Question Help with Case Fan settings. And question about "ticking" fan.

[stebobibo]

It's my first time using PWM case fans, and I'm wondering what settings to use in the bios.

What to select for "temperature source"? The options are: CPU, System, MOS, PCH, CPU socket. Also, could someone please explain what MOS and PCH are? And what is difference between CPU and CPU socket?

What to select for "step up time"? Goes from 0.1 (default) to 0.7.

What to select for "step down time"? Also starts at 0.1, but goes to 1.0

What is "Smart fan Mode", and should I select it?

Does selecting between the temp sources (top left of screen. CPU, MOS,etc) do anything? Or is that only for changing the graph?

Here are pictures. Sorry for poor quality, I don't know way of taking screenshots in bios (let me know if there's a way). I only have 1 fan connected at this point cause I was testing with it. I'm using 3 case fans total, 1 exhaust in top back of case, 2 intakes in front.
All fans are same model: Silent Wings 4 120mm PWM.
Case is: GAMEMAX Titan Silent Black Steel ATX Full Tower. Pic of it below.

https://imgur.com/a/Fb0sGp6

View: https://imgur.com/a/Fb0sGp6

Lastly, I have a problem with one of the fans "ticking' when in PWM mode. Only the top fan does this. The others don't when in PWM mode. It is the only fan exhausting air. Maybe that's why? Or because of its position? But when I switch it to DC, it doesn't tick anymore. To describe the sound more: it sounds like the ticking of the "seconds" hand of a clock, except it ticks more than once a second.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Eximo]

What to select for "temperature source"? The options are: CPU, System, MOS, PCH, CPU socket. Also, could someone please explain what MOS and PCH are? And what is difference between CPU and CPU socket?

CPU would be sensors on the CPU reporting to the motherboard.
CPU Socket is the sensor the motherboard has near the CPU
PCH (Platform Controller Hub) Modern term for the chipset that runs the motherboard
MOS is short for MOSFETs, essentially the Voltage Regulation Modules that take in 12V and convert it to the ~1 volt the CPU runs on. It is the stuff covered in heatsinks (generally) surrounding the CPU.
GPU of course would be the GPU temperature.

You pick the one you want the fans to follow. If you are gaming, generally that would be GPU temperature.

What to select for "step up time"? Goes from 0.1 (default) to 0.7.

This is how quickly the fans follow increases in temperature. A brief calculation by the CPU can add like 20 degrees to the temperature for an instant, if make it too quick the fan speed will vary constantly.

What to select for "step down time"? Also starts at 0.1, but goes to 1.0

Same as above, they give a little more option so that your system can spend a little extra time cooling a warm system.

What is "Smart fan Mode", and should I select it?

Basically a dynamic profile that will set an automatic fan curve based on some temperature value. This varies somewhat by each board vendor.

Does selecting between the temp sources (top left of screen. CPU, MOS,etc) do anything? Or is that only for changing the graph?

You can set up graphs for each of these sensor options.

Ticking: Sign of an unbalanced fan. If DC mode makes it quieter, that means that you may just need to spin that one faster in PWM mode to prevent the blades from wobbling and hitting the sides. You can also get it warranty replaced if you want to go down that route. Usually cheaper to just order another though.

 

[stebobibo]

@Eximo Thank you so much for your detailed response! You've helped me a lot already, but could I ask for some suggestions?
What would you suggest I put my settings at ( for step-up, down, smart fan)?

Ticking: Sign of an unbalanced fan. If DC mode makes it quieter, that means that you may just need to spin that one faster in PWM mode to prevent the blades from wobbling and hitting the sides. You can also get it warranty replaced if you want to go down that route. Usually cheaper to just order another though.

That's unfortunate. While I wait for a replacement fan, how can I adjust the settings to prevent that? You said I may need to spin it faster, but I didn't see an option to choose fan speed directly? Or is that what the graph does (can you click it to plot a curve?)? If so, what should my curve be like? Any good ones on the internet to copy?

 

[Eximo]

@Eximo Thank you so much for your detailed response! You've helped me a lot already, but could I ask for some suggestions?
What would you suggest I put my settings at ( for step-up, down, smart fan)?

That's unfortunate. While I wait for a replacement fan, how can I adjust the settings to prevent that? You said I may need to spin it faster, but I didn't see an option to choose fan speed directly? Or is that what the graph does (can you click it to plot a curve?)? If so, what should my curve be like? Any good ones on the internet to copy?

Yes, those define the fan curves. RPM is across the bottom (X) and temperature is usually the vertical (Y)

You have to set it up to your temperature and noise tolerance. Not really anything useful out there to copy.

Generally you want computers to stay below 80C, though CPUs can operate up to 95C or so. Current AMD systems will target 95C to get the most performance possible, so a bit of an exception.

How loud the system becomes is the purpose of the fan curves. You can sacrifice a little performance for a much quieter system.