Fan Control is good for more than just fans
Over two-plus decades of PC building and tech writing, I’ve used many different fan controllers ranging from classic software like SpeedFan to hardware knobs and dials. But my favorite app in recent years is Fan Control. It’s free, portable, quick to configure, and easy to use. I often recommend it as one of the best hidden gem Windows apps.
Fan Control
Most people use it to control PC fan speeds and integrate those fans with temperature sensors to create bespoke fan curves, but it also gives you control over your PC’s water cooler pump. Not every pump is supported, and you’ll want it connected to an AIO pump header on your motherboard for best results, but Fan Control does have the power to control your pump—and that’s exactly what I needed. Alongside my various fan speed controls, triggers, and curves, I now have one just for my water cooler pump.
I played around with the pump’s speed settings and found that every 5% drop in pump speed resulted in an noticeable dip in the pump’s whine. At 80%, it was ever-so-slightly audible. At 70%, I couldn’t hear it anymore and it blended into the muted background hum of my PC’s fans and various other gadgets I have on hand.
Jon Martindale / Foundry
Don’t get me wrong: the pump still ramps up for gaming. Once my CPU crosses the 80-degree threshold, it flicks back to 100% power to make sure nothing overheats. But when I’m idling, working, or goofing off, when I’m not as immersed as I would be when completing a complicated maneuver on my way to the Kerbal Mun, the 70% throttle is perfect. The fans and pumps are near silent, out of earshot and out of mind.
One caveat with Fan Control, however, is that it can get flagged by antivirus software as a potential vulnerability. Not to worry, of course, because it’s safe. As The Verge pointed out, this is only a problem if your machine is already infected or when an app developer is malicious—not the case with Fan Control. Just something to be aware of.
