PWM or Non PWM Fans for fan controllers

[jonathan_phang]

Hi,

sorry if this is a silly question. Looking to replace my case/fan setup and will most likely have a lot of fans in there (3x AIO, 3x bottom intake, poss more for side intake) which means I will be getting a fan controller due to my mobo not having that many fan headers (need to get the manual out).

Now at this point I don't know which, there seems to be a lot of choice and I need to research how things like this affect RGB etc (been out of the game a while), but in the first instance, would I usually need to get PWM fans or non? I would have thought it would be PWM, unless fan controllers alter voltage to change fan speeds

If I could get some clarity that would be good. Every day is a learning day

 

[doyll]

If you have PWM controlled fan headers on motherboard you can PWM control 6-8 fans using a PSU powered PWM splitter hub. These PWM hubs use the fan speed from one fans and split the PWM signal from motherboard to all fans. This is safe to do with no fear of damaging the fan header. Just so you don't fall into the trap, Phantek PWM hub is not a PWM hub at all but a PWM controlled variable voltage fan hub for 3-pin fans. It uses the PWM signal to adjust voltage to fans. XSPC, Swiftech, Silverstone, etc make real PWM hubs. There are also several PWM splitter from 2 - 5-fans.

I don't play with RGB, but if I was the RGB would be a separate power and control from fan motor.

 

[LuckyBenski]

Lots of different fan controllers on offer, so it's down to checking specs usually. The simplest ones that are really just powered fan splitters, will take PWM control signal from a motherboard header and distribute it to 6/8 fans. Nice and simple.

Lots of more standalone controllers will do DC voltage control or a mix/choice.

A good rule of thumb: you can adjust the speed of PWM fans with either PWM or DC voltage control (some may say it's a bad idea but it works), but you can only control 3-pin DC fans with DC control. So buying PWM fans will give you more choice later.

 

[jonathan_phang]

Thanks for the good information. Need to wrap my head around it all, as I'm not sure I fully get it all. Im still using an old X58 system and I always used 3 pin on that.

Researching so much to do with fans and mobo headers for RGB, fan control and the like. Just want to be able to control fan speed from software so I can get temps and noise in the right medium .

Will wrap my head round it all before deciding what to buy. Been out of the game too long!!!

 

[doyll]

Thanks for the good information. Need to wrap my head around it all, as I'm not sure I fully get it all. Im still using an old X58 system and I always used 3 pin on that.

Researching so much to do with fans and mobo headers for RGB, fan control and the like. Just want to be able to control fan speed from software so I can get temps and noise in the right medium .

Will wrap my head round it all before deciding what to buy. Been out of the game too long!!!

I'm also still using a couple of old X58 systems. Still very good systems but becoming out-dated with USB3, SATA3, Bluetooth, etc features missing.

Best value in fans is Phanteks PH-F140MP. They are very good fans and a 2-pack is only £16.26 .. that is only £8.13 a fan.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/two-...140mm-fan-radiator-performance-bu-003-pt.html

PH-F120MP 2-pack is £14.99 so £7.50 a fan.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/two-...120mm-fan-radiator-performance-bu-002-pt.html

I'm seeinggood things being said about new Arctic P series fans, but if they are anything like the old F series their quality control is not as good as I like .. but if the work out of the box they usually last at least a couple years and are £5-7.00 each so as long as Phanteks 2-packs are avialable I would go them.

The best fan controllers are aquaero 5 and 6. I prefer the LT models because they do everything the 5.25" panel one do for much less money and they have so many features it much easier to do the controlling with their software with keyboard and mouse. Aquaero 5 LT has 2x PWM channels and 6 LT has 4 PWM channel and digital variable voltage so no heat buildup at lower voltages .. but like I said they are not cheap with aquaero 5 LT being £49.99 and aquaero 6 LT being £89.99, but they can be programed to do everything but wash windows.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/search?sSearch=aquaero

 

[jonathan_phang]

Wow cheers for the info there. Will give it all a read. Love learning about new things tech wise

In terms of fan control, if I didnt want a hardware controller - what would be the best way to get all fans controllable in software? [EDIT: Just seen the internal variants on your link]

Got to say I cant fault my X58 just right now. Recently did the Xeon thing and that was great and its meant the 1080Ti is giving me enough FPS wise for what I need. Means I can take the time to thing about the best upgrade to have. But yes I feel Im missing out on things - esp on the storage side.

 

[LuckyBenski]

In my opinion - I really like Speedfan software. It rarely gets updated for hardware newer than Haswell (4th Gen Intel) but when it's compatible, it's got loads of adjustability. There's a little learning curve on the setup, but you can control every fan header based on specific temperature sensors or combinations. Tweaker's dream

 

[doyll]

Wow cheers for the info there. Will give it all a read. Love learning about new things tech wise

In terms of fan control, if I didnt want a hardware controller - what would be the best way to get all fans controllable in software? [EDIT: Just seen the internal variants on your link]

Got to say I cant fault my X58 just right now. Recently did the Xeon thing and that was great and its meant the 1080Ti is giving me enough FPS wise for what I need. Means I can take the time to thing about the best upgrade to have. But yes I feel Im missing out on things - esp on the storage side.

Aquaero controllers control similar to motherboard software control, they are a computer controlled controller with software. They are available in 5.25" front bay mounting with controls and even have a remote control unit available for when not setting at computer. Here are links to a few reviews and guides for aquaero, from old orginal 5 models to new 6 models.
https://martinsliquidlab.wordpress.com/2011/12/20/ac-aquaero-5-review-guide-wip/
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums...power-to-the-people-err-I-mean-fans-and-pumps
https://www.overclock.net/forum/225-hardware-news/1423333-aquacomputer-aquaero-6-a.html

All aquaero 5 have same functions .. and all aquaero 6 have same functions. The only difference is aquaero 5LT does not have heatsink that is on 5.25" mounting ones, and 5.25" mounting ones have some panel control vs 5 LT mounting inside of computer use only mouse and keyboard. Both have the same functions.

Same is true of aquaero 6 LT vs other models, but aquaero 6 models have 5x PWM channels and are digital voltage control so don't need a heatsink. aquaero 5 5.25" front panel models come with heatsink, aquaero 5 LT need heatsink if using many variable voltage fans.

But any aquaero contoller has so many features that it's much easier to use mouse and keyboard than to use 5.25" panel face to control.

I have 2 X56 systems with one using an aquaero 5 and other motherboard fan headers with PWM hubs and splitters. I also have a newer i7 6700k on MSI Z170 Mortar. All have 256GB SSDs and honestly while 6700 is a little faster the difference in time it takes to do things is minimal. I notice a little longer bootup on X58 and some software takes a little longer, but overall the differences are minimal. Biggest difference is power consumption .. 6700 uses much less power.

What motherboard do you have? All you need is 2x PWM headers, even 1 PWM header will do. Run a 140mm case fan with 140mm fannned CPU cooler fan supplying air to cooler on same PWM control and another 140mm case fans (maybe 2x case fans) speed controlled in sync with GPU fans and you ae golden. I have 2x front and 1x bottom 140mm intakes on each of my systems and even when rendering graphics the fans are just barely audible .. just loud enough I know system is working extremely hard.