Asus Fan Xpert 2 doesn't control the CPU fan - always running at max speed.

[MikeL1]

Hello,

I've built a system with the Asus Z87-A motherboard. The system has 3 PWM case fans and the Arctic Freezer 13 as the CPU fan. The CPU fan is a 4-pin PWM fan as well.

I have a problem with the Asus Fan Xpert 2 software (part of the AI suit 3). I can control the 3 PWM case fans, but I cannot control the CPU fan through the software. While the software is installed, the CPU fan is always running at max speed. The speed-temperature graph through which you control the fan speed at different temperatures is grey, and I cannot change the speed of the fan in any way. However, I can see the RPM of the fan.

I've tried running the auto tuning from the xpert multiple times, but nothing changes. It does recognize the case fans and modifies their speed graphs, but the CPU fan remain at max speed all the time.

I can control the CPU fan speed through the bios just fine, so its not a hardware issue. However, the Fan Xpert overrides the Bios settings, so even if I modify the fan speed at the Bios, as soon as I go to windows the CPU fan is back to full speed.

I had to uninstall the fan xpert, and disable the asus fan control service, to prevent the CPU fan from spinning at max speed all the time. Now the fan's speed is dependent on the CPU temperature, as it should be.

I tried updating the Bios to the latest version, as well as installing the latest version of the AI suit, but that didn't help.

Any ideas?

Thank you.

 

[Calvin7]

The CPU and CPU optional fan headers are the only PWN fan headers, the chassis fans are not PWN controlled headers.
Section 2.7 of the motherboard manual lists the CPU and Chassis Q-Fan controls.

 

[MikeL1]

The CPU and CPU optional fan headers are the only PWN fan headers, the chassis fans are not PWN controlled headers.
Section 2.7 of the motherboard manual lists the CPU and Chassis Q-Fan controls.

Are you sure the chassis fan headers are not PWM? I have connected the 3 chassis PWM fans to the 4-pin motherboard chassis headers, and I can control them fine through the Fan Xpert and through the BIOS, so this is not the issue. The fan I cant control through the fan xpert is the CPU PWM fan connected to the CPU header (not the CPU optional).

I know how to control the CPU and Chassis fans from the Q-Fan controls in the BIOS, my issue is that I cant control the CPU fan through the Fan Xpert.

 

[Calculatron]

That does definitely sound weird, especially with being able to control it in the BIOS.

I would double-check to make sure you're plugged into the right fan header. I have heard of other people having issues with the CPU_OPT Fan Header; tentative reading suggests it's meant for use in conjunction with the primary CPU Fan header in Push-Pull cooling configuration.

That said, make sure you're not "daisy-chaining" the CPU fan with the Arctic Cooling fans. Just to make sure all the bases are covered. The Freezer 13 should be able to utilize the PST function, reliably, just fine, but who knows.

Beyond that, I have no constructive input. Perhaps better luck can be had with a third-party fan controlling software? Or upgrade your cooler to an I30 Freezer; it uses an F12 fan, and is ridiculously silent.

 

[Calculatron]

(Whoops, was a bit too slow to hit the answer button.)

 

[MikeL1]

That does definitely sound weird, especially with being able to control it in the BIOS.

I would double-check to make sure you're plugged into the right fan header. I have heard of other people having issues with the CPU_OPT Fan Header; tentative reading suggests it's meant for use in conjunction with the primary CPU Fan header in Push-Pull cooling configuration.

That said, make sure you're not "daisy-chaining" the CPU fan with the Arctic Cooling fans. Just to make sure all the bases are covered. The Freezer 13 should be able to utilize the PST function, reliably, just fine, but who knows.

Beyond that, I have no constructive input. Perhaps better luck can be had with a third-party fan controlling software? Or upgrade your cooler to an I30 Freezer; it uses an F12 fan, and is ridiculously silent.

I definitely connected the fan to the right fan header, its even visible in the fan xpert (and the bios). I can see the RPM of the CPU fan, and since I do not have a CPU-OPT, I see it's RPM as 0.

