Aorus X570 Master with Smart Fan 5 causing CPU fan sounds
Aorus X570 Master with Smart Fan 5 causing CPU fan sounds
Regardless of my attempts with the software or BIOS settings, once the CPU reaches a certain temperature the "Smart" fan 5 on my AIO (Deepcool Captain 240 RGB) starts making loud noises. The firmware claims the maximum RPM is 1800, but the fan increases to 150-200 RPM above that, and the sound becomes noticeable around 1820 RPM. In hot weather the noise becomes really bothersome. I've searched online and watched YouTube videos, but no fixes seem to work. It doesn't appear to be the fans themselves since they run smoothly at 1800 RPM. Anything above that is where the disturbance occurs. I've tried enabling RPM FIXED MODE via desktop software, but it only displays the fan speed according to a temperature chart, which doesn't help the smart system at all. This is really frustrating. The motherboard is an Aorus X570 Master with the latest BIOS (version 34?), and the AIO uses Deepcool Captin 240 RGB.
I’m not comfortable with this “smart fan 5” setup. Usually, if the fans run past their maximum speed, the system might assume there’s an overheating issue. Could be worth verifying the temperatures. Updated June 16, 2021 by Bombastinator
they have either 3 or 4 pin fans. verify the pin layout on the fan connector and ensure the BIOS is configured for PWM control. if the PWM pin isn't connected, the fan may run at full speed with coil whine instead of responding properly. for a 3-pin setup, try using a different header on the board or swap in another fan. check if any other 12V components are connected, such as USB hubs that supply external power to the motherboard. you can adjust the maximum RPM/temperature limits in the smart fan settings to prevent overheating.
Times operate at fixed nominal values (temperature stays below 35°C). CPU runs at about 48°C on average during idle or light tasks, dropping to around 65°C while handling demanding work. When gaming or rendering, it hits roughly 65°C and then the fans increase to handle extra cooling, producing intense noise possibly due to overvoltage? I suspect a deeper problem: both AIO fans were connected via a splitter cable, which might have caused them to run at unsuitable voltage/current levels. After unplugging them, I noticed unused plugs on the board and no more loud noises. The fans are now quiet again, stabilizing at around 1600 RPM as per my fan curve settings. I couldn’t locate the setting in Smart Fan—only the RPM chart existed, and changing it to LPM didn’t help. Using the RPM fixed mode in the desktop app also failed to adjust the temperature range, always settling on the highest RPM. Perhaps the cable issue was the main culprit? Both fans use 4-pin PWM and are clean. Now I’m unsure if I’m still hearing it, thinking it might be coming from elsewhere.
Fan splitters typically rely on the fourth PWM pin from a single fan to avoid confusion and prevent one fan from being controlled by another. This setup can be achieved in a few ways—some devices use a four-pin base, while others have a three-pin connector, requiring users to connect only three pins or accept a four-pin option with some connectors missing an internal wire, turning one pin into a dummy.
Not sure what the case is for this splitter cable in question. It seemed to be delivering RPM and voltage changes with out issue, except that while connected to it, the fans were making the awful sound. The splitter has 4 wires, but perhaps the 4th is just no good or possibly there's a break somewhere in it? Eitherway it's been removed and this noise / voltage issue (for the moment) seems to be resolved. Thanks for the replies!
I believed the unpleasant noise linked to fans operating past their usual limit. Not at all. The solution is in place.
The situation appears to be resolved partially, but the splitter cable might have been the root cause. The fans now operate at their maximum speed without the associated noise once the splitter was removed and each fan had its own power source. However, the RPM problems linked to software and BIOS settings remain unresolved, and it seems unlikely anyone can fix them effectively.
It looks like I’d need another fan controller similar to the Corsair Commander Pro, which is currently worn out. That’s quite expensive right now ($75 controller, though iCue software works great for case fans). I don’t know of any other third-party programs that can manage BIOS-controlled fans without an external module. If there’s a superior option available, I’m definitely willing to explore it.