Can't control my case fans

[Senotajs]

A little while ago I bought a new case and a new motherboard. (BitFenix Neos Window and Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3). Two case fans came together with the case, both of them are 3pin and 12V if i'm not mistaken. One front fan and one rear fan. Rear fan is connected in sys_fan2 which is a 3 pin connector and front fan is connected in sys_fan1 which is a 4 pin connector. Last week I bought BetFenix Spectre LED PWM fan and I installed it in PWR connector which has 3pin connector, the fan itself has 4pin connector.

The problem is that my fans always run at full speed, two of the fans run at 1300RPM and the newest one runs at 1700RPM. They make too much noise, even with my headset on I can hear the fans. Is there a way of setting all 3 fans at speed of 700-1000RPM? I tried speedfan software but I could not make any fans change the speed, a part from CPU fan. I also tried to set fan speed in BIOS but nothing worked.

Here is the picture of current bios settings. I had speed control set to manual and changed the values but the fan speed stayed same.
http://i.imgur.com/bD9Jg7G.jpg

 

[Darkbreeze]

That four pin PWM header does not support 3 pin voltage control operation and the pwr-fan connector is a full time, full speed connection that cannot be controlled. If you want to be able to control the fan speed for all your case fans, then I'd suggest you use the four pin PWM fan header for your four pin PWM fan and get a splitter to use the sys_fan 2 voltage controlled header. Do not use the pwr fan header unless you want the fan running full speed.

https://www.amazon.com/Splitter-Extension-Sleeving-Connectors-Length/dp/B00C46DX4S



Or get something like the Grid+ v2 that allows you to connect both voltage and pwm controlled fans, and create precise profiles for each fan or run them all off the same profile.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi_mqKS1cPNAhVL7oMKHQ22DnYQFggeMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzxt.com%2Fproducts%2Fgrid-plus-v2&usg=AFQjCNFpHIa4MQOdrnPIqzu21omLeEiFPw&sig2=7ocFsQPUOHibwERx9b9HJg

 

[Senotajs]

That four pin PWM header does not support 3 pin voltage control operation and the pwr-fan connector is a full time, full speed connection that cannot be controlled. If you want to be able to control the fan speed for all your case fans, then I'd suggest you use the four pin PWM fan header for your four pin PWM fan and get a splitter to use the sys_fan 2 voltage controlled header. Do not use the pwr fan header unless you want the fan running full speed.

https://www.amazon.com/Splitter-Extension-Sleeving-Connectors-Length/dp/B00C46DX4S



Or get something like the Grid+ v2 that allows you to connect both voltage and pwm controlled fans, and create precise profiles for each fan or run them all off the same profile.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi_mqKS1cPNAhVL7oMKHQ22DnYQFggeMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzxt.com%2Fproducts%2Fgrid-plus-v2&usg=AFQjCNFpHIa4MQOdrnPIqzu21omLeEiFPw&sig2=7ocFsQPUOHibwERx9b9HJg

So I have to connect my 4pin fan into 4pin connector(sys_fan1), right? Could you give me some more information about splitter? Do I just plug one end in sys_fan2 header(I suppose its female) and then two other ends(male) in fans? Do you know how I could control all of the fans if I did what you recommended with 4pin and splitter?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Yes, Four pin fan to four pin header. One end of three pin fan splitter to Sys_fan 2 3 pin header and the fans will then connect to the two other ends of the splitter. Then make adjustments to the fan profiles in the bios. Some bios only have a single smart profile based on thermals and can only be either on or off, while other BIOS have complex profile settings that can be configured per fan. Most have something more like a normal, silent and performance setting though.

 

[Senotajs]

Yes, Four pin fan to four pin header. One end of three pin fan splitter to Sys_fan 2 3 pin header and the fans will then connect to the two other ends of the splitter. Then make adjustments to the fan profiles in the bios. Some bios only have a single smart profile based on thermals and can only be either on or off, while other BIOS have complex profile settings that can be configured per fan. Most have something more like a normal, silent and performance setting though.

Could you please look at the screenshot of bios below and tell me what I would have to change to control the fans? It only gives me option to control sys_fan1 and thats where the 4pin fan would go. I have no idea how I would control 3pin fans. I unplugged 4pin fan because of the loudness, it was plugged in power fan header.
http://i.imgur.com/bD9Jg7G.jpg

 

[Darkbreeze]

You're probably not seeing it because you don't have a proper fan connected to that header. Plug one of your three pin fans into the sys fan 2 and plug the 4 pin into the sys fan 1. Leave the other 3 pin disconnected for now, and check the bios settings. According to the bios there should be only one setting for the case fans which is either smart fan on or off.

Make sure you have the latest bios installed. Changes to fan control methods often happen between bios versions.

 

[Senotajs]

You're probably not seeing it because you don't have a proper fan connected to that header. Plug one of your three pin fans into the sys fan 2 and plug the 4 pin into the sys fan 1. Leave the other 3 pin disconnected for now, and check the bios settings. According to the bios there should be only one setting for the case fans which is either smart fan on or off.

Make sure you have the latest bios installed. Changes to fan control methods often happen between bios versions.

Thanks for now, I'm waiting for 3pin splitter. Can I send you a private message if something goes wrong?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Sure, but I prefer to discuss it here that way it can and probably will, help the next person with a similar issue.

