Quote Originally Posted by LennyRhys View Post
I think Conumdrum answered most of your questions.
I've since identified at least one flaw with the multi-channel PWM/LVC controllers I've seen so far:
They don't interface with our MB/BIOS/EFI & adjust LV/PWM of their channels independently, based on temp readings passed from the MB.
Plus RPM data of each fan can't be passed back to the MB....

Such a set-up would be close to 'Fan-control Nirvana' IMO....
This 'kinda' comes close, cept that it has manual control & hence requires a bay, which I don't need.
And the input 4-pin molex connection is only suited for 60-80W, so even running 2-ch at full capacity could get dangerous.

Perhaps you can answer a question for us - why do you want control and RPM feedback of so many fans, motherboard or otherwise?
If it's do-able, why not?!

I'm building my controller because I want my system to tick all the air cooling boxes - silence, efficiency, and raw performance. To claim all three with the same fans simply isn't possible without a controller. Silent cooling may be efficient but cannot provide raw performance; efficient cooling may be silent and may perform well but excels at neither; and performance cooling is highly efficient but never silent.
This is precisely what I'm aiming for, but in a pre-built controller device, if not possible via MB.

As it stands, my silent rig is composed entirely of low speed fans; for efficient cooling (when stress testing etc) I have to swap out the CPU fan for something more powerful; and for raw performance during benching I have to set up several fans to cool the chipset, VRM, memory etc. in addition to swapping out the CPU fan again.
I don't envision needing to swap-out the chassis fans etc. very often...
But I may decide to get more heavily into OC, & hence need some stronger fans to cool chipset/vrm/mem etc.
And I may eventually replace the AP-15's on my Rad with 2x 5400RPM GT, if testing of 1x goes well.

Primarily the build isn't a 'hard-core' OC/gaming machine....
It's primary utility is HTPC/PVR (BE+FE), & to some extent initially, a NAS.
But I will play with mild OC's, & occasionally may want to go more 'hard-core'. (not to win benchmarking championships etc though)
The majority of the time though it'll run at stock, or even slightly UC.