Phanteks Enthoo Evolv- included fan controller, how does it work and other questions

[chickadee]

So i just got this case and seen it has a fan controller, now im not so hot in this area, the controller only accepts 3pin fans and the case comes with 3 of them, i will have 3 Noctua fans all of which are 3 pin also. Now it says to conect the controller to the CPU PWM header, im not sure how this will work. If say im playing a game thats hammering my graphics card and is sitting at 90c but my CPU is sitting at 30c and barely being taxed will the fans speed up? Im not sure how any of this works, i have never had PWM fans before and im really lost, can someone explain?

Another question, would getting new fans that are all PWM be better and going straight top my motherboard? I want a REALLY quiet system, thats my goal.

 

[EsaT]

There's little precise data/images available for how that fan hub works.
Basing to manual its controlled by PWM signal.
From images it certainly can't have linear regulator, because that would need sizable heatsinks.
So not sure if it just dirtily PWM chops voltage fed to fans, or uses proper step down switcher with filtered DC output.
(PWM produces 6V square wave AC with DC offset)

Anyway three pin connectors tell it can't pass any PWM control signal to fans.
So you certainly won't win anything by buying PWM fans for it.


And you're right in thinking that it doesn't increase fan speed, no matter how hot other parts are running, if CPU isn't running hot.
Because its meant to take its control from motherboards CPU fan header.
Which is controlled by motherboard basing on only CPU temperature.
(though case temperature will have at least some effect to CPU temperature)

And depending on motherboard you might not have much/any real control to control curve of that output.
That applies to all fan outputs of motherboard.
Some expensive motherboards have more controls and Windows software for that.
But they're still limited by decisions of motherboard maker... And vulnerable to usual problems from Windows:
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/case-fans-running-at-100.18828621/


So if you want guaranteed control over fan control curves and what's used for controlling them, getting Aquaero LT would be best option.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/search?sSearch=aquaero+lt
It runs on its own microprocessor so it doesn't care, if whole Windows or hardware crashes.
You can use temperatures from physical sensors connected to it, or readings from monitoring software as basis for controlling fans.
Or just combine software temperature reading with physical sensor (attached to base of CPU heatsink etc) to have back up in case Windows crashes.
And obviously you can just disregard available fan controls when looking new motherboard.

Old Aquaero 5 has only one channel supporting PWM control signal and always uses voltage control for other channels.
Newer Aquaero 6 supports also PWM control for all four channels, besides having modern step down regulators for higher output power.
Though with quietness as goal you won't be running power hogging high speed turbines.
https://forum.aquacomputer.de/weitere-foren/english-forum/103573-new-aquaero-6/

 

[HoneyBadger]

It’s just a fan hub really. It will work with PWM fans but won’t give you the benefits of PWM.

It keys solely off whatever header you put it on, so CPU header means the fans would ‘react’ to what’s happening on the CPU.

 

[Tealc]

The Phanteks hub works well as a PWM to voltage converter. It's only really for 3 pin fans.

Feed it a valid PWM from CPU and it'll run the fans at 5v to around 11.8v. Ideal load is around 4 fans from memory. Too few and they'll all run a bit fast.

 

[chickadee]

Ok so i tried to use it and i find it just terrible, maybe im doing something wrong but it runs the fans WAY too fast, not only that but its constantly ramping them up and then back down, again maybe im doing something stupid but it came with no instructions. I set a fan profile in my bios and when the fans are plugged into my motherboard fan headers it works so well but the fan controller doesnt seem to follow the profile.

 

[freddie64]

I had one of these in the past.
If i remember correctly, i plugged the 4 pin cable into one of the aux fan headers on the motherboard and set the fan profile to silent (do not use the sata power cable), then just used the cpu fan headers for the cpu cooler. Worked well for me with 3 X 140mm case fans all running quietly.

 

[ilc72]

There's little precise data/images available for how that fan hub works.
Basing to manual its controlled by PWM signal.
From images it certainly can't have linear regulator, because that would need sizable heatsinks.
So not sure if it just dirtily PWM chops voltage fed to fans, or uses proper step down switcher with filtered DC output.
(PWM produces 6V square wave AC with DC offset)

Anyway three pin connectors tell it can't pass any PWM control signal to fans.
So you certainly won't win anything by buying PWM fans for it.


