Question Fans are too loud ?

[Metalrocks]

Hi,

Today I assembled a whole new rig and for the first time, I installed an AIO cooler. So far it all runs well, and the display shows the CPU at 46C in idle mode or at least when running Window 11. but the fans are just obnoxiously loud. However, I can't really figure out if it's the fans of the AIO or even the case fans.

AIO: Thermalright grand vision 360 ARGB. 3 fans 120mm. According to the box, the noise level is listed at 29.4db.

Case: Antec C5. 7 120mm fans. All are working fine.

I have tried setting the fan speeds in bios of my AsRock B850 ATX motherboard. Changed to silent mode and to PWM, but to no avail.

I'm at a bit of a loss what could be the cause and how I can reduce this noise. If it's the case fans, I haven't had much luck finding a solution or even a software that could effect the fans.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Lutfij]

Perhaps roll up a sheet of A4 paper into a cylinder, holding one end of the tube to your ear while the other inspects for the source of the sound. You could also try and disconnect a group of fans, like the case fans to rule out if the noise is coming from the case fans themselves. If the noise if coming from the case fans but you're not sure which one is the culprit(if you have more than 2 fans), then dial down by disconnecting one of said case fans and narrow down the source of the noise.

I noticed that the fans in your case are PWM;
https://www.antec.com/product/case/c5
This leads me to ask, how are the fans hooked up to the motherboard?

 

[Metalrocks]

Perhaps roll up a sheet of A4 paper into a cylinder, holding one end of the tube to your ear while the other inspects for the source of the sound. You could also try and disconnect a group of fans, like the case fans to rule out if the noise is coming from the case fans themselves. If the noise if coming from the case fans but you're not sure which one is the culprit(if you have more than 2 fans), then dial down by disconnecting one of said case fans and narrow down the source of the noise.

I noticed that the fans in your case are PWM;
https://www.antec.com/product/case/c5
This leads me to ask, how are the fans hooked up to the motherboard?

There is a small controller at the bottom of the case behind the motherboard. If you look at the manual, you will see it. And no, there isn't a switch. or anything that could reduce the speed.

I did press my ear to the fans and I think it's more from the case. But, I like to be optimistic and think it could be the AIO fans too. Only no idea how I can adjust it since nothing through bios works.

Small update.
After playing a game, I did hear the AIO fans getting slightly louder. So I think that it has to be the case fans. Is there a way to reduce the speed at all?

 

[Paperdoc]

I presume you have connected the fan motor cables from each of the case fans supplied to output ports of the small Fan Hub board included in the case. Likewise, I assume you also have connected to that board's 3-pin ARGB outputs the cables from each fan's lights. One item to note here: for the fan MOTOR (4-pin) ports only ONE of them can report its fan's speed to the mobo host header. It should be labelled in some way, perhaps a #1. Ensure one fan is plugged in there.

From your description I deduce that there is NO speed control signal being sent to that Hub. To get speed control you MUST connect a cable from the board's bottom centre connector to TWO places on the mobo, because the cable supplied is two-headed. One of these has only 3 holes (looks like it had 4 but one is plugged) and this must go to one of the mobo ADDR_LED headers (see manual p.51). Do NOT try to connect this to the 4-pin RGB_LED header at bottom edge near the rear (p. 50). For the second connector from the Hub with 4 holes, that must go to a mobo CHA_FAN header (p. 44). See the separate BIOS Setup Guide manual on p.70 for how to adjust the settings of the particular CHA_FAN header you have used. Set its MODE to PWM, not DC and not Auto. Set Setting to Standard Mode, and Temp Source to Monitor MB, not to CPU. This will ensure that the fan motors powered by that Hub board will be controlled by the PWM signal from that mobo header and that will be guided by the temperature sensor on the mobo. Without that connection to the CHA_FAN header this board has no speed control signal and will let the fans run full speed always.

A little hint about the LIGHTS in those fans that the manuals do not tell you. That board allows you to change lighting displays manually using the case front panel Reset button IF you connect the cable from the case front Reset button to the board's RESET 2-pin connector instead of leaving it on the mobo Front Panel header. But it has a much better alternative when you do connect from the Hub board to a mobo ADDR_LED header - it can let you use the mobo software utility to configure your lights. But to get that to work, many such boards require you to tell it to turn over control to that external signal. To do that you DO need to have the Reset button cable connected to this board. Then you push and HOLD the Reset button on your case for about 5 sec and it changes to using the signals from the mobo ADDR_LED header for lighting display control.

 

[MJS WARLORD]

I have a suggestion that you may or may not want to try , unplug all your case fans but do not disconnect the aio cooler , if the noise does not happen when you turn on the pc then it would point to one of the case fans ,
Dont disconnect the gpu because the fans should not run after a quick spin at boot up unless you play a game.

Do you have a side fan , the fan on mine was noisy when i got my new rig and it turned out to be the dust mesh rubbing against the fan blades and i cured it by turning one of the mounting screws a quarter turn.

