H100i GTX cannot go below 40% fan speed?

[Chiuy]

I recently purchased a H100i GTX and using Corsair Link to control the fan. Right now, I can only manually control fan speed as low as 40% spinning at 1250 - 1350 RPM. The fans are actually pretty loud especially when I'm not doing any hardcore tasks. Temperatures do stay at around 29C, but like I said, I can't seem to control it to go lower than 40% or to turn it off without unplugging it.

 

[nukemaster]

If your board has 2 cpu headers or you use a splitter(y cable), you can try them on the board instead.

 

[Chiuy]

My board is a mini itx and I put it in the CPU slot. I can control the fans at higher 40%+, but the system is not letting me go below 40%.

 

[Unolocogringo]

Check your bios options..
Many have fan duty and speed control settings.

 

[nukemaster]

You can not go under 40% on the board either then?(many go down to 20%)

Your next best option may be voltage reduction cables. they sell them online and they are little more than a resistor(about 50 ohm) in-line with the fans. This would lower the voltage(by wasting some of it as heat) and thus slow the fan down.

Slower fans may be an option, but it will cost more.

 

[Chiuy]

I'll just unplug them for now. The temperature for my CPU doesn't even exceed higher than 60C with no fans at gaming.

 

[Karadjgne]

Corsair link isn't gospel, there's more people with more issues with it than there are people who have no issues. So take CL results with a grain of salt.

Fans have a need for a certain amount of power to start. The best fans are efficient enough to only require enough to start them @20% rpm, your Corsair fans are extremely typical at requiring enough power that 40% rpm is the low end cap. That said, those fans should be max out at @2700rpm. So the 1250rpm reading is about right.
If you use a 7v inline power converter ($3 wire) you can drop those fans to @850rpm. You won't get max 2700 rpm though. Best option would be to replace the fans with a better design, such as Noctua nf-p12 or Phanteks PH-F120MP (@$17 each). This'll give equitable results at @400-1500rpm

 

[nukemaster]

If you do replace them make sure you get PWM ones. If it is anything like the H80i, it will not control 3 pin fans at all.

If the thing runs cool with no fans, I would run them on 5 volts(another cheap cable) just to ensure you keep some airflow over the radiator.

 

[Chiuy]

Do you have links to where I can find those 5v/7v cables to use for my fans? I also have some Corsair AF 120 in which I turn off completely since they run at 40% max too on the mobo. Can I do the same thing to those fans?

 

[nukemaster]

This is an example of such adapters.

https://www.amazon.com/Silent-3-Speed-Cable-Regulator-12V/dp/B000XQOQSS

The connect to the power supply not board. This one uses a resistor for the "7volt" line, depending on the fan it will not always be 7 volts, but the 5 volts comes right off the power supply. I have some of these from Zalman with 2 x 12 and 2 x 5 volt.

They are like this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812379009

I would shop around for the best price(these are not a expensive item and I got mine with coolers in the past) or even build your own if you want.

EDIT.
You fams are 4 pin, these adapters would work, but have to have the side removed. This leaves the pwm wire unconnected(this is not a problem thanks to the fans backwards compatibility)