This page discusses methods for controlling the system fan.

I've tried using dust removal of Lenovo energy management software, it speeds up fan for a while and in Windows 7, I would have silent fans afterwards but it's useless in Windows 10. It was an Intel Graphic's driver bug and it's fixed now, if you're having this issue you need to update your Windows. 1 software in the list of the best PC fan control software.

For Linux

I am impressed with the quality of coding in this app. May 2020 on Windows 10.1909 64 bit Thinkpad x230T - and it STILL works perfectly. Fans are noticably quieter when managed by Thinkpad Fan Controller. I am giving it 5/5 for all 4 sub-ratings. There is no website anymore - but no need for support when the app just works.

To enable fan control, the module parameter fan_control=1 must be given to thinkpad-acpi.

For example, in Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron), add the following to /etc/modprobe.d/options: options thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1

For Debian Squeeze (testing) create /etc/modprobe.d/thinkpad_acpi.conf with: options thinkpad_acpi fan_control=1 and install the package thinkfan

Having done so, reboot and you can use the following commands to control fan speed:

# echo level 0 > /proc/acpi/ibm/fan (fan off)

# echo level 2 > /proc/acpi/ibm/fan (low speed)

# echo level 4 > /proc/acpi/ibm/fan (medium speed)

# echo level 7 > /proc/acpi/ibm/fan (maximum speed)

# echo level auto > /proc/acpi/ibm/fan (automatic - default)

# echo level disengaged > /proc/acpi/ibm/fan (disengaged)

If you receive a PERMISSION DENIED error you can use the following command syntax instead as a work-around:

# echo level 0 sudo tee /proc/acpi/ibm/fan (fan off)

# echo level 2 sudo tee /proc/acpi/ibm/fan (low speed)

# echo level 4 sudo tee /proc/acpi/ibm/fan (medium speed)

# echo level 7 sudo tee /proc/acpi/ibm/fan (maximum speed)

# echo level auto sudo tee /proc/acpi/ibm/fan (automatic - default)

# echo level disengaged sudo tee /proc/acpi/ibm/fan (disengaged)

Automated control scripts

An ACPI fan control script can be used to override the firmware's fan algorithm with gentler, quieter version. It monitors the laptop's thermal sensors and sets the fan speed accordingly, according to customizable thresholds. For the default behavior, simply save tp-fancontrol (download) as tp-fancontrol, make sure you've loaded thinkpad-acpi with the 'fan_control=1' parameter, and run:
# ./tp-fancontrol

There is an distro independent daemon (http://launchpad.net/tp-fan/tpfand/0.94/+download/tpfand-0.94.tar.gz), written in python. Packages are available for debian based linux systems.

A GTK GUI program (packaged for Ubuntu 7.10 and 8.04) may also help.

Automated program - Simple ThinkPad Fan Control

This is program for controlling fans speed on IBM/Lenovo ThinkPads. It is writtenfor Linux only. This program is written in C, using GTK GUI.

You are required to have the Linux kernel with 'thinkpad-acpi' patch.You must also enable manual control for your fans. For Linux 2.6.22 and above,you must add 'fan_control=1' as a module parameter to 'thinkpad-acpi'.For example, in Debian Lenny (and Ubuntu 8.04), you must add the followingto '/etc/modprobe.d/options':

Having done so, reboot. Now you'll be able to use this program easily.

Here is screenshot:

and direct download (src + i386 32bit binary). Please read README.txt fileincluded in package.

Download links

Direct download:

[tpfc0.5.tar.gz]

I wrote this for my own personal use, and thought that it would be a good ideato release it to the world, and hope that it will be useful to someone!Feel free to send comments, bug reports or a thanks to the e-mail above. Although I don't use ThinkPad anymore (so I can't test the program), I still try to respond to all emails I get.

Ansible ThinkPad Fan Control

Ansible will ask the level that you expect that fan, and defaults to full-speed, in order to be use it when things goes hot:

For Windows

Shimodax's ThinkPad fan control tool offers similar functionality (see forum discussion at thinkpads.com). Source and binaries are available through the 'Tp4xFanControl' project on SourceForge.

