Less than 5v speed reducer?

[RadeonHDx]

So I've got my rig up and running kitted with 3 SP120 LED fans and 4 AF120 QE LED fans all on a 5v molex fan speed reducer and the problem that I have is that theyre still audible, well actually they're loud, as loud as my previous fans on the same reducer. They push more than enough air so the airflow isn't a problem for running them slower.

Any ideas on how I could run them slower. Unfortunately a bay controller is out of the question because the drive bay design isn't exactly designed to be used (the bay covers and front panel are curved).

 

[TPC]

you could solder resistors into the cables

 

[RadeonHDx]

you could solder resistors into the cables

If you're referring to the fans, that's not very practical however, if you're referring to the fan speed reducers I already have then that's actually quite a good idea if it works well .

 

[TPC]

The noctua low noise adapters are nothing else then extensions with a resistor in it, so it should work.
But it could occur that if you lower the voltage too much that the fans wont start anymore

 

[RadeonHDx]

The noctua low noise adapters are nothing else then extensions with a resistor in it, so it should work.
But it could occur that if you lower the voltage too much that the fans wont start anymore

At the moment they seem to be quite a long way from not starting, let's put it that way .

 

[Remmy]

Test it first with various resistor values. Be careful that the resistor doesn't get too hot as well. Standard resistors are rated at 0.25W, but all the resistors I've seen in fan speed reducers (from Corsair) are higher rated power resistors.

 

[TPC]

At the moment they seem to be quite a long way from not starting, let's put it that way .

well my Enermax fans are also blowing as hell with 5v but with 4v they already stop, so the scaling isn't very well

 

[RadeonHDx]

Anybody know what the minimum voltage for an SP120/AF120 is and what resistor I would need to change it from 5v to said voltage?

 

[Remmy]

Anybody know what the minimum voltage for an SP120/AF120 is and what resistor I would need to change it from 5v to said voltage?

Don't know what minimum voltage is. Amount of resistance depends on the current the fan draws, which depends on the voltage it's at. Basically, I think in order to know, you would need to know how the current varies with the voltage for the fan. I think your best bet is to just trial and error it with a few different resistance values.