Chassis Airflow OptionPost Date: 2011-02-22 |
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jemmer 
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Joined: 13 Jan 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 21 |
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 Topic: Chassis Airflow OptionPosted: 22 Feb 2011 at 5:25pm |
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Can someone tell me what the difference is in the "Chassis Airflow" options? What are the "Zalman Performance Fans" and what is their advantage, if any, over the standard fans or the LED fans?
Thanks.
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DST4ME
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Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 36758 |
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Posted: 22 Feb 2011 at 5:48pm |
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Depends on the case, they add/replace 6 x 120mm fans. the led ones are loud, the zalman's are not as loud but they are not quiet either.
in case of a case like haf 922/932/942, its best to just add the oen 200mm fan where possible, that case has great airflow, there is no reason to spend more money for more airflow. |
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maxyme
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Joined: 14 Aug 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1514 |
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Posted: 22 Feb 2011 at 5:57pm |
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the option is basically if you want led fans. which as dst said come with a price of being slightly louder and the zalmans aren't worth it. the case fans are usually better and much quieter.
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Steam:pcmaster160
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DST4ME
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Posted: 22 Feb 2011 at 6:04pm |
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Also for haf cases the oem 200mm fans come in blue or red led, so you still have choice of that.
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jemmer
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Posted: 22 Feb 2011 at 9:32pm |
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I actually was considering the "Black Ops Hailstorm" configuration and that case.
Also, if I don't care about lit up fans and the Zalman fans are underwhelming, then if I want to add one of the several Temperature and Fan Controller "Enhancements" offered, that apparently requires a "Chassis Airflow Upgrade" - which seem to be either lit up or underwhelming fans. So what to do?
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maxyme
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Posted: 22 Feb 2011 at 9:39pm |
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Just do it without the upgrade and they will either do it because i can't see a logical reason why it requires it or ds will contact you and let you decide to upgrade or ditch the fan controller. and the fan controller isn't needed just something kinda cool to have on your case. and in my opinion there are much more elegant ones than ds offers
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Steam:pcmaster160
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DST4ME
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Posted: 23 Feb 2011 at 1:34am |
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The fan controller will not control all of your fans, and its temps readings are not correct.
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ablahblah
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Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2312 |
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Posted: 23 Feb 2011 at 2:27am |
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I dislike fan controllers, they're messy, incorrect, and also it makes you have to constantly stare at your temps all the time. I just want my rig stable 100% of the time without intervention.
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R4D4RPR00F
Core i7 920 @ 3.9Ghz Asus Sabertooth X58 EVGA GTX 570 Mushkin 6GB 1414Mhz |
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justin.kerr
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Posted: 23 Feb 2011 at 9:04am |
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I love fan controllers, but I agree they are not for everyone. They can control every single fan in the computer, and I am sure DS will do this if you ask.
Running fans of the motherboard header is never a good idea, and has been discussed here for years.
The Zalman fans are loud, but do move a lot of air, DS can slow them down to keep things quiet and still keep good temps. The 120mm fans are the only fans I like at all, none of the other sizes do a decent job, yet. I am sure once some decent companies get into making them they will improve, but, the large fans are 90% hype, they turn so slow that they do not cool any of the passive heatsinks, that is one reason why I had so many hot spots on my HAF build, same components in a smaller case with decent fans, and all is back to normal.
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jemmer
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Joined: 13 Jan 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 21 |
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Posted: 23 Feb 2011 at 12:58pm |
I apologize. What do you mean here? I assume you meant "off the motherboard header", but I still have no idea what that means. (I'm new at this).
Will you please clarify?
I'm still doing my research to put together a system, and for me loud is bad. I will do everything possible to insure the system I ultimately end up with is first and foremost fast, but does so quietly.
I hate loud computers.
So it sounds like I should stick with the stock fans. Do either of the "Noise Reduction" options actually do anything?
I'm leaning to the fan controller - I think it's kind of cool, but if it really doesn't work, then there's no point...
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justin.kerr
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Posted: 23 Feb 2011 at 1:14pm |
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yes sorry, off of the motherboard header.
The short of the story is, there are only 2 12V wires that feed the motherboard in the 24 pin ATX connector, the bulk of that power goes to the PCIE lanes, but any fan attached will also draw from the 12V lines, and the 12v lines are already over taxed with 2 GPU's installed, unless it has an auxiliary 12V attachment like some motherboards do, or an aftermarket attachment to beef up the 12v power on the motherboard. single GPU builds are fine, unless there is a crap load of fans attached to the motherboard header.
yes, when they slow the fans down they will be quiet, it is always a battle, either power or noise, it takes a ton of $$ to make it both.
Stock fans on most cases do fine, your GPU(s) fan will make more noise than most stock case fans will.
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jemmer
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Posted: 23 Feb 2011 at 2:09pm |
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OK.
I think I understand. Apparently the MB can't hack it. So, can the fans be run directly off the power supply?
I'll be getting a 1200w Corsair psu, I think.
My plan was a stage 6 water cooled system, with dual 580's. They would be water cooled as well, so would there even be GPU fans?
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Qwann
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Posted: 23 Feb 2011 at 3:00pm |
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From my understanding, yes, you can run fans straight off the powersupply but they will be locked at 100% speed. If you run them off the mobo you can control the RPM's.
