Combining multiple PWM sources?

[Zarathustra[H]]

Has anyone ever seen a product that can do this?

What I am imagining is something like this:

Input: 2+ pwm signals from 4 pin fan connectors
Output: 1 single 4pin fan connector with combined signals.

control:
Switch on board giving you three options of how to pass signals through:
1.) Pass through the mean PWM% of the input signals.
2.) Pass through the max PWM% of the indidividual input signals
3.) Pass through the min PWM% of the individual input signals (probably less useful)

I've googled and never found anything, but it should be quite useful for those of us with water loops with multiple devices being cooled by the same loop.

It seems like it would be possible to make something like this yourself using an Arduino, but th eprogramming involved seems like it would be above my head (I can do some basic scripting, but programming is not my thing)

Any thoughts?

 

[Araxie]

Something like this? Phobya PWM 8x Fan Splitter and ModMyToys PWM 6x Fan Splitter? there are quite few amounts of those devices.. Phobya have 4x/6x and 8x versions.. I have used in the past the Silverstone PMW Fan Hub but is also a bit more expensive however is a more known brand if that's a concern.

 

[Zarathustra[H]]

Something like this? Phobya PWM 8x Fan Splitter and ModMyToys PWM 6x Fan Splitter? there are quite few amounts of those devices.. Phobya have 4x/6x and 8x versions.. I have used in the past the Silverstone PMW Fan Hub but is also a bit more expensive however is a more known brand if that's a concern.

No, these are just dumb fan splitters. They take the PWM signal from the blue wire and share it among all the fans so they all obey the PWM signal from a single source. I'm talking about multiple PWM SOURCES.

For instance. Lets say you have 2 GPU's and a CPU. You create your own fan adapter for the fan plug on the video cards.

The Motherboard controls the fan for the CPU, and each GPU controls their own fans.

You only have one loop though, so you want to control all the fans in the loop from these three different sources.

It would take something that would actively interpret the three PWM signals, and then resend its own PWM signal to the fans based on some math.


Example, we are playing a game that doesn't support SLI. All GPU load is on one GPU:
- CPU Fan PWM requesting 40% fan speed.
- GPU1 reqesting 60% fan speed
- GPU2 requesting 20% fan speed

If set to Average mode: Adapter outputs 40% to all fans (Average of 40%, 60% and 20%)
If set to Max Mode: Adapter outputs 60% to all fans (taken from GPU fan #1)
If set to Min Mode (probably the least useful, but why not include it, someone might have a use for it): Adapter outputs 20% to all fans, based on fan signal from GPU2.

Have you seen a product like this?

Again, doable for a DIY tinkerer with an Arduino because you can program it to listen to multiple PWM inputs, do some math, and then output its own PWM signal, but my programming skills are REALLY limited. Would be cool if a product like this actually existed.

 

[Zarathustra[H]]

I plan on using water temp sensors to control my fans, so for m e it wouldn't be for fans.

I could imagine something like this being very useful for controlling a PWM pump though.

 

[Araxie]

oh well.. sorry I misinterpreted.. in that case Corsair Link Commander Mini is in my opinion your boy.. with the provided Corsair Link Software (which you should know and be familiar due your H110i cooler) you can control all fans individually via Real individual GPU sensor or Temperature Probe (included) and you can pick your desired fan curve even based in the workload but the ability to set everything based in temperature would be your solution as you can link each fan for individual task and everything controlled via software in windows.

 

[Zarathustra[H]]

oh well.. sorry I misinterpreted.. in that case Corsair Link Commander Mini is in my opinion your boy.. with the provided Corsair Link Software (which you should know and be familiar due your H110i cooler) you can control all fans individually via Real individual GPU sensor or Temperature Probe (included) and you can pick your desired fan curve even based in the workload but the ability to set everything based in temperature would be your solution as you can link each fan for individual task and everything controlled via software in windows.

Yeah, I actually don't use the Corsair Link software. It was incredibly buggy when I got my H110i GTX, and the default fan profiles didn't make any sense. I could program my own fan profiles, but only the default choices work when the software isn't running, and since I'm in Linux most of the time that wasn't happening.

Maybe they've improved it since, but I haven't tested it. I played with it a little at first, determined it wasn't working for me, and just disconnected it, uninstalled the software, and run my fans off of the motherboard header using the BIOS fan control instead.

I do remember Corsairs community support on their forums saying that they had a complete rewrite of the Link software in the works, but I have no idea if that has come out yet.

Well, in my first custom WC loop I just went with a standard 5 position D5 pump, so it's not an issue. I'll be using Chinese eBay special PWM fan controller to control my fans off of my two water temp sensors (I'm thinking one after each radiator, but I am not 100% certain. Put them before the radiator and the fans might get peaky and over reactive,b it them after the radiator and you get a slightly delayed response)

I was just researching for future improvements.

