Corsair H80i with aftermarket fans, speed setting issue

[Rafiul27]

hi, i bought a corsair H80i closed loop water cooling CPU cooler. i took out the stock fans and installed 2 corsair SPF120 quiet editions in there, once its all set up, when i push the button the speed of the fans do not change RPM like they do when the stock fans are installed.

i removed the stock fans because they are far too cheap and noisy.

is the corsair h80i only meant to be used with stock fans?

thanks

 

[Paperdoc]

Well, the original fans are Corsair SP120L models with max speed of 2700 rpm and max air flow of 74 CFM. They are the 4-pin type, which likely means the sockets on the pump body they plug into are of that type and use the PWM control system.

Your replacements are Corsair SPF120 Quiet Edition, which have max speed of 1100 rom and air flow of 40 CFM. Sure they'll be quieter - the only run less than half the speed and deliver about half the cooling air! So even if they run constantly at full speed, they might do as well as your original fans at under half speed. Since you say the original fans were too loud, maybe you were using a lot more cooling before than you have available now. In addition, those fans are of the 3-pin design. This means that IF they are plugged into a 4-pin header operating in PWM Mode (likely), they cannot be speed controlled - they can only run full speed all the time.

Ever hear the old saying "There's no free lunch"? Did you think you would get big-time cooling for your CPU system with slow fans? By the way, the common way for a fan maker to make a "quiet" fan is to slow it down and take less air flow.

 

[Rafiul27]

Well, the original fans are Corsair SP120L models with max speed of 2700 rpm and max air flow of 74 CFM. They are the 4-pin type, which likely means the sockets on the pump body they plug into are of that type and use the PWM control system.

Your replacements are Corsair SPF120 Quiet Edition, which have max speed of 1100 rom and air flow of 40 CFM. Sure they'll be quieter - the only run less than half the speed and deliver about half the cooling air! So even if they run constantly at full speed, they might do as well as your original fans at under half speed. Since you say the original fans were too loud, maybe you were using a lot more cooling before than you have available now. In addition, those fans are of the 3-pin design. This means that IF they are plugged into a 4-pin header operating in PWM Mode (likely), they cannot be speed controlled - they can only run full speed all the time.

Ever hear the old saying "There's no free lunch"? Did you think you would get big-time cooling for your CPU system with slow fans? By the way, the common way for a fan maker to make a "quiet" fan is to slow it down and take less air flow.

Thanks for the response and yes it makes sense. I know they have a max rpm of 1100 spf120's, but all the software measuring programmes say it's on 550rpm or something permanently. I was using hwmonitor, speed fan etc. Since it doesn't utilise the four pin, surely the spf120's are running consistently at 100% but clearly not 1100? Hmm..

 

[Paperdoc]

I am not sure those tools can read the fan speeds correctly. The Corsair system comes with Corsair Link software that must be installed to control their system's fans. That software also shuold read and display those speeds properly. See what that says. Also review how that software is set up to control CPU cooling.

I am presuming that you have followed the Corsair system instructions so that the fans on the radiator are plugged into the fan socket on the side of the Corsair pump unit. Correct?

 

[Rafiul27]

I am not sure those tools can read the fan speeds correctly. The Corsair system comes with Corsair Link software that must be installed to control their system's fans. That software also shuold read and display those speeds properly. See what that says. Also review how that software is set up to control CPU cooling.

I am presuming that you have followed the Corsair system instructions so that the fans on the radiator are plugged into the fan socket on the side of the Corsair pump unit. Correct?

Yeah it's connected to the side of the CPU block. Is the corsair link software free to install? I don't remember seeing anything in the instructions or a disk for installation.

 

[Paperdoc]

Yeah, I see on the Corsair site that the Corsair Link stuff is something you must download (for free). Go here:

http://www.corsair.com/en-ca/hydro-series-h80i-high-performance-liquid-cpu-cooler

for the Link manual and installer, and a copy of the cooler system installation manual. My understanding is that, with the Corsair H80i and similar products from them, the mobo automatic fan control system is NOT used, and control of the radiator fans is done only by the installed Link software.

 

[Rafiul27]

Yeah, I see on the Corsair site that the Corsair Link stuff is something you must download (for free). Go here:

http://www.corsair.com/en-ca/hydro-series-h80i-high-performance-liquid-cpu-cooler

for the Link manual and installer, and a copy of the cooler system installation manual. My understanding is that, with the Corsair H80i and similar products from them, the mobo automatic fan control system is NOT used, and control of the radiator fans is done only by the installed Link software.

my apologies, it is a Corsair H80. regardless, i have the latest version of corsair link installed now. what shall i do next.

 

[Paperdoc]

Use the Corsair Link software. It has places to set options for its operations, but also lots of displays of information like the speed of the fans you have connected to the ports on the pump. That is where you'll get accurate readings.