[mythtv-users] Slightly OT - Controlling the CPU fan

Nick knowledgejunkie at gmail.com
Sun Aug 21 21:27:15 UTC 2005


On 8/21/05, Lee <mythtv at varga.co.uk> wrote:
> 
> >> One of the other suggestions I've seen but not tried is to use 12v
> >> fans but run them off the 5v supply so they spin slow and quiet.
> >
> Noooo..............
> Don't try this at home folks!! Running 12V fans at 5V is dangerous, they
> have a habit of NOT starting reliably.
> It may start OK when the lids off, but may not when it's back under the
> TV...  With possibly tragic results...

Exactly. Fans may also not start reliably if you give them 7V (using
the 12V and 5V feeds) so sometimes leaving them on the 12V is the
best.

> >> There are also adapters so you can dial down the fan voltages with a
> >> little pot.
> >
> Yes, Zalman and others do these, it's the right way to do it, they use
> 'proper' pwm, so the fan gets the full 12V, but for a variable amount of
> time... you can dial-in the right mix of 'loudness' vs 'throughput'...

Zalman Fanmates - I use them on my modded Pundit-R on the PSU and CPU
fans to get adequate cooling and less noise and they work very well.

Nick


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