should be using to accomplish control is PWM Mode although they will work under the older Voltage Control Mode (aka DC Mode). Then there's the question of HOW the speed is decided. Almost all mobo headers offer four options:
1. Automatic control (default setting) based on the TEMPERATURE at a sensor (either one inside the CPU chip for the CPU_FAN header, or one on the mobo for the CHA_FAN header) and pre-set values for the temperature target and a "curve" of fan speed versus temperature;
2. Automatic control based on your own custom fan "curve" settings;
3. Always full speed; or,
4. Always a fixed slower speed.

Another common choice is a third-party add-on fan controller, typically a module mounted in the case front (or sometimes a simple switch pre-mounted in the case) which almost always makes the USER the "controller" in the sense that what speed is chosen depends on you, and is NOT automatically adjusted according to system workload. YOU set the speed, and you are responsible for making any changes manually. For these the METHOD of control typically is the older Voltage Control Mode which is required for older 4-pin fans, and can work with 4-pin fans.

More recently we've seen a third kind of option. Many third party suppliers of components like AIO CPU cooler systems and RGB lighting systems sell their own controller boxes or "Hubs" that you mount inside the case to supply power and control to those devices. But many of these units also have fan motor power and control ports so they can be used for that added purpose. In some cases these units use manual controls, either cable-connected or using a separate hand-held radio remote control box. The fancier ones use a connection to a mobo USB2 port, and a software utility you install that communicates though this USB connection to allow you to monitor and configure this control system. Because it is software running on the mobo, this system has access to some mobo information and CAN do automatic control of fans similar to what the mobo's own system could do.

Lots of PWM fans? Not normally a big advantage, because few system require that much air flow to keep case components at target temperatures. However, some heavy system users, like gamers with high-performance video cards and heavy processing loads, may need that much cooling. For most users, just using lots of fans so they all run slower and generate less noise PER FAN may not actually reduce noise TOTAL from all those fans.

Thanks guys.

Planning a build in apx 3 months
I’m tempted to get a new case too, looking at the define R6 and it has an additional 3 PWM fan controllers built in. The explanation on how that with the motherboard was very helpful.
I hate the idea of getting rid of my antec P180 but it may be time.

 

[Paperdoc]

Fanatical Meat, if you do get the Fractal Design R6 case, here are a few hints how to set up fans. The case comes with three of their Dynamic X2 GP-14 fans which are 4-pin type. Such fans are best controlled by the PWM Mode, but CAN have their speed controlled by the older Voltage Control Mode.

This case also comes with their Nexus + Smart Hub which looks like a printed circuit board with several male (with pins) output ports and no cover. Their manual from here

https://www.fractal-design.com/media/ce46a531-d80e-4c10-82c9-ae19d42d53e7

on p. 7 recommends how to connect to it, but I disagree on one smaller point. Like most PWM Fan Hubs, this unit gets power for all its fans by a direct connection to a SATA power output from the PSU. It requires a cable connection also to a mobo fan header that DOES provide fan control using the PWM Mode, and not the Voltage Control Mode (aka DC Mode). It REQUIRES that PWM signal that it can send out to its 4-pin fans to control their speed. Now, almost all mobos today have both PWM Mode and DC Mode available on the CPU_FAN header, and most but NOT all CHA_FAN or SYS_FAN headers also have this dual option - some of the latter group have only DC Mode so they cannot supply the PWM signal to the Hub. To avoid this possible problem the manual says you should connect the Hub to the CPU_FAN header and be sure it receives the PWM signal.

Most mobos, however, do make PWM Mode available on the CHA_FAN or SYS_FAN headers, but YOU need to verify that when you choose you mobo. And if yours does have that, you also need to ensure that the header you connect the Hub to is configured to use that Mode. This means that you CAN control the Hub and all its fans from a CHA_FAN or SYS_Fan header, and that also gives you this improvement. The CPU_FAN header can ONLY use the temperature sensor inside the CPU chip to guide its cooling functions. A CHA_FAN or SYS_FAN header can use instead the temperature sensor on the mobo (sometimes you have to make sure it is configured this way) and that is best for CASE cooling. When you do things this way, then the actual CPU chip cooling system should be connected to the CPU_FAN header, and NOT to the Hub's header labelled for CPU cooler. That then leaves all THREE of the Hub's 4-pin output ports available for the three supplied case fans.

