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SMART FAN?
We tested the boards' Smart Fan feature by connecting the CPU cooler's fan
to a variable DC fan controller, so we could lower it manually to increase the CPU temperature while loading it with Prime95. A Xigmatek 120mm PWM fan was connected to the CPU fan header while a Scythe
Kama Flow 80mm 3-pin fan was connected to the secondary fan header. We're interested in seeing how the output to those fan headers varies with CPU temperature changes.
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Smart Fan Behavior (CPU Fan)
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Critera
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Gigabyte 790GP-DS4H
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DKA790GX Platinum
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Trigger Temp.
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24°C
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49°C
(50°C setting)
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Temp. Range
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35°C
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3°C
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Fan Speed
Range
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300 RPM to 2660 RPM
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1310 RPM to 2720 RPM
(minimum speed set to 0%)
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Smart Fan Behavior (SYS Fan)
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Trigger Temp.
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N/A
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N/A
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Temp. Range
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N/A
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N/A
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Fan Speed
Range
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500 RPM
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680 RPM
(50% setting)
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Gigabyte's Smart Fan setting resulted in the SYS fan running a constant 500
RPM throughout stress testing. The CPU fan spun at 300 RPM at core temperatures
of 24°C and below, topping out at 2660 RPM at 59°C. The increase in
fan speed was a smooth, gradual progression.
MSI's fan control was not so smart. The CPU fan's minimum speed was
1310 RPM even when set to 0% in the BIOS. The selected target
temperature of 50°C was almost dead-on — the fan speed increased rapidly
once the core temperature reached 49°C, topping out at 2720 RPM when the
core temperature reached 52°C. The SYS fan stayed at the approximate speed
designated in the BIOS — 50% or 680 RPM for the fan we utilized. 75% and
100% were the other options.
SPEEDFAN SUPPORT
For Windows users, SpeedFan is our application of choice for fan control. It
can be configured to raise or lower multiple fan speeds to designated limits
when any specified temperature threshold is breached.
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790GP-DS4H SpeedFan correlations.
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The Gigabyte 790GP-DS4H had excellent SpeedFan support. It reported the speeds of all
fans connected to the four fan headers on the board and allowed for full control
of the CPU_FAN and SYS_FAN1 headers whether they were of the 3-pin or 4-pin
PWM variety. To enable fan control find chip "IT8718F" in the Advanced
tab of the Configuration menu and set PWM 1 & 2 modes to "Software
Controlled."
Deciphering the various temperature sensors was much more difficult. Temp2
and Temp3 followed the rise in Core temperature when the CPU was stressed, but
to varying degrees. It is probably best to consider "Core" as the
"proper" CPU temperature as that reading is taken directly from the
CPU rather than the motherboard's sensors. Temp1 seemed to be tied to the VRM
area to the left of the CPU socket as it decreased by several degrees when we
placed a fan over that portion of the motherboard during load.
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DKA790GX Platinum SpeedFan correlations.
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SpeedFan support on the MSI board was more limited. SpeedFan reported the speeds
of all fans connected to the three fan headers on the board, allowed for full
control of the SYS_FAN1 header, but the CPU_FAN1 header was unable to control
3-pin fans and had a limited range when a PWM fan was connected. The Xigmatek
PWM fan we tested on this header could be manipulated to run at 2800 RPM maximum
and 1320 RPM minimum and no lower. To enable fan control find chip "F71882F"
in the Advanced tab of the Configuration menu and set PWM 1 & 4 modes to
"Manual set PWM."
The temperature sensors were more obvious on the DKA790GX. Temp1 followed the
Core temperature very closely, and Temp3 varied with how the degree of cooling
provided to the northbridge/VRM area. Temp2 on the otherhand jumped up and
down like a sine wave during stress testing, defying reason — it's probably
safe to ignore this one.
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