And you're right in thinking that it doesn't increase fan speed, no matter how hot other parts are running, if CPU isn't running hot.
Because its meant to take its control from motherboards CPU fan header.
Which is controlled by motherboard basing on only CPU temperature.
(though case temperature will have at least some effect to CPU temperature)

And depending on motherboard you might not have much/any real control to control curve of that output.
That applies to all fan outputs of motherboard.
Some expensive motherboards have more controls and Windows software for that.
But they're still limited by decisions of motherboard maker... And vulnerable to usual problems from Windows:
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/case-fans-running-at-100.18828621/


So if you want guaranteed control over fan control curves and what's used for controlling them, getting Aquaero LT would be best option.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/search?sSearch=aquaero+lt
It runs on its own microprocessor so it doesn't care, if whole Windows or hardware crashes.
You can use temperatures from physical sensors connected to it, or readings from monitoring software as basis for controlling fans.
Or just combine software temperature reading with physical sensor (attached to base of CPU heatsink etc) to have back up in case Windows crashes.
And obviously you can just disregard available fan controls when looking new motherboard.

Old Aquaero 5 has only one channel supporting PWM control signal and always uses voltage control for other channels.
Newer Aquaero 6 supports also PWM control for all four channels, besides having modern step down regulators for higher output power.
Though with quietness as goal you won't be running power hogging high speed turbines.
https://forum.aquacomputer.de/weitere-foren/english-forum/103573-new-aquaero-6/

Is there any way of mounting the Aquaero in a case without a physical 5.25” drive bay? For example is the screen removable so it could be placed on say the PSU shroud?

 

[EsaT]

Is there any way of mounting the Aquaero in a case without a physical 5.25” drive bay? For example is the screen removable so it could be placed on say the PSU shroud?

Aquaero LT doesn't have any screen or physical control interface.
It has standoffs which screws can grab from.
Would be also simple to do somekind mounting adapter/plate which is screwed to those standoffs.

This shows back of PCB and those standoffs around 1m50s.
(along with covering control/"programming" software well)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQcNl2ZE1Lk

 

[ilc72]

Aquaero LT doesn't have any screen or physical control interface.
It has standoffs which screws can grab from.
Would be also simple to do somekind mounting adapter/plate which is screwed to those standoffs.

This shows back of PCB and those standoffs around 1m50s.
(along with covering control/"programming" software well)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQcNl2ZE1Lk

Thanks it’s a great video and looks to be exactly what I want as I want something to provide granular control fans based on virtual temperature readings from the CPU and GPU. It also has a screen connector so will check out the manufacturer website.

 

[EsaT]

Thanks it’s a great video and looks to be exactly what I want as I want something to provide granular control fans based on virtual temperature readings from the CPU and GPU. It also has a screen connector so will check out the manufacturer website.

I prefer adding physical sensor to base of CPU heatsink as backup in case Windows etc. crashes and software readings stop being available.
Highest value mode virtual sensor works nicely for combining them.
(better than setting high "fail safe" backup/default reading for CPU software sensor)
Also adding another physical sensor to measure temperature inside case and using virtual sensor to combine (like average) it with other sensors, including previous "virtual CPU" sensor is possible.
That gives smoother response for control of case fans than direct using of CPU or GPU software readings.

You can't buy display part separately if later wanting it for case with 5.25" bay.
They just use same main PCB for all variants to lower costs compared to two different PCBs.


Just checked buying/ordering date and I've myself used Aquaero for fair year now.

 

[chroniclard]

Assuming its the same one that comes with the Enthoo Luxe, I used it for a while and it worked ok via CPU PWM header but its not actually proper PWM.

However I switched out to XSPC 8 fan hub which is actually PWM, only 8 quid if I recall correctly, which seems to work slightly better.

 

[ilc72]

I prefer adding physical sensor to base of CPU heatsink as backup in case Windows etc. crashes and software readings stop being available.
Highest value mode virtual sensor works nicely for combining them.
(better than setting high "fail safe" backup/default reading for CPU software sensor)
Also adding another physical sensor to measure temperature inside case and using virtual sensor to combine (like average) it with other sensors, including previous "virtual CPU" sensor is possible.
That gives smoother response for control of case fans than direct using of CPU or GPU software readings.

You can't buy display part separately if later wanting it for case with 5.25" bay.
They just use same main PCB for all variants to lower costs compared to two different PCBs.


Just checked buying/ordering date and I've myself used Aquaero for fair year now.

Thanks for the advice, all this stuff can be a minefield for someone new, or rather old but without experience for 20+ years in PC building!

 

[Mazbury]

Hello,

Is it the fan hub in the phanteks evolv X you have to connect the sata cable to power it, the cable to your motherboard fan header says pc in on fan hub and then make sure one of your fans is connected to the white four pin connector on the fan hub (it uses this to detect the fan speed back to the motherboard) if you don't use the white connector the fans will run at full speed, go in your bios (Fan settings) and set the fan header your using to pwm and adjust your fan curve to suit, I have two 360mm rads with 3 fans on each and the fans adjust speed as the temps increase. Hope this helps if your having issues with it, took me awhile to work it out and I've been building pc's for years.