 

[Metalrocks]

I presume you have connected the fan motor cables from each of the case fans supplied to output ports of the small Fan Hub board included in the case. Likewise, I assume you also have connected to that board's 3-pin ARGB outputs the cables from each fan's lights. One item to note here: for the fan MOTOR (4-pin) ports only ONE of them can report its fan's speed to the mobo host header. It should be labelled in some way, perhaps a #1. Ensure one fan is plugged in there.

From your description I deduce that there is NO speed control signal being sent to that Hub. To get speed control you MUST connect a cable from the board's bottom centre connector to TWO places on the mobo, because the cable supplied is two-headed. One of these has only 3 holes (looks like it had 4 but one is plugged) and this must go to one of the mobo ADDR_LED headers (see manual p.51). Do NOT try to connect this to the 4-pin RGB_LED header at bottom edge near the rear (p. 50). For the second connector from the Hub with 4 holes, that must go to a mobo CHA_FAN header (p. 44). See the separate BIOS Setup Guide manual on p.70 for how to adjust the settings of the particular CHA_FAN header you have used. Set its MODE to PWM, not DC and not Auto. Set Setting to Standard Mode, and Temp Source to Monitor MB, not to CPU. This will ensure that the fan motors powered by that Hub board will be controlled by the PWM signal from that mobo header and that will be guided by the temperature sensor on the mobo. Without that connection to the CHA_FAN header this board has no speed control signal and will let the fans run full speed always.

A little hint about the LIGHTS in those fans that the manuals do not tell you. That board allows you to change lighting displays manually using the case front panel Reset button IF you connect the cable from the case front Reset button to the board's RESET 2-pin connector instead of leaving it on the mobo Front Panel header. But it has a much better alternative when you do connect from the Hub board to a mobo ADDR_LED header - it can let you use the mobo software utility to configure your lights. But to get that to work, many such boards require you to tell it to turn over control to that external signal. To do that you DO need to have the Reset button cable connected to this board. Then you push and HOLD the Reset button on your case for about 5 sec and it changes to using the signals from the mobo ADDR_LED header for lighting display control.

Thanks. I did know about the lights being adjustable before I bought the case. The site I bought it from described it very clearly. and I did try the modes in bios.

I actually found the issue. Because the case isn't very tall, the GPU support was sitting on top of the case fans frames. And no, there is no way around it. Anyway, as mentioned, the GPU support was on top of the fans (blades not touching it, btw) which caused this loud humming noise that I thought was just fans running at full speed.
I just wedged something there and its so much quieter now. still hearing the fans as such but at a bearable stage. No more this loud, humming sound that I had before.

 

[MJS WARLORD]

Thanks. I did know about the lights being adjustable before I bought the case. The site I bought it from described it very clearly. and I did try the modes in bios.

I actually found the issue. Because the case isn't very tall, the GPU support was sitting on top of the case fans frames. And no, there is no way around it. Anyway, as mentioned, the GPU support was on top of the fans (blades not touching it, btw) which caused this loud humming noise that I thought was just fans running at full speed.
I just wedged something there and its so much quieter now. still hearing the fans as such but at a bearable stage. No more this loud, humming sound that I had before.

i just been looking on amazon for you , did you know its possible to buy sheets of foam to deaden the sound in a pc case , it is available in various thickness and price range , here is an example.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SilverSton...07573&sprefix=pc+sound+proofing,aps,73&sr=8-5

 

[Metalrocks]

i just been looking on amazon for you , did you know its possible to buy sheets of foam to deaden the sound in a pc case , it is available in various thickness and price range , here is an example.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SilverStone-SST-SF01-Computer-Absorber-530x380x4/dp/B0044UZWL4/ref=sr_1_5?crid=25WUQ1YVUXSFT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SPlxJnWPmN6Yb3ZNXut5AdsNR8JJ7MWsgayCjgAshyhR6VS3ejr5JQ8qWJ83_IKVzlqfiL2q9PnJXLJE2XyBz4WJBmJTEjmxdV_li1zCJXfb51szj2-euBbBvfoncvedFMBXWTfPVAffS0fGED_2kzx05r15EX6xKke-BCvAkY36lw1JwMCq4NjquYzrUdgde8lMbNKLpjCZOHl54ai07iZKp1E9NDI_Q1vsQV0NM0NO3SOe6NCMXwFmx_pgBrrtoGuoPMAg1G5QhyPMzATzLpFIiseAQYu9EKKcU65pq7Q._ncFkS_g8qY7LRcKOB_xRvF_ZcP21wM9D315DUqPSC0&dib_tag=se&keywords=pc+case+sound+proofing&qid=1746807573&sprefix=pc+sound+proofing,aps,73&sr=8-5

no, I didn't know of such things. Although I would have no idea where I could fit it since the top needs to be open for the fans to do their work.
Down the line I may do it if the sounds gets unbearable.

I did try a software that controls every fan on a computer. Sadly it didn't work.

