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Help w/Fan Controller Solution or GPU Fan Adapter Options

E

ELB

n00b
Joined
Sep 10, 2006
Messages
17
I built a new rig today, and I'm happy to report that, on the main, it's working just fine. However, I noticed while loading WinXP that my Zalman VF-900 GPU cooler fan wasn't spinning at all. So, as soon as Windows finished loading, I shut the machine down. I then monkeyed with the fan's power cable, flipping it around and reattaching it to my new Radeon X1900XT...booted up again, and no dice. Shut down immediately after reaching Windows.

Then I realized that it was plugged into the wrong male 3-pin on the GPU (what the plug I was using does, I've no idea), and the one I'd thought I'd plugged into, which powered the stock fan unit, was way too small for the Zalman's connector. And my Gigabyte P965 has no 3-pin standard fan unit connector. My two 120 mm case fans need them also for speed control, presumably -- they are currently powered off standard molexs -- and they are nowhere to be found on the Gigabyte MB. The only connector it does have, beyond that for the CPU fan, is yet another 4-pin "system fan" connector (the CPU fan is connected to the first).

So, what can I do? Would a fan controller unit work for speed control and power for my two 120 mm case fans AND the Zalman GPU fan? And if not, is there an adapter so I can power the Zalman? I have seen adapters that convert standard molexs into 3-pin males, which I imagine should do the trick. But I haven't seen any adapter that convert my MB's 4-pin "system fan" connector to a three pin male (or the reverse -- an adapter for my Zalman, converting its three pins to four).

Any ideas?

Thanks,

ELB
 
This will power all your fans no problem. That thing can handle at least 15w PER rheostat... That means that you can have about 1a of power through each regulator (or about 3 120mm fans). There are 4 regulators. So with enough spitting, that fan controller can "technically" control up to 12 fans.

I love mine, and at 10$ the price is right.
 
This looks like a great little unit, and the price is a bargain. My only follow-up question is how these fan controllers work, as it seems to me that they provide speed control for fans that don't ordinarily come with variable (graduated) or multiple speed setting:

1) Do these allow you to set the speed of any fan?
2) Do these allow you to push a fan beyond its ordinary limits (i.e., the speed it would normally run at if simply connected directly to the PSU)?
3) Can one push a fan too far using one of these, and if so, is there any way to know when one is in the danger zone?

And, if you can think of anything further issues that apply, I'd love to know more.

Also, if anyone knows of other controllers they'd recommend, please let me know.

But, abovementioned minor concerns aside, this looks to be THE solution.

- Erik
 
These vary the voltage of your fan. This means that any fan that uses the default 1-12v (pretty much ANY case fan) will work with this unit.

This will not allow you to push a fan over it's normal limit. The range of voltage on this controller is about 4v to 11.8v. A fan's regular voltage is about 12v, but can be run at up to 24v at the expensve of noise, and life expectancy. The fan controller takes 12v and 5v inputs. I guess, if you were to increase the value of the 12v input (with, say an external adaptor...) you might allow your fans to spin at higher than normal values... But dont

This controller relies on you, the user, to check your temperatures and adjust the speed of your fans accordingly. This does not auto-monitor temps and adjust fan speeds on it's own. This is, IMO a much better solution, as most "monitoring" bay busses rely on probes to gather their information. As we all know, these can be very innacurate if placed improperly. I would never consider using a "monitoring" solution... Simply because they're hellishly expensive, and well... If you can check speedfan and turn a knob, you'll be fine to operate this unit.

When powered at 12 and 5v (a standard molex, it just plugs in, nothing difficult so dont worry) there is no way for this bay bus to supply more than 12v to your fans... Laws of electricity deem it so. You can't destroy your fans. Actually, since the high end of the voltage on these regulators is a tad (.2v) under 12v, I'd expect to see more life from your fans, even if left on the highest setting.
 
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