How to Change Case Fan Speed Without BIOS

Even though the case fan speed of your CPU isn’t likely to be at the top of your list when it comes to naming the most important aspects of your computer, it remains a critical component nonetheless. The main reason that paying attention to your CPU fan speed is so crucial is that this has a direct bearing on how smoothly your device runs.

By extension, if you’re able to properly regulate the speed of your CPU fan, you not only effectively ensure that your computer will continue to perform at optimal levels but you also guarantee that it does so coolly and with minimal noise.

This is because, once you can find the ideal fan speed setting, your PC will be able to more easily handle the load that comes with running more demanding applications and programs.

Now, this is where things can get a little tricky.

Typically, most PC users take advantage of their computer BIOS to manipulate their fan speed settings. However, not only does this process take a certain level of skill to use properly, but in some cases, it mightn’t even work at all.

So here, we’ll be exploring more reliable alternatives that you can consider to control your case fan speed more efficiently and with greater ease.

The Complete Guide on How to Change Case Fan Speed Without BIOS

As far as changing case fan speed is concerned, there are many tools that you can employ to get this done. Having said that, it must be mentioned that you can’t afford to leverage any of these devices without care and caution.

Because many of these tools are third-party software, you could put your device at serious risk if you don’t choose the program you use for this exercise with extreme care.

With this in mind, we’ll be going over a few tested and trusted devices that you can count on to help you out here. Each of these programs is software that we’ve relied on over the years and can vouch for their safety and operability.

Using Software to Change Your CPU Fan Speed

There are several reasons why you should use a software or program to tweak your CPU fan speed, even when you have the option of doing the same thing manually. The main reason for this is that when you follow the automated route, you not only have a higher level of guarantee that you’ll achieve your desired result but you get greater control flexibility as well.

In addition to this, opting for fan-control software gives you another great advantage. Most of these programs come with CPU temperature trackers. And, as many of these software can readily adapt and adjust the speed of the fan to the temperature of the CPU, you can cool your entire PC more intelligently and with less effort.

Having established the various merits of using a computer program to control the fan speed of your CPU, the next step becomes making sure that you pick the best tool for the job.

Considering this, we’ve highlighted top-notch applications that are compatible across most operating systems (OS) that you can use to get the job done.

CPU Speed Control Software #1 – SpeedFan

This is undoubtedly the best software you can get to keep the temperature of your CPU firmly under control. It’s especially reliable because you can always count on SpeedFan to get things done, even when your BIOS doesn’t allow you to manipulate your fan speed. The best part of the deal is that this app is completely free to get!

It’s also worth mentioning that SpeedFan has been around for quite a well and has managed to consistently satisfy the needs of PC users who want to ensure that their devices stay cool at all times.

Something else you might want to know before you go on to get this software is that using SpeedFan efficiently can be a little complicated, especially when compared to many of the other programs out there at the moment.

So, in the beginning, getting SpeedFan to optimally adjust the speed of your CPU fan can be a little challenging. However, if you’re careful with this software and use it as intended, you’ll be more than pleased with the result you get at the end of the day.

3-Step Guide to Using SpeedFan to Control Your CPU Fan Speed Like a Pro

If you’ll be using SpeedFan to control how the speed of your CPU fan operates, you have to be very careful and deliberate with your actions.

With this in mind, here’s what you need to know to use this program properly from start to finish.

Step One – Download and Install the Software

As you can’t do anything without having the application on your PC, the very first step becomes finding, downloading, and installing SpeedFan on your computer. To get the safest and most recent version of this software, ensure that you go directly to the official website of the app.

Once you’ve downloaded and installed it, allow the program to run. It’ll promptly scan your device and, once it’s done, it’ll highlight all relevant information about your PC in the main window.

Some data you can expect to glean from here include your fan RPMs as well as the temperatures of your motherboard chipset, graphics card, and CPU, to mention a few.

This is the most ideal point to start to intimate yourself with the various labels on display as well as what they stand for. Knowing this will help you put the app to better use. Remember, if you don’t know what the settings do, do not toy with them. Doing otherwise can damage your system.

Step Two – Tweak the Fan Controls

While SpeedFan can be somewhat challenging to use, the program also makes using it a bit simple in some aspects. As an example, it offers users the “Automatic Fan Speed” function. With this feature, you essentially give SpeedFan free rein over the fan settings of your CPU. In most cases, it’ll use this to adjust the speed of the fan following the estimated cooling needs of your PC.

However, this quick fix doesn’t produce perfect results in all scenarios. This means that you may need to move things around in the fan speed settings area to get just what you want.

You can start by clicking on the “Configure” option. You’ll be presented with a list of functions. Click “Chip” next. This will bring a dropdown menu where you can find and select your motherboard chipset.

