OOPs! Sorry guys. Looked in the case, the gpu fan was not moving when EVGA Precision set it to 40%. So there is very limited control, on or off. The software will start with the OS, you can set 2D and 3D clock and fan profiles, and it did silence the fan immediately after I logged on into Win8.
HTPC rig? That two slot heatsink, gpu fan off, and some modest case airflow, may be ok for an HTPC rig, especially if the clock speeds are reduced. Unknowingly play tested L4D2 for an hour, fan off, no problems. This was in a micro ATX case with an undervolted 80mm intake fan blowing back toward the 9600 heatsink, and a quiet 120mm in the psu.
For gaming I still need to see if I can stand the noise with a simple undervolting to 5V. May try leaving the gpu fan off, and put a PCI slot exhaust fan (undervolted) next to the heatsink.
Funny how the fan squeeks and chirps, turning at about 120 rpm when set to 89%, and it still makes noises at 40% 50%, even though it is not moving. As reported it needs about a 94% setting to run, essentially full blast.