Author Topic: How to change desktop fan speed?  (Read 1460 times)

Offline davey

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How to change desktop fan speed?
« on: May 27, 2012, 03:15:45 PM »
I bought a desktop system (Athlon II X4 635, 4 gig mem, GeForce 9500 GT) a couple years ago. Having endured AMD cpu overheating on the previous box, I went overboard with a "super cooling package". It certainly does the job, but the noise is finally driving me nuts. I'm pretty sure slowing down some fans would modify the problem without overheating (I don't overclock). Can't find a way to do that in the Bios config or in any OS app. I can monitor but don't see s awy to modify via software. Am I missing something, or do I have to get into the box and mess with jumpers, etc.?

Offline JohnW_57

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Re: How to change desktop fan speed?
« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2012, 05:57:14 PM »
Warning: This may ruin your hardware! A CPU fan is needed to cool your CPU and in this HOWTO, your CPU fan will be turned off for a couple of seconds. If you are not comfortable with doing this, then do not do this!

Info at: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Fan_Speed_Control

Better buy a cpu cooler who is less noisy!

JohnW

« Last Edit: May 28, 2012, 06:15:58 PM by JohnW_57 »
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Offline T6

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Re: How to change desktop fan speed?
« Reply #2 on: May 28, 2012, 07:14:40 PM »
that mainboard, should have a cool and quiet function, measuring temperature and disabling or enabling fan as required

what model of mainboard do you have?
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Offline davey

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Re: How to change desktop fan speed?
« Reply #3 on: May 29, 2012, 10:41:37 AM »
T6, The motherboard is Asus M4N68T-M.

JohnW, thanks. I'll take a look. Like I said, I think I bought way too much cooling considering that I don't overclock and AMD apparently fixed or improved its overheating problem of earlier models.

Offline horusfalcon

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Re: How to change desktop fan speed?
« Reply #4 on: June 13, 2012, 08:19:13 AM »
If you just want to be able to slow the fan down, a simple rheostat type fan controller can be installed in an empty 3.5" bay for about ten bucks.

If you want the system to control fan speed based on temperature, and if your motherboard does not support this, look at some of the more upscale fan controllers.  Models range from about $15 all the way up to $45 at Newegg.com, for instance:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000011&Description=FAN+CONTROLLER&Tpk=fan%20controller

If you're looking for something more exotic, check Xoxide.com:

http://www.xoxide.com/5fanco1.html

I run a lot of older Duron and T-Bird based machines still, and a lot of overheating problems with them were traced to the heat transfer medium in use at the time.  Sometimes just lifting the heatsink will reveal that heat transfer paste has migrated away from a hot spot.  Cleaning the sink's mating surface and refreshing the paste or tape and then re-assembling is sometimes enough to bring the temperature down such that the system will automatically slow down the fan.

If all else fails, buy a larger, slower fan and a transition shroud.  This will enable your system to move a larger volume of air but more quietly.

There are also acoustic dampening kits for fan mounts.  (I've had good luck with automotive type low acid RTV for fan mounts, too.  DON'T use the regular stuff - the acetic acid in it will damage your computer as it gases out during cure.)

Good luck with this one.  Quieting down a noisy enclosure can be a challenge, but this problem seems pretty straightforward.

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Offline menotu

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Re: How to change desktop fan speed?
« Reply #5 on: June 13, 2012, 08:39:44 AM »
Quote
Sometimes just lifting the heatsink will reveal that heat transfer paste has migrated away from a hot spot.  Cleaning the sink's mating surface and refreshing the paste or tape and then re-assembling is sometimes enough to bring the temperature down such that the system will automatically slow down the fan.

+1
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Offline Just17

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Re: How to change desktop fan speed?
« Reply #6 on: June 13, 2012, 11:23:24 AM »
I bought a desktop system (Athlon II X4 635, 4 gig mem, GeForce 9500 GT) a couple years ago. Having endured AMD cpu overheating on the previous box, I went overboard with a "super cooling package". It certainly does the job, but the noise is finally driving me nuts. I'm pretty sure slowing down some fans would modify the problem without overheating (I don't overclock). Can't find a way to do that in the Bios config or in any OS app. I can monitor but don't see s awy to modify via software. Am I missing something, or do I have to get into the box and mess with jumpers, etc.?

Have you measured the temp of the CPU?

Have you checked in BIOS to make sure the settings are not made to give full cooling all the time regardless of temp?

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Offline DeBaas

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Re: How to change desktop fan speed?
« Reply #7 on: June 13, 2012, 01:04:12 PM »
In the manual 2 BIOS items to fiddle with:
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM3/M4N68TM/#download

Page 2-12 Item 2.4.2 CPU Configuration
Cool ‘n’ Quiet [Enabled]
Enables or disables the AMD® Cool ‘n’ Quiet technology. Configuration options: [Enabled]
[Disabled]

Page 2-17 Item 2.5.5 HW Monitor Configuration
Smart Q-Fan Function [Disabled]
Enables or disables the ASUS Q-Fan feature that smartly adjusts the CPU fan speeds for
more efficient system operation. Configuration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

Standard fan control is Disabled, so full throtle for the CPU fan. Switch it to Enabled ;)