Fan Controller Vs Quieter Fans

[TheStu]

I just got a couple of Xigmatek 3:4 drive cages for my tower to replace the 1 coolermaster one that I had in there.

Well, the 2 fans are louder than 1, and I am wondering what would be the cheapest way to modify their noise level, either with a fan controller (ruins the clean look of the front of my case) or just getting new fans that are rated for quietness.

The fans have 3 pin connectors and are connected to the motherboard directly.

I switch between OS X and Windows on this system, so if you recommend fan speed control software, if you are able to recommend for both OSes, that would be best. I can't get SpeedFan to do diddly, and smcFanControl on OS X won't even launch (probably because it is designed for real Macs).

 

[Sephire]

S-Flex case fans

Nothing wrong of course with using like fanmate or front controllers. Its just that it adds clutter (cables) in the case resulting in decrease airflow.

 

[Zap]

You can always alter the voltage.

10v

9v

7v

5v

5v/7v/12v

variable voltage

Note that the ones using the resistors may have slight variations depending on how much power the fan draws. IANAE, but I recall reading something about that.

 

[TheStu]

jeebus, $20 shipped for a 120mm... that is a little more than I am willing to spend right now.

These fans have LEDs on them, how will that affect the voltage regulation?

 

[Zap]

With simple voltage reduction the LEDs will be dimmer. If the fan is a 3-pin but the speed controller uses PWM internally (there are some programmable drive bay units that do it) then the LEDs will have a strobe effect. The Zalman Fanmate2 that I linked to AFAIK does simple voltage reduction.

 

[aigomorla]

Spend the little more and just get a sunbeam Rheobus.

 

[TheStu]

Spend the little more and just get a sunbeam Rheobus.

Hrm, they do have one that would match the mest front of my case...

S-Flex case fans

Nothing wrong of course with using like fanmate or front controllers. Its just that it adds clutter (cables) in the case resulting in decrease airflow.

The fans on the hard drive cages are only there to keep the drives cool. There is another 120 in the case right behind the CPU, 2 80s on the PSU, and dual fans on the GPU. The CPU has never broken 45C even when OCed (replacement mobo+mismatched RAM, no more OC ) at full load, and that is on stock cooling. Airflow is not a concern to me, noise levels are.

If I had the money to burn, I would totally just replace the fans though, even though I do kind of like the white LED/orange bladed fans on there

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Get decent fans. The ones that spin out like 1500-1600 RPM at 120mm are fine. Those are medium fans typically. The quiet ones can run anywhere from 750-1200 RPM. I think it's dumb to buy those. Crank the fans up when you game. No one cares. Turn them down when you want quiet. Flexibility is far more important.

 

[Zap]

Spend the little more and just get a sunbeam Rheobus.

"fan controller (ruins the clean look of the front of my case)"

 

[TheStu]

Get decent fans. The ones that spin out like 1500-1600 RPM at 120mm are fine. Those are medium fans typically. The quiet ones can run anywhere from 750-1200 RPM. I think it's dumb to buy those. Crank the fans up when you game. No one cares. Turn them down when you want quiet. Flexibility is far more important.

I don't need additional cooling. This only concerns the fans on my drive cages, my computer does not overheat, in fact it barely gets warm, and was whisper quiet (very low noise of just air moving) before I got these new cages

"fan controller (ruins the clean look of the front of my case)"

I am leaning towards it since the Sunbeam can be had in black mesh like the front of my case. I hadn't seen it before, and didn't want a flat aluminum/plastic bit on the front (I don't even have an optical drive). But mesh with little knobs doesn't bother me as much I think.

Though, your option is the cheapest so I may try that first see if it works out. If it doesn't, then I will turn to the rheostat.

Just noticed that one of your links was for a little inline knob box thing, I think I will go for that, $12 shipped for two, I have just the place to put them too, right between the cages. /edit

 

[nitromullet]

Hrm, they do have one that would match the mest front of my case...

If you get a fan controller with just knobs, it's pretty easy to make it match your case with a spare 5.25 cover and a drill. I made one with a Sunbeam Rheobus and a Lian Li bay cover, and it looks great.

That being said, I personally prefer quieter fans over a fan controller. You can get Scythe S-Flex and Gentle Typhoons cheaper at http://www.jab-tech.com/

IMO, the S-Flex F (1600 RPM) are too loud. I would probably opt for the S-Flex E (1200 RPM) or Gentle Typhoon 1450RPM. Of course, "too loud" is all a matter of opinion.

 

[TheStu]

If you get a fan controller with just knobs, it's pretty easy to make it match your case with a spare 5.25 cover and a drill. I made one with a Sunbeam Rheobus and a Lian Li bay cover, and it looks great.

That being said, I personally prefer quieter fans over a fan controller. You can get Scythe S-Flex and Gentle Typhoons cheaper at http://www.jab-tech.com/

IMO, the S-Flex F (1600 RPM) are too loud. I would probably opt for the S-Flex E (1200 RPM) or Gentle Typhoon 1450RPM. Of course, "too loud" is all a matter of opinion.

Anything much over a whisper is too loud in my opinion. If the room gets appreciably quieter (and it is a big room) when you turn off the computer, then it is WAY too loud (my roommate's tower is this way).