Once here, you can try setting all the PWM Mode choices to “Manual” and see what kind of result you get from that.

Step Three – Configure the Automatic Fan Control Setting

Once again, you’ll have to click on the “Configure” option. Next, go to “Speeds”. Here, you’ll be able to manually set the minimum and maximum RPM you want for your fans. Typically, the major factor that should influence the numbers you set here is how heavy the programs you run on your device are.

After you’ve gotten the hang of that, find your way to the “Fan Control” tab. Once here, you should create what you think is the optimum temperature curve for the fan of your CPU. This step is essential as it’s what’ll let you see if the adjustments you’ve made up to that point have had the desired influence on your device.

You should also check the “Temperatures” tab as well and use it to speed up or slow down your fan speed. You can use how hot your PC gets to inform your decision here. Along these lines, be sure to choose what sensor you want to monitor and regulate the fan of your CPU as well.

Keep in mind that you’re supposed to save all the changes you make to the settings as you go along. That’s the only way that they’ll take effect.

CPU Speed Control Software #2 – Argus Monitor

Unlike SpeedFan, Argus Monitor is a remarkably light and super user-friendly software that you can leverage to keep the temperature of your CPU in check. This app has managed to become a world favorite among PC users thanks to its ability to effortlessly manage the fan speed of your CPU in the background without involving your BIOS setup in any way.

It also offers the added feature of helping you monitor your challenging disc health as well.

Another great thing about this CPU fan control app is that it comes with a CPU NGP temperature display. This means that you can effortlessly monitor the temperature of your device at all times.

However, unlike SpeedFan, this software is only completely free for the first 30 days of use. Subsequently, you’ll be expected to pay remuneration if you want to continue enjoying its services and features.

CPU Speed Control Software #3 – ZOTAC FireStorm

Another highly user-friendly CPU fan control app that you can rely on in 2023 is ZOTAC FireStorm. Like all the other names on this list, you can use this software to freely adjust how your CPU’s fan runs without having to make any adjustments to your BIOS.

What makes ZOTAC FireStorm so special is that it leverages graphics card modification to manage and influence the VDC values and clock rates of your device. It also gives you an interface through which you can monitor your CPU’s current fan speed and temperature levels in real-time. Thanks to that, you can make changes to your fan speed and watch the outcome to see if you’re making progress.

ZOTAC FireStorm is currently compatible with Windows 7. Windows, 8, and Windows 10.

CPU Speed Control Software #4 – Corsair Link

Like SpeedFan, Corsair Link is a completely free program that you can use to monitor, tweak and improve the performance of the fan of your CPU. Corsair Link goes a step further to enhance how you adjust your fan speed settings by offering PC users a display of features like the frequency, voltage, and current temperature of their devices’ Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM).

You can also take advantage of this tool to regulate any fluctuations in your fan speed management and control the temperature of your CPU and GPU.

We particularly like Corsair Link because it’s constantly updated. As such, it’s able to run smoothly on the latest hardware and is compatible with all supported Windows OS.

CPU Speed Control Software #5 – HW Monitor

Last but not least is HW Monitor. You can always count on this software to help you easily control the speed settings of your CPU’s fan. HW Monitor is special in that it helps PC users easily maintain three or more cabinet fans.

Its user interface is also rich in information as it allows you to keep track of parameters like the minimum and maximum fan speeds of your cabinet and CPU fans. Additionally, it also helps you keep an eye on details like the processor temperature, system power consumption, GPU temperatures, and motherboard voltage, among other things.

You’re also allowed to store all the information gathered by this tool as a TXT file for future reference.

The main strength of this software is that it’s a remarkably straightforward tool to use. It also helps that it’s available in 32 and 64-bit versions and is compatible with all the different operating systems out there today.

How to Control Your CPU Temperature Without BIOS or Software

If you don’t want to use BIOS or download any fan-control software, you’re not out of options. You can simply opt to get an external fan controller. However, you should note that following this approach thoroughly takes a little effort.

The main reason for this is that you’ll have to monitor the temperature of your PC separately and use the information you get from that to set the speed of the external fan. This is an exercise that might be more manageable if done with a software.

Also, before you settle for any given external fan controller, you should make sure that you consider variables like the number and quality of channels available, aesthetic appeal, pin support and the control options offered.

This will ensure that you have a more rounded user experience with whatever device you end up getting.

Bottom Line

It’s only natural for your PC to heat up when you run particularly heavy programs on it, especially when you do so for long periods. However, it’s important that you make the heavy-lifting that your system has to do as manageable as possible.

When you don’t want to use BIOS to adjust your CPU fan speed, you simply have to employ a reliable fan-control software or get a great external fan controller. This will ensure that your device doesn’t overheat or malfunction.

Find more great tips on using your PC here!