~ With water cool'd GPU's there would be no fans on them, only on the radiators, so your rig would be much quieter. |
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DST4ME
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Posted: 23 Feb 2011 at 3:17pm |
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From what I understand, DS does not hoockup all the fans to it, and the case fans it wont' control either.
no gpu fans when gpu is in LC. the fans that the fan controller would control you can do so with a free software, which what we all use to control our fans: MSI Afterburner will help you control gpu fans and oc them too. for other fans we just use something like speedfan justin loves fan controllers cause he has 40 fans lol, you and your 4 fans, don't need a controller lol. Edited by DST4ME - 23 Feb 2011 at 3:19pm |
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jemmer
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Posted: 23 Feb 2011 at 3:30pm |
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Well, like I said, I thought the fan controller looked pretty cool, but what I'm hearing here it ain't worth it - it all can be controlled better by software, it seems.
40 fans, huh? Must be a pretty big case...
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justin.kerr
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Posted: 23 Feb 2011 at 3:30pm |
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you can only use software to control the fans connected to the motherboard, which can just be controlled in the BIOS, but connecting many fans to the mobo is a huge nono |
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jemmer
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Posted: 23 Feb 2011 at 3:46pm |
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OK. Now I'm confused.
I'm not sure how many fans the sort of system I'm contemplating (Hailstorm, LC, massive OC, SSD's, etc) would have, but I'm sure it's closer to 4 than 40...
Assuming the fans are not connected to the MB, can their speed be controlled by the, er, controller? The one everybody but Justin is unimpressed with?
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ablahblah
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Posted: 23 Feb 2011 at 4:44pm |
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they can be controlled, but why would you want to stare at it all the time and always have to manually modulate fan speeds? just pick out good, quiet, and efficient fans, stick them on, and stop worrying about them 24/7, it'll be stable as long as DS tests it guaranteed with no modulation too. justin's case is great because he has 4 freakin' fans to hookup and that it's just too much of a hassle to stick in 40 fan headers to the power supply, you really don't need it.
if you really want to just shut up fans, you still don't need a fan controller, just undervolt them to 7v or 5v (ridiculously easy). Edited by ablahblah - 23 Feb 2011 at 4:45pm |
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R4D4RPR00F
Core i7 920 @ 3.9Ghz Asus Sabertooth X58 EVGA GTX 570 Mushkin 6GB 1414Mhz |
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maxyme
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Joined: 14 Aug 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1514 |
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Posted: 23 Feb 2011 at 4:51pm |
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yes the power goes to the controller then the controller regulates how much power each fan gets. honestly most rigs are extremely quiet and cool and if you want you can have ds do stage one sound reduction by reducing fan speeds to they still have decent temps and are very very quiet.
i honestly don't see why fan sounds are such a big issue for everyone but thats because i have a laptop cooler thats loud as hell plus my house is barley ever quiet so i'm used it alot of sound. |
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Steam:pcmaster160
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DST4ME
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Posted: 23 Feb 2011 at 6:03pm |
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The only fan sound that is gonna be an issue is gonna be the gpu's fans. in LC they don't exist.
the fans on teh rad are connected to the psu, you dont want to lower those anyways, they should run 100%, in the 800D that leaves you with supper quiet, 140mm fan in rear, 140mm on the hotswap bay, and a 140mm on the divider, thats 3 fans, they are case fans and can't be controlled by the fan controller here. |
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justin.kerr
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Posted: 23 Feb 2011 at 6:28pm |
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The most important fans to be on a fan controller are the radiators fans IMHO.
case fans can be controlled by the fan controller, just don't know if DS does that without asking them to specifically do it?
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DST4ME
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Posted: 23 Feb 2011 at 7:23pm |
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LOL on your radiator and your LC setup, not on any rad and lc setup
IF you want DS to connect case fans to the controller, they will make you get the fan upgrade or decline to do it, from what I understand. Edited by DST4ME - 23 Feb 2011 at 7:24pm |
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jemmer
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Joined: 13 Jan 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 21 |
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Posted: 23 Feb 2011 at 9:21pm |
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OK Thanks guys.
I now have no idea what to do.
 I'm guessing that I shouldn 't bother with either the fan controller or the upgraded chassis option fans.
Why is this so complicated?
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justin.kerr
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Joined: 06 May 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5084 |
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Posted: 23 Feb 2011 at 9:27pm |
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Sorry to confuse.
Basic rules, go with stock case cooling, most new cases have good cooling, excluding the CM stuff. lol
Adding extra stuff complicates things, so for the least amount of issues go with all air cooling, and all stock fans. The GPU(s) fan can have it's profile modified
easily, we can help.
Guess I am going to have to get some soldering classes for gabbers.
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DST4ME
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Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 36758 |
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Posted: 24 Feb 2011 at 5:07am |
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@jemmer, if you are on LC then fans are no issue, if you are not,then as mentioned current cases have great airflow, no need to add fans and controller.
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jemmer
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Joined: 13 Jan 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 21 |
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Posted: 24 Feb 2011 at 8:02am |
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OK Thanks.
The system I am contemplating will be LC (Stage 6 + GPUs).
Consensus seem to be I shouldn't worry about the fans or fan controller.
Thanks for all your help everyone.
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jemmer
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Joined: 13 Jan 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 21 |
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Posted: 24 Feb 2011 at 10:01am |
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Wait. I know, I had one more fan related question.
There is this option called "Chassis Mods" that "drill[s] and mount[s] two side window 120mm fan blow-holes".
On a LC system, is there any point to this?
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DST4ME
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Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 36758 |
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Posted: 24 Feb 2011 at 2:37pm |
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ON a good LC system, with the OC ranges here, you don't need extra fans, the cooling is being done by the rad/fans.
on a more complicated build and trying to sqeeze out everybit of oc, then you would need a custom LC setup/case/fans and etc. ON a build like justin's I would use fan controller, on build like mine and yours, I would not. |
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