IbmPad's IBM_ECW fan control program can also be used, but it is more flexible in terms of compatibility. This program can be downloaded at IbmPad's website. For additional help or support, please post in this forum topic.

Hardware specs

The following hardware behavior was discovered experimentally by Thinker and neither provided by nor confirmed by IBM/Lenovo. The following description may be inaccurate and may vary by model (see list of models above). The terminology probably does not match the one used by IBM/Lenovo engineers.

ACPI DSDT register HFSP (8 bits, offset 0x2F in the EmbeddedController address space, accessed through the standard EC interface at IO ports 0x62 and 0x66) is read/writable and has the following meaning:

Changing modes may not be immediate on all ThinkPads. Later ThinkPad models seem to take at least 5s to start responding to a fan mode change, for example.

After boot, the HFSP register may not reflect the true state of the EC (on some models it reads 0x07 even though the EC is actually in automatic mode).

The HFSP register controls both fans at the same time in the X61/X61s.

Fan Tachometer

The embedded controller registers 0x84 (LSB), 0x85 (MSB) are the main fan tachometer, and report fan speed in RPM in everything since the A31 and maybe a little earlier. Not much is know about the tachometer in earlier models, or even whether they had one or not.

On the X61/X61s, one must select through EC register 0x31 bit 0 which fan the tachometer registers will expose (Firmware 7M). Beware: this is the same register used for brightness control in other models.

If the speed reported is 65335, then is typically due to a broken fan assembly. The fan might still be rotating.This error can be intermittent and can prevent booting (Error 'Fan error')

Automatic mode

In automatic mode, the embedded controller sets the fan speed automatically according to system temperatures and some unknown algorithm.

Note that the ACPI DSDT may supplement this in some models. The X40, for example, changes the profile of speeds the automatic mode should use depending on battery status.

Manual mode

In manual mode, the fan level is forced to the given value and the EC will auto-regulate the fan to maintain at a (roughly) constant RPM, which is model-dependent. Manual speed levels 8-63 yield the same behavior as level 7, and the the ACPI DSDT uses level 7 for the emergency mode it enters upon critical CPU/GPU temperature, so apparently 7 is the real maximum level.

Disengaged (full-speed) mode

In disengaged mode, the embedded controller does not monitor the fan speed. It 'disengages' the closed-loop control function that keeps track of fan speed, and uses an open-loop control function that ramps up the fan to its maximum speed (100% duty-cycle). The end speed is not stable, but it is often much faster than the maximum speed manual and automatic modes would set the fan to.

Most newer ThinkPads take quite a while (in excess of one minute) to fully enter disengaged mode. Exiting it is much faster. The A31 acts differently, and switches to disengaged mode as fast as it switches to other modes.

For some reason, the embedded controller may stop updating the tachometer registers while entering or exiting disengaged mode in some ThinkPad firmware versions (hence the EC tachometer registers will not be updated on these models while entering/exiting disengaged mode). Once it arrives at maximum speed, or once it gets back at closed-loop cruise speed, the embedded controller starts updating the tachometer registers again. Later T models such as the T43 have this problem, while the A31 does not.

Supported models

The above was successfully tested on the following models:

