How should I control my case fans?

[Gunslinger08]

I'm considering upgrading my current case fans (Antec Tri-Cools) to the PWM Cougars that are on sale at Newegg today, but I'm not sure of the best way to control them. I have an ASRock Z68 PRO3 motherboard and looking at the manual it appears that I have 2 CPU fan connectors and 1 "power fan connector". I have 4 spots for 120mm case fans and I'm considering filling them all, along with the fan on my heatsink (Scythe Mugen 3).

So, how do you think I should control the fans? Do the PWM splitter cables work well? Is it easy to make a custom fan profile for them or will the motherboard/BIOS try to control them all along with the CPU fan, which may result in weird speeds given that the CPU fan is completely different. Should I replace the CPU fan as well? Should I buy a separate fan controller?

These are the fans I'm looking at: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835553002

 

[lehtv]

Looks like the fans are already out of stock. What exactly is your case?

For case fans, you should generally get 3-pin (non-PWM) fans and just adjust the voltage. PWM regulation is usually limited to the CPU fan header and few aftermarket fan controllers sport PWM regulation.

You can generally control voltage with three methods:

1. let the motherboard adjust the voltage, it depends on the motherboard how effective it is
- if you run out of chassis fan ports, buy a splitter cable or see 2 or 3

2. buy a front panel fan controller that you can use to manually control fans separately

3. connect fans directly to your PSU with voltage adapter cables, can be combined with the splitter cable

 

[NickelPlate]

For case fans I really like the Zalman fanmate controllers. Mount them on the outside of your case within easy reach and adjust as needed to keep your inside case ambient as close to room ambient as required. I like the Antech tricools, is there a reason you don't like them?

Besides my CPU fan which is MB controlled and the PSU fan which is self controlled, I have a single 120mm Antec exhaust fan with the switch on low and a rexflow 250mm side intake fan controlled by a Zalman fanmate. My system is super quiet and my case temps are anywhere from 1°F to 3°F above room ambient even while heavy gaming.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118217

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835209005