Programs to change PSU fan speed ..?

[illuzi0nz]

whenever i play CS for .. say 40minutes, the power supply would automatically shut down my computer and i'd have to pull the power cord out, wait for it cool, then plug it bak in.

i've noticed that after my computer shuts down, my power supply metal casing is fairly warm. i bought an Antec TP-II 480W power supply just last week and i find it strange it's doing this ...

i've had this problem last summer (i live in australia) with my old cheap power supply, it never shuts down during winter..only summer

on Everest, it says my power supply's fan is only spinning at 672rpm. is there a program or something that will allow me to turn the speed up? if its not the PSU, then wat could it be?

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

I use Fortron and Zippy/Emacs PSUs.

A guess will be offered however. I bet the fans thermal control has come loose or is NFG.
The 120mm fan in that PSU is rated at 21.4dBA and off the top of my head that would be
about 40+cfm. But 672RPM is not going to move 40+cfm. The few thermal controls I've
seen in PSUs is a thermistor bonded into one of the heatsinks.

If the fan bearings were seizing the fan would not start.

If you have room, tape another 120mm fan to the bottom of the PSU to drive air through
the slow fan, hook it up to 12V. If all is well and there are no more shut downs. RMA it.
Adding an external fan will give you something to tell your vender. "Hey! It works with
air, so I know somethings wrong." Might save a run-around.

Do not open the PSU, as this will kill the warrenty.

I hope your rig is not starving for intake air. Like using high negative case pressure.
If you have a high output 120mm exhaust right under the PSU's fan, it could cause the
PSU to starve for air.


...Galvanized

 

[zagood]

Unfortunately, Antec PSU's (except the TPII 550) have internally controlled fan speed. You can monitor it with the motherboard connector, but can't change it (as far as I know). The TPII 550 has a fan control on the back of it.

Since you had this "problem" with your old power supply, I think it's probably your case temperatures just getting too high, and the Antec PSU venting the heat through the PSU. You need an intake fan for your case if you don't already, if you do you might want to think about a larger or more powerful one.

EDIT: Reading your post again, it's definitely case temps. You power supply by itself doesn't need to cool down, your video card and/or processor are the ones that need to cool down. Along with checking your case airflow, you might want to open your case up, check for dust in the heatsinks, and probably replace your heatsinks as well.

What are you using for cooling right now? Case fans, CPU and VGA heatsinks/fans.

-z

 

[Zepper]

I often route my PSU fans to an external fan controller or connect them directly to +12 instead of the PSUs internal thermal controller as they run too warm for my taste. It seems they have gone too far in the way of noise abatement. You should also have exhaust and intake fans separate from the PSU as they are no longer designed to really help cool the rest of the system - IOW, can no longer be the only fan in a system as they once could.

..bh.

 

[illuzi0nz]

thank you everyone for your input so far.

my CPU heatsink is a ninja with a nexus 120mm fan hooked onto it. temp: 31oC[88oF] while standard surfing and normal usage. and it gets around 40oC while i play CS

my VGA card .. i dont know what to do with it. at the moment im using the heatsink that came with the card. ive got a Gigabyte Radeon X600 Pro in it atm. im finding it hard to find another heatsink to replace the heatsink on it atm [i dont even know if it can be removed], due to placement of capacitors, heatsink mounting holes. so yeah, i might need your help with that too

my case is pov. dad wont buy me a new one and i dont have $$ to buy a new one. ive got 2x80mm fans at the back of the case: one for intake and one for exhaust. ive also placed the nexus fan facing these two fans, creating the apparent 'push-pull' thing on SPCR.

in response to galvanized:"If you have a high output 120mm exhaust right under the PSU's fan, it could cause the PSU to starve for air." the nexus fan isnt directly under it, its on the left of the heatsink. this wouldn't cause any problems would it?

i've got the side covers off my case atm. if my case is lacking air intake, how come it still turns off while i play CS when air is coming in from every direction?