 

[Paperdoc]

Glad you found the cause and solution. For adjusting fan settings, BIOS Setup works but is a bit inconvenient, but there is a software tool you have already but may not know about. It is included in a utility probably already installed on your system called ASRock Motherboard Utility, or maybe the ASRock App Shop. It just runs as a Windows app in normal operations, You can use that to access and adjust many mobo parameters instead of using BIOS Setup. Within that find OC Tuner, and in that you can see and adjust fan headers. Since it is provided by the mobo maker, it will work for you.

 

[Metalrocks]

Glad you found the cause and solution. For adjusting fan settings, BIOS Setup works but is a bit inconvenient, but there is a software tool you have already but may not know about. It is included in a utility probably already installed on your system called ASRock Motherboard Utility, or maybe the ASRock App Shop. It just runs as a Windows app in normal operations, You can use that to access and adjust many mobo parameters instead of using BIOS Setup. Within that find OC Tuner, and in that you can see and adjust fan headers. Since it is provided by the mobo maker, it will work for you.

Didn't have the app so I gave it a shot.
Sadly it doesn't seem to recognize the case fans. It does say "Chassis fans 1-3, but no speed listed. The only ones showing are my AIO cooler and the CPU fan 2.
The AIO pump speed is over 4300 RPM.

From what I read, this should not be touched at all. Unless I misunderstood, then kindly correct me. But as mentioned, no case fans.

 

[Paperdoc]

Those case fans all are connected to the fan HUB board, right? So first of all, it has FOUR fan motor outputs and you have three fans. You say you cannot s"see" the speed of any of them. Well, you should be able to see the speed of only ONE of them and assume the others are the same. BUT to do that, you MUST have one of those fans plugged into the ONLY board output that does send its fan speed back to the host header on the mobo. So try moving one fan's cable to the only hub output you are NOT using, and see if the speed shows up.

ALSO, to get this to do speed control AND show you the speed, you MUST connect that board to a mobo CHA_FAN header. Use the second part of the board's 2-headed cable to do that. The ensure that the header is set to use PWM Mode, not DC and not Auto.

 

[Metalrocks]

Those case fans all are connected to the fan HUB board, right? So first of all, it has FOUR fan motor outputs and you have three fans. You say you cannot s"see" the speed of any of them. Well, you should be able to see the speed of only ONE of them and assume the others are the same. BUT to do that, you MUST have one of those fans plugged into the ONLY board output that does send its fan speed back to the host header on the mobo. So try moving one fan's cable to the only hub output you are NOT using, and see if the speed shows up.

ALSO, to get this to do speed control AND show you the speed, you MUST connect that board to a mobo CHA_FAN header. Use the second part of the board's 2-headed cable to do that. The ensure that the header is set to use PWM Mode, not DC and not Auto.

I feel like an idiot now.
True, it's not connected to the MB. However, we are talking about 7 fans and they are connected all to that hub. Which is therefor connected to the PSU. I try to have a look and see if there is a way around it.

 

[Paperdoc]

Sorry, I got confused. The Hub does have eight motor ports, and you say you are using seven of those for case fans, right? Of course the Hub will have a connection to the PSU and that's how it gets all power for fan motors and for the fan lights. But the board does no know how to CONTROL the motor speeds. That is why one "arm" of the two-header cable from the Hub MUST go to a mobo CHA_FAN header. That connection does TWO things you do not have yet: gets the mobo header speed control signal (PWM) to the Hub and returns FROM the Hub the speed of ONE fan that is plugged into the ONLY output that can do that. And the CHA_FAN header must be set to use PWM Mode of control signals.

 

[Metalrocks]

Sorry, I got confused. The Hub does have eight motor ports, and you say you are using seven of those for case fans, right? Of course the Hub will have a connection to the PSU and that's how it gets all power for fan motors and for the fan lights. But the board does no know how to CONTROL the motor speeds. That is why one "arm" of the two-header cable from the Hub MUST go to a mobo CHA_FAN header. That connection does TWO things you do not have yet: gets the mobo header speed control signal (PWM) to the Hub and returns FROM the Hub the speed of ONE fan that is plugged into the ONLY output that can do that. And the CHA_FAN header must be set to use PWM Mode of control signals.

once I have a bit more time I try to have a look at it.

 

[Metalrocks]

OK, so I had a look again and yeah, sadly each and every fan is connected directly to that hub. and the power source is through a wider SATA connection that is connected to the PSU.

 

[Paperdoc]

So the Hub board has a power connection from the PSU, as expected. But did you ALSO use the two-headed cable supplied with that board to make the two connections to mobo headers (CHA_FAN and ADDR_LED)?

 

[Metalrocks]

So the Hub board has a power connection from the PSU, as expected. But did you ALSO use the two-headed cable supplied with that board to make the two connections to mobo headers (CHA_FAN and ADDR_LED)?

I'm such an idiot.
I thought I've connected it to the motherboard, but haven't. Now it's really quiet. All good now.
Thanks for the help, though. I may have realized the mistake much later on. If at all.

 

[Paperdoc]

Glad to hear this is resolved and working.

 

[Metalrocks]

Same. Really sounded like having a jet engine next to me. Not anymore.