 

[perdomot]

Just got two of these for my rig and they are quiet and move a good amount of air:
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/yalo12d1cafa.html

 

[TheStu]

I will probably order the Zalman control knob things that Zap linked to. I don't really care if the fans get turned down to 100RPM so long as the drives stay below boiling. I had them sitting bare in the case for a few days, darn near burned my fingers when i pulled them out to put them in the cages.

I can tuck the knobs away, gives me better control than having to guess at which impeded dongle to choose, and doesn't put a bunch of knobs on the front of my case.

 

[deimos3428]

If you're now leaning towards a black mesh fan controller, I quite like the new Rheosmart 6, also by Sunbeam.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

I will probably order the Zalman control knob things that Zap linked to. I don't really care if the fans get turned down to 100RPM so long as the drives stay below boiling. I had them sitting bare in the case for a few days, darn near burned my fingers when i pulled them out to put them in the cages.

I can tuck the knobs away, gives me better control than having to guess at which impeded dongle to choose, and doesn't put a bunch of knobs on the front of my case.

You try to find a y-cable splitter and run them both off one FanMate. I just ordered a few of these for $1 each (ncix.com), although Newegg seems to be sold out of the cheap ones at the moment.

 

[aigomorla]

Hrm, they do have one that would match the mest front of my case...

Lamptron makes nice controllers.

But there pricey. You can find them at performance-pcs.com and Frozencpu.com

There are those with LCD displays, but once again they are pricey.

The set speed ones offer no control, if you dont mind not having control, the ones zap recomends are great.

When i say splurg a little on the controller, u can always recycle that to your new system.

Avoid Scythe fan controllers, there all crap, and beyond crap.
I can litterally go out to radioshack and build a greater fan controller.

Go with sunbeam for cheap, and Lamptron if you want quality and bling.

"fan controller (ruins the clean look of the front of my case)"

yeah i know which is why im telling him to actually splurg a little and get a lamptron.


OP, if u really want to splurg.. (i am going to order one soon), This would look drop dead sexy with ANY case.

The controller is programed though your PC, and the settings are saved on the controller:

However that is uber expensive.

So that is why i am recomending the lamptron, unless u want a uber controller like the aquasuite.

 

[Engineer]

Cheap Yates Loons fans with a Fanmate 2 controller. About $3.50 to $4.00 per fan and $3.00 to $4.00 per Fanmate. Nice and quiet! :biggrin:

 

[TheStu]

Lamptron makes nice controllers.

But there pricey. You can find them at performance-pcs.com and Frozencpu.com

There are those with LCD displays, but once again they are pricey.

The set speed ones offer no control, if you dont mind not having control, the ones zap recomends are great.

When i say splurg a little on the controller, u can always recycle that to your new system.

Avoid Scythe fan controllers, there all crap, and beyond crap.
I can litterally go out to radioshack and build a greater fan controller.

Go with sunbeam for cheap, and Lamptron if you want quality and bling.



yeah i know which is why im telling him to actually splurg a little and get a lamptron.


OP, if u really want to splurg.. (i am going to order one soon), This would look drop dead sexy with ANY case.

The controller is programed though your PC, and the settings are saved on the controller:

However that is uber expensive.

So that is why i am recomending the lamptron, unless u want a uber controller like the aquasuite.

My case is all black with a mesh front, so that silver aluminum bling would look painfully out of place on my case actually, and is way more than I want to spend.

Cheap Yates Loons fans with a Fanmate 2 controller. About $3.50 to $4.00 per fan and $3.00 to $4.00 per Fanmate. Nice and quiet! :biggrin:

I will probably start with the fanmates, and then if that still isn't taking care of the problem, then I will switch out the fans.

 

[MrK6]

What motherboard do you have that SpeedFan isn't working? Did you make sure to go to the "Advanced" tab and set the PWM's to "Software controlled"?

 

[TheStu]

What motherboard do you have that SpeedFan isn't working? Did you make sure to go to the "Advanced" tab and set the PWM's to "Software controlled"?

Just as a placeholder until I can get the exact name, it is a DFI LanParty Derka Derka P35 board.

I'll try that with speed fan, but unfortunately i spend about 95% of my time in OS X, I don't think that the speedfan software settings would carry over into OS X.

 

[MrK6]

Just as a placeholder until I can get the exact name, it is a DFI LanParty Derka Derka P35 board.

I'll try that with speed fan, but unfortunately i spend about 95% of my time in OS X, I don't think that the speedfan software settings would carry over into OS X.

Ah, wish I knew more about Macs to help you there :thumbsup:.

 

[Jen]

You can always alter the voltage.

10v

9v

7v

5v

5v/7v/12v

variable voltage

Note that the ones using the resistors may have slight variations depending on how much power the fan draws. IANAE, but I recall reading something about that.

very usefull post , some new toys i may need as i am always trying to make machine more quiet. and yes i am one of those that use low rpm fans

Jen

 

[Blain]

Free

 

[TheStu]

Ah, wish I knew more about Macs to help you there :thumbsup:.

Yea, that's why I am thinking that I might just the hardware route, seems like the easiest way to handle it.