Fans at different voltage?

[johngvo]

I have been reading a lot of threads where people are running their fans at different voltages in order to lower noise levels. How is this done? Do I need to buy some type of switch or do I need to modify my power supply?

I apologize for the ignorance but I am looking to build a new PC and "Silence" is the theme. My current PC was built 3-4 years ago when a thousand fans and blowholes was the Hot Ticket.

Thank you in advance for any information.

 

[Badger]

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article6-page1.html

 

[johngvo]

Thanks Badger!

 

[Silversink]

Another option if you want more choices other than 12v, 7v or 5volts is to use a simple Rheostat or Fan controller like this Sunbeam

http://www.jab-tech.com/customer/product.php?productid=2529&cat=42&page=1

 

[johngvo]

Wow Silversink,

That looks pretty cool. i was thinking about adding a fanbus or something like that but I didn't want to get too complicated. I'll have to do more research on aftermarket mods.

 

[n64man120]

I really like the idea of that DPDT switch to change voltages. My question is, do all fans max ouit at 12V and min out at 5V? Or does it vary and I could be getting not as much or as little as i could out of them.

 

[Badger]

I think, or it would make sense to me, that it's variable from 5v up to 12v, so you could get 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, etc volts. Probably won't go below 5v since the fan needs more than that.

 

[n64man120]

so all fans cant do below 5 and over 12?

 

[Badger]

i dont think so... 5v isn't enough to power most fans and more than 12v you're going to overload that fan.

 

[ryuji]

i dont think so... 5v isn't enough to power most fans and more than 12v you're going to overload that fan.

but its fun feeding fans 24v
i got a switch fan controller i built that switches between 7 and 12v and has a 3rd position for off.. works great for me