If the cooler (fan) on any PC device does not automatically accelerate to maximum speed, which leads to overheating, it makes sense to use the SpeedFan utility. This application allows you to set a constant rotational speed of the screws or adjust its change depending on the temperature read from the main sensors. The SpeedFan utility works only with coolers whose speed adjustment can be done through the BIOS.
Short description of SpeedFan
The program for overclocking SpeedFan coolers is free. It is suitable for changing the fan speed installed on the video card, central processor, motherboard chipset. Before installing and running the utility, it is necessary to disable automatic adjustment in the BIOS. If this condition is not met, the utility may incorrectly read the information about the maximum possible speed of the screws and cannot spin them to the maximum level in a critical situation.
For example, if the BIOS blocks the CPU cooler at 700 rpm during program startup, the SpeedFan application will take this value as the maximum. When the processor temperature rises, the PC fan will not accelerate. This will cause a forced shutdown of the computer or damage to the CPU.
Installation and first start
The installation distribution should only be downloaded from the official source of the software manufacturer. In any case, it is advisable to check the downloaded file for viruses. In general, the installation process is standard. In the first step, you will be asked to accept the license agreement. On the second - it will be possible to choose places for creating shortcuts. On the third - set the directory for unpacking utility files.
During the first launch, the program for overclocking coolers will search for all available temperature sensors and fans. When this process is completed, a window with a little help will appear on the screen. If you do not want it to appear after each program launch, you need to tick off the only checkbox and click on "Close".
When the help window is closed, you will see the main tab of the application. Initially, the program has English localization. To switch the interface language, follow these steps:
Click on "Configure" from the upper left of the main window.
Click on the "Options" tab.
In the "Language" menu, select the desired language. Russian localization is already built into the utility.
Main window
The main window blocks show basic information. On the right is information about the temperature of the main components of the computer, such as a graphics processor, video card, chipset, central processor, and hard drive. In addition to the real ones, the program for overclocking coolers will show garbage here. To determine indicators that you should not pay attention to, you need to use the AIDA64 utility. To do this, compare the performance in SpeedFan and AIDA64. If there are no values in the latter, then you do not need to take them into account.
On the left is a list of cooler controllers. The list usually shows more fans than are installed on the computer. Some of them display the speed of real coolers. Others, as in the case of temperature data, contain “garbage”. Incorrect data in blocks is the only minus of the utility that goes into each new edition.
Matching sensors and coolers
At the bottom of the program are screw speed controllers. Their names are "Speed01", "Speed02", etc. (in SpeedFan in Russian - "Fan1", "Fan2"). But before setting the speed, you first need to determine the correspondence between the regulators and coolers.
The easiest way to do this is on a desktop computer. Remove the left cover of the system unit. Change the value of the first knob to a few tens of percent. Observe which cooler started spinning - more intense or slower. Also write down or remember the line in the left block in which the value has changed.
It is easiest for laptop users to determine compliance using the AIDA64 utility. At the same time, AIDA64 and a program for overclocking SpeedFan coolers should be launched. After changing the value of one of the regulators in SpeedFan, follow in AIDA64 on which device page the fan speed indicator will change.
Customization
In order to change the names of sensors and speed indicators to understandable ones, click on the line "Configuration". To do this, just select any element of the list, and then click on it with the left mouse button. Here, at the bottom of the tab, you can set the desired temperature of the device and critical.
If the component heats up to a critical level, the utility will automatically make the PC fan spin at maximum speed. When the device cools to the desired temperature, the cooler speed will be reduced. If filling out the form is difficult for you and you do not understand what specific values you need to enter in these columns, read the instructions that came with the device or find the latest information on the manufacturer’s website.
After that, click on the "+" icon located next to the device name. In the drop-down list, check only the box next to the fan that matches this equipment. Any cooler (fan) can be renamed. To do this, go to the "Fans" tab.
If you want to set the cooler to rotate automatically, switch to the "Speeds" tab. Highlight the desired fan. At the bottom of the window, enter the minimum and maximum speeds in percent. As the upper limit, never set the value to 100%, because the cooler itself will accelerate to the maximum when the peak temperature specified on the main settings tab is reached. After entering, check the box next to the text "Auto Change".
Advanced users are advised to use the "Fan Control" settings section. In it, for each fan, you can set the curve of the rotation speed depending on the readings of the sensors.
Conclusion
The program for overclocking coolers on a SpeedFan computer will appeal to advanced users and overclockers. To everyone else, it will seem complicated. It will not be easy for an inexperienced user to establish correspondence between fans and sensors and understand all the parameters. In addition, the normal temperature of the devices and the critical temperature is not always indicated on the manufacturers' websites and in the instructions.