Can CPU_FAN header on EX58 handle 3 fans?

[kenestra1]

Re: Can CPU_FAN header on EX58 handle 3 fans?

The Sys_fan_1 header is a full 12V header. As long as you turn BIOS temp control off, you will get a full 12V all the time. Until recently I had a thermalright T-Rad 2 with a 120mm fan attached to that header. I used a Zalman fan mate to control speeds and can confirm the fan was always at full speed when the fan mate was set to max. This is the header near the HD audio for the front of the case, just to be 100% clear on its location.

Personally I like to regulate my case fans manually. I use the maximal speed for the temps I need. With my Noctua and Enermax fans that just means a max 12V as they're already ~19dB at full voltage. I also keep my CPU fan on full, as it's also a silent Noctua.

I certainly wouldn't have my case fans dependant on CPU temp, as there's much more in the case than just the CPU. All components rely on ambient case temps for cooling, and I like to keep it as low as possible. Just my opinion though, ofc people are free to do what they want.

Again,excuse my ignorance but your saying you want you fans including the CPU fan to be at full force all the time? The way I could do that then is to turn off the Smart Fan controller in the BIOS for the Noctua fan in the front of the cooler and hook up the rear fan attached to the rear of the cooler to the Sys.1Fan header and turn off Temp Control for that in the BIOS.This way the both fans would be running all out all the time for MAX cooling. Thanks for the help by the way. I just dont want to be stressing out any MOBO header I guess.

[Psycho101]

Re: Can CPU_FAN header on EX58 handle 3 fans?

I already have my fans all at 100%, just expressing the way I like to have things set up, with really quiet fans and loads of air flow. :thumbsup.

I do have the fans on my pair of Scythe Musashi cooled GPU's at half way though, with an additional 120mm fan at 5V keeping the back of both cards near the VRM's cool.

I wil soon be getting a fan controller for my case. I just don't like the idea of CPU temps dictating how fast my case fans should spin. That's fine for the CPU HSF if that's what you want but you could fir example have a situation where the CPU is cool but the case is being heated up by the RAM, a GPU, the NB etc.

None of these suggestions are right or wrong, it's just personal taste.

[MagicFire]

Re: Can CPU_FAN header on EX58 handle 3 fans?

The Sys_fan_1 header is a full 12V header. As long as you turn BIOS temp control off, you will get a full 12V all the time. Until recently I had a thermalright T-Rad 2 with a 120mm fan attached to that header. I used a Zalman fan mate to control speeds and can confirm the fan was always at full speed when the fan mate was set to max. This is the header near the HD audio for the front of the case, just to be 100% clear on its location.

You are correct and I have edited my previous post to reflect the fact that I was describing the SYS_FAN2 header. (Sorry)

kenestra1: PWM stand for Pulse Width Modulation. It is the way that "better" fans are speed controlled.
These fans are normally, in the PC world, 4-wire fans. Most CPU coolers use 4-wire fans for their heatsinks.

I tried running my fans at full speed all the time but with the high CFM ones that I use, the constant sound of the fans was annoying.
If I had other components in my case which generated too much heat independent of the CPU in my case, I would change the main intake and exhaust fans to use a fan controller which could handle Sensor-adjusted Speed regulation for those components.

[Psycho101]

[kenestra1]

Re: Can CPU_FAN header on EX58 handle 3 fans?

Well these are idle temps at stock speed now with fans running full out off of the CPU-Fan. I was still thinking of reseating the Cooler though,what do you think?

[Psycho101]

Re: Can CPU_FAN header on EX58 handle 3 fans?

They look absolutely fine for a 920 i7. It's load temps that count really. I find having all fans on full cuts my load temp by a couple of degrees. I suppose it's a combination of a regularly maintained ambient and keeping CPU temp in check right away so that it never has a chance to get too hot at any load.

Set up your fans how you're going to have them, with BIOS PWM engaged and see how it effects the temp of the CPU (idle and load), GPU (idle and load) and the NB (idle and prime large fft load). Also it may be a good idea to estimate the temp of the RAM at idle and load. To do this you'd need to open the case after a while and after getting rid of static, touching the RAM.

[MagicFire]

Re: Can CPU_FAN header on EX58 handle 3 fans?

I agree with Psycho101 that those temperatures look good.

What is your Ambient Temperature? (The temperature in the room.)

I agree that Idle temps mean less than Load temps.

Load temps show the truth!