GA-x58a UD3R: How to PWM control System_Fan_2 with Easytune, or other?

[vsloth]

Hi Lads,

I have x2 NB fans in a push/pull config. I've put em in respectively CPU_Fan, and System_fan_2 which should both be PWM controlled, and both have 4 pins!

The problem is, that CPU_Fan is working like a charm, but the system fan 2, is spinning away like a mad! I tried to work around in Easytune, but with no luck! Only thing I can, is to use SmartFan to decrease the speed - but then I lose the PWM feature, and I want to keep that for sure.

So what I want, is the system_fan_2 to follow CPU_Fan in RPM, and stays in PWM mode! Is there any way to do this? Easytune appears not to be working, since it only affects CPU_Fan! (and why that???)

Thanks in advance.

[jaicigy]

check your BIOS settings for fans to make sure they are correctly configured and try Speedfan to check and control fans or better yet, use an external fan controller.

[Balthazor]

Vsloth,

I was curious about this, as I'm about to install an x58 UD7 motherboard and put in a few more fans myself.  From reading the motherboard manual and its section on EasyTune it looks like PWM control is limited to the CPU fan header, which kind of sucks. 

I haven't yet installed my hardware, so could you clarify something for me?

So EasyTune lets you reduce the fan speed of the non-CPU fans, correct?  But you just set it at a set speed, you can't link it to a temp sensor?

I'm trying to decide whether to install a 4-pin PWM fan on the Sys_2 header, or to instead just install a low-speed low-noise fan on one of the 3-pin headers that will run at max speed but be quieter than the PWM fan at max.

Thanks for your feedback.

[Dark Mantis]

I think in the long run you would be better advised to go for a seperate fan control solution that would allow you to have complete control over your fans from outside the case. You could then tweak them as you pleased.There are many on the market the fit into a 5.25" slot.

[Balthazor]

I'm using a separate fan control system, but I've reached the limit of the number of fans it can control.  I've got two extra fans that I'd like to control through the MB; one PWM fan can go on the CPU fan header, but the last fan is where my question is.

[Balthazor]

Looking through the motherboard manual again, if you find the section on the fan heads and the pin diagram, it says that Sys_Fan2's fourth wire, normally used for 'speed control', is simply 'reserved.'

So you can plug a 4-pin fan cable into it, but you'll never be able to control it from Sys_Fan2, unless you use a program that lets you alter the voltage to the fan.

[Dark Mantis]

In thoery then you should be able to connect the fourth wire on your second fan to the fourth connection on your CPU fan and have them running in parallel. That way they would both be governed by the speed controller.

[Balthazor]

I did find a handful of cables that let you plug several PWM fans into one motherboard PWM header:

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10350/cab-183/Akasa_PWM_Splitter_-_Smart_Fan_Cable_AK-CB002.html?tl=g2c251s274 (3 fans to one header, requires 4-pin molex PSU connection)

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8418/cab-150/FrozenCPU_PMW_Y_Splitter_Cable.html?tl=g2c251s274 (2 fans to one header)

[Balthazor]

Of course, that only helps if you want all of those fans controlled by CPU temp.  I think that is what the OP is after.

In my case I don't need more than one fan controlled by CPU temp, so I'll probably just use a fixed RPM low-speed quiet fan to keep noise down, with the rest of the fans controlled by my fan controller or the CPU PWM header.

[Dark Mantis]

Yes the second  item you listed would work fine I would think.

[onemilimeter]

I think in the long run you would be better advised to go for a seperate fan control solution that would allow you to have complete control over your fans from outside the case. You could then tweak them as you pleased.There are many on the market the fit into a 5.25" slot.

I agree. In the long run, I'm going to get one...

[onemilimeter]

I think in the long run you would be better advised to go for a seperate fan control solution that would allow you to have complete control over your fans from outside the case. You could then tweak them as you pleased.There are many on the market the fit into a 5.25" slot.

By the way, if I get a fan controller, can we monitor all the speeds of the fans in Windows? Does the controller come with a monitoring software? Thanks.

[Dark Mantis]

Many of the fan controllers come with a5.25" bay fitting that allows control and usually a readout of the speeds, temps, etc. Obviously the more you pay the more functions you should get.