Solved Cooler Master 212 Plus Fan Issue

[linnemeyerhere]

Regarding PWM connected fans stopping for periods, this has been reported when the CPU temps are low and no air flow is needed as in start up and or low ambient room temps. For me I want my fans spinning all the time moving air though the case and out.....but that's just me.

 

[Deception]

They're talking about replacing the fan on your cpu cooler. If it's working so far, then just keep a close eye on it. I've never heard of a problem with the bios not running the fan, but you can't rule it out. Do you have the airflow of the cpu cooler blowing towards the rear exhaust and out of the case?

Yea, the fan is now on the proper side of the heat sink. All air is being pushed towards the rear of my case and being exhausted.

 

[Deception]

Regarding PWM connected fans stopping for periods, this has been reported when the CPU temps are low and no air flow is needed as in start up and or low ambient room temps. For me I want my fans spinning all the time moving air though the case and out.....but that's just me.

So what my fan was doing was normal? I'm asking this cause it is brand new and i'm curious whether I should RMA it or not.

Also, is there any way to make it spin 100% of the time while plugged into the CPU Header?

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Yes the fan can stop for brief periods if the cooling fins are keeping the CPU stable and within temps. If as you say the fan is new then I'm sure you're fine. Good catch getting the fan pointed in the correct direction. I would either turn of the PWM feature in the bios or better yet just move the fan plug from the PWM header to a std. fan header which there should be one handy on the mobo. Lastly if you can find the std. fan header then do as I do and run the fan directly off a free 12v molex connection off the PSU, this will require on of these.
Cables To Go - 6-Inch 3-Pin Fan to 4-Pin Pass-Thru Power Adapter Cable 27078 at TigerDirect

 

[Sardonicus]

You may have a perfectly good CPU fan, but even if you're confident with it, you may want to set a safeguard, just in case.
Enabling the "CPU Fan Fail Warning" in the BIOS is a good idea.

 

[Deception]

Yes the fan can stop for brief periods if the cooling fins are keeping the CPU stable and within temps. If as you say the fan is new then I'm sure you're fine. Good catch getting the fan pointed in the correct direction. I would either turn of the PWM feature in the bios or better yet just move the fan plug from the PWM header to a std. fan header which there should be one handy on the mobo. Lastly if you can find the std. fan header then do as I do and run the fan directly off a free 12v molex connection off the PSU, this will require on of these.
Cables To Go - 6-Inch 3-Pin Fan to 4-Pin Pass-Thru Power Adapter Cable 27078 at TigerDirect

I will just connect it to a standard header. My question is though why do you recommend this 12v connection over the motherboard?

 

[Deception]

You may have a perfectly good CPU fan, but even if you're confident with it, you may want to set a safeguard, just in case.
Enabling the "CPU Fan Fail Warning" in the BIOS is a good idea.

View attachment 219414

I actually saw this option last night while looking through BIOS and was going to ask about it, read my mind! Thanks

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Deception,
I like to keep all unnecessarily voltage off the mobo, that's just me. I run a lot of fans and a lot off stuff, plus I also have a fair OC so to me it just makes sense. It also adds to a cleaner mobo but when you are talking just a CPU cooler it's a fairly mute point.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I thought someone said it is supposed to start and stop?

I have two. It can stop and start.

A cpu fan is never supposed to stop.

Be careful with blanket statements. Some that do an excellent job of cooling with heat pipes don't always run. My server is running an i3-2100 with a 212+ on it, and between the cool processor, excellent cooling in m case, and the heat pipes, my fan doesn't run all the time, either. It runs more on my i7 system, but still not constantly.

 

[UnknownReverent]

I've never seen a cpu cooler fan stop.

 

[Layback Bear]

Is my fan supposed to spin constantly all the time or no?
The reason I am asking is because it isn't. Watch the short 1 minute video I made, explains it all in detail.

Cooler Master 212 Plus Fan Issue - YouTube

Thanks for your help!
Sean

Your post you stipulated you fan does not run all the time and gave us a video. That was and is the reason for my post # 14. If the fan would of worked from another connection on the M/B the fan would be concerned okay.

 

[Layback Bear]

I have my cpu fans plugged into a case fan header so they will spin 100% all the time. So I don't get warning every time I boot I plug a case fan into the cpu fan connection. Some cpu fans will be a little noisy at 100% all the time, mine are not.

 

[Deception]

Is my fan supposed to spin constantly all the time or no?
The reason I am asking is because it isn't. Watch the short 1 minute video I made, explains it all in detail.

