Goofy cpu fan control - Who's driving this thang?

[updown]

Hi folks,

Athlon 1.33 woes:

My cpu fan seems to enjoy diddling along at 3500 rpms when I'd like it to put it in gear closer to 5000 rpm. I've tried all sorts of weird combinations of chassis temp, cpu temp and cpu cycles to get the fan to go to 5krpm but I can't suss out the magic combination that makes the fan go fast.

I start to think I've got some failure mode either in the fan or in the fan controller. Just when I give up, the fan hits high rpms, cpu temp comes down and I'm gaming, then poof I'm back to 3500 rpm.

If I don't plug a fan into the cpu fan position, the mobo won't boot. I'm about ready to move the cpu fan to XXX volts and plug a chassis fan into the cpu fan header.

The question is what's controlling the cpu fan speed?

 

[mechBgon]

What brand and model of motherboard do you have?

 

[updown]

It's a Soyo K7 Dragon, The only thing I've foung in the bios is the disable for the over heat protection (currently enabled and going to stay enabled.)

I'll RTFM

 

[mechBgon]

If you don't find a solution, I'd be doing like you said, let it fool around with the speeds on your chassis fan all it wants, and plug in your CPU fan elsewhere Good luck!

 

[updown]

When intelligence, cunning and exceptionally good looks don't get the job done, it's time to get Neanderthal! I whacked the cpu fan with a screwdriver handle and wallah! I've got a 5K rpm fan. I'm watching it slowing down to 4500 rpm right now and I suspect that it'll get comfortable at that 3500 number.

Soooo, I figure it's time to buy a new all copper, microfinned heatsink cause this fan is going to need a lot of help getting the heat out!

wink wink nudge nudge

 

[mechBgon]

Maybe there's something mechanically wrong with the fan... any weird noises coming out of it that would indicate bearing troubles? :Q I read the relevant part of your motherboard manual, and it doesn't say it has fan regulation, although it does have a feature where it just won't boot up if there is no RPM reading on the CPU fan header. Or maybe your fan has thermal regulation built into it. What brand of heatsink/fan unit do you have?

 

[updown]

I haven't taken my voltmeter to the header but I suspect that I don't have fan control, just good old +12 on the power pin.

the heatsink was some no-name brand heatsink (Aluminum with 20 fin) so when the fan slowed down I started seeing some strange spontaneous reboots as well as a 5-6 degree increase in cpu temperatur.

No excess sound from the fan, but I'm going deaf in that ear anway It's lasted 12 months and really wasn't up to the job on a 1.33Gig Athlon, I'm happy to plop it at sea and say words over it.

I once had a cpu fan that sounded like a cat fight about 3 AM one morning. It got me up pretty fast, as we don't have a cat right now.

 

[updown]

Once I get a decent heatink on the hot stuff, I'm looking forward to trashing a couple chassis fans. The cpu has been floating just below 60 at idle and that offends me so I've feeding it chassis fans on a regular basis.

It had gotten so noisy I wrapped the front and top with cardboard from a hamster cage. I named it the hamster hotrod. At this rate, my dual processor will be called Kenmore.