Author: parsec
Subject: Semi Passiv Mainboard
Posted: 11 Aug 2016 at 1:39pm
Some newer ASRock boards have the fan speed control capability to configure the CPU fan, and some of the chassis fans, to be completely off below a specific, critical temperature.
This is not considered a feature, and is not the same thing as the fan not running on a video card or PSU when they are below a certain temperature.
What makes the video card and PSU fan off mode a feature, is it is automatic and not at all or not completely controlled by the user, or someone else. The video card and PSU does not allow the user to override the temperature when the fans begin to run. I know video cards have some amount of configuration of when the fan begins running, but it is not completely in the control of the user.
ASRock does not mention the ability to turn off fans connected to the CPU cooler, for example, because it is dangerous if the user does not configure it correctly. Traditionally, mother boards have never allowed the user to turn off the CPU cooler's fan since a CPU will throttle its speed and performance if it gets to hot, and eventually the CPU will turn itself off if it becomes too hot. Some users would then complain, "... why did you let me do this?". Or blame the mother board manufacture if their processor was damaged, even though the user set up the CPU fan to not run themselves. I am somewhat surprised that they even give us that capability now, although you must discover it for yourself.
An example of a feature that is no longer seen on most mother boards due to misuse by the user, is disk drive passwords. The SATA password specification for drives does not include a rule that the mother board manufacture must secretly store the password, and be able to provide it to the user upon request. That would allow anyone to simply say, I forgot my password, give it to me or reset it so I can set a new one. That would make the security of the password worthless, if anyone could ask for it to be reset or be given the password. How do you prove who owns a board, or the person that is in possession of a disk drive is the original owner? Many users forgot their passwords, and were not able to access their drives because of the security restrictions. Mother board manufactures became sick of being blamed for following the SATA specification for drive passwords, so no longer provide a password option. I don't blame them for that at all.
The same can be said for a "feature" that can allow the user to damage their CPU, or at least cause the PC to shutoff due to the CPU over heating. So it is not a good idea to talk about this capability as a feature, as some users will not use it correctly. Once you call this a feature, whomever created it then becomes responsible for it. So while the capability might be available, it is the user who is responsible for using it properly.
Subject: Semi Passiv Mainboard
Posted: 11 Aug 2016 at 1:39pm
 Lex Tertia wrote:Hey folks, I read that some mainboards feature a mode for the CPU-Cooler to turn off the fan when it's "cold" enough. But I don't find this feature anywhere mentioned. GFX Cards vendors usually call it ZeroFan Mode, power supply vendors call it sometimes semi passiv. How does Asrock call it? Am I overseeing something in the tech specifications? |
Some newer ASRock boards have the fan speed control capability to configure the CPU fan, and some of the chassis fans, to be completely off below a specific, critical temperature.
This is not considered a feature, and is not the same thing as the fan not running on a video card or PSU when they are below a certain temperature.
What makes the video card and PSU fan off mode a feature, is it is automatic and not at all or not completely controlled by the user, or someone else. The video card and PSU does not allow the user to override the temperature when the fans begin to run. I know video cards have some amount of configuration of when the fan begins running, but it is not completely in the control of the user.
ASRock does not mention the ability to turn off fans connected to the CPU cooler, for example, because it is dangerous if the user does not configure it correctly. Traditionally, mother boards have never allowed the user to turn off the CPU cooler's fan since a CPU will throttle its speed and performance if it gets to hot, and eventually the CPU will turn itself off if it becomes too hot. Some users would then complain, "... why did you let me do this?". Or blame the mother board manufacture if their processor was damaged, even though the user set up the CPU fan to not run themselves. I am somewhat surprised that they even give us that capability now, although you must discover it for yourself.
An example of a feature that is no longer seen on most mother boards due to misuse by the user, is disk drive passwords. The SATA password specification for drives does not include a rule that the mother board manufacture must secretly store the password, and be able to provide it to the user upon request. That would allow anyone to simply say, I forgot my password, give it to me or reset it so I can set a new one. That would make the security of the password worthless, if anyone could ask for it to be reset or be given the password. How do you prove who owns a board, or the person that is in possession of a disk drive is the original owner? Many users forgot their passwords, and were not able to access their drives because of the security restrictions. Mother board manufactures became sick of being blamed for following the SATA specification for drive passwords, so no longer provide a password option. I don't blame them for that at all.
The same can be said for a "feature" that can allow the user to damage their CPU, or at least cause the PC to shutoff due to the CPU over heating. So it is not a good idea to talk about this capability as a feature, as some users will not use it correctly. Once you call this a feature, whomever created it then becomes responsible for it. So while the capability might be available, it is the user who is responsible for using it properly.