Cooler Master 212 Plus Fan Issue - YouTube

Thanks for your help!
Sean

Your post you stipulated you fan does not run all the time and gave us a video. That was and is the reason for my post # 14. If the fan would of worked from another connection on the M/B the fan would be concerned okay.

I meant it starts and stops, I see how my post can be misconstrued as otherwise... BUT that's why I made the video, explains it clearly.

I have my cpu fans plugged into a case fan header so they will spin 100% all the time. So I don't get warning every time I boot I plug a case fan into the cpu fan connection. Some cpu fans will be a little noisy at 100% all the time, mine are not.

Alright well i'll give it a go and see if this one is noisy! Thanks for the help.

This thread I feel like could be pretty dang useful to others!

 

[DeaconFrost]

I've never seen a cpu cooler fan stop.

Just because you've never seen one doesn't mean they don't exist. Newer processors run cooler than ever, so with proper cooling, they may not always need a fan spinning constantly....especially if that cooling is paired with a properly cooled case.

I'll assume you've never seen an HTPC that doesn't even have a fan, and uses passive cooling?

 

[UnknownReverent]

I've never seen a cpu cooler fan stop.

Just because you've never seen one doesn't mean they don't exist. Newer processors run cooler than ever, so with proper cooling, they may not always need a fan spinning constantly....especially if that cooling is paired with a properly cooled case.

I'll assume you've never seen an HTPC that doesn't even have a fan, and uses passive cooling?

I've seen one of those, but that obviously doesn't have a fan to begin with. I've had quite a few computers and I have yet to see a fan stop. Even my i5 needs the fan constantly spinning.

 

[DeaconFrost]

As I explained before, it all depends on other factors. Have you ever installed or used a Hyper 212+? It comes with a huge heatsink with thermal pipes. On some systems, it can be used alone, without a fan, assuming the case itself is cooling and moving air properly. It's thermal monitoring controls the fan to run when needed, and that's how it can keep the noise way down.

I have one of my two running on a server cooling an i3-2100. I can watch the fan stop spinning at random times, and then spin up when needed. If your i5 is running a stock HSF, then it needs to have the fan running all the time to stay cool. Sit a stock cooler on a table next to the Hyper 212+, and it will be very obvious why the two differ in cooling abilities.

 

[UnknownReverent]

As I explained before, it all depends on other factors. Have you ever installed or used a Hyper 212+? It comes with a huge heatsink with thermal pipes. On some systems, it can be used alone, without a fan, assuming the case itself is cooling and moving air properly. It's thermal monitoring controls the fan to run when needed, and that's how it can keep the noise way down.

I have one of my two running on a server cooling an i3-2100. I can watch the fan stop spinning at random times, and then spin up when needed. If your i5 is running a stock HSF, then it needs to have the fan running all the time to stay cool. Sit a stock cooler on a table next to the Hyper 212+, and it will be very obvious why the two differ in cooling abilities.

It's definitely not a stock cooler. I have a ZALMAN CNPS9900MAX-B. I've never used a stock cooler. I also have 6 other case fans in the computer as well and it still constantly spins. The other setup I had a huge heatsink/fan as well and 4 case fans.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Maybe your Zalman isn't designed to ever spin down completely. Who knows. All I'm telling you is how the Hyper 212+ works, from experience of owning two. You made a blanket statement that I corrected...nothing more nothing less.

The number of case fans also has no real bearing on how well the case is cooled. I've been building systems for 15 years now, and I can tell you one of the biggest lessons learned is that simply adding fans doesn't always increase the cooling ability. I don't know your case or your layout of fans, so I'm not making assumptions that your cooling isn't good. I'm just saying that just adding a lot of fans doesn't always do the trick.

 

[UnknownReverent]

Maybe your Zalman isn't designed to ever spin down completely. Who knows. All I'm telling you is how the Hyper 212+ works, from experience of owning two. You made a blanket statement that I corrected...nothing more nothing less.

The number of case fans also has no real bearing on how well the case is cooled. I've been building systems for 15 years now, and I can tell you one of the biggest lessons learned is that simply adding fans doesn't always increase the cooling ability. I don't know your case or your layout of fans, so I'm not making assumptions that your cooling isn't good. I'm just saying that just adding a lot of fans doesn't always do the trick.

Well my case is NZXT Tempest 410 Elite. It has 2 top fans, 2 front fans, one bottom, and one back. I've just never known one to spin down, but you're right. I've never used the Hyper 212+.