What Type of CPU Fan Do You Have?
Before you can officially take control of your CPU fan speed, you need to make sure that its connector lets you do so: The end of that cable will tell you everything you need to know. If it’s a chunky, four pin connector that plugs into a similar looking cable before routing to your power supply unit (PSU), it’s plugged in using a two or 4-pin Molex connector. If it’s a thinner cable that runs to your motherboard with a 3-pin female connector on the other end, it’s a DC fan. If it runs to a 4-pin female connector, it’s a PWM fan. Here’s a quick explainer about those different types:
Molex connectors take all their power from the PSU. They cannot be dynamically controlled and can only be limited using a resistor cable.3-pin DC connectors also run at full power, but your motherboard can limit the voltage going to them, thereby altering the speed.4-pin PWM (pulse width modulation) can be dynamically controlled by software and hardware very easily.
Control CPU Fan in the BIOS
The easiest way to adjust CPU fan speed is through the BIOS. Every BIOS is different, so instructions may differ from computer to computer, but you need to look for a tab or screen associated with Hardware monitoring. In the screenshot below, it was listed as PC Health Status. Look for a section to do with the CPU Fan. Once there, try some of these settings below to see what adjustments you can make.
Set the fan to your fan type (DC or PWM).Select what mode you want the fan to run at. Examples might include Full speed, Performance, Silent.Set a temperature threshold. Typically you don’t want a CPU to go over 70 degrees, so make sure that your fan runs fast once it gets that hot, and preferably starts to spin up quicker at lower temperatures.
CPU Fan Control With Speedfan
If your motherboard can dynamically control fan speeds, then you may be able to make more in-depth adjustments with Windows software. One of the most popular and long-lasting software suites is Speedfan.
Fan Control in Windows 10 With a Fan Controller
If you want more control over your CPU fan and other aspects of your system, a fan controller is a good bet. Cases like NZXT’s H-series i versions have a built-in link box which gives you software control over your CPU fan in much the same way as Speedfan, but in a more intuitive manner. It also adds support for RGB lighting and multiple fan configurations, profiles, and fan curves. Standalone fan controllers can give you more tangible controls. Some, like the Thermaltake Commander FT, gives you touchscreen controls for your system’s various fans, where others have physical knobs and dials you can use to control them. You’ll need to follow the included instructions for those, as their setup and management are unique to their respective designs.
Do You Need Windows 10 Fan Control?
If your PC is working just fine and you’re happy with how loud its fans are, you don’t need to adjust your CPU fan settings. Controlling the CPU fan speed in your PC (or all the fans, in fact) is a way to give you more control over your Windows 10 experience. You can make sure that the system isn’t too loud, with the fan only spinning up faster when your PC gets warm. Or you can have it cranking away at full tilt all the time to make sure your CPU stays cool, potentially giving yourself some headroom to overclock the CPU. Fan speed control is about choice. If you want it, here’s how to get it.
