[mythtv-users] Fancontrol with replaced CPU fan

[Ian Clark]

2009/10/12 Johnny <jarpublic at gmail.com>

> I have an Asus M3N78-EM and I have been using fancontrol to keep the
> fans running slowly and quietly. It basically silent when idle and
> ramps up a bit while I am using the machine but then the sound is
> mostly covered by the audio out of mythtv. My CPU fan has recently
> started making a loud annoying whine every 15 minutes or so. I thought
> it would be simple to just replace the 70mm CPU fan, but there aren't
> many available. The ones I can find all seem to use 3 pin connectors
> rather than the 4 pin connector used by the cpu fan header. It is hard
> to track them down because seraching for "4 pin" turns up all of the
> fans that use 4 pin molex connectors. Is there a specific term for the
> 4 pin connector used on the cpu header? I would rather not get a whole
> new heatsink just to replace the fan. I am also really happy with
> fancontrol and prefer it to some sort of manual undervolting switch
> etc.
>
> The chassis fan uses a 3 pin header but fancontrol is able control
> that with PWM. However, my reading indicates that plugging a 3 pin fan
> into the 4 pin header will not work. I believe it will just run full
> blast all the time and won't have any PWM control. I am interested on
> opinions about my existing options or any better ideas.
>
> You should be fine with a 3 pin fan, I've got a 3 pin fan into a 4 pin
header and it is speed regulated just fine.

Infact, I don't think any of my CPU fans are 4 pins, and they all vary speed
according to BIOS settings. :) (One of these boards is an Asus too.)

1) Get a bigger 80mm or 90mm with a 4 pin connector and figure out
> some way to attach it to the heat sink (some have suggested 2 sided
> tape). This seems like the most likely if I can secure it in any
> acceptable way.
>
> You could also just buy a low noise 3 pin fan and run it full speed all the
time, you can get some very low noise fans these days.

Another option would be a manually variable fan, set it to a nice quiet
setting and just leave it.


> 2) Control both fans with the 3 pin chassis header and a y-splitter.
> (Will this even work, RPM readings, power?)
>
> I suspect this will not work, I suspect the sensor would get confused.


> 3) Get a whole new heatsink. This seems like a waste of money and
> space. I don't need things any cooler or a huge chunk of metal in my
> case.
>

How hot does it get? You may be well within tolerances?

Cheers,

Ian
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