P.S wat does NFG stand for? and how many RPM can the TP-II fan spin?

 

[Zepper]

If you can't move one of those 80mm fans to the front panel for an intake (down near the bottom is where the fan mount usually is), make them both exhaust fans and try to clear out any available front-panel air intake areas so the fans will be able to draw freely. That should help some.

.bh.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

OP, your PSU fan is rated at 21dBA. A 120mm Yate Loon at 23dBA puts out 36cfm @ 1000RPM.
I would think your fan should do atleast 900RPM.

If there is no lower front intake fan, I would mod one inplace. The best case(pun)senerio is
to have lower front intake exceed total exhaust bt about 10% when all fans are running at 12V.

If your PSU still shuts down with the side cover off the case, a RMA might be in order.

You check and see if a Zalman 700 will fit your vid card. Zalman has a application chart on site.
The 700 sets high and will clear most anything, caps included. I have one on my Gigabyte 6800 AGP. The holes are odd so it sets 45 degrees to the rear. Ie, It's not perpendicular on the card.

www.urbandictionary.com, bookmark it. NFG=No F-ing Good. Same as BO=Bad Order
Either can be marked on parts that are to be junked.
My intent was not to be rude but direct. Antec PSUs are not what they once were=Fact.

You folks in OZ and NZ are generally great DIY kind of guys. If your case is wanting, have you considered going to the computer breakers and getting an old case to mod?
Cut on it to your hearts delight, then switch over the hardware when done.


...Galvanized

 

[VooDooAddict]

Here's the facts as I understand them:
- You have the sides open.
- Powersupply is overheating.
- Powersupply fan doesn't apear to be functioning properly.
- Powersupply was bought a week ago.


My recomendation based on above understood facts.
- Return the Powersupply to vendor (or send it to Antec for repair.)

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: VooDooAddict

Here's the facts as I understand them:
- You have the sides open.
- Powersupply is overheating.
- Powersupply fan doesn't apear to be functioning properly.
- Powersupply was bought a week ago.


My recomendation based on above understood facts.
- Return the Powersupply to vendor (or send it to Antec for repair.)

I disagree. His system is shutting down, but he doesn't know specifically that it's the power supply. Considering he had the same problem with a previous PSU, I'd say it's not the PSU.

You're going to need to do some testing. Download SpeedFan, an excellent free monitoring system that can monitor your processor, case, HD, and sometimes video card temperatures. It also monitors/controls your fan speeds.

Once you've installed and run it, click on the "Info" tab. Click on "Get Config" and follow the instructions to get a configuration for your chipset.

Keep it running in the background when you're playing CS for about 15-20 minutes, then quit the game, go to the "Charts" tab, and click on the different temperatures. Record the highest temperature for each TEMP on the chart.

One or two of them may be at 0c or a negative number. This is normal. Don't worry about those.

Next go to the Voltages charts and click on the +12v checkbox. Check for any major abberations from 12 on the chart.

Get back to us with your findings and we can probably help you from there. There are other monitoring programs out there but, if it works well with your motherboard chipset, this gives us the most information from one app.

EDIT: Also, as another poster suggested, take your Intake fan off the back and put it at the bottom front of the case. Any idea as to the make and model of the case?

Also, as another poster suggested, the Zalman vf700Cu is an excellent aftermarket cooler. http://www.computeralliance.com.au/ has it for $45 AUS.

EDIT AGAIN: Just realized your 120mm nexus is for your Ninja. Disregard previous fan setup. You should have one 80mm exhaust at the back of the case with the ninja fan pointing at it, correct, but the other 80mm NEEDS to be at the bottom front of the case, or at least on the side panel. Otherwise you've just got a ton of turbulence around the heatsink and you're not exhausting any hot air.

This could also cause problems with the side panel off, yes.

