I just got this fan:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835129030

And put it in my case. It's a 2000 RPM fan, and it's a little loud at this speed. I'm cooling my Northbridge with it, so 1000 RPM will do (Zalman heat sink cooler on NB). What's the cheapest/simplest way to slow this fan down? I can't change the speed in the BIOS as best as I can tell (Asus A8N-E/4400+ Toledo AMD) and the Asus Booster tool doesn't regulate it. I have a Sonata II case, so this is really the only thing you can hear when it's on.

It connects with either the small 3-pin connector, or a sensor connector + the 4 pin molex connector. Any thoughts?

3/3/2006 5:21:56 PM

You have several options.

1) In in-line resistor.

2) connect it to a 3-pin fan plug on the motherboard that will let you set the fan speed.

3) Find a fan controller. There are dozens of options.

I'm sure there are more options, but these are the ones that came to me first.

3/3/2006 5:26:12 PM

The in-line resistor sounds the most attractive. Any leads on what I should research to get one of those?

3/3/2006 5:48:51 PM

Just solder a resistor onto your leads.....that is if can you solder. It will be extremely simple if you are good with your hands

3/3/2006 6:27:54 PM

I can't solder. I kind of want the "plug and play" solution. Is there something I can just slip on there between the connectors I can get at Radio Shack or something?

This is the first computer I put together myself, but that's about as far as my skill goes.

3/3/2006 10:45:21 PM

Okay, picked up some resistors and I'm ready to slow down this case fan:

http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=75003

I want around 1/2 speed, maybe less. All it's doing is moving air past a passive heat sink (Zalman northbridge heat sink). Here's my question: if I solder the 68 Ohm resistor in there, where should I put it? Does it matter if I put it on the red or black? Is the 68 Ohm going to slow it down way too much? Also, if I put the resistor in there, will it be safe for me to plug the other plug into the mobo to get fan speed readings?

Double posted, here's the other post in the right place.

3/4/2006 4:21:46 PM

that fan takes 12VDC @ 0.24A, so putting a 50ohm resistor inline with it will cut it in 1/2, if the fan speed responds linearly to a change in voltage, but i don't think those 1/2 watt resistors will cut it

i think

3/4/2006 10:33:38 PM

Yeah, I went ahead and put it in there. Actually, it seems pretty ideal. The fan is around 1200 RPM now, which is nearly silent. No fires yet, so it should be good to go I guess.

3/5/2006 1:03:24 AM

you got issues if 30dB is "loud"

3/6/2006 2:19:36 AM

almost the same case: Antec Sonata I
cpu: athlon64 3000+ (socket 754) with cool n' quiet
cpu fan: zalman cnps7000-alcu with fanmate running approx. 950-1000 rpm
intake/exhaust: silenx ixtrema 120mm
power supply: FSP Bluestorm 500w

3/6/2006 2:55:52 AM

LM338

P7

Top Right

[Edited on March 6, 2006 at 8:27 AM. Reason : .]

3/6/2006 8:25:51 AM

Went to turn on my computer today, got flagged that the speed on the fan was too low/it failed. Looked inside the case, CPU fan was not spinning. Immediately turned off the computer. Switched off the main power and disconnected my 120mm case fan (the one with the soldered resistor in it). Plugged the fan back into the mobo with the standard 3-pin connector (I had used the connector pictured above) and its worked fine ever since.

Could the resistor on the case fan and the CPU fan failing at startup be related? Or should I be worried about the CPU fan as a different case altogether?

3/6/2006 10:06:48 PM

no need for cool and quiet, and yes 30db is loud in a room without any other noise.

i have a x2 3800+ and a 6600gt, running zalman flowerpot's on both, along with a zalman chipset heatsink (which DRASTICALLY) reduced noise, along with controlled zalman case fans (<25db), also a variable speed 120mm fan psu. the computer dare i say is quieter than a dell and cooler than any cool 'n quiet (36'C @ 2010mhz)

[Edited on March 6, 2006 at 10:15 PM. Reason : .]

3/6/2006 10:14:41 PM