Cheaper Software Fan Control Option

flyoffacliff

Junior Member

Tuesday, December 22nd 2015, 5:03pm

1

All I want to do is control my 6 fans with a software interface. No pumps, no lights. I did a documentary on Software Fan Controllers here. Surprisingly, the Aquaero seems to be the only product still supported that can control fans via software.

But why is it so expensive (over $200)? My motherboard has a fan controller built in and the whole motherboard was cheaper than this. Anyone know of a way to do this for cheaper?

Railgun

Full Member

Tuesday, December 22nd 2015, 6:01pm

2

Speedfan?

flyoffacliff

Junior Member

Wednesday, December 23rd 2015, 1:11am

3

Quoted from "Railgun"

Speedfan?

I currently use this with my motherboard's control. But it only has 3 channels. Is there a cheap hardware device that I can connect more fans to that works with speedfan?

GTXJackBauer

Full Member

Wednesday, December 23rd 2015, 12:21pm

4

There are a lot of good fan controllers out there. It all depends on what standard. Are you looking for 3-pin voltage regulated or 4-pin PWM controlled. PWM fan controllers are scarce atm even though most fan manufacturers are catering more and more to PWM.

AQ 6 is the only PWM fan controller in the market that works as intended and is backwards compatible. Works great for folks who have a custom water cooling system.

Assuming they are voltage controlled via 3-pin, you could add more fans to your MB's headers, just have to be within specs and not go over. A fan splitter cable can help you in that area. Just check with your MB's manufacturer on how many amps max does each header withstand. AFAIK, the standard is 1 amp so as long as you're under that you're good to go. Some fans I have laying around average .20 amps each so I can add a few on one line. I think in your case, you could go 2 fans per fan header via fan splitter cable.

This post has been edited 5 times, last edit by "GTXJackBauer" (Dec 23rd 2015, 12:28pm)

barfly

Full Member

Thursday, December 24th 2015, 6:25am

5

you can get the aquaero 5 for @75 dollars to do everything you need.

MusleHans

Junior Member

Wednesday, December 30th 2015, 2:18pm

6

Argus Monitor is an option when your on a budget

http://www.argotronic.com/en/

This post has been edited 1 times, last edit by "MusleHans" (Dec 30th 2015, 10:37pm)

barfly

Full Member

Thursday, December 31st 2015, 10:32pm

7

if you want cheap,the most cheapest would be the Corsair link commander but id assume tho your referring to price,this would be using the m/b and speedfan.

GTXJackBauer

Full Member

Friday, January 1st 2016, 12:40am

8

Quoted from "barfly"

if you want cheap,the most cheapest would be the Corsair link commander but id assume tho your referring to price,this would be using the m/b and speedfan.

He asked for a working device, not broken and still selling to milk away peoples money.

barfly

Full Member

Friday, January 1st 2016, 3:39am

9

i thought you were a staunch supporter of the Link.

GTXJackBauer

Full Member

Friday, January 1st 2016, 7:10am

10

Quoted from "barfly"

i thought you were a staunch supporter of the Link.

I attempted to be one for the past 4+ years. Never made the cut. I spent almost the same amount of a AQ 6 in the end and its all sitting in a small box. I always told them they have an elephant in the room. Its been a complete failure.

flyoffacliff

Junior Member

Tuesday, January 5th 2016, 3:45am

11

Quoted from "barfly"

if you want cheap,the most cheapest would be the Corsair link commander but id assume tho your referring to price,this would be using the m/b and speedfan.

OMG, that is just what I was thinking of! I spent many hours researching and did not find this. I saw some software control water pumps from corsair, but thought that was propritary. Thank you for mentioning this, I will look into it and update the article I wrote.

Quoted from "MusleHans"

Argus Monitor is an option when your on a budget

http://www.argotronic.com/en/

I always wished there was an up-to-date replacement for Speedfan, that looks good. I don't know how I missed it too. I will look into it, although it does not really seem to be what I am looking for. Is the hardware support good?

Quoted from "barfly"

you can get the aquaero 5 for @75 dollars to do everything you need.

But it only supports 3 or 4 fans, right?

Quoted from "GTXJackBauer"

There are a lot of good fan controllers out there. It all depends on what standard. Are you looking for 3-pin voltage regulated or 4-pin PWM controlled. PWM fan controllers are scarce atm even though most fan manufacturers are catering more and more to PWM.

AQ 6 is the only PWM fan controller in the market that works as intended and is backwards compatible. Works great for folks who have a custom water cooling system.

Assuming they are voltage controlled via 3-pin, you could add more fans to your MB's headers, just have to be within specs and not go over. A fan splitter cable can help you in that area. Just check with your MB's manufacturer on how many amps max does each header withstand. AFAIK, the standard is 1 amp so as long as you're under that you're good to go. Some fans I have laying around average .20 amps each so I can add a few on one line. I think in your case, you could go 2 fans per fan header via fan splitter cable.

I don't need PWM control. I contacted my motherboard manufacture (MSI), who said it supports 1 amp per header. Great! I think I have a fan splitter cable around here somewhere too.

