CPU Fan max speed varies? (Using speedfan)

infexous

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Aug 22, 2014
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I believe my issue is quite odd. For starters, I have a Asrock 960GM / U3S3 FX Motherboard and an AMD FX 6300 w/ Stock cooler. My CPU fan is controlled via PWM i believe. Leaving the fan control to the mobo / bios was a disaster, it would kick up to max (~5000 rpm) before my cores even hit 45c. Let me say, this fan sounds like a jet turbine at max speed. (shudders). Needless to say I wanted control of the fan speeds so I set my BIOS fan speed to "full on" (the only other option was to set a custom temperature threshold). After doing this, I am now able to control my fan with my speedfan profile i set up.

However, I've noticed that my "max" or rather when I set my fan in speedfan to 100%, it runs at ~3800 rpm. Interestingly, when I launch a cpu intensive game / program my fans will soon kick up even higher than 3800 rpm. After a bit, while still on the "100%" setting in speedfan, my fan starts running at the ~5000 rpm. (my fan speeds increase regardless of the actual percentage but im using that for reference....example - Non gaming, fan is at 2500 rpm when 60%, but at that same percent when gaming, it will be say 4500 rpm.) I know its confusing me.

I've tried messing with speedfans PWM control and its currently set to manual. I honestly am out of ideas as to how my fans are being boosted in such a way. Is it possible my BIOS is still interfering? Thoughts? thanks!
 
Solution


Never, ever try to control the CPU fan speed manually, all you will end up doing is roasting the CPU. Also, using Speedfan, in my experience, only ever leads...
I'm guessing the motherboard is still playing a part in what is sent to the fan.
Note that temperature controlled fans will usually kick up to full speed when you power on the machine and should settle down after a few minutes.

You could look at a fan controller to allow you to manually set the fan speed. This would then be independent of the motherboard.
Chances are though, even a basic after market cooler will be quieter than the stock cooler. Something like the Cooler Master Evo 212 is PWM controlled, or many of Noctua's offerings are simply fixed speed and very quiet.
 

infexous

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Aug 22, 2014
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Yes i hear them running full speed at boot up (although they aren't as loud as they get when gaming) after i launch speedfan they quiet down, as my custom profile kicks in. Still doesn't explain the random boost though. I have a fan controller, but was hoping not to use that for my CPU (id have to monitor temps literally every minute to adjust the fan accordingly :/ )

Also, Ive been desperately looking into an aftermarket cooler but unfortunately most (good ones) such as the cooler master hyper series wont fit into my microATX case or are too big for my mobo (it would overshoot the ram etc..) Sigh.
 


From Cooler Master, the TX3 will fit in most micro ATX cases.
Any tower cooler with a 92mm fan should be OK.
Top down coolers will fit in the case, but you will have problems if you have tall RAM dimms.
 

infexous

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Aug 22, 2014
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It an older case, dont remember the name. But if you want to know measurements its 16" L x 7" W (Depth) x 14" H. I custom designed some windows and vents on it. But i dont think the temps are getting high enough to "override" any of speedfans settings. As i said (at least i think i did) my core barely hit 45c before i hear my fans kick higher than 3800rpm....wierd huh?
 

Vic 40

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Look into speedfan what you set as max temp for the cpu and make that if possible higher to see if it still doe the same.

Another cooler is probably the better solution anyway and after that to dump speedfan.
Got a budget for a cooler if you're looking at that?
 


Never, ever try to control the CPU fan speed manually, all you will end up doing is roasting the CPU. Also, using Speedfan, in my experience, only ever leads to disaster and not once have I ever managed to get the damn thing to do what I tell it to. In my opinion I suggest buying an aftermarket cooler with a low profile and a quiet fan and using that instead.
 
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infexous

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Aug 22, 2014
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Ok ill try that. Hell ill try anything at this point lol. Also, yeah if i was to get an aftermarket cooler i'd like to keep it under $50. I'm not going to be overclocking my CPU, I just want something QUIET that keeps my temps low :p
 

infexous

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Aug 22, 2014
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That is my concern as well. I don't feel too safe having to manually tweak the fan every few minutes.
 


You would never do this to dynamically set the speed.
If using manual control, you set a fixed value to be used under all conditions.
This is not helpful with the stock cooler as it must be able to run the fan at top speed to keep the CPU cool under heavy load.
With a good cooler though, the maximum fan speed is not necessary to keep a stock CPU cool.
The Noctua coolers use an inline resistor (LNA or ULNA adapter as they call it) to permanently reduce the fan speed.
You don't turn a knob when the CPU gets too hot.
 

Vic 40

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Looking at the partpicker would i look at this one at 136mm high,
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/raijintek-cpu-cooler-op105246
there's a review at techpowerup,it can be loud at max rpm,but for the cooling it's imo a good choice.
http://www.google.nl/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDAQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.techpowerup.com%2Freviews%2FRaijintek%2FAidos%2F&ei=GTwEVL2BNcThPIGhgeAK&usg=AFQjCNFz9lTMDsCWBSOAJ108MqD4C64lrA

This one should do fine too with that cpu,
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/deepcool-cpu-cooler-gammaxx300
there are reviews to be found about this one too.
 


The Raijintek cooler would be my recommendation, along with not using that speedfan crap. Let the motherboard software take care of the CPU fan speed, it knows better than you unless you are overclocking.
 

infexous

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Aug 22, 2014
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I've decided to go with the Cooler Master Hyper Tx3. Its better reviewed then the two linked above, and after inspection, It seems it will in fact fit my mobo / case no problem....

Lets hope for quiet noise and low temps!
 

Vic 40

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That's your choice,i did use the hyper tx3 and think it can get loud,maybe that the "evo" version will do better.I would go for the raijntek,according to that review i linked is it also only 136mm's high,the tx3 is about the same hight.

I hope it works out for you though. ;)