-z

 

[illuzi0nz]

how do i describe the +12 charts to you?

this is what ive been able to tell you:

Temp1:-55
Temp2:-2
Temp3(my cpu): during CS - max 55
after closing Cs - max 38
Temp:0
HD0: starts at 32, immediately begins rising to 33, then is constant for a while, then goes to 35.

these cpu temp is higher than what i told you before, because i usually have this massive fan, that's the size of a mid-tower blowing into the inside of the computer

with the +12 voltage, i can tell you that the max it goes during the 20mins is 11.85 and the lowest is 11.4. the graph constantly rises and drops. i can email u a screenshot of the graph if you need it to help me ..

my Cpu is pentium 4 540, 3.217ghz (originally 3.2ghz), so that temperature is ok yeah? =S

also, with the config for speedfan, i followed the instruction, typed in the ticket, and it just told me i had to restart speefan. is it supposed to do this, because i dont see anything different ..

 

[illuzi0nz]

ive also bought another 80mm fan for the front as intake. so now there are still 2 fans at the back - should i put them as both exhaust, or one intake and one exhaust? i found that when temporarily took away the back intake fan and put it to the front, my CPU temp rose a few degrees ..

 

[zagood]

Hmmmm, well, unless you have a multimeter around to check your voltages, we're not going to be able to tell whether the motherboard reading of your voltages is correct or not. Your PSU should have instructions on how to check voltages with a multimeter.

Speedfan: After you set the config, yes, you just shut down and re-open speedfan. Looks like the config for your motherboard isn't very detailed, that's a shame. What motherboard?

Processor: That's well within normal operating temps, actually fairly low. Good job with the Ninja

SO, next up...I haven't used the new Catalyst Control Center, but I'm pretty sure there's a temp sensor on there. Check if it has temperature monitoring over a period of time, if so, open it up and play CS for a while. Record highest temp.

If it doesn't, DL yet another program...RivaTuner.
http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=163

Once installed, open the program. It'll scan and add a registry database then probably ask you to restart your computer. Before you restart, check Speedfan and make sure it's not set to start when Windows starts.

After you restart, open RivaTuner. Under the name of your video card, there's a little arrow next to the word "Customize." It'll probably be flashing when you start it for the first time. Click on that and find the picture that looks like a magnifying glass over a filmstrip, when you mouse over it'll say Hardware Monitoring. Click on that to see temperature charts and even more monitoring. Leave it running in the background and do the same as you did with SpeedFan, play CS for 20 minutes or so and record the individual readings, clock speed, temp, volts (which'll probably be the same as SpeedFan) etc.

We're trying!

-z

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: illuzi0nz
ive also bought another 80mm fan for the front as intake. so now there are still 2 fans at the back - should i put them as both exhaust, or one intake and one exhaust? i found that when temporarily took away the back intake fan and put it to the front, my CPU temp rose a few degrees ..

Are the fans on the back right next to each other? If so, they should both be exhaust. If not, describe as well as you can where they're mounted. Even better, if there's a place to mount another 80mm fan on the front set that to intake (so you have 2 80mm intake on the front) and tape over the open fan grill on the back.

-z

 

[zagood]

Something else...do you get any Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors that pop up, or does your machine simply shut down?

-z

 

[rise]

i have a couple tpII550 and under load i typically see ~1000rpm (rig in sig) while a temp sensor reads the exhaust at 42c.

the fan can run 1800+ rpm but as its internally controlled it won't spin up unless it needs to. i know the smart power line won't even turn on one of their fans until it hits 50c.

if you have a little thermometer you can get a better idea of the temps. "warm to the touch" is to subjective. i have an indoor/outdoor thermometer i can position the probe almost inside the exhaust grate to monitor it.

so unless your temp sensor is borked i'd say its not your psu as you'd tend to know when a 120mm fans starts running at 1800+ rpm to try to cool itself down.

as zagood says, it good to check the rails anyway but you definitely need a dmm to get an accurate measure.

