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MIO Board Fan vs System Board Fan - Non Dell
Hello fellow Aliens,
for those who retain MIO abilities while using a non Dell motherboard, I have a question about how fans are governed.
What happens to the way Windows controls fans?
I mean, do you have conflicts between MIO fan controller and Motherboard fan controller?
What happens when you plug fans to MIO and motherboard?
Cass-Ole
2 Intern
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1.8K Posts
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July 4th, 2017 11:00
- CPU Fan header > Mio > Top Light Strip > Radiator/System Fan = CPU cooling -
Grfx + HDD fans run via CmndCntr software = user controlled
Just like the original mthrbrd wiring / cooling / fan setup, you use the Master I/O board CPU_Fan harness, plug that into your new mthrbrd CPU_Fan header. MIO recieves cpu fan speed data from mthrbrd (over fan harness), then, Cmnd Cntr software generates a system / radiator fan speed to cool the liquid cooler (cool the cpu). The radiator / system fan recieves this fan speed signal through the top light strip
An aftermarket mthrbrd will most likely allow the user to control the CPU fan speed, where you basically override the CmndCntr software; this is accomplished by entering the UEFI Bios CPU Fan settings and playing with those settings. If the mthrbrd has fan control software, you can access it through Windows and fine tune the radiator fan speed settings
Since the center 92mm PCI-E Grfx fan & the lower 92mm HDD fan plug into the MIO board, they're monitored and controlled by CmndCntr and have a user override (auto fans vs manual fans / curve). In Windows 10, the user is asked to set fans to manual, since there is a glitch with auto fans (fans run at 100%) that Dell refuses to fix
There's no mystery here. Plug Grfx + HDD fans into MIO and install CmndCntr, use manual fans to control their speed
Either do or do not plug MIO CPU_Fan connector into mthrbrd CPU_Fan header:
If your new mthrbrd has two CPU-Fan headers (main + optional), if you plug the radiator fan into the main header, you could plug MIO fan harness into optional header: if so, MIO would push a fan speed signal to the top light strip System_Fan header; any fan plugged into that header would have its speed signal based off of whatever you've told it to be in the Bios or your fan control software that governs CPU_Optional _Fan header speed
The best advice is to put the system back to the way it was: plug MIO fan harness into CPU_Fan header (main) / disregard CPU_Optional header / fine tune radiator fan speed using Bios settings and / or new fan control software if your new mthrbrd came with such.
My Asus board 'over rides' CmndCntr software, I have control over CPU fan (radiator fan)speed here. In effect, my mthrbrd tells MIO what fan speed to send out, based on a manual temperature curve in the AI Suite fan control software. At that point, CmndCntr merely reports the fan speed to me. My Bios, under CPU Fan Speed User Settings, is set to 'normal fans', from there my AI Suite software dials the speed vs temperature in. MIO merely relays the speed over the system wiring, as would yours ... ... ...
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What happens to the way Windows controls fans?
Windows does not control fans, the mthrbrd Bios and any fan control software installed will control them
Do you have conflicts between MIO fan controller and Motherboard fan controller?
'MIO boards' and new mthrbrds can equally control a fan, just make a choice which to use, plug some stuff in and get on with it. Launch your software and decide what works best
What happens when you plug fans to MIO and motherboard?
Rhenium
103 Posts
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July 4th, 2017 11:00
Cas-Ole, regarding this one,
"In Windows 10, the user is asked to set fans to manual, since there is a glitch with auto fans (fans run at 100%) that Dell refuses to fix"
People did talk about "Sensor Monitoring Service" or a similar service. Is reactivating that service the cure?
Rhenium
103 Posts
1
July 4th, 2017 11:00
Thank you Cass-Ole, I have distilled your knowledge into points I can consume.
Cass-Ole
2 Intern
2 Intern
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1.8K Posts
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July 4th, 2017 12:00
On a system that has the original mthrbrd at least, when moving to W10, you're advised to install a CmndCntr version (2.8.9 / 2.8.11 / 3.5 / 3.6) in W7 W8 W8.1 Compatibility Mode & turn off Fast StartUp - and if you still have a 100% fan issue - turn off Auto Fans by clicking Manual, then apply a fixed speed or set up a fan curve
Since no two systems are identical, there are other 'fixes' that were tried and mentioned but I have never had a fan issue in W10 nor done a mthrbrd swap in Auroa and can not state what works best nor what is a proven Silver Bullet other than what was said above
Below are 'notes' I kept from scrounging forum posts
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"Hi, I have been struggling with this for a while now, but I have finally found a fix that no one has pointed out on any forums I've been to. The problem with Command Center (Thermal Controller and Alien FX) is that windows 10 disables the service that helps detecting hardware monitoring. You need to reactivate it in the "Services". Go to Services, and set "Windows Sensor Monitoring Service" to active, and startup mode to "Automatic". It should fix it"
Problem with lighting/high fans on Aurora D01M
http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/p/19531760/20479377#20479377
Aurora Lighting and Fan Problem after shutdown SOLVED!
http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19533828
"Symptom: bad lights fans after a reboot or wake from sleep
FIX: The reason why my system was acting up and probably because a lot of other systems are acting up is that I upgraded my motherboard. On the newer mother boards, after you shut down the motherboard still supplys power to their usb connectors (aka the F USB_1 connector I had my Alienware MIO Board connected to). However these MIO boards were designed for older motherboards that didn't have the functionality of the newer mother boards and therefore the MIO board still thinks that the system is either still on or on standby when the system is actually off because power is still being supplied to the MIO board. Communication between the two boards gets skrewed up because of this difference in power states. To fix this, you must go to your bios setting and disable power to your usb connectors on your motherboard when the system turns off. On my board I had to change ErP=Disabled to ErP=Enabled under my power management options. If you did this correctly, when you shut down your system now the orange light on your MIO board will turn off indicating that it is in "sync" with your mother board power state (aka off). This resolved all my issues and hopefully this resolves some of yours."
Rhenium
103 Posts
0
July 4th, 2017 12:00
Worth keeping.
"To fix this, you must go to your bios setting and disable power to your usb connectors on your motherboard when the system turns off."
Thank you.