NOTE this wrinkle also. Any mobo header can handle the speed signal coming back to it (via Pin #3 of a fan header) from ONE fan. So all Hubs will ignore the speeds of all their fans except one. The ONE port on this Hub that DOES send a speed signal back to the mob host header is the hub output labelled for the CPU fan, so be sure there IS a fan pugged into that. Then be aware of something you need to do. The speed signal actually is NOT used for speed control, but it IS used for FAILURE detection. When you use a Hub or Splitter to connect multiple fans to a single mobo header and it does not send back ALL the fans' speeds, most of the fans cannot be monitored by the mobo for failure. So YOU need to check all your fans from time to time to verify they are still working.

Lastly, this Hub has a unique feature. In addition to its three 4-pin output ports, it has five 3-pin outputs. Now, those can ONLY control their fans using the older DC Mode, so they are ideal for 3-pin fans. Thus for you, OP, when you buy additional fans for your new case you can choose 3-pin models if you wish because they may be slightly cheaper. But even if you add 4-pin fans on 3-pin outputs they WILL have their speed controlled by the Hub. I expect what it actually does is use the PWM signal it gets from the mobo host header to create its own sub-goup of 3-pin ports - in other words, it "converts" from PWM Mode to DC Mode for those five ports.

 

[leSLIeX]

I'm honestly not sure what has changed. I've been buying only PWM fans for years now, so I haven't really kept up on that aspect. I'm sure someone else here likely has looked at why many fan controllers have dropped 3-pin control, and can give you the reasons for it.

There are now two major fan designs. The older one is the 3-pin system in which the voltage supplied on Pin #2 varies from 12 VDC max down to about 5 VDC min - lower may stall the fan. The newer design are called PWM fans and they use 4 pins. In this system, Pin #2 always has the full 12 VDC. The extra Pin #4 delivers to the fan the Pulse Width Modulation signal. Inside the fan, a chip uses that signal to modify the flow of current from the +12 VDC supply line through the motor windings to achieve speed control.

To establish as much backwards compatibility between these as the PWM design was introduced, the electrical signals were kept as similar as possible and the mechanical design of the connector also is very similar. So you CAN plug either fan type into either header type and it will work - sort of. If you plug a 3-pin fan into a 4-pin header, the fan will always receive the full +12 VDC supply from Pin #3 and will not get the PWM signal it could not use anyway, becasue it lacks the special chip. You get good cooling but no way to slow the fan down. Of you plug a 4-pin fan into a 3-pin header, the fan gets no PWM signal to use so it cannot modify current flow. BUT it receives from Pin #2 the VARYING voltage, and hence its speed IS controlled in this manner.

OP needs a simple fan controller that uses only the older Voltage Control Mode. MANY do this. You can NOT tell from the number of pins on the output headers. Many controllers and almost all mobos use 4-pin headers but do NOT always use the new PWM signal system. They can ignore Pin #4 and use only the older Voltage Control Mode, and depend on the backwards compatibility feature of the 4-pin motor design to make that work. And of course, that Mode also controls 3-pin fans, so it appears to be a "universal" controller.

no you never need pwm to control the fan speed.
And fan headers still will control them via voltages if your fan is not pwm.

But why is pwm taking over?
Because the technology is more mature now.
PWM's also are more efficient in DC motors, and fixes some issues some fans had which click noises.

Lastly, people would rather let there boards handle the fan speed per cpu load or temperature then have to do it manually via knob or dial.

But if you really want a manual fan controller something like this guy is probably your best bet:
https://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-...ke+controller&qid=1553656686&s=gateway&sr=8-4

That is the lamptron FC6 which thermaltake basically makes now.

Thanks guys, bought a new Fan controller and now everything works fine.

 

[Paperdoc]

Glad you hear your problem is solved.