How to slow down a case fan

[tokyotech]

I just installed a Scythe 1900 RPM fluid bearing fan. It is too loud. Which software do you suggest that I use to turn down the speed? I already have Riva Tuner. Will that do it?

 

[JohnnyLucky]

First, we need a clarification. Is the fan plugged into the motherboard or the power supply? If it is plugged into the motherboard does the Scythe fan have a 3 pin or a 4 pin plug?

 

[ulysses35]

If its plugged into the motherboard and is capable of being controlled by the on board PC health / status then you can lower the fan speed in BIOS.

If you have it connected to a Molex connector there are cheap kits with built in fan controllers available from most pc shops.

Or you could go the whole hog and fit a fan contoller in a spare drive bay on your case....

 

[tokyotech]

It is connected to the power supply. I am currently using that big thing. The two small things are just dangling. Are those two small things supposed to go into the mobo?

 

[Lozza81]

That cable you are showing allows you to power the case fan off the PSU (using the big 4-pin molex connector as you are doing) OR to power them off the motherboard using either the small 3pin male of female connector. They do this for maximum flexability depending on what the user has spare in their system and what motherboard they have etc.

You only need to plug in ONE OR THE OTHER NOT BOTH!

Powering a case fan directly from the PSU, as you are doing, usually allows you less ability to control rpm. Powering it off motherboard allows you sometimes to alter the rpm in the BIOS.

You can also buy, as others have mentioned above, a small adapter lead which once connected between the fan and however its being powered can automatically adjust the voltage down to 9v, 7v 5v etc from its 12v default depending on which one you buy. Less voltage means less rpm on the fan and so less noise, but of course it will be expressing less air volume as a consequence.

Or you can buy one which has like a knob on a pci bracket you fit and then you can turn up or down the fan speed outside the case depending on the pc's use. Finally the best and most expensive way is to buy a proper fan controller which fits into the front of your case and where you can control case fans fully.

 

[tokyotech]

I just plugged the fan directly into SYS_FAN1 on the mobo. In the BIOS, I see the RPM of the fan, but it doesn't let me edit it... So I download SpeedFan. I lower the percentage on Speed01 and the fan is still going full blast. I've tried Speed02 and Speed03 also. None of the numbers above change.

 

[JohnnyLucky]

You can only control the speed of three fans. Looks like you have the high speed fan plugged in "Back Out" which would be Fan4. Plug that high speed fan into a different motherboard connection. Keep trying until you have it plugged into Fan1, Fan2, or Fan3.

 

[knotknut]

Install a Speed Control
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811998129

This is an example of what you need. Look around for on that suits.

 

[mamw93]

If you have an ASUS motherboard then get your driver disc and it has the AI Suite which has a Fan Expert tool.