SMART FAN II - Should I buy? UPDATED - diff. between BIOS temp readings tested.

[Richdog]

I desperately need to upgrade the sh|tty generic 30CFM fan on my CPU so my CPU can really start to shine (see sig for info). I've been looking at the Smart Fan II and while i think it looks ugly as hell the performance is definately not to be sniffed at.

My current temps are around 57-50 C idle and 55 ish at load according to Hardware Doctor, how accurate are those readings anyway? I have the latest BIOS for the NF7-S, downloaded from ABIT website.

Am I right in thinking comes with a knob to adjust the speed manually instead of using the crappy temperature sensor? Is this the best fan for my SK-7 for noise/performance ratio?

BTW - Tornado is NOT an option and i am not going to buy a rhoebus, i want something that comes with a knob to adjust fan RPM. :beer:

 

[Cesar]

I have a Volcano 7+ all copper heatsink 34 fins modified with a 80mm Vantec Tornado
using Abit NF7-s 2.0 overclocked 1700+ at 2200Mhz 1.72v vcore 400FSB with bios 1.8

idle: 50c
load:53c

your heatsink and fan are ok it's that stupid bios from abit that reads temperature to high
with the old bios 1.4 I get 40 idle and 43 load. But you want the SFII go for it I have it and its a great fan to use on SK-7

 

[Richdog]

Yeah I have BIOS 1.8 too, how much higher are the temps than they should actually be reading? Is it way off mark? I'd like to know so I can start to judge my temps accurately, it's p|ssing me off not knowing what temp my CPU is actually at, GRRRRRRR. :beer:

 

[jarsoffart]

Another option would be the YS Tech adjustable fan available at SVC.com. I think it's cheaper and it's not that gross orange. It goes to a lower rpm as well from what I've heard.

 

[Cesar]

Originally posted by: Richdog
Yeah I have BIOS 1.8 too, how much higher are the temps than they should actually be reading? Is it way off mark? I'd like to know so I can start to judge my temps accurately, it's p|ssing me off not knowing what temp my CPU is actually at, GRRRRRRR. :beer:

change your bios back to 1.4 and you will see a big difference in temps reading btw use flashmenu to do it faster

 

[pspada]

The Fart Sman II does pump out a nice chunk of CFM - but it is also quite loud. And the more air it's pushing, the worse it whines.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: Cesar

Originally posted by: Richdog
Yeah I have BIOS 1.8 too, how much higher are the temps than they should actually be reading? Is it way off mark? I'd like to know so I can start to judge my temps accurately, it's p|ssing me off not knowing what temp my CPU is actually at, GRRRRRRR. :beer:

change your bios back to 1.4 and you will see a big difference in temps reading btw use flashmenu to do it faster

the older bios have much more accurate temp readings

 

[Richdog]

Originally posted by: Cesar

Originally posted by: Richdog
Yeah I have BIOS 1.8 too, how much higher are the temps than they should actually be reading? Is it way off mark? I'd like to know so I can start to judge my temps accurately, it's p|ssing me off not knowing what temp my CPU is actually at, GRRRRRRR. :beer:

change your bios back to 1.4 and you will see a big difference in temps reading btw use flashmenu to do it faster

Yeah I do use that, one of the greatest pieces of software written in my opinion, takes all the pain out of flashing! And I think I will get the SmartFan II, seems like a good buy, if I keep it on 2/3 power it should still pull around 50CFM@ 35dba right? :beer:

 

[blade]

If you had a decent fan controller like the sunbeam, then I'd suggest a tornado over the smartfan. I find the smartfan even more annoying than a tornado, even on lower speeds. I'm using a 92mm one and under 3k rpm, it's not bad at all. Under 2600, silence is golden.

I'd also suggest a ys tech adjustable.

