TT smart fan 2 question

[Shimmishim]

I know that there are three settings you can use with this fan:

1. full speed
2. temp controlled
3. manual speed control

for the full speed setting, you have to plug the connector to a header on the mobo.... i hear that this fan draws something like 8W of power from the mobo... and someone has suggested that i use the optional attachment in order to connect the fan directly to the PSU and not the mobo....

anyone have any advise about this fan and how to use it most efficiently?

 

[Drewpy]

I would highly not recommend pluging 8W into a mobo fan header. I'd use the 4-3 pin adapter for sure.

I know that the KX7-333 is rated for only 6W per header, but I wouldn't even go that high. If its anything above 4-5W I'd use the adapter to be on the safe side of things.

I'd recommend the manual setting, just because I can't set the noise-temp ratio to my liking by using the temp control. At the max rating its a pretty loud fan.

 

[CaptnKirk]

My advice to you about this ThermalTake SmartFan2 is to do what I did with mine.
Take it out and replace it with a Y.S. Tech Adjustable - it's much better.
Of all the fans I've moved through my systems, that is the most disappointing
fan I ever purchased, and installed, and removed. Functionally junk.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
My advise to you about this ThermalTake SmartFan2 is to do what I did with mine.
Take it out and replace it with a Y.S. Tech Adjustable - it's much better.
Of all the fans I've moved through my systems, that is the most disappointing
fan I ever purchased, and installed, and removed. Functionally junk.

I think the quality of the fan is pretty good, but yah, the monitoring, control features are terrible, and is why I call it the "Dumb Fan 2"

I'm hooking it up to a Rheobus though, so it should be much better.

Chiz

 

[LazyBastard]

Originally posted by: chizow

Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
My advise to you about this ThermalTake SmartFan2 is to do what I did with mine.
Take it out and replace it with a Y.S. Tech Adjustable - it's much better.
Of all the fans I've moved through my systems, that is the most disappointing
fan I ever purchased, and installed, and removed. Functionally junk.

I think the quality of the fan is pretty good, but yah, the monitoring, control features are terrible, and is why I call it the "Dumb Fan 2"

I'm hooking it up to a Rheobus though, so it should be much better.

Chiz

I have a YS-Tech Variable Speed Fan (from SVC) as the exhaust fan on my Shuttle SS51G. Nice fan. I was thinking of replacing my Sunon 50CFM 40dBA fan (on my 8045/XP2000 in another system) with a TT SmartCaseFan II. But, if it's really as bad as y'all say, I think I'll replace it with another YS-Tech Variable Speed Fan.

 

[chizow]

Well, the real reason I bought the fan (not a huge fan of TT products to begin with, especially their "Volcano" line of heatsinks), was for the Coolmod 2, which works flawlessly and is a must-have IMO for windowed case owners I was planning to get a rheobus regardless (which I have now) to control the rest of my fans, so it'll be fine for my purposes. But yah, if you are planning to get this thing to be a stand-alone variable speed fan, avoid it at all costs, the thermal monitor has only 2 speeds, too low, and too loud. The included rheostat just doesn't work and is flimsy; I have two other fans that are adjusted with a screwdriver and work flawlessly.

Chiz

 

[Soldat]

ack, having just purchased 2 Tt smart fan 2's I didn't need to read through this post. Oh well.

 

[Shimmishim]

it's not a bad fan

it's fine... i've gotten it in a way that the fan speed increases as the temperature increases.... except it won't hit the max speed cuz it doesn't get hot enough...

 

[Crucial]

How does this company stay in business with the junk that they produce?

 

[CaptnKirk]

Eye-candy & advertising.
Some believe what they hear or read.
Some read and don't believe.

 

[Shimmishim]

argh.. it's not HORRIBLE... it's decent...

 

[godmare]

Originally posted by: chizow
The included rheostat just doesn't work and is flimsy
Chiz

The instructions for the fan are inacurate: the jumper must be shorted for the rheobus/potentiometer to work. This fan's ability to move air FAR exceeds anything else on the market, just look at the specs compared to the Y.S. Tech (which is a good company) adjustable fan, for instance.
I've removed the laser cut Tt emblazoned steel grill from mine to make it considerably quieter.

 

[CaptnKirk]

I don't believe ThermalTakes specs about air volume CFM or dBa. It is considerably louder than the Y.S. Tech,
and if it actually did move more air - it would have resulted in lower temperatures. Didn't happen.

In order to mount it on an Alpha heatsink, first you have to modify the fan case by notching it - so you
can put screws into it. The Thumb-Wheel adjuster seems to either by "Full-on" or "Just-on" and it's
really hard to trim to a constant velocity. It surges from high rev's to low rev's as the Thermal Probe
sends heat data that varies from moment to moment when in automatic.

 

[godmare]

Okay.. I ahven't had any problems, and neither has Shimmishim, evidently.
I think it's an acceptable fan, at this point, but you can do what you feel is best.

