Is Monitoring Fan RPM really necessary?

Soundster

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• Sep 25, 2003

• #1

So........Is monitoring Fan (CPU, In/Out) RPM really necessary?
What is it really used for and how does it benefit OCers??

 

A

Aaron_ATX

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• Sep 25, 2003

• #2

more used for keeping the noise down or knowing when a fan is operating at 100%.

 

L337 M33P

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• Sep 25, 2003

• #3

If you like numbers then by all means get 3-pin fans. Be warned that not all motherboard headers can handle lots of current though. CPU fan monitoring is a necessity though, as a failure can kill a CPU pretty quickly.

 

Kino

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• Sep 25, 2003

• #4

i myself just monitor the RPMs on my CPU fan, since its the only one ill really care if it dies

but thats just me....

- Kino

 

deathman20

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• Sep 25, 2003

• #5

This relates to a fan controlled bus more then anything. Most ones that read off RPM's read off tempatures too which can be helpfull if your playing a game or something and don't want to log back to desktop. Thats probley one of the bigger benifits also monitoring RPM speed without going to desktop too.

Also they look cooler

If its just a monitor software that came with the motherboard just to see figures basiclly and if the RMP starts to decrease over time then u know something fishy is going on with the fan.

 

OP

Soundster

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• Sep 25, 2003

• Thread Starter
• #6

I wonder if a case fan (4pin harness) can be modded so that it can cool the CPU, monitored RPM and uses PSU as power source?

 

L337 M33P

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• Sep 25, 2003

• #7

Usually 4-pin fans lack the RPM sensor within them, so you can't read the RPM. You can buy 4-pin to 3-pin adapters I think.

 

brennan77

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• Sep 25, 2003

• #8

I use it to set an alarm for lower rpm's. If the CPU fan gets too slow, through a loss of power or if my wife turns the fan down too much with my fanbus, then an alarm goes off.

 

OP

Soundster

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• Sep 25, 2003

• Thread Starter
• #9

L337 M33P said:

Usually 4-pin fans lack the RPM sensor within them, so you can't read the RPM. You can buy 4-pin to 3-pin adapters I think.

Click to expand...

Where can you get an adaptor like that? and If the 4 pin lacks the rpm sensor, even with the adaptor, the fan still can't provide RPM info right?

 

deathman20

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• Sep 25, 2003

• #10

I think it needs a 3 pin to do that since one of the wires is the RPM sensor. I know u can hook a 3 pin to a 4 molex connector and still use a rpm sensor.

 

OP

Soundster

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• Sep 25, 2003

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• #11

deathman20 said:

I think it needs a 3 pin to do that since one of the wires is the RPM sensor. I know u can hook a 3 pin to a 4 molex connector and still use a rpm sensor.

Click to expand...

Do you know where I can get the connector (converter)?

 

deathman20

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• Sep 25, 2003

• #12

I think like case-mod.com or casemods.com have it, a 3-4 pin connector. But from there you if you want RPM you still have to mod it and take the sensor line to the motherboard to get a reading.

 

OP

Soundster

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• Sep 25, 2003

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• #13

deathman20 said:

I think like case-mod.com or casemods.com have it, a 3-4 pin connector. But from there you if you want RPM you still have to mod it and take the sensor line to the motherboard to get a reading.

Click to expand...

Thanks! deathman20

 

deathman20

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• Sep 25, 2003

• #14

np hope it helps somewhat

 

squeakygeek

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• Sep 25, 2003

• #15

I wonder if a fan w/o an rpm sensor could be modded to have one...

 

Borisw37

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• Sep 25, 2003

• #16

I am sure you COULD mod a fan without an rpm sensor to include one. I think all the rpm sensor is, is a switch attached to the shaft of the motor, that gets closed once per revolution, and just send implulses oncer per revolution. But the mod would likely be more expensive than a fan that already includes RPM meter.

 

OP

Soundster

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• Sep 26, 2003

• Thread Starter
• #17

here's a 3 pin header kit for those of ou who are interested...

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/3pinheaderkit.html

 

OP

Soundster

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• Sep 26, 2003

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• #18

From looking at other threads, it seems the smartfanII is ideal for cpu cooling....

 

GameFAQsRolo

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• Sep 26, 2003

• #19

Kino said:

i myself just monitor the RPMs on my CPU fan, since its the only one ill really care if it dies

but thats just me....

- Kino

Click to expand...

and me.

 

cpufan

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• Sep 27, 2003

• #20

Just a note. For high-power fans, you can get a cable that "breaks out" the rpm lead from the other two connectors. That way, you can power the fan however you want to, but still use the motherboard fan headers to monitor rpm.