PWM fan control for Graphics Card Loop

dynamis_dk · 12 May 2011 at 19:32

So, a few weeks ago I got rid of the Nexus fans I had on my CPU water loop (PA120.3) and ran 3 apaches via a 3 way spliter - works a treat... Very impressed at the low noise vs cooling and the gradual ramping of speed under load.

Now I want the same for my graphics loop. Same again I have a PA120.3 and I'd like to have some way of getting 3 PWM fans to adjust to a target temp much in the same way my motherboard allows me to do for the CPU.

Anyone come across a way to do this??

I've got a T-Balancer BigNG & MiniNG but I've never really got the config to work how I want to I removed it all. Anything around which will achive what I'm after but without using a PC configured controller??

The Asgard · 12 May 2011 at 20:12

I use an Aquaero 4 and some inline temp sensors to control all my fans. Amazing bit of kit and well worth the money if your looking for total control of your system.

The Aquaero 5 is out now, not cheap but you get what you pay for, highly recommended.

dynamis_dk · 12 May 2011 at 20:33

Just had a quick look at the Aquaero 5, thinks I'll sell my t-balancer kit and get onenof those. I'm gonna get sum more in depth reviews bit the general write up I just say makes it look very good... Fancy the top one with the waterblock and keyboard

Tealc · 12 May 2011 at 21:09

Why don't you use the PWM signal from the graphics card?

Here's something I knocked up so I could use the PWM signal from my HD6950 to control the fan on a Shaman and also the rear case fan.

It uses a small XHP connector that graphics cards use (easily available online) and a couple of 4 pin PWM connectors. I also threw some 3 pin fan connectors so I could monitor both speeds.

Just a thought.

dynamis_dk · 12 May 2011 at 22:19

What kind of draw will the gfx card take?? Will 3 Akasa Apache fans on the one header??

I'm all for giving it a go

Althought I do like new toys (looks over at the Aquaero 5 review still open on monitor 2...)

Tealc · 12 May 2011 at 22:36

That's the beauty of PWM. The power for the fans in my custom cable comes from the motherboard header but could just as easily come from a molex or any 12v source.

I just have one lead going to the graphics card which just grabs the PWM signal, this wire is then spliced into 4 pin connectors for the fans. The PWM singal can serve dozens of fans if you wish it.

I didn't do it with mine but you could feed back the speed sense wire back to your graphics card/s if you want to.

I prefer fan speed to be automated as I can't be trusted to fiddle with fan dials. Having your graphics loop controlled by the temperature the card is seeing is a perfect situation for me. The sensors you get with purchased controllers can't get true values.

dynamis_dk · 13 May 2011 at 15:55

Yeah seems like a good plan to me... I'll do the same but splice the power into a molex and keep both PWM and RPM on the graphics card

Need to order some more fans now lol