Recommend an automatic PWM fan controller

muggles

muggles

muggles

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23 Nov 2010
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I'm looking to upgrade to PWM fans, probably Akasa Apaches or Vipers (suggestions as to which is best also appreciated), and need a controller to run them (I assume this isn't a function that's build into my MoBo and I actually need a separate box?).

I want something that's not frighteningly expensive, but can be left to do it's own thing, IE I want automatic control rather than something with knobs on.

Any suggestions please? Or alternatively, is PWM actually worth it or should I just go for 3-pin control off the MoBo? I'm running single-speed Molex currently so anything it better than that!
 
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Ah cool, will double-check what my MoBo can take then. My case can take up to five 120mm fans: one front, one rear, one top and two side. Not yet sure whether to use all the slots or not, and even less sure of the best configuration of in and out fans. I've also got an Akasa Venom CPU cooler

EDIT: Case is this one http://www.casecom.com.tw/case.htm

Running an i5-760 with a GTX-460 GPU, currently stock but looking to overclock, hence the extra cooling
 
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Most motherboards provide a pwm signal on at least one fan header, the CPU-fan header usually. You can use a splitter or fashion your own To share the pwm signal with as many fans as you like. Your graphics card will also have a pwm fan controller which can also be used if you know your way around a soldering iron and can join wires together.

I use my graphics card pwm to control 2 fans as generally when that thing gets hot I need better airflow.
 
OK thanks for that, I've checked and I've got a single PWM for the chassis, the CPU is also PWM, and there's a three-pin as well. If splitters are available that's great, I assume they'll all spin up the fans at the same rate but I guess that's not necessarily a bad thing...

EDIT: I see Akasa do a 3-way splitter, that's pretty handy, thanks for your help, think I'm pretty sorted now, unless you have any suggestions as to which fans should suck and which ones should blow?
 
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You can connect different fans to the splitter if you need to. They'll spin at different speeds depending on how they react to the duty cycle.

You can also daisy chain the splitters to increase the amount controlled by the PWM signal. Each fan gets it's power from the Molex so there is no risk of blowing the transistor on the motherboard fan header. You will of course only get tach feedback for one fan.

The general rule of thumb with fans is to have intake at the front/bottom/side and exhaust at the top/rear.
 
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