Fan Controllers?

[siforek]

Initially with only a few GPUs I didn't see much need for additional rig fans with < 47C on all my cards, but the more I get & as I migrate my rigs to a cheaper powered/hotter location I've decided to mount 5x 140mm fans for 7 GPU & 10x for 13 GPU rigs.

Initially I was just going to get a couple splitters, molex powered but with PWM signal from my motherboard so I could at least adjust the speed of all the fans, together that is. Now I'm considering something like this speed controller: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811997078 where I can set different fans to different speeds etc. Looks like I could even use their thermal sensors to get different temp readings & adjust each fan speed accordingly.

With my goal being to keep all my GPUs as efficiently cool as possible by automatically adjusting fans I think this would be great however I am using Linux & doubt their mobile app/control will be seamless. I'd like to know what others are using, your experience with fan controllers & recommendations, if there's something better etc.

The touchscreen display looks nice but I could do without it. really if there was another way to separately control the speed of 5-10 fans it might be better to do so based on the GPU temps rather than the readings from thermal sensors.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[NameTaken]

Why not use box fans?

[Undefined31415]

Why not use box fans?

^Agreed. You can easily find some cheap box fans for $10-$25 bucks each.

I'm not sure how many rigs you have, but you say you're moving them to a location with cheaper power, but one that will also have a higher ambient temperature.
With that information, I'd be more concerned with how you plan on ventilating the room(s), rather than trying to micromanage fans on individual rigs.

Honestly, if you can keep core temps below 70C, I'd call it good, even for 24/7 operation. If you can stay under 60C, even better. Sure, they are marginally more efficient at lower temperatures, and you extend the expected lifetime of the cards. I don't think the difference is worth too much trouble, though.

[brownfly]

Good point. I use 6 fans for each box, but when I put the second rig to my basement, I find out that 2 KWatt is enough power to make it noticeable warmer!

[ntsdm1]

gpu mining has always
and will always be the best space heater in the world!
i could turn Antarctica into Africa.
the fan controller actually looks very nice and cant beat the price!
it certainly would save many rigs from having problems!

[siforek]

gpu mining has always
and will always be the best space heater in the world!
i could turn Antarctica into Africa.
the fan controller actually looks very nice and cant beat the price!
it certainly would save many rigs from having problems!

Yeah I ordered one last night. The whole point is to run the fans as little as possible & as we all know, each GPU is different & some can run hotter than others regardless of placement etc. As for the ambient temperature, yes the new location is slightly warmer but not too much. We're talking about going from my dining room at 23C to a back office room no more than 30C. Obviously the rigs are going to increase that proportionally but I am prepared to increase the ventilation as needed when/if needed.

I kinda like what this guys has done here: https://youtu.be/_qbLkivgxps?t=148 & he states that his smallest box with only 2 rigs is by far the coolest. I'm thinking down I want to build another custom rig frame/case, but not open air this time, have 1-3 large fans on the top pushing air out & small slits on the sides to pull cooler air in next to the cards. Not a big fan of plywood & think I could pull it off with black aluminum & plexiglass or similar.

[brownfly]

I see no point to use such controllers. My rigs are quiet enough to keep box fans running at constant speed all the time. GPUs control their own fans.