• A31, A31p (fan levels RPM: 0 = off, 1-2 = ~3280-3380 (!), 3-5 = ~3200, 6-7 = ~3380, 'disengaged' = ~4000 (see NOTE above))
• R50 (highest manual level is 3; disengage mode works and reaches much higher RPM)
• R50p (fan levels RPM: 0 = off, 1-2 = ~3200, 3-5 = ~3500-3600, 6-7 = ~3700-3800, disengaged = ~5300)
• R51 (fan levels RPM: 0 = off, 1-2 = ~3150, 3-5 = ~3350, 6 = ~3750, disengaged = ~5100)
• R51e (fan levels RPM: 0 = off, 1-2 = ~3300, 3-5 = ~3800, 6 = ~4150, disengaged = ~5100)
• R52 (fan levels RPM: 0 = off, 1-2 = ~3350, 3-5 = ~3650, 6 = ~4250, disengaged = ~5245)
• R60 (fan levels RPM: 0 = off, 1-1 = ~2650, 3-5 = ~3300, 6-7 = ~3950, disengaged = ~4800)
• R61i (fan levels RPM: 0 = off, 1 = 2689, 2 = 2729, 3 = 3059, 4 = 3047, 5 = 3051, 6 = 3515, 7 = 3468, full-speed/disengaged = 4119~4200)mod.#7650-D7G@+/-2yr.used
• T23
  • (low speed = ~2200, medium and maximum speed = ~4800; disengaged mode works at ~5800)
  • (fan levels = ~RPM: 0 = 0; 1,2 = ~2200; 3,4,5,6,7 = ~4900; disengaged,full-speed = ~6331)
• T40 (fan levels RPM: 1-2 = ~2950, 3-5 = ~3600, 6-7 = ~4050; disengaged = ~5400)
• T400 (fan levels RPM: 1 = ~1886, 2 = ~2800, 3-5 = ~3000, 6-7 = ~3500; disengaged mode works at ~5100)
• T41, T41p (fan levels RPM: 1-2 = ~2980, 3-5 = ~3500, 6-7 = ~4050; disengaged mode works at ~5100)
• T410i (fan levels RPM: 0 = off, 1 = ~1950, 2 = ~3575, 3-4 = ~3700, 5-6 = ~3825, 7 = ~4525; full-speed/disengaged = ~5450; only Linux-tested with tpfc0.5)
• T42, T42p (fan levels RPM: 1-2 = ~2900, 3-5 = ~3700, 6-7 = ~4700; disengaged mode works at ~5200)
• T43, T43p (fan levels RPM: 1-2 = ~3300, 3-5 = ~4100, 6-7 = ~4700; disengaged mode works at ~6450)
• T60 (fan levels RPM: 1-2 = 3000-3100, 3-5 = ~3600, 6-7 = ~4500; disengaged mode works at ~5500)
• T61 (fan levels RPM: 0 = off, 1-2 = ~2980, 3-5 = ~3330, 6-7 = ~3760; disengaged mode works at ~4500)
• W500 (fan levels RPM: 0=off, 1-2 = 1900, 3-5 = ~3000, 6-7 = ~3500; disengaged mode works at ~5100)
• W510 (fan levels RPM: 0=off, 1 = ~2750, 2 = ~3100, 3-5 = ~3500, 6-7 = ~4000; disengaged mode works at ~4585)
• X30 (level 0 = off, low = ~3900, medium = ~4200, maximum = ~4650, disengaged = ~5900)
• X31 (fan levels RPM: 0 = off, 1-2 = ~2850, 3-5 = ~3450, 6 = ~4050, 7 = ~4150; disengaged mode works at ~4975)
• X60 (fan levels RPM: 0 = 0, 1-2 = ~2850, 3-5 = ~3110, 6 = ~3600, 7 = ~3700, disengaged = ~4700)
• X61 (fan levels RPM: 1-2 = ~3400, 3-5 = ~3800, 6-7 = ~4500, disengaged = ~6700)
• X61s (fan levels RPM: 0 = off, 1-2 = ~3800, 3-5 = ~4500, 6-7 = ~4800, disengaged = ~4800) (though fancontrol can keep it at 2500rpm...)
• X201i (fan levels RPM: 0 = off, 1 = ~1900, 4 = ~3400, 7 = ~4200, disengaged = ~6300)
• X220 (fan levels RPM: 0 = off, 1 = ~2000, 2 = ~3000, 3-4 = ~3500, 5-6 = ~3900, 7 = ~4500, full-speed = ~5300, disengaged = ~5300)
• Z60t, Z60m (fan levels RPM: 1-2 = ~1700, 3-5 = ~2800, 6-7 = ~3500)
• Z61p (fan levels 0-7, auto, disengaged; enable, disable; watchdog (untested))
• Template:Edge11 (fan levels: 0 = off, 1, 2, 3, 7 = full; RPM shown value is around 492 - 503, but should be 1000 - 3000)

Probably other models are supported too (please update this page if you confirm this; maintain some ordering too).

Supported models using a different interface

The following models also work, which uses a different access method that is supported (only) via the /proc/acpi/ibm/fan of thinkpad-acpi. There is no need for patching.

