Computer stuffing due to heavy load can often overheat. In particular, this applies to such components installed on the motherboard as hard drives, video cards, etc. To control the parameters of fans (coolers) allows software called SpeedFan. What is this application, how to properly configure and use it, read on.
SpeedFan program: what is it and what is it for?
The application itself is a software control component that allows you to not only monitor recommended, critical (peak) or current cooling parameters of hardware devices, but also configure coolers that are responsible for these processes.
In other words, the same SpeedFan program for a laptop is not only a diagnostic tool, but also a powerful tool that gives the user full control over the temperature indicators of the fans, their rotation speed or operating modes with the subsequent determination of the results of the set parameters.
Nuances of installing the application
So, consider the SpeedFan application. How to use the program will be said a little later, but for now let's pay attention to some points related to the installation of this software product.
First you need to download the installation distribution package from the Internet using a trusted source (site). If you download the application from the official resource, the English version will be presented there. You can find the SpeedFan program in Russian on the Runet. In any case, before starting the installation, the downloaded distribution should be checked for potential threats.
After starting the executable installation file, you need to follow the instructions of the "Wizard", but during the installation process several initial tests will be carried out. In addition, you should pay attention that to launch the installed application at the start of Windows XP, its shortcut must be placed in the startup menu. For higher versions of the system, you can use the UAC slider, setting it to the minimum position, or enter the program launch in the "Task Scheduler".
Program Interface Preview
At the end of the installation, launch the SpeedFan application. How to use the program, it will be clear if you pay attention to its interface (the main window that appears when you first start).
There are several main tabs, the number of which in different versions of the application may vary. The indicators tab contains basic information regarding temperature values and voltage of system components, speeds and operating modes of fans, CPU load, etc.
The frequency tab is used to overclock the processor and allows you to change the frequency of the system bus according to the specified operating conditions. Please note: ordinary users are not recommended to do such things without special knowledge in any case!
The following information tab is devoted to RAM. By the way, based on the parameters shown, you can purchase a version of the program that will fully comply with the installed motherboard, which will increase the reliability and performance of the application in relation to system components.
The SMART tab provides complete information about the operation and condition of the hard disk of a computer system, and also provides some opportunities for conducting basic tests of the hard drive.
Finally, the graphs tab in visual mode gives a complete picture of under what conditions the temperature parameters of computer components change in real time. To select a specific component, you need to use the drop-down menu.
SpeedFan app: how to use? Initial setup
Now a few words about the initial settings. First, use the indicators tab, where we enable or disable the indicators used. For the selected (highlighted) item, you can set the desired (Desired) and alarm (Warning) temperature.
Set the desired value, for example, for the processor, based on the idle temperature (when the cooling cooler is not heard). If this value is, say, at 33 degrees, the desired indicator should have an indicator of 35-37 degrees. As a rule, the warning temperature is in the range of 50-55 degrees.
In any system there are unused sensors, for example, LM75, so they must be disabled, as well as incorrect temperature readings. The remaining indicators can be renamed, and then sorted by dragging and dropping the mouse to the desired position. The same thing can be done with fans.
Fan settings
Now the most important thing that is in the program SpeedFan. How to use the simplest settings is already clear. Consider the installation of the main controlled parameters.
Speed settings are made on the tab with the same name, and the actions are similar to those described above (renaming, deleting, organizing, setting user values).
Next, go to the Readings tab, which displays the speed range CPU0 and CPU1. Initially, 100% is set here. You cannot change all speeds, and the program will not let you do this. But, as a rule, the application for PWM sensors resets two of the four parameters, unchecking them and leaving only two priority ones.
Any sensor can affect only the rotation speed of only one fan. Theoretically, it seems possible that all speeds can be optimized, but in practice the temperatures of CPU0 and CPU1 are associated only with the same speeds.
Another thing is that the application can be notified that the CASE speed parameter will be enabled for two fans (in the corresponding field, checkboxes are opposite CPU0 and CPU1). You can use the automatic speed settings, but they will not be automatically changed. Therefore, for each fan where such a setting is assumed, the Automatically variated parameter must be set. Only after that the speeds will change depending on the temperatures set on the corresponding tab.
And do not use 100% speed, since noises can occur quite strongly. For example, if the first cooler works almost silently at the 65% position and the second cooler, the automatic adjustment can be removed and the values can be set in the range 65-100% (first cooler) and 65-90% (second cooler). But all the same, when the critical heating threshold is reached or is exceeded, regardless of the set values, the application uses the rotation rate of both fans 100%.
Conclusion
It remains to add that using this program is only for advanced users who initially studied the entire documentation on the devices installed in the system and the parameters that they support. And even more, it is not recommended to engage in overclocking the processor or changing the frequency of the system bus without special knowledge, since this can lead to the most unpredictable consequences. But for complete monitoring of the state of all the "iron" components of the system, the application is just fine, because with it you can track the potentially dangerous conditions of some devices, and then disable the programs or services that affect them the most, causing unreasonably high loads.