Cooling Fans

GreenyUK · 29 Aug 2018 at 21:02

Hello everyone I'm currently buying parts to build my own rig, which is exciting (first time build)
I have a question regarding fans.
I'm buying Corsair HD120 RGB fans ive noticed each one comes with a controller. Will this mean ill have to have three seperate controllers outside of my case, Or is there a way to control all three from one controller??

Commander pro?

Many thanks in advance.

EsaT · 29 Aug 2018 at 21:39

That bundled controller is for RGB bling bling, not for fan speeds, if you're wanting speed control.

Motherboards have various controls for that.
Though it varies depending on how much luxury you want to pay for motherboard... usable for life of that PC assembly.
Higher end motherboards have more fan headers, and likely support also PWM signal control.
While cheaper motherboards have less fan headers and possibly only some of them PWM compatible.
And apparently they're vulnerable to driver/software problems crapping everything:
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/case-fans-running-at-100.18828621/

For sure accurate fully configurable control Aquaero is best:

Once "programmed" it runs on its own hardware and keeps working regardless if Windows (or even motherboard) is crashed.
It also boots pretty much instantly when getting power from PSU.
While software sensor readings require Windows to boot up, you can just attach physical temperature sensor to base of CPU heatsink and use that as backup.

GreenyUK · 29 Aug 2018 at 21:42

Hey.
Right ok im pretty sure corsair software will run the rgb bling so I guess I don't need the the pro commander.

The mother board i have is the Asus Maximus Hero VIII.

EsaT · 30 Aug 2018 at 08:02

That Asus should have for motherboard top level fan controls.
Certainly wouldn't keep Corsair's controller worth over its controls.
Aquaero again beats anything else in level of controls by clear margin.

GreenyUK · 30 Aug 2018 at 10:51

Yeah i believe there are quiet a few injectors for fans on the motherboard.

On their website/youtube reviews. They claim the commander pro will control rgb and the fans speed

I've not heard of the aquaero before? I'll have to have a look into it.

Thank you.

GreenyUK · 30 Aug 2018 at 20:09

Connectors not injectors sorry.

EsaT · 30 Aug 2018 at 22:11

GreenyUK said:
I've not heard of the aquaero before? I'll have to have a look into it.

Aquaero fan controllers have been around for long before motherboard makers invented advertising fan controlling.
Aquaero 6 is quite precisely fives years old and there were models (though lot more primitive) back to ten years earlier.
https://forum.aquacomputer.de/weitere-foren/english-forum/103573-new-aquaero-6/

Myself used Aquaero since last year's summer.
Before that used manually set fan controllers for long time. (didn't want to be at mercy of motherboard makers and software bugs)
Should have done move long ago.
Very accurately configurable temperature based control is so much nicer.