• 240, 240X, 240Z
• 570, 570E
• 600, 600E, 600X
• 770, 770E, 770ED, 770X, 770Z

Unsupported models

• 390, 390E, 390X (these models use a different method and register to regulate fan speed)
• 560, 560X (these models don't have a fan)
• 800, 820, 821, 822, 823, 850, 851, 860 (these models use a different method and register to regulate fan speed)
• SL300, SL400, SL400c, SL500, SL500c (these models use a different method and register to regulate fan speed)
• R30, R31, R32, R40, R40e (these models use a different method and register to regulate fan speed)

PC fan control software are the best utilities for Windows 10 to keep the computer cool. These computer fan speed controller software help users to change or control speed to make system temp normal.

The automatic PC fan speed controller softwaremonitors temperatures from numerous sources and lets you modify the fan speeds on your machine when required.

You can find plenty of fan speed control software that allows its users to manually change the CPU fan speed. Choosing the Right one is really difficult as there are varieties of options available in the market.

So to help you out, in this article we have explained the best PC fan control software for Windows 10, Windows 7, and laptop. Even a novice can use the programs mentioned below. Just download fan speed control software and let it automatically control CPU fan speed.

Why my Computer Fans are so Loud?

Computer fans are a very important component of PC hardware. They are responsible to expel heat so as to prevent hardware damage.

On a normal PC, there are three fans e.g. main computer fan, CPU fan, and power supply fan. When you run any intensive task i.e. play a video game or 3D picture editing software, PC CPU and GPU generate heat. To avoid overheating the CPU and GPU fans start spinning.

Computer’s fan doesn’t run on its own, there are sensors placed on the motherboard. When the heat reaches on the critical level these sensors detect heat and inform computer fans to run. These PC fan controller software also help you detect a problem if your computer fan makes a noisy sound.

Unfortunately, motherboard sensors are not programmed to control fan speed, that is where you need a solid PC fan controller software

7 Best PC Fan Control Software For Windows 10

These PC fan speed control software for Windows are open source freeware utilities. These tools can prove to be equally helpful if you want a laptop fan speed controller.

1. SpeedFan

Speedfan is No. 1 software in the list of the best PC fan control software. It is the most famous PC monitoring tool as well. You can check PC fan speed and if necessary test CPU fan speed. You can change the computer fan speed, read system voltage, HDD or motherboard temp. Speedfan also allows its users to monitor CPU temperature.

Free Windows

Speedfan accesses vital information using S.M.A.R.T or SCSI sensors. Once you download SpeedFan and run the setup, it quickly scans your PC. On its Window, you can check the computer fan speed at one side and CPU temp on the other side.

Click on the automatic fan speed box and this fan control software will manage the computer fan and CPU fan speed on its own. On minimize, this hardware monitoring tool add-in system try, you can quickly hover on the task-bar to check HDD or CPU temp.

If you want to manually change the computer fan speed then click on the “Configure” button find “option” and then “advance” tab use up and down arrow to control computer fan speed.

You can also choose an option to show PC temp in Celsius or Fahrenheit. You can also run a fitness performance test on your HDD. Speed Fan is the best fan speed controller software for Windows 10, 8, and 7.

2. Corsair Link 4

If you have a corsair CPU fan installed in your system then you should use their customized PC fan control software called corsair link. Corsair link 4 software is a PC monitor as well as a hardware monitor.

Free Windows

You can check CPU tempHDD temp, CPU load, and control PC fan speed. Corsair link is built for those systems which have a corsair hydro series liquid CPU cooler. But rest assure corsair link works great in other systems as well.

Download Corsair Link 4, execute this tool and you will see system summary in simple terms. The corsair link 4 can help you change the computer’s CPU fan speed if you think your PC is overheating. You can adjust fan speed at 100% or less with this PC fan control software.

The corsair background shows an image of the PC case but you can change it and select any custom image. Again corsair link 4 is indeed the best PC fan controller software for Windows OS. You can also run the corsair program on Laptop PC to monitor laptop fan speed and change it if needed.

3. MSI Afterburner

Our third best fan control software for Windows 10 and Windows 7 is MSI afterburner. This software is specially built for overclocking. The overclocker can benchmark their PC and check its limits. But it’s not restricted to that purpose only. You can download the MSI fan control software to check CPU temp and GPU temp, control fