Trying to figure out what the point in this is ?

[LuckyBenski]

Personally I'd really like this device as it lets me use whichever fans I like. A lot of the quietest fans in my systems are 3-pin/case fans. I've gone so far as to research the RC circuits to convert PWM control signal into DC, because not all motherboards produce variable DC.

 

[doyll]

Personally I'd really like this device as it lets me use whichever fans I like. A lot of the quietest fans in my systems are 3-pin/case fans. I've gone so far as to research the RC circuits to convert PWM control signal into DC, because not all motherboards produce variable DC.

Why would you 'convert PWM control signal' when all it takes to use PWM fans on variable voltage headers is plug them in?

PWM circuitry with no control on pin-4 is direct voltage to motor.

 

[Tealc]

Personally I'd really like this device as it lets me use whichever fans I like. A lot of the quietest fans in my systems are 3-pin/case fans. I've gone so far as to research the RC circuits to convert PWM control signal into DC, because not all motherboards produce variable DC.

This is the exact reason I started my electronics project that uses a mosfet and a PNP transistor plus some passives to give a fairly static DC result out of a 5v PWM and a 12v input. Much the same as the Phanteks hub does. Just when I started the project Phanteks didn't do them, and there was nothing that I could find that didn't have a significant voltage drop cost.

My motherboard only does PWM on the single CPU header, all others are 12v at all times.

And below in my signature is a picture of one my glorious creations.

The Phanteks hub that Doyll sent me for the review was a nicely done solution with a NPN and a P-ch Mosfet configuraion plus a few passives that does the job, but suffers in my opinion due to a lack of adjustment.

 

[LuckyBenski]

I've definitely bookmarked your creation before joining these forums Tealc

Why would you 'convert PWM control signal' when all it takes to use PWM fans on variable voltage headers is plug them in?

PWM circuitry with no control on pin-4 is direct voltage to motor.

Read my post again, I'm using non-PWM fans and I prefer them.

 

[doyll]

I've definitely bookmarked your creation before joining these forums Tealc


Read my post again, I'm using non-PWM fans and I prefer them.

What you said was

"it lets me use whichever fans I like. A lot of the quietest fans in my systems are 3-pin/case fans".​

I interpreted the "A lot of my quietest fans" as meaning some are PWM fans. Nothing about not having variable voltage fan headers.
If you had indicated you don't have variable voltage fan headers my answer would have been quite different.

If you need PWM to variable voltage Tealc's is better than Phanteks.

 

[chroniclard]

Just got the XSPC fan hub fitted and the results are interesting......redid bios fan tuning/fan curve and as a result my fans are quieter with what appears to be the same cooling result. So it seems like £8 well spent.

Not really sure why.....but that will do me.

 

[Minusorange]

Not really sure why

@doyll explained it to you

Several differences, two of which are quite significant;
1/ PWM pulses the power so fan uses less power to maintain low speeds instead of lowering 12v to lower voltages with the by-product being heat.
2/ Pulsed power maintains more power in the motor / motor has more torque power at lower speeds often resulting is lower idle speeds for higher rpm rated fans.

Basically the fans are quieter and giving the same cooling because thanks to PWM they can run at a lower RPM than in voltage mode where too low volts = fan no work, PWM basically lowers the RPM threshold at which a fan is capable of spinning

But at least now you can experience why I asked the question of what's the point in the hub when it doesn't offer proper PWM control

 

[chroniclard]

Actually I spoke too soon, getting bizarre heat spikes(much higher than before) that didn't happen with direct voltage. Something wrong.

PWM still doesn't appear to offer any benefit other than it might be able to lower the RPM somewhat.

 

[doyll]

Actually I spoke too soon, getting bizarre heat spikes(much higher than before) that didn't happen with direct voltage. Something wrong.

PWM still doesn't appear to offer any benefit other than it might be able to lower the RPM somewhat.

I seriously doubt your heat spikes have anything to do with the fans. Kinda like having muffler go out after getting brakes .. one does not effect the other.
Other than maybe you are now running fans at lower speed so not as much cooling so spikes are more noticable?

Probably the biggest benefit of PWM no heat generated draining off unused voltage when fans are running on lower voltage for lower speeds. But you are correct in thinking many users will never be aware of the advantages PWM offers.