I'm trying to find the best way to optimize the fan curves for my PC cooling setup, but I'm a bit lost on where to start. Noise isn't a huge issue for me, but I definitely don't want my PC to sound like a jet engine. I have a Lian Li 217 case with five built-in fans and a Thermalright PS 120 Evo cooler. Currently, all my case fans are controlled together through a fan hub, but I think I might need to split them up for better individual control. Any recommendations on how to set up optimal fan curves?
3 Answers
Finding the right fan speed really depends on your personal preference. Higher speeds will definitely provide better cooling, but they come with more noise. It's all about balancing what temps you're comfortable with versus how much noise you can tolerate. What works for one person might not work for another, so it’s good to experiment!
Honestly, I'd recommend starting by letting your motherboard manage the fans first. Just observe the temperatures and noise levels while gaming. You might find that the default settings are perfectly fine. However, if your temps get high and the fans aren't ramping up enough, or vice versa, then it’s time to adjust the curves. Just remember that motherboard controls often don't take GPU temperatures into account, which could lead to discrepancies. So adjusting based on GPU temp can be helpful too.
If you're using a hub, it might complicate things since it usually replicates the signal from one header for all fans. This can be fine if the fans are similar, but I'd suggest adjusting your fan curves directly in your BIOS instead of using fan control software. Try setting a curve where fans don't exceed 40% until you reach 50°C, then ramp up gradually. If you want individual control, you’ll likely need to connect fans directly to the motherboard headers instead of the hub.
Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely check out the BIOS settings.
I totally get that! Just keep in mind that finding that perfect balance might take a bit of tweaking, and that's okay!