Fan controller question

tgbyhn10111 · 10 Jun 2007 at 03:21

I have a basic fan controller built into my case. There is a single dial on the front of the case. Inside the case is a small circuit board fed by a molex, it has 4x 3 pin fan headers on it. Shall i use this or just plug the fans into my motherboard as it seems to have enough connectors? Would I get rpm feedback if I did?

I assume the front control, controls all 4 simultaneously so no independent control. Is it worth using?

I have 1 12cm fan at the back blowing out. An 8cm fan in the side blowing in and I plan to get a 12cm fan for the front to blow in.

For the front fan, do I need to get a fan with an RPM sensor in order for the controller to work?

I don't really know much about this so any advice would be great.

Here's my case
http://www.systemcooling.com/xclio-01.html

I'm going to use the Gigabyte GA_P35_DS3P
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products...rboard&ProductID=2533&ProductName=GA-P35-DS3P

Thanks

Pete

PhillyDee · 10 Jun 2007 at 11:10

Really need to know what the fan controller is tbh.
BUT . . . For the controller / mobo to give feedback on fan speeds, it must have the 3rd wire. Which is the RPM sensor. All a fan controller does is alter the voltage, so it will work fine if it only has 2 wires.

chaparral · 10 Jun 2007 at 12:31

PhillyDee said:
Really need to know what the fan controller is tbh.

It's this one he has builtin to his case..

The one on the left...

tgbyhn10111 · 10 Jun 2007 at 12:35

Don't know anything about the fan controller as it is part of the case. No read outs or anything to display rpm.

If a fan has 3 wires and not 2 can I assume it will support rpm feedback if plugged into the right header?

The motherboard has 5 fan headers

1 x system fan with 4 pins for sense info and speed control
1 x cpu fan with 4 pins for sense info and speed control
1 x system fan with 3 pins for sense info
1 x power fan with 3 pins for sense info
1 x 3 pin north bridge

What's the power fan for? The system fan is just a case fan I assume? What's the difference between a system and a power fan?

The manual says "be sure to connect fan cables to the fan headers to prevent your cpu, north bridge and system from overheating.

That suggests to me that a fan must be on the north bridge chip. Do I have to put a fan on the northbridge on the GA_P35_DS3P? It doesn't look like one is supplied.

Still trying to figure out if I am better off using the motherboard headers or the case fan headers. At least I'd get some rpm feedback from the MB.

Thanks

tgbyhn10111 · 10 Jun 2007 at 12:36

yes, that's the one chaparral, incidently those 2 boards are stuck to the chassis and keep coming loose, any ideas?

PhillyDee · 10 Jun 2007 at 23:00

Hot glue gun. Blue tack. Gaffer tape. Sticky pads. Take your pick really.

tgbyhn10111 · 15 Jun 2007 at 10:35

I have used velcro pads which stick to the case and circuit board but when the case is on it's side the sticky pads become detatched.

I have never used a glue gun, would I just put a big blob of glue about the same size as the board on the inside metal chasis of the case and then just sit the circuit board on it and leave to dry?

I am concerned that if I stick the board to the wrong thing it could short - are sticky pads / glue fine?

Thanks