Fractal Design R3 case - adjusting fan speed?

[DesMcD]

Hi All,

I've recently taken delivery of a new Scan System. I'm sure I'll be really pleased with it once I've managed to control the noise levels. The case is a Fractal Design R3, so I was expecting a relatively quiet computer. However, the fans are spinning at top speed constantly and the noise is too much.

Looking through the bits and bobs delivered with the system, it looks as though I have been supplied with some sort of fan controller, but it hasn't been installed.

Is there another way to manage fan speed (e.g. by software)?

Cheers,
Des

[Ben @ Scan]

Hi DesMcD

Please email your build and invoice number to systemsupport@scan.co.uk and we will look at the system spec

Regards

Ben

[DesMcD]

Thanks, Ben. I've just sent off an email.

[DesMcD]

Update: I was contacted by support, who correctly identified that some of the noise was coming from my Corsair H80 water cooling unit rather than the case fans. Pressing the button on this unit (so that just two lights are visible) has reduced the noise somewhat. However, the system is still quite noisy (it can be heard in adjacent rooms), so I'm currently waiting to hear what the next step is.

[Scarletsboy]

Hi, if the H80 is making a noise have a look at this thread as it uses the same pump as the H100 ( I have it and it does make some noise if it gets louder I will ask for it to be replaced) This is a long long thread about this problem. http://www.overclock.net/t/1236923/c...r-response/470.
What motherboard you using ? as when i click on your system it comes up blank. If you are using a Asus you can use AI suite 2 to set up fan profile if it has fan Xpert 2 inc or just down load it. Plus the fans can be adjusted via the bios as well. As I have been reading in other threads you can change setting in the bios as long as it is not to change the cpu setting if over clocked ( I.E to increase the overclock). Scan correct me if I am wrong. you can change fan settings in there but check with them if you are not sure

[DesMcD]

Hi Scarletsboy,

Many thanks for your reply.

I've now added my system details to my profile. The motherboard is a Gigabyte one. I have tried having a play around with fan settings in BIOS, but only for the system fans (at the time I hadn't realised that some/most of the noise was coming from the Corsair cooler). I'll have another shot, but only once I've finished transferring the latest batch of files (three hours gone, just two to go...).

I'll update this thread with any new developments.

Cheers,
Des

[Thorbog]

The noise is almost entirely from the fans on the H80 rather than the case. I bet if you disconnect the H cooler you would only have a gentle hum.

I had a H100 and the fans on that were very loud. I had it replaced with an air cooling set up because of the pump noise issue but I am actually glad I had a problem with pump noise because otherwise I'd probably just be putting up with noisy fans.

If at all possible I'd rip that H80 out and go for air cooling. My system is as quiet as a mouse now where as before it was like opening your car window at 70mph...

Seriously, the difference in sound is ridiculous.

The irony of it all is that my CPU tempts are pretty much unchanged. I really don't see the point in these coolers at all. Even ignoring the well known pump issues I just don't see how the noise can ever justify the teeny improvements in cooling for the average user.

[DesMcD]

Hi Thorbog,

Many thanks for your post.

The noise levels were as bad as ever when I started the computer today, with the modest reduction achieved yesterday lost. This isn't just me being sensitive; you could hear it upstairs!

Anyway, and slightly more positively, I reset the Corsair H80 cooling unit by starting the computer whilst holding the button down for three seconds or so. I read elsewhere that this resets it, and it has gone some way to reducing noise levels. They are still too high, but not the extreme levels they were before.

I'm keen to reduce the noise to more sensible levels, although exactly how I'll achieve this I don't know. I'm currently waiting for a reply from Scan about this. Maybe you are right, Thorbog, and the only way forward is to remove the water-cooled unit. However, I'm reluctant to do this for (i) warranty reasons; and (ii) competency reasons! This'll be a last resort. In the meantime, I'm not sure what to do next. I don't seem to be able to make any noticeable changes in BIOS or by using the Easytune software.

By the way, how do you go about thanking people? I see that some forum members have been thanked x times, but I'm not sure how this system works...

Des

[Thorbog]

You said you were expecting a quiet computer so I don’t think you will be happy unless you get this fixed. You don’t want to be stuck with this for a couple of years do you? You are wasting your time tinkering around and just postponing the inevitable.

I think your best option is to get Scan to swap it out for the same air cooling setup they put in mine assuming it will fit in your system.

Unfortunately their onsite guys won’t touch the H cooler because it is water cooled (even though it is completely sealed) so it will have to go back to Scan.

As yours isn’t faulty I expect they will charge you but given what I know now I’d have gladly paid for that work and the new heat sink/fans if mine didn’t have the pump issue.

When I had the H100 it was so loud I had to use my big head phones when gaming and even when web browsing I had to turn the volume up on the TV. Now it is so quiet I can not only watch TV at low volume whilst web browsing, I can also play games like MMORPG’s whilst watching TV and the PC noise doesn’t bother me.

I think you know what you have to do.

[DesMcD]

Thanks, Thorbog. Unfortunately I've been too busy to do anything, and the new noise level was tolerable enough with music playing. Until yesterday, when the system (water pump? fan?) started to make a really irritating rattle... I'm convinced it is now faulty. I've logged the issue on the Scan website. Here's hoping for a reasonably quick resolution.