 

[thesmokingman]

The Motherboard controls the fan for the CPU, and each GPU controls their own fans.

You only have one loop though, so you want to control all the fans in the loop from these three different sources.

It would take something that would actively interpret the three PWM signals, and then resend its own PWM signal to the fans based on some math.

Why do this? What's the point? It's all one loop so unless you have different airflow thru rad densities that affect your fans, I doubt it matters in the scope of the whole loop. You're asking to add needless complexity for no gain in the loop, remember temps equalize thruout.

Btw, you should look into an Aquaero if you want more control over yer fans.

 

[Araxie]

Yeah, I actually don't use the Corsair Link software. It was incredibly buggy when I got my H110i GTX, and the default fan profiles didn't make any sense. I could program my own fan profiles, but only the default choices work when the software isn't running, and since I'm in Linux most of the time that wasn't happening.

Maybe they've improved it since, but I haven't tested it. I played with it a little at first, determined it wasn't working for me, and just disconnected it, uninstalled the software, and run my fans off of the motherboard header using the BIOS fan control instead.

I do remember Corsairs community support on their forums saying that they had a complete rewrite of the Link software in the works, but I have no idea if that has come out yet.

Well, in my first custom WC loop I just went with a standard 5 position D5 pump, so it's not an issue. I'll be using Chinese eBay special PWM fan controller to control my fans off of my two water temp sensors (I'm thinking one after each radiator, but I am not 100% certain. Put them before the radiator and the fans might get peaky and over reactive,b it them after the radiator and you get a slightly delayed response)

I was just researching for future improvements.

Well corsair Link indeed received some patch but no the mentioned rework however it have received constantly updates with better and more features and more control, even allow to do monitoring from all the motherboard temp sensors which is good... but also one thing that always presented in all the corsair link software is the fact that everytime you do a change you have to manually save the changes with a profile then everything is saved correctly I think that's the issue you had... (worth to check)

Also if you are going to keep using the motherboard fan headers you may want to give a try to Asus Fan Xpert software as it also allow to control the fan curves based in motherboard sensors which at least in my boards include PCI-E sensors (based off GPU)..

Another Option would be the NZXT Grid+ which also work as the Corsair Link commander/Mini but this utilize the newly redesigned CAM software which also have much more features than Corsair Link and also much better overall opinion in the software stability so also may worth to check this one. in fact as im writing this im planning to test myself as in the past the Original NZXT GRID worked very good for me, this new GRID+ V2 have some interesting features as control by mobile phone which caught my attention.

 

[Zarathustra[H]]

Well corsair Link indeed received some patch but no the mentioned rework however it have received constantly updates with better and more features and more control, even allow to do monitoring from all the motherboard temp sensors which is good... but also one thing that always presented in all the corsair link software is the fact that everytime you do a change you have to manually save the changes with a profile then everything is saved correctly I think that's the issue you had... (worth to check)

Also if you are going to keep using the motherboard fan headers you may want to give a try to Asus Fan Xpert software as it also allow to control the fan curves based in motherboard sensors which at least in my boards include PCI-E sensors (based off GPU)..

But at this point based on what you want to do, Corsair Link Commander would be my pick as the more easily to customize and let everything automatically. if not then an automatic fan controller with temp probes may do the job..

Another Option would be the NZXT Grid+ which also work as the Corsair Link commander/Mini but this utilize the newly redesigned CAM software which also have much more features than Corsair Link and also much better overall opinion in the software stability so also may worth to check this one. in fact as im writing this im planning to test myself as in the past the Original NZXT GRID worked very good for me, this new GRID+ V2 have some interesting features as control by mobile phone which caught my attention.

As I mentioned, my question was for research for future purposes only.

For now I am using one of these ebay china special PWM fan controllers. I'm just going to double sided tape it inside the case somewhere. I wanted to control my fans based on water temps, but I didn't like the level of control most of the typical bay fan controllers offered.

This little unit game me more flexibility. I bought a couple of phobya inline temperature sensors, cut off the connectors and soldered them to connectors compatible with this board, and plan on controlling fan speed based on the temperature either before or after each radiator.

Most of the time I either use AC, or its cool enough out for my office to be at about 72°F-75°F I figured the warmest I'll ever use it at would be about 80°F, which is about 27°C

I figured maybe if I set the fans to stay at their minimum speed until the water hits about 30C, and ramp up to 100% by the time it hits 35°C I should be good. That will likely be my starting point, and then I'll fine tune it based on what my experiences are from there.

According to my radiator size calculations my water temp should be below 5 degrees delta T at max load and overclock, so I think the above will work quite nicely. I'm open to suggestions though.

 

[Erasmus354]

oh well.. sorry I misinterpreted.. in that case Corsair Link Commander Mini is in my opinion your boy.. with the provided Corsair Link Software (which you should know and be familiar due your H110i cooler) you can control all fans individually via Real individual GPU sensor or Temperature Probe (included) and you can pick your desired fan curve even based in the workload but the ability to set everything based in temperature would be your solution as you can link each fan for individual task and everything controlled via software in windows.

