AMD Cool'n'Quiet - Not really

Hi all

Just got myself a new processor, the AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ Cool'n'Quiet.

I installed it into the new motherboard, a Gigabyte GA-M51GM-S2G.

The thing sound like a hoover. I looked up on this cool'n'quiet feature which is supposed to control the fan rate compared the to temp and performance of the CPU.

The Mobo is CAQ compatible just so it happens (I didnt actually buy the board for this feature, but it is on AMD's reco list).

I looked on the AMD Site, downloaded the drivers, and some monitoring software. Only problem is, although the CPU reads at 33C idle, the fan is still running at what seems like full speed, from 3.7-4.2K RPM.

Has anyone experience with this CAQ stuff? Am I missing something?

I tried using Speedfan to adjust and although that monitors OK it doesnt actually chnage any speeds :p

Thanks all its driving my family crazy!

A stupid question...
Are u sure the noise comes from the cpu fan?That is, u put everything in your old case that was actually quiet?

Here is another ,maybe, stupid question....have you checked Bios to be sure that CAQ is enabled?
Have you determined from where, exactly, the noise is coming from?

Yep, you have to enable Cool and Quiet in the BIOS, as well as installing the driver for it. You can also download Power Monitor, which will show you exactly what each core is doing as C & Q does it's thing:

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/..._13118,00.html

Hi Nick how are ya!

Yes, the noise is definately from the CPU Fan - the only other in there is the 120mm case fan, which has is speed adjustable. I turned it to low (which from experience I know is veeeeery quiet) and then turned it to High (Quite loud) - I couldnt hear the difference for the other fan was blasting away!

I will double check CAQ is enabled in the BIOS, cant say I am 100% on that. I have already got the driver installed, and have the power monitor as well.

Will check when I get home from the office!

Oh and the graphics cooling noise is NA as its not got any fan on it at all, its just one Huuuuuuuuge heatsink!

Hmm, no go really.

I looked in the Bios, and the there isnt a definitive "Enable/Disable Cool'n'Quiet" option. I enabled most of what I think is like Enable Smart Fan Management, etc. But its still whizzing away.

The power monitor software allows you to set power levels in OS, but even set to Laptop mode (sets clock speed to half and lowers Voltage) the fan doesnt slow down. Right now the temp of the CPU is 24C! Great but sounds nasty.

/Sigh

Any more ideas?

Iv noticed something strange.

Looking through the manual, and there is no hint of CAQ.

Although looking at the pinout of the CPU fan connector, there are 4 pins (I noticed this when I insatlled it). The CPU Fan connector is 3 pin. That 4th pin is marked as Speed Adjustment.

So that makes sense, that it is simply running at full speed becuase that 4th pin is not being used in the 3 pin Fan connector. But what makes it confusing is this is the AMD cooler, so you would think it would have 4 pins for the speed adjustment?

Are there some standards that are just not matching up here?

I'm using the stock AMD fan on mine, with the normal 3-pin fan connector, and Cool & Quiet works fine for me, my CPU fan is currently showing 999 RPM in Everest, it goes up to around 2000 if the CPU gets maxed out. I can only assume that it must be your mobo that is preventing the fan speed from changing. Do the clock and Vcore values change OK?

I am certainly no expert but I have a couple of questions/observations:
1.If you need to keep the cpu connected to the cpu fan connector..could you get a 4 to 3 pin adapter and see what happens? If the board is CAQ ready, wouldn't that mean that the board is set up to read the fan speed through the cpu fan connector??

2.Do you have any 4 pin fan connectors on the board( if there are no such things as 4 pin fan connectors on boards, then that proves my level of knowledge..:rolleyes: !)

3.Maybe have a bad fan?

4. I have my Arctic Freezer 64 Pro connected to a fan controller...it's too loud at full speed...and it cools just fine at slower speeds...

Hmm yes, Vcore and clock spped change ok with the power monitor power settings.

I guess ill try moving the 3pin connector over 1 pin to exclude the pin at the other end...not sure but can try i guess.

Stevejr

1. Seeming as the board is CAQ ready I would have thought it was plug and go, I can see where you are coming from as I thought that myself but Id rather not have to...plud Sparks has it wrking with 3 pins so looks like the 4th pin doesnt have to be used.

2. Nope, I think its just that 4 pin for the CPU and a 3 pin for a system fan (which is unused)

3. Thought about a fan controller but again, more expense I shouldnt need to spend :)

Sparks, could you possibly take a note of how your BIOS is set up and let me know? Maybe I have missed something. I am upgrading the BIOS to F7 (currently F5) tonight but I dont think thats it as the revsion notes dont mention anything about CPU/FAN/CAQ.

In the BIOS on my Asus mobo, it is called "Q-fan controller" and is in the Power>Hardware Monitor section. There are just two settings; Enabled and Disabled.

Hmm, in mine it's not as well defined, just Smart Fan Control ENABLED/DISABLED.

A colleague got the exact same build in the offie and his runs full spin too, although he is running Vista so the drivers could well not work properly on that.

Hongman...having any luck? Did you say that you & Sparks have the same board & cpu...and that Sparks had a 3 pin fan connector where you have a 4 pin connector? That seems rather odd...Am I mis-understanding something here?

Aren't the fan connectors made to clip onto the fan header just a certain way....no way to move over without doing some modding to the end of the connector??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hongman

The thing sound like a hoover.

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I'm surprised no one has asked what a hoover is.

Maybe it is a world wide common name that everyone uses.

I always remember as a kid being asked to 'do the hoovering' by my parents.

Steve, we don't have the same mobos, I have an Asus and Hongman has a Gigabyte. It would appear that Cool & Quiet hasn't been implemented in the same way on my board and his.

Oh, okay...sorry for the confusion..:) I'm not sure which state I live in sometimes....the state of confusion...the state of Arkansas...:D

Cool n Quiet has a Very Bad Habbit of NOT working as it should on quite a few Mobos...I found it a RUDDY WASTE of TIME on my ASUS board.
This has Been since it First came out. n IS still the same..
I now use ASUSProb..
I'de forget it if I was U!!

Still working on it....

Got it working at last!!

You know what did it? The BIOS Update.

My old rev was F5. Which was Improved Fan Regulation. The later 2 rev's only expanded RAM and CPU compatibility apparently....but that did it.

Only problem now it its highlighted the fact that my PSU is louder than ideal...:p

Thanks for all contribution on this!!

Chalk another one up for persistence.!! Now you can spend some big bucks on a new, quiet psu!!!

I'm glad you got it sorted out :)

The first thing I'm going to do with my new Gigabyte board is to reflash the BIOS - Gigabyte seem to have a habit of releasing boards where the early BIOS's are a bit flaky or feature incomplete :( At least there is no risk to reflashing with Giagabyte anyway.

Do you guys think a 400W PSU will be enough juice to power my system? Its mainly the graphics card I am worried about.

I think it will be ok, and it's pretty quiet. Just wanted to get some opionions thats all, will try it later tonight anyway.

Dont really wanna spend anymore money for now :P

Next upgrade will be a faster HDD but thats some time away yet!

If the PSU can't supply enough juice then you'll normally get random reboots without warning. Try it and see if it will stay running, the way the ATX specification works means that it won't hurt anything to try. I think you might get away with a 400 Watt, as long as it's half way decent.

Ok, when I get in Ill stress test it, see if it can handle it. :)