 

[Richdog]

Yeah cheers for the info but as i said, i'm not forking out for a rhoebus so I want one that comes with an adjustable knob. Also, bizarrely, in the UK it is impossible to get a YS-TECH adjustable fan, don't ask me why. I wanted one of those originally but they are NOWHERE to be found! Id anyone does know anywhere in UK to get one PM me or post it here and i'll be eternally grateful! :beer:

 

[Cesar]

Originally posted by: Richdog

Originally posted by: Cesar

Originally posted by: Richdog Yeah I have BIOS 1.8 too, how much higher are the temps than they should actually be reading? Is it way off mark? I'd like to know so I can start to judge my temps accurately, it's p|ssing me off not knowing what temp my CPU is actually at, GRRRRRRR. :beer:

change your bios back to 1.4 and you will see a big difference in temps reading btw use flashmenu to do it faster

Yeah I do use that, one of the greatest pieces of software written in my opinion, takes all the pain out of flashing! And I think I will get the SmartFan II, seems like a good buy, if I keep it on 2/3 power it should still pull around 50CFM@ 35dba right? :beer:

did you change your bios back to 1.4?
any difference?

 

[Richdog]

Originally posted by: Cesar

Originally posted by: Richdog

Originally posted by: Cesar

Originally posted by: Richdog Yeah I have BIOS 1.8 too, how much higher are the temps than they should actually be reading? Is it way off mark? I'd like to know so I can start to judge my temps accurately, it's p|ssing me off not knowing what temp my CPU is actually at, GRRRRRRR. :beer:

change your bios back to 1.4 and you will see a big difference in temps reading btw use flashmenu to do it faster

Yeah I do use that, one of the greatest pieces of software written in my opinion, takes all the pain out of flashing! And I think I will get the SmartFan II, seems like a good buy, if I keep it on 2/3 power it should still pull around 50CFM@ 35dba right? :beer:

did you change your bios back to 1.4?
any difference?

No I haven't done it, i'm of the opinion that flashing back to an older BIOS is never good. All i need to know is how much the latest BIOS over-reads the temps on the CPU and i'll be able to manage OK. Is it about 5C over what i should be? :beer:

 

[Richdog]

OK i decided to flash back to 1.4 and check the temp readings. The CPU temperature is 6C lower with the 1.4 BIOS than with the 1.8. Is this far more accurate do you think? Bear in mind my CPU is at 10*200 @ 1.55v with an sk-7 ana 30cfm fan... Ambient temp is 24c... :beer:

 

[Cesar]

Originally posted by: Richdog
OK i decided to flash back to 1.4 and check the temp readings. The CPU temperature is 6C lower with the 1.4 BIOS than with the 1.8. Is this far more accurate do you think? Bear in mind my CPU is at 10*200 @ 1.55v with an sk-7 ana 30cfm fan... Ambient temp is 24c... :beer:

1.8 is not accurate in my mind but it's more stable!

 

[Davegod]

Originally posted by: Richdog
Yeah cheers for the info but as i said, i'm not forking out for a rhoebus so I want one that comes with an adjustable knob. Also, bizarrely, in the UK it is impossible to get a YS-TECH adjustable fan, don't ask me why. I wanted one of those originally but they are NOWHERE to be found! Id anyone does know anywhere in UK to get one PM me or post it here and i'll be eternally grateful! :beer:

UK etailers are ridiculous with who sells what, nowhere has anything like a really good range. best is probably between overclockers.co.uk and overclock.co.uk (look under noise reduction aswell as in fan section)
and fans are ridiculously expensive everywhere, especially anything decent like pabst or panaflo.

 

[Richdog]

Panaflo aren't that bad in the UK, only £4.99 on Ebay store, however Papst are a whopping £15.99 AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!! For god's sake if anyone knows where I can get the YS-TECH adjustable fan, or knows a European or USA retailer WHO WILL SHIP IT TO UK please let me know! :beer:

 

[machu]

I bought Smart Fan II along with Thermaltake's 'ducting mod' about a week ago. It replaced a very quiet panaflo fan and although my temps dropped from ~55 degrees (at full load) to about 45, it is so loud that I can't take it any longer. I installed it with a temp probe that regulates rpms but it's useless because a few minutes after the PC is on, rpms stay over 4000 all the time. I HATE THE SOUND THIS FAN MAKES!!!!!

 

[Richdog]

Yes but Machu it comes with a knob for manually adjusting the speed which is FAR better ni my opinion, the auto temp sensor is primitive at best so you'd be better off using the dial and controlling it that way. :beer:

 

[SirSnipe]

I have a smart case fan2, it's not bad when it's at it's lowest, and it's great when u wanna push it

 

[pspada]

I do want to push it - right into a deaf persons' PC.