blesmek Posted December 6, 2020 Share Posted December 6, 2020 Hi, I've just built a new PC and im running an H100i Elite Capellix with the radiator mounted to the top and the 2 RGB fans that came with it set as an exhaust. I have 3x Corsair iCUE SP120 LED RGB Pro on the front panel acting as an intake, and 1x in the back as an exhaust. The PC is right next to me on my desk, and I find the fans extremely loud. I unplugged them one by one, and when I just have the CPU fans running I would say the sound levels are very acceptable, but when one of the SP120s runs it's too loud already. The CPU fans are able to run at about 400-500RPM, but the SP120 will not go below roughly 1400. All fans are plugged into the Commander Pro that came with the Capellix. I've googled a little bit and it seems like it will not be possible to get these fans below 1400RPM. Would the ML120 be an upgrade and run more silent at lower RPMs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-attack Posted December 6, 2020 Share Posted December 6, 2020 The problem is the SP-RGB and SP-Pro are both DC 3 pin motors and rely on voltage manipulation for speed control. The Commander Core is a PWM only fan controller so it’s giving them the 12v max at all times. All DC fans will run at 100% when on a PWM controller. Quickest solution is to move the fan motor cable for the SP to the motherboard. Nearly all MB headers are dual DC/PWM except sometimes CPU fan. Leave the RGB cables where they are. I am assuming these are SP-PRO and that is the best lighting match with the ML-Elite. Both have 8 LEDs. The ML-RGB have 4 LEDs and that introduces another issue with lighting pattern behavior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blesmek Posted December 6, 2020 Author Share Posted December 6, 2020 Ah I see. I only have 2 available slots on my motherboard though, so i'd still have to run 2 of them at max speed wouldn't I? As the ML120 is a 4pin, would that solve the solution aswell and i'd be able to control it through iCue and the commander core? Or is there something like an adapter I could use to connect 2 fans to 1 4pin on the motherboard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-attack Posted December 6, 2020 Share Posted December 6, 2020 All you need is an inexpensive 2 way splitter for the fan cable to connect them to one motherboard header. As your MB headers are surely DC/PWM, you will be able to control the speed from the BIOS and the controller is able to drop the voltage. Most splitters will be 4 pin PWM (or 4+3), but this works fine. The missing pin is the PWM wire. If you want to control those fans through CUE and that Commander Core, you have to use PWM fans. There isn't a converter. Right now any ML-RGB fans you buy will be visually different than the fans that came with your cooler. Those a 8 LED "Elite" and all the ML at retail are 4 LEDs models. This impacts your LED control and the Commander Core will make everything "base 8" for fan control. Any kind of moving effect will appear to move twice as fast through the ML 4 LED fans compared to the 8. In contrast, the 8 LED SP-PRO I believe you have are an exact match and it keeps the lighting uniform and relatively straightforward to program and understand. I am assuming you have the SP-PRO because if you were trying to use the older "SP-RGB", I don't think they would light up on the Commander Core. They are from an earlier time period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blesmek Posted December 6, 2020 Author Share Posted December 6, 2020 Ok that's good to know. I've just ordered 2 splitters. Thanks for the help, much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts