First time build/new build

[zephyr948]

First off let me give you the specs that are important to what I need help with.

antec 300 illusion case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

asrock 870 extreme3 motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198

xfx 5850 video card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150477

corsair 650w psu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

My issue is with the case fans. Two front intake fans, one top out-take fan, and one rear out-take fan. The psu fan will probably be fan side up as well. I have a coolermaster hyper 212 plus as the hsf. I don't really plan to overclock, but I might mess around with it a little if I feel comfoertable enough(never messed with ocing before).

Ok, now my issue is the case fans have manual switches to control the speeds. However, the motherboard also has a bios settings to set the fans at speed 1-10 where the manual speeds are only 3 speeds. Which is better to use?

 

[zephyr948]

I forgot to mention the cpu is an amd phenom 955, but I don't think it matters much for the issue I'm addressing.

 

[gkay09]

^ If you want ease of use, obviously the manual switches are better,...But if you want to have a good balance of airflow as well as noise levels, then the BIOS control would better help...

 

[zephyr948]

Ok, what setting would you recommend? I am interested in decent airflow while having a balance with the noise level. I was thinking medium settings would be adequate so 5 in bios or am I way off?

 

[gkay09]

^ I would do it the good old Trial and Error method...
Start setting speeds from 1 to 10 and check the temps of the CPU and the GPU and see how comfortable you are with the noise levels...
The speed at which the components temps are at good levels and the noise levels is low, that would be the one...

 

[zephyr948]

Ok, I'll try that. To hook the fans up do I use the psu or do they run off the mobo? the fans are 4 pin connectors from what I see inside the case.

 

[gkay09]

^ My bad,...just checked the fans that comes with the 300,...they have only 2 wires - no fan in/rotation" wire, which would help indicate the speed of the fans to the mobo...
So I think you would have to stick with the 3 step manual fan speed control switch...I feel that would suffice...
So do the same thing of running the fans at different speeds and check the temps and noise levels,...

 

[zephyr948]

Best answer selected by zephyr948.