Quoted from "GTXJackBauer"

Quoted from "barfly"

i thought you were a staunch supporter of the Link.

I attempted to be one for the past 4+ years. Never made the cut. I spent almost the same amount of a AQ 6 in the end and its all sitting in a small box. I always told them they have an elephant in the room. Its been a complete failure.

Really? What shortcomings do you feel it has?

Thank you everyone for your help!

GTXJackBauer

Full Member

Tuesday, January 5th 2016, 7:00am

12

Corsair Link doesn't work as intended.

-Software locks up and shuts down.
-No control of the pumps or fans accurately as most other controllers simply are.
-Random fan ramp ups and down.
-LEDs doing their own thing.
-Hardware not being recognized from its own product line.

This is just a short version of many other countless of issues. Just head over to their forums and bring some asprin and coffee with you as its going to be a long one.

The only thing I have connected via Corsair Link is my PSU (AX1200i). If I would have known what I do now, I would have gone with a different PSU.

This post has been edited 1 times, last edit by "GTXJackBauer" (Jan 5th 2016, 7:01am)

InfoSeeker

Senior Member

Tuesday, January 5th 2016, 11:55am

13

Quoted from "GTXJackBauer"

The only thing I have connected via Corsair Link is my PSU (AX1200i). If I would have known what I do now, I would have gone with a different PSU.

I just uninstalled Corsair Link because Martin implemented monitoring of the Corsair PSUs with HWiNFO. To use HWiNFO Link must NOT be running.
Here is a little aquasuite graph I have for my AX1200i.

EDIT: HWiNFO does not report the PSU efficiency value at this time.

This post has been edited 2 times, last edit by "InfoSeeker" (Jan 5th 2016, 12:02pm)

GTXJackBauer

Full Member

Tuesday, January 5th 2016, 1:18pm

14

Quoted from "InfoSeeker"

Quoted from "GTXJackBauer"

The only thing I have connected via Corsair Link is my PSU (AX1200i). If I would have known what I do now, I would have gone with a different PSU.

I just uninstalled Corsair Link because Martin implemented monitoring of the Corsair PSUs with HWiNFO. To use HWiNFO Link must NOT be running.
Here is a little aquasuite graph I have for my AX1200i.

EDIT: HWiNFO does not report the PSU efficiency value at this time.

WOW! That's fantastic news that they are even working on something like this!!!!!!! I could finally part ways with the CL software for once and for all!!!! lol

Unfortunately, I haven't made a Overview page as I'm still pretty new to the software and not sure on how to start with that. It seems all the profile demos are for the older AQ 5 and not the 6. Not sure if that makes a difference. Wish the software had more simplicity.

Another issue I have is I connected a 3-pin cable for just RPM signal reading to my MB's CPU Fan Header.

I than tried to bring it up on AQsuite's Software Sensors and it won't show up anywhere. All the info I'm getting are only temps.

Not sure on what to do.

InfoSeeker

Senior Member

Tuesday, January 5th 2016, 6:42pm

15

Did you click on the little triangle icon to the left of the items in the list?

flyoffacliff

Junior Member

Tuesday, January 5th 2016, 9:32pm

16

That is very cool. I don't have a compatible PSU though. Does it show the amperage (load) on each rail?

GTXJackBauer

Full Member

Tuesday, January 5th 2016, 10:13pm

17

Quoted from "InfoSeeker"

Did you click on the little triangle icon to the left of the items in the list?

Yes I did. All they showed were temps.

InfoSeeker

Senior Member

Wednesday, January 6th 2016, 3:55am

18

Quoted from "GTXJackBauer"

Another issue I have is I connected a 3-pin cable for just RPM signal reading to my MB's CPU Fan Header.

Not sure what you mean here with the 3-pin cable... one end to the MB CPU Fan Header, and what did you connect the other end to?

GTXJackBauer

Full Member

Wednesday, January 6th 2016, 5:36am

19

Quoted from "InfoSeeker"

Quoted from "GTXJackBauer"

Another issue I have is I connected a 3-pin cable for just RPM signal reading to my MB's CPU Fan Header.

Not sure what you mean here with the 3-pin cable... one end to the MB CPU Fan Header, and what did you connect the other end to?

I just have the Koolance flow meter that's just reporting the RPM from the flow sensor. Just wanted to get it to show through AQsuite.

InfoSeeker

Senior Member

Wednesday, January 6th 2016, 2:03pm

20

Quoted from "GTXJackBauer"

Quoted from "InfoSeeker"

Quoted from "GTXJackBauer"

Another issue I have is I connected a 3-pin cable for just RPM signal reading to my MB's CPU Fan Header.

Not sure what you mean here with the 3-pin cable... one end to the MB CPU Fan Header, and what did you connect the other end to?

I just have the Koolance flow meter that's just reporting the RPM from the flow sensor. Just wanted to get it to show through AQsuite.

All those EVGA 151,,, headings show only temperatures? that's a lot of temps.
I am sorry, but since I don't have that motherboard, I know not what is happening with your lost RPM sensor.
Hopefully someone else can help.

Cheaper Software Fan Control Option

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