Question Need Some Case Fan Cooling Advice

[MasterYoda327]

I am doing research for a new gaming PC. This PC will also be used for drone video editing. I also rip music CDs from time to time. I intend to replace my Corsair 600T case and am currently leaning toward either the Phanteks Enthoo Pro or Enthoo Pro 2. I have used the built-in fan controller on my Corsair case to manually cool my case with the power setting usually around 50%. I also have an Aerocool F6XT fan controller that was intended for another build that I had to cancel during the pandemic. I have noticed during my research that case fan controllers are becoming rare. I also understand that there is software designed to control case fans. Which ever case I purchase, I intend to install the maximum number of largest diameter fans that it supports. I don't do overclocking. So, my questions are as followed:

1. Should I ditch the physical fan controller? If so, what would be a reliable, easy to use, trustworthy, and free or low-price fan control software program that works in Windows that I should get?
2. If you recommend that I keep a physical fan controller, would my Aerocool F6XT fan controller be sufficient? Can it handle fan cable splitters? If yes, what splitter cables would you recommend?
3. In relation to the previous question, if you recommend a different physical fan controller, which would you recommend?
4. Would the Phanteks Enthoo Pro or Enthoo Pro 2 case provide better cooling or would either one meet my cooling needs?
5. As a side question, would the Enthoo Pro or Enthoo Pro 2 case better meet my long-term needs when it comes to upgrading and rebuilding the computer in the future?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lutfij]

I also have an Aerocool F6XT fan controller that was intended for another build that I had to cancel during the pandemic.
Is that why you're looking at cases with 5.25" drive bays? If so, you have better alternatives.

1| Pick up a PWM fan hub(this would mean you pick up PWM fans as well) and then set a fan curve within your BIOS.

4| Yes.

5| You don't need such a large case unless you're going to be stuffing some very high end gear alongside watercooling gear. What are you going to be building inside the case? As in, what are the specs to your proposed build? You could get away with a smaller atx case or an matx case.

 

[Paperdoc]

At the heart if this thread is why use a third-party fan controller at all? ALL mobos have CONTROL of case fans built into each SYS_FAN or CHA_FAN header. Such controls always concentrate on keeping the TEMPERATURE measured at a relevant sensor on target. For case fans, normally that sensor is one placed on the mobo by its maker at a location they decide is best representative of cooling needs of the entire mobo, and the pre-programmed temp target and fan curve are what they consider optimum. You also get a few alternatives of control strategy, and the option to set your own custom "fan curve" of fan speed to run for a given measure temp. So case fan speeds done that way VARY according to the actual heat load as your work changes.

The limit on this pertinent to OP is that most such fan headers can supply power up to 1.0 A max current for the TOTAL of all fans on that header. For OP who wants to add a LOT of cans, there is a good alternative pointed out by Lutfij above - a fan HUB. This device allows you to connect many fans to a single speed control signal from a mobo header. Note that Splitters and Hubs are different devices, and sellers OFTEN mis-label them. A HUB (suited to OP) has THREE types of connections. ONE is a cable to a mobo SYS_FAN or CHA_FAN header to get its speed control PWM signal and to return to that header the speed reported by ONE of the fans. (Note that the control system does NOT need to know the speed of any fan, so knowing ONLY ONE fan's speed is OK.) The Hub has several outputs for plugging in user's fans. The Hub ALSO has one cable that must plug into a SATA or a 4-pin Molex power output directly from the PSU. This avoids the max current limit of a mobo header. The limit for a Hub normally would be 4.5 A total max current, or even higher if the power input is from a Molex connector. Since most case fans use 0.10 to 0.25 A max current, 4.5 A max from a Hub means 18 fans or more, and FEW people would need that!

 

[MasterYoda327]

5| You don't need such a large case unless you're going to be stuffing some very high end gear alongside watercooling gear. What are you going to be building inside the case? As in, what are the specs to your proposed build? You could get away with a smaller atx case or an matx case.

Thanks for the input, I will definitely take a look at PWM fans and hubs. My intent for this gaming PC is for both gaming and drone video editing (I am both a gamer and licensed drone pilot). Secondary uses will be for music listening (from my own music files) and some online streaming. In addition to the standard components like the CPU (AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D or higher), CPU cooler(not selected yet), RAM (32 GB or higher), and motherboard[X870/X870E ATX/E-ATX (have not selected brand or model yet)], I intend to add the following components:

- 1 PCIE 5.0 NVME SSD at 2 TB for the Windows 11 OS, video editing software, and primary games
- 2 SATA III SSDs at 2 or 3 TB each with one dedicated for additional games and the other for my music collection
- Either 2 smaller SATA III HDDs (such as 3 or 4 TB) or 1 larger HDD (such as 6 or 8 TB) for storing drone videos for editing
- At least 2 additional drives bays to add an additional SATA SSD and/or HDD if necessary
- 1 internal Wi-Fi 6E/7 card
- 1 USB 3.0 Type-A expansion card (rear)
- 1-USB Type-C expansion card (rear)
- 1 GPU (Either Radeon RX 9070 XT or Nvidia RTX 5070 or higher)
- 1 Blu Ray drive and 1 DVD drive for ripping and burning audio CDs and possibly drone videos (Sometimes one optical drive has issues ripping a CD while the other doesn't with that same CD. I am also open to possibly using external enclosures for the optical drives.)
- Possibly 1 front mounted expansion card with USB-C capability
- Possibly 1 internal soundcard for gaming and music (Haven't decided if I will go with an internal or external soundcard)
- At least 1 additional rear expansion slot if I need to add an additional internal card such as USB or sound card
- Maximum number of large diameter fan's that the case supports
- 80 Plus Gold power supply
- Not planning for any RGB lighting (Except for keyboard and mouse)

I am open to suggestions on alternative reliable cases with good airflow that would meet my needs priced up to $250.

Thanks.