 

[illuzi0nz]

motherboard: gigabyte 8i915P Duo Pro

i think im doing something wrong on RivaTuner because its not showing any temperatures, or the things that you listed. when i click on it, yes, it comes up with hardware monitoring, then a window comes up with 2 graphs - core clock and memory clock. thats all. maybe my crap graphics card doesnt have a sensor and stuff on it for programs to read .. =(

ok onto the fans .. when you look at the back of the case, its like a typical mid case: you've got a power supply at the top, and then on the left below that are the usb ports,keyboard and mice PS/2 and stuff, and then on the rgiht of that are where the fans are. and yes, the 2x80mm fans are right next to each other, one above the other.

no, i do not get BSOD errors. the computer just shuts down as though the plug was pulled from it.

 

[anthonytran10f2005]

dear lluzion,
i am goin to try and help ou with your problem,first u probably are using rivertuner wrong so i reccomend that you uninstall it and the reinstall it and put all the settings to max, then i think you shoudl replace your graphics card with a windows xp series III 51 bit graphics processor to make the graphics the same but it shoudl cool down you tower by at elast 12.3 degrees, then replace your current fans from the the 80mm to the 120 mm, they take up more room but do a good job in the long run,
if you need any more help jsut ask me

 

[illuzi0nz]

... i dont understand what you're saying anthony ...

 

[zagood]

Okay, possible that your card doesn't support temperature monitoring. Looks like some x600's may have that disabled.

I don't quite get what Anthony's saying either.

Which Gigabyte x600 is this? They make one with a passive cooler, and one with a HSF. Either one will accept a Zalman heatsink, just the passive one will be harder to take apart.

We might also be going about this the wrong way. Let's try some different angles, starting with the easy stuff.

One important note: you proably need to be logged into your computer's Admin account to make necessary driver changes.

1. Since you've got the case open, when you're playing CS for a while, make sure the VGA fan is spinning (if it's the fan version). Feel the back of the card and if it's "very warm" that's ok. If it feels like it's going to burn your finger, that's bad. If it feels like it's going to burn your finger, you need a new heatsink. Otherwise let's assume it's not a temperature issue, since you've used it with a huge fan blowing into it.

2. Re-seat the x600.

3. Re-seat your RAM. Make sure if you have two modules they're in the same color slots.

4. Check your power cables. Make sure you've got the 24 pin AND +12v 4 pin connectors plugged in.

5. Flash motherboard BIOS: http://www.giga-byte.com/Motherboard/Support/BIOS/BIOS_GA-8I915P%20Duo%20Pro.htm

6. Flash VGA BIOS if there's a newer version than yours: http://www.giga-byte.com/VGA/Support/BIOS/BIOS_GV-RX60P128DE.htm

7. Uninstall all your ATI and Gigabyte drivers and software, and install new set from https://support.ati.com/ics/support/def...?deptID=894&task=knowledge&folderID=27

Let's see if that makes any difference.

-z

 

[zagood]

Something else...

If you're overclocking at all, take everything back down to stock speed. CPU, VGA, RAM timings, everything.

-z

 

[illuzi0nz]

zagood .. if my computer works perfectly after this, i could cyber kiss you haha

anyway, i dont really know which gigabyte x600 this is...it's GV-RX60P128D. i believe it is the HSF one - the heatsink is like 1cm high and 5cm in diametre. when i play CS, the fan is spinning and card itself is just warm.

ive reseated the x600, re-seat the RAM - both on the same colour. ive installed the new ATI catalyst control centre and yeah.

ill flash BIOS and VGA bios later.

ill get bak to you in a few hours or so

 

[zagood]

Good luck!

LOL...I KISS YOU!

No need.

Edit: This card?
http://tw.giga-byte.com/VGA/Products/Products_GV-RX60P128D.htm#

Yikes, that heatsink looks...well, weak.

Unfortunately you were right, the vf700 won't fit on there.
http://www.zalman.co.kr/product/cooler/VF700_x600pro_eng.html

Here's the height restrictions for the AV Silencer Rev. 2, check against your card:
http://www.arctic-cooling.com/downloads/compatibility/height_restr_ati1_r2.pdf

-z