Corsair Link is an overall terrible and half baked setup that I would not recommend to anyone. Corsair completely shit the bed on it.

The correct way to do this is probably with software and not hardware. Have the software monitor the temperatures you care about, and generate the PWM signal out of one of the motherboard ports. Practically you are probably just fine using just the CPU PWM signal and not caring about any other inputs.

 

[ChoGGi]

Corsair Link is worse then useless, but you can use the CLCM mentioned above with SIV, it will allow you to use multiple temperature inputs to control single or multiple fans (goes by whatever is higher temp).
Don't think I've ever heard of using PWMs as inputs though... (you could try asking ray if it's possible)

 

[alxlwson]

I'm not concerned with water temps. I have my fan speeds set to run off of my CPU temps via Asus FanXpert. I leave my D5 pwm model on full 100% duty cycle via "water pump" header on my M8H. Top 2 fans on single header with two way pwm splitter, rear fan on its own, 360 rad fans on a 3x pwm splitter, and the front/240 rad fans on another 2x pwm fan splitter.
Water temps are going to equalize throughout the loop. I took measurements via my Fluke two channel thermocouple, and there was 1°C difference. I'm changing my loop here soon because it's too long the way I have it set up. Pump/res > cpu > 240 rad > gpu> 360rad > pump/res. Gonna rearrange because it's cost me some good flow rate. As it stands right now, there is nearly 2L in the system, most of it in tubing, not res.
To see major temp differences in your loop, flow has to be extremely slow.

 

[Zarathustra[H]]

Hmm.

Should I be concerned with the ability of my D5 vario to keep up with my loop (EK supremacy CPU block, EK full cover GPU block, Alphacool xt45 420mm rad, Alphacool Monsta 80mm 280 rad)?

I did some worst case volume calculations, but surprisingly the manufacturers rarely seem to publish volume figures for their blocks and radiators, so I had to make a lot of educated guesses. I assumed I'd use the entire 10ft of tubing in my box (also a worst case, which probably won't happen) and came up with a "more than 2L but less than 3L" estimate.

Should have any concerns about my pump being able to handle this?

 

[alxlwson]

No, you'll be fine. Just make sure to keep the loop short as possible. No need to do like I did, as it was a waste. I did use all but a foot of the LRT, and the loop is stupid long. The loop also has a foot and a half climb back to the res which isn't helping. There is still a small stirring in the res, but it's obvious the water is pretty slow through the loop, and my cpu temps reflected it.
Just repeating, keep it short as possible, and don't zigzag around doing like I did.

 

[Zarathustra[H]]

No, you'll be fine. Just make sure to keep the loop short as possible. No need to do like I did, as it was a waste. I did use all but a foot of the LRT, and the loop is stupid long. The loop also has a foot and a half climb back to the res which isn't helping. There is still a small stirring in the res, but it's obvious the water is pretty slow through the loop, and my cpu temps reflected it.
Just repeating, keep it short as possible, and don't zigzag around doing like I did.

Ahh, were you trying to tuck the tubing away, like one does with cable management?

 

[alxlwson]

Ahh, were you trying to tuck the tubing away, like one does with cable management?

No, just the way I choose the tube route. I should have gone pump/res to cpu to gpu to 360 to 240, back to pump/res. Instead, its all over the place, pump/ res to cpu to 240 to gpu to 360, back to pump.

 

[Erasmus354]

Hmm.

Should I be concerned with the ability of my D5 vario to keep up with my loop (EK supremacy CPU block, EK full cover GPU block, Alphacool xt45 420mm rad, Alphacool Monsta 80mm 280 rad)?

I did some worst case volume calculations, but surprisingly the manufacturers rarely seem to publish volume figures for their blocks and radiators, so I had to make a lot of educated guesses. I assumed I'd use the entire 10ft of tubing in my box (also a worst case, which probably won't happen) and came up with a "more than 2L but less than 3L" estimate.

Should have any concerns about my pump being able to handle this?

I have a CPU + GPU + GPU + 2x480 on a D5 and it is just fine. I usually run it around 3-4 on the speed setting because that is the quietest setting, 1 was fine too performance wise.

 

[thesmokingman]

No, you'll be fine. Just make sure to keep the loop short as possible. No need to do like I did, as it was a waste. I did use all but a foot of the LRT, and the loop is stupid long. The loop also has a foot and a half climb back to the res which isn't helping. There is still a small stirring in the res, but it's obvious the water is pretty slow through the loop, and my cpu temps reflected it.
Just repeating, keep it short as possible, and don't zigzag around doing like I did.

That doesn't matter as much as it also has gravity balancing it out on the way down. You do save on tubing and costs by keeping it shorter, but it doesn't matter really matter except on a personal OCD level.