Fan Speeds & PSU? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

SuperFLYboy12 · 07-29-2005, 11:06 PM

I have a controllable fan, but even if I leave it at the lowest setting, sometimes it'll kick up into the higher speeds.... is it supposed to do that or could it be because of the PSU? (that's what I'm guessing at least)... The PSU (420W, mATX case) came with my Aspire case btw.

How exactly do you know if you have a bad PSU or not anyways?

Martian · 07-30-2005, 01:38 AM

A few quick questions:

Is the fan powered by a 4 pin molex that connects directly to the PSU or does it run through one of the connectors on the mobo? How is it's speed controlled? Did you splice in a switch, is it on a rheobus, did the fan come with the switch?

When you say it kicks up into higher speeds, does it sustain it or is it just a quick surge.

I'm disinclined to think your PSU is causing this because if it were you'd be having other issues. PSU's that supply erratic voltages can cause some wacky problems. If it's a hardwired control (ie a physical switch or knob) it's possible that a fault in the wiring is causing a short through the switch, which ups the power to the fan and causes a surge in speed. Another possibility is it's intentional. I use Asus' QFan to control my cpu fan's speed; it keeps noise levels from my Volcano 7 bearable under normal conditions but has been known to ramp up the speed under heavy loads or on hot days to keep the cpu properly cooled. This is especially possible if you're using a fan connected to the motherboard (my preferred option anyway because I can monitor fan rpm's and detect potential problems sooner, a boon with the lowered cpu fan speed and the two vantec stealths I have on intake and exhaust duties).

So, yeah. Hope that helps, but without knowing how the fan is set up it's hard to give a definitive answer.

SuperFLYboy12 · 07-30-2005, 05:19 PM

Yeah my bad, I shouldn't mentioed it... this is the 120mm case fan (Thermaltake Smart Case Fan), and it's connected through the 4-pin molex connector... Yeah it's not connected to the mobo, if it was, I wouldn't be able to get the higher speed without changing the setting in the BIOS. The fan has the 4-pin connection, then a 2-pin connection to the fan contorller in the PCI slot (came with the fan).

I'm pretty sure now it's the fan controller too, it's been kicking up into the higher speed and staying there, even if the knob's at the lowest setting. I just got the PCI slot controller because I just wanted a general control over the fan, I don't OC either, so I don't need to worry about cooling or RPMs really. It's just to quiet the fan down or speed it up to get more airflow when I'm gaming. Go figure, now it's stuck on the faster speeds and it's even louder than my old case fan.

I'm always quick to blame my PSU for problems just cause it's the one thing in my comp that I'm unsure about (420W, mATX, came with my Aspire X-QPack case). I've some read reviews where they said the PSU went to crap and replaced it, so I've definitely been keeping an eye on it.

Anyways, looks like I'll be looking for a new fan controller now... actaully would it be better if I did just connect the fan to the mobo then use some program to control it?

Martian · 07-30-2005, 08:50 PM

Software from within Windows, no. If you can find a hardware or firmware solution it's always the preferred option, since you don't want any unnecessary software running. There may be a setting in your BIOS to do it (similar to mine) or you might want to look into a rheobus or something similar for a 3 1/2" bay. If you only want the one fan controlled you don't really need the big ugly rheobus in your 51/4" bay. Alternately, something like this might work for you, by giving you more functionality.

Dragonlich · 07-30-2005, 11:49 PM

What are your case temperatures? If I'm not mistaken, the Thermaltake Smart Case Fan uses a temperature gauge to change it's speed. If it's too hot in the case, it's no wonder the fan refs up.

This has pretty much nothing to do with a bad PSU. If the PSU was bad, the fan would simply not run, along with the rest of your system. That, and you might see some smoke...

07-29-2005, 11:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
SuperFLYboy12 Tilted	Fan Speeds & PSU? I have a controllable fan, but even if I leave it at the lowest setting, sometimes it'll kick up into the higher speeds.... is it supposed to do that or could it be because of the PSU? (that's what I'm guessing at least)... The PSU (420W, mATX case) came with my Aspire case btw. How exactly do you know if you have a bad PSU or not anyways?

07-30-2005, 01:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	A few quick questions: Is the fan powered by a 4 pin molex that connects directly to the PSU or does it run through one of the connectors on the mobo? How is it's speed controlled? Did you splice in a switch, is it on a rheobus, did the fan come with the switch? When you say it kicks up into higher speeds, does it sustain it or is it just a quick surge. I'm disinclined to think your PSU is causing this because if it were you'd be having other issues. PSU's that supply erratic voltages can cause some wacky problems. If it's a hardwired control (ie a physical switch or knob) it's possible that a fault in the wiring is causing a short through the switch, which ups the power to the fan and causes a surge in speed. Another possibility is it's intentional. I use Asus' QFan to control my cpu fan's speed; it keeps noise levels from my Volcano 7 bearable under normal conditions but has been known to ramp up the speed under heavy loads or on hot days to keep the cpu properly cooled. This is especially possible if you're using a fan connected to the motherboard (my preferred option anyway because I can monitor fan rpm's and detect potential problems sooner, a boon with the lowered cpu fan speed and the two vantec stealths I have on intake and exhaust duties). So, yeah. Hope that helps, but without knowing how the fan is set up it's hard to give a definitive answer. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

07-30-2005, 08:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	Software from within Windows, no. If you can find a hardware or firmware solution it's always the preferred option, since you don't want any unnecessary software running. There may be a setting in your BIOS to do it (similar to mine) or you might want to look into a rheobus or something similar for a 3 1/2" bay. If you only want the one fan controlled you don't really need the big ugly rheobus in your 51/4" bay. Alternately, something like this might work for you, by giving you more functionality. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

07-30-2005, 05:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
SuperFLYboy12 Tilted	Yeah my bad, I shouldn't mentioed it... this is the 120mm case fan (Thermaltake Smart Case Fan), and it's connected through the 4-pin molex connector... Yeah it's not connected to the mobo, if it was, I wouldn't be able to get the higher speed without changing the setting in the BIOS. The fan has the 4-pin connection, then a 2-pin connection to the fan contorller in the PCI slot (came with the fan). I'm pretty sure now it's the fan controller too, it's been kicking up into the higher speed and staying there, even if the knob's at the lowest setting. I just got the PCI slot controller because I just wanted a general control over the fan, I don't OC either, so I don't need to worry about cooling or RPMs really. It's just to quiet the fan down or speed it up to get more airflow when I'm gaming. Go figure, now it's stuck on the faster speeds and it's even louder than my old case fan. I'm always quick to blame my PSU for problems just cause it's the one thing in my comp that I'm unsure about (420W, mATX, came with my Aspire X-QPack case). I've some read reviews where they said the PSU went to crap and replaced it, so I've definitely been keeping an eye on it. Anyways, looks like I'll be looking for a new fan controller now... actaully would it be better if I did just connect the fan to the mobo then use some program to control it?

07-30-2005, 11:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dragonlich 42, baby! Location: The Netherlands	What are your case temperatures? If I'm not mistaken, the Thermaltake Smart Case Fan uses a temperature gauge to change it's speed. If it's too hot in the case, it's no wonder the fan refs up. This has pretty much nothing to do with a bad PSU. If the PSU was bad, the fan would simply not run, along with the rest of your system. That, and you might see some smoke...