Fan Connections

GM2

GM2

GM2

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Can someone please either point me towards or provide a brief guide to fans, fan connections, molex, 3-pin, 4-pin etc etc!! :confused::confused:

Hopefully, something general that can be referred to by others, but if it needs to be specific, I have a Q6600, Asus P5Q-E, PNY 8800 GT, 2x2GB OCZ, Corsair 520w-mod in an Antec 300.

I'm intending to do some mild/medium OC to perhaps 3.0/3.2GHz. I don't really want to have loads of fans blasting away! I'd prefer to tone down the OC than make it too noisy, but I'm not looking for silent either. Just reasonably quiet!! :D

My case obviously already has 2 extract fans fitted and I've been advised to use both of these. I've also been advised to get at least two 120mm intake fans to run at slow speed on the front and maybe one on the side too.

So:

  1. Is there anything special I should know about how to set up these various fans?

  2. Or, do I just connect them direct to the MB or somewhere else?

  3. Or, should I put them through some sort of controller?

  4. Should I link all/some of them to temperatures of certain components, the inside of the case or something else so that they turn on/off speed up / slow down depending on conditions? Simple = better as far as I'm concerned, to an extent, but if there is a good argument for doing something a bit more complicated, then fine. But remember, this isn't going to be a highly OC set-up.

  5. If 4=Yes, what and how?

  6. What are reasonable, preferably cheap fans to use for the intakes? I'm considering Yate Loon D12SL-12. Would these be a reasonable choice?

  7. What is the difference between these and the D12SM and D12SH? I presume L=low, M=medium and H=high speed. I presume Ls should be fine for what I want and are quieter than Ms or Hs?

  8. What are all the different pin combinations for? Again, which would be best in my case?

Sorry for so many questions, but it is amazing how complicated something that I'm sure is relatively simple can seem!
 
4 pin is usually for the cpu fan
3 pin = mobo header & monitoring via software
molex usually = no monitoring , unless attached to a drive bay fan controller, & fan draws more power than mobo header can supply.

I have same graphics card. Due to position of fan on it a side panel fan will have little effect in cooling it. Use Riva tuner to up fan speed from stock 33% [mine 74C to 60% & 61C]
Yate Loon D12SL-12 is only 1 I'd consider as others too noisy. Remeber db is a log scale so 40db is twice as loud as 30db & 4 x 20db.
Sharkoon Silent Eagle 1000 120mm Fan or

Akasa AK-191-BL Blue Ultra Quiet 120mm Fan

I'd choose over the yate loon.


1 intake should be enough to cool hdd. Either use a Zalman fanmate, by one with a controller i.e Noctua, or get a drive bay panel.
Antec tri cool fans are ok on L & M but use more power on H for too much noise & little extra cooling
 
Pilgrim57 said:
I have same graphics card. ..... Use Riva tuner to up fan speed from stock 33% [mine 74C to 60% & 61C]
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response. Have you upped the fan speed just to keep the temp down under normal use, or are you OCing the graphics card?

Yate Loon D12SL-12 is only 1 I'd consider as others too noisy.
Click to expand...

What about the Arctic Cooling 12025L?

Either use a Zalman fanmate, by one with a controller i.e Noctua, or get a drive bay panel.
Click to expand...

Do I really need a hardware controller? Cost is obviously not significant, but for a simple system - what do I need this for?

Many thanks

GM2
 
Not o/ced my card yet but I think it's best to keep things cool.

Nothing wrong with the AC fan at that price. Fan life is limited by use & dust build up which clogs bearings unless they are sealed & introduces wobble to the blades which in turn affects the bearings. Sleeve type are the cheapest. At the price you could change it every year - you do know its out of stock?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp...cat=189&name=Zalman Fan Mate 2 Fan Controller
Can control 2 fans but unless you are ingenious have to open the case to adjust - can't complain about the price:) Many people get a more powerful fan then reduce speed.
N.B. make sure you exhaust is > than input don't want too much +ive pressure inside case.
 
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