 

[Shimmishim]

Originally posted by: godmare
Okay.. I ahven't had any problems, and neither has Shimmishim, evidently.
I think it's an acceptable fan, at this point, but you can do what you feel is best.

amen brotha... amen....

 

[Davegod]

SF2 moves a LOT of air but its really noisy, though unlike some posters above i found it's rheostat worked pretty well - it's just that even at the minimum rpm it vibrated and made a lot of noise. If I was going to hook fans up to a quality rheostat I'd select a YS tech or even a Delta - Delta fans are very high quality and are noisy simply because their stock speed is very high rpm, though mind some high rpm fans draw more power than rheostat will like.

If you want a fan to control it's own rpm then look at the YS-Tech; if you want a fan to use with a seperate rheostat then YS-Tech, Delta, Sunon (and more) do fans better. TBH I dont see any area where the SF2 makes sense.

 

[jkirkman]

I have one of these--at full speed it sounds like a dustbuster.

I have had good success regulating it with the Q-fan feature on my P4PE and have not had to resort to the thermal or manual controls. It usually settles in at about 3500 RPMs which, though still the loudest fan in my case, is not *that* loud.

I'm using it on a Swifty 4k for heatsink cooling, and the sole reason for getting it was for the cool-mod pointing straight out my window.

This feature never fails to amaze my 6 year old daughter and other like-minded adults.

Let's face it--if I wasn't more concerned with how things looked than how they performed I wouldn't have windows cut into my case, now would I?

 

[ea1077]

This fan can be loud and anyone who use it at the highest setting for an extended period of time must be deaf by now.

It is adjustable that's the only reason I bought it. Also it according to the specifications it can move plenty of air if need be.

 

[Shimmishim]

agreed!

 

[Abhoth]

Hey... I have the Smartarse fan too! ;-) Running a 2400+ with a V9 and of course 'the fan'! Runs at 36c - 42c depending upon load... Noise is not even close to a problem, but running it using the thermal sensor so the rpm's run at a mild 3400 -3800. At full speed I'm sure it's a dustbuster!
And a word to the wise...!!! Running an Asus A7V8X, with the Q-fan 'feature'... well when I first put it all together the Q-fan feature was enabled. Fired the system up and all went well... initially just checking things out, making sure all is running well... fans included ya know. So, sitting there and reading the manual and checking some bios settings and all of a sudden I hear this turbo jet taking off from inside the system sitting there! Looked at the screen and happened to be at the hardware portion of the bios and the damn fan is running at 6000rpm !!! Immediately hit the power and took a look around.... no obvious worries upon inspection. So, fired it back up, watching very closely... everything good. Fans running and relative quiet..... so watched it for a bit. To my amazement the HSF fan just stops... power off!!!!!!
Some testing later... seems the Q-fan really needs to be off if you're going to use the thermal sensor to control the speed of the fan. Don't know if it's an Asus or TT issue and don't care... just don't use them together, which was not my intent anyway but almost found out the hard way...!

 

[Iovah]

I don't know what you all are talking about are you sure you ever owned a SF2? I have 3 of these puppies and a Volcano 9 with the grills installed and they purr so quiet the power supply is all my nouise they run at barely above 1300RPMs and the cpu runs at 3000 or so and I highly recommend everyone set them to there full speed if you are looking to give your self post traumatic stress syndrome or some sort of anxiety disorder. oh yeah that's with the temp monitors one on the NB, VGA chip, and memory while being OC'd as well that these fans run at that and keep my system at 37 degrees 42 is the highest I've seen it get and that's at a full load for along time. I haven't tried these other fans so I can't say about them all I know is these fans beat loud ones although I must say the cheapy fans that have the long 1 foot cables that run low rpms are still the best fans they create maybe 18 dB(A).

 

[CaptnKirk]

Iovah,

You sure you got the SmartFan2's? The're the ORANGE ones with the little thumbwheel adjuster, or the optional thin foil probe sensor, or just leave the
jumper in place an let it run full speed. Way too loud in that configuration.

Put in on a Heatsink ? where did you get the 3 inch long # 40 screws that it takes to extend to mount onto an Alpha ? I can't find them.
Break out the eXacto knife or Dremel and cut away the side stand mold castings to gain access to the lower flange od the casemount
just so the screws can be used to mount the fan like all the other fans are mounted.

Want mine? I don't - got them when they first came out $ 22 plus freight. Worse but than a Ford Pinto.

 

[Iovah]

Hahahah mine came with all of the necessary screws and mine is on the volcano 9 by thermal take which means I have 4 of these fans in my case bub also if you don't know where to get screw you must have a few loose

 

[OulOat]

Originally posted by: Iovah
Hahahah mine came with all of the necessary screws and mine is on the volcano 9 by thermal take which means I have 4 of these fans in my case bub also if you don't know where to get screw you must have a few loose

Lol, SF2 isn't quiet. You haven't heard quiet till you hear, or should I say, can't hear some papst fans.