 

[Senotajs]

Ohh ok, i hope nobody will close this thread. 3pin splitter should arrive today or tomorrow.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Nobody will close the thread. I am a moderator and it is an active thread, so it's not going to be closed until and unless I close it.

 

[Senotajs]

Today 3pin splitter arrived, I have installed it already. 4pin fan is still running at full speed even though I have changed its settings many times. Also I can't control 3 pin fans which are connected through splitter, there is no option in bios to control those fans. Could there be problem in all of 3 fans since none of them are responding? I heard that there is a way of limiting voltage to fan, how would I do it? Now its showing that sys_fan2 is running at 1300RPM, does that mean each of the fan run at 1300RPM or each of them run roughly at ~650? I'm allright with 3pin fans since they don't make as much noise, I would like to decrease RPM for 4pin fan(sys_fan1).

 

[Darkbreeze]

There will only be one RPM signal for the two fans that are sharing the splitter off the sys fan 2 header. So whatever it says should be accurate for both fans if they are both the same model, within a reasonable differential for differences in individual fan motor characteristics.

What is the model number of your four pin fan?

 

[Senotajs]

There will only be one RPM signal for the two fans that are sharing the splitter off the sys fan 2 header. So whatever it says should be accurate for both fans if they are both the same model, within a reasonable differential for differences in individual fan motor characteristics.

What is the model number of your four pin fan?

BitFenix Spectre LED PWM
Model: BFF-BLF-P12025W-RP

 

[Darkbreeze]

What REVISION is your 990FXA-UD3 motherboard? It should list the revision number on the motherboard or the box the motherboard came in. Probably on both.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Apparently, and this is pretty stupid, that four pin header is NOT a PWM header. You will need to use a voltage controlled four pin or a three pin fan on that header if you want to control it. Personally, I'd suggest you simply bite the bullet and get a fan controller of some kind. The NZXT Grid+ v2 is fantastic, works with both 3 pin voltage controlled and 4 pin PWM fans and allows you to drop fan speeds as low as 20% with individually configurable profiles. It's about thirty bucks. You can connect six fans directly to it, or up to 12 fans using splitters. Seems the fan options on your motherboard are somewhat limited after looking more closely.

Or, just get another three pin fan and connect it to the four pin sys fan 1 header. You can verify control function by connecting one of your current 3 pin fans to that header to see that it does in fact work. Stupid to have a four pin header that doesn't do PWM control.

 

[Senotajs]

Apparently, and this is pretty stupid, that four pin header is NOT a PWM header. You will need to use a voltage controlled four pin or a three pin fan on that header if you want to control it. Personally, I'd suggest you simply bite the bullet and get a fan controller of some kind. The NZXT Grid+ v2 is fantastic, works with both 3 pin voltage controlled and 4 pin PWM fans and allows you to drop fan speeds as low as 20% with individually configurable profiles. It's about thirty bucks. You can connect six fans directly to it, or up to 12 fans using splitters. Seems the fan options on your motherboard are somewhat limited after looking more closely.

Or, just get another three pin fan and connect it to the four pin sys fan 1 header. You can verify control function by connecting one of your current 3 pin fans to that header to see that it does in fact work. Stupid to have a four pin header that doesn't do PWM control.

Do you still need REVISION? Can you recommend me some good 3pin fans for sys_fan1 header which cost around $12?

 

[Darkbreeze]

120mm or 140mm? Where is this fan going? Front, rear, top?

 

[Senotajs]

120mm fan, it would go in front.

 

[Darkbreeze]

These:


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Case Fan: Cougar Vortex 60.4 CFM 120mm Fan ($13.04 @ Amazon)
Total: $13.04
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-06-30 12:32 EDT-0400



Or these:


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Case Fan: Noctua NF-S12B redux-1200 59.1 CFM 120mm Fan ($13.69 @ OutletPC)
Total: $13.69
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-06-30 12:33 EDT-0400

 

[Senotajs]

For those fans which you recommended me I had to pay $10+ dollars for postage so I decided to look for myself.

Are any of these going to work?
https://www.scan.co.uk/products/120mm-antec-truequiet-120-ufo-white-600-1000rpm-211-463cfm-89-199db-black-case-fan-with-white-led
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/nzxt-fz-120-airflow-fan-series-120mm-fg-007-nx.html
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/nzxt-fz-120-airflow-fan-series-white-led-120mm-fg-008-nx.html
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/corsair-sp120-single-pack-white-led-fanco-9050020-ww-fg-032-cs.html

 

[Darkbreeze]

The NZXT fans are ok. The Corsair SP120's are ok too. Not as good as the two I listed, but better than a lot of other fans.

 

[Senotajs]

If I buy one of NZXT fans or Corsair SP120 would they be 3pin and they should definitely respond to my bios settings?

 

[Darkbreeze]

I'd go with this fan. Shouldn't be major shipping like the others I linked earlier.


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Case Fan: Noctua NF-S12B redux-1200 59.1 CFM 120mm Fan (£9.99 @ Ebuyer)
Total: £9.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-02 02:18 BST+0100

 

[Senotajs]

Ok, thanks, I will probably buy it in near future. Is that a pwm fan? Would I be able to control it through bios if its plugged in sys_fan1?

 

[Darkbreeze]

No, it's a three pin fan. Any three pin voltage controlled fan should work on your four pin header, because that header is NOT a PWM header. It's a four pin voltage controlled header. One of the pins is "reserved" and is there for nothing. Like I said before, stupid design.