What do you mean by ""daisy-chaining" the CPU fan with the Arctic Cooling fans."? How do I check that? I have every fan connected to a separate fan header on the motherboard.

What third party fan software would you recommend? I suspect that my issue is due to a bug in the Asus software, so a good third party fan control software might solve the issue.

 

[Calculatron]

If you have every fan attached to a different header, then no need to worry.

Arctic Cooling PWM F-series, including the Constant Operation (CO) variants, can "daisy-chain" - putting (in this case, wiring) multiple things in sequence together. That's the common term for it; Arctic Cooling calls it something more technical and dignified: PWN Sharing Technology (PST). Have you noticed that your fans have three adapters, two of which are a 3-pin and 4-pin? That third adapter, which is male, can be used to plug another PWM F-series fan to it, and they will use the same PWM signal and operate at the same speeds off from the same Fan Header. (Also works with Arctic Cooling's Memory Cooler kit.) Kind of neat, but mostly for people who are limited in 4-pin headers on their motherboards. More enthusiast-minded people might prefer a different set-up, but they might also be buying different fans. *Shrugs*

As for third party fan software, I am no expert, but in reading a lot of fan and heatsink reviews I often read/hear about Speedfan. I know it's free, so it won't hurt to give it a try. Tomorrow, when I am finished with work, perhaps I'll give it a try so I can see how it works myself.

 

[dangernat]

I had exactly the same issue with my system - running 3 Arctic F12 PWM case fans and an Arctic F9 PWM attached to a Coolermaster Blizzard T2 CPU heatsink. Asus Fan Expert 2 can control the case fans no problem but the cpu fan graph etc is all greyed out.

I found that my system was saying the the CPU fan should be running at full capacity around 1800rpm at 0% power and also at 100% power which seems to confuse it.

If you go into C:\ProgramData\ASUS\FanXpert\FanCalibrationData.XML and find the list of RPM's for the cpu fan you can adjust the numbers manaully. Below is what mine said before i changed it. I just adjusted the rpm0 line to 300rpm, saved and restarted the system. This allows me to control the speeds manually by adjusting the graph although the program wants me to run the autotune again. Dont do this or else you will be back to square 1 again.

-<root>


-<fan key="0">


-<rpmtable>

<rpm_0>1859</rpm_0>

<rpm_1>467</rpm_1>

<rpm_2>735</rpm_2>

<rpm_3>975</rpm_3>

<rpm_4>1184</rpm_4>

<rpm_5>1309</rpm_5>

<rpm_6>1436</rpm_6>

<rpm_7>1503</rpm_7>

<rpm_8>1599</rpm_8>

<rpm_9>1721</rpm_9>

<rpm_10>1841</rpm_10>

 

[tarasis]

@dangernat you beauty! Thank you. I was being driven potty trying to use Fan Xpert 3 of AI Suite 3, it kept not being able to control the cpu fan because like yourself and others it was putting flushed in for rpm_0.

Following your advice I edited the file (for me in C:\ProgramData\ASUS\DIP\FanXpert) and now I have blissful silence again. (Well except my Drobo) I think I may cap 100% to 2000 rpm, as 2250 is a little loud for my tastes.

Note I have an Arctic Cooler 13 and Asus Z97-A motherboard.

 

[dangernat]

Glad to be of some use! If your happy with the solution please select it as the best solution! thanks

 

[tarasis]

Glad to be of some use! If your happy with the solution please select it as the best solution! thanks

Well as it wasn't my question I don't think I can mark it as a solution.

I see I need to edit the fan profiles too. The Silent (ASUS) profile was at full speed.

 

[dangernat]

Glad to be of some use! If your happy with the solution please select it as the best solution! thanks

Well as it wasn't my question I don't think I can mark it as a solution.

I see I need to edit the fan profiles too. The Silent (ASUS) profile was at full speed.

Ahh yes thats fair enough then!

 

[Brian Heuer]

How did you edit the file? It keeps telling me access is denied. Also I am using notepad.


I figured it out shortly after. I used Notepad++ instead.