So, new computer built, etc. Got the N200 case, five fans installed, all connected via Molex directly to the PSU. Exactly like it sounds, this is very loud, as each fan works at full speed all the time. What I'd like is a way to make this not the case.

Situation:

• Mobo has a single 4-pin fan port thingie. I believe that it would be possible to use splitters to connect all five 3-pin fans to this one port, and even without the 4th pin (PWM), the mobo could do some controlling with the 3-pins, and everything would be dandy. Except that I worry about power issues; powering 5 fans from a single fan port seems like a bad idea.
  
• I have no more 5.25" drives available; only a 3.5" front drive. This limits the available fan controllers, which seem to be things you can plug fans into and manually control their speed. In fact, I found only one or two, each with like 2 reviews, so I'm looking for alternatives. This may be the only available way to go, however.
  
• Ideally, and this is something that should work, there would be a device that accepts power directly from the PSU, and connects to the 4-pin port on the motherboard. It would then use the mobo connection to control power flowing to the 3-pin fans. This configuration should be able to provide enough power for five fans, while taking its cues from whatever temperature-tracking mechanism the mobo has. I haven't found anything that does this; maybe I was looking for the wrong thing.
  

Thanks muchly, guys.

Have you tried a software solution such as SpeedFan?

My computer's BIOS allows me to set fan speeds based on temperature as well, but I don't believe that's a very common feature.

Software-based solutions necessitate the connection to the motherboard. In my current configuration, the fans are connected directly to the PSU, so there is no visible way for the computer to actually know the speed of the fans. I need some hardware to act as an intermediary, and I don't know what the hardware is. <_<

Aren't you studying electrical engineering? PWM is how you control the fan speed.

Reducing the power going into the fans would do that as well. People slow down the fans by soldering resistors in, reducing power arriving. I don't really want to do that.

Don't doubt me, ducky.

I once faced the same problem and soldered a resistor into the power line to the fan. Obviously only do it if you know what you're doing (however I can help you determine the resistance value, if necessary).

Though in your case you probably need a really large resistor, or multiple "fairly large" ones. And with that I mean not the resistance (which doesn't have to be too big), I mean dimensions, or bulk if you will, because the problem is heat dissipation.
You will need to dissipate 5x as much heat as I did because I just regulated 1 fan.

EDIT: Oh sorry haven't updated the thread but I still think this is a viable option.

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Jun 5 2014, 6:36 am by NudeRaider.

The hardware fix is a fan controller, which come in internal and external forms. They also come in 3.5" form factor. (HDE version).

Lamptron makes the highest quality ones. But I don't think they make any 3.5" ones.

I guess an internal one is your only option if the 3.5 one isn't. Just use splitter cables on top of that.

Post has been edited 7 time(s), last time on Jun 5 2014, 1:45 pm by Sacrieur.

Any internal recommendations? The external you linked is an option that I missed, so there's probably more that I missed. That particular one seems to have a too-bright LED that would annoy me as much as the noise did, though.

I found some 3.5" ones here. Of note is a minimalistic Lian-li one.

From the same site, you can get controllers that plug into a PCI slot.

They also have a good selection of multi fan ports. You could combine one of these with a voltage regulator.

Unless you hook up a variable resistor you control by hand, adding line resistance doesn't change the fact you need PWM to control fan speed. A resistor wouldn't help if your trying to tie speed to heat.

... That's my point. It's very plausible that a product exists that manually interprets the PWM pin and ties that to a variable resistor. Which is why I'm asking.

AFAIK there are no internal fan controllers. There are ones that go at the rear of the case and fit in as an add-in card, but they usually only handle one fan in my experience.

In my last build in my R4 I used a Sunbeam Rheobus Extreme. Although the buttons glow they weren't too bright as far as I remember.

Here's one from NZXT that uses no LEDs

Could also try this slot-based one but I have no idea how it works.

Buy fans that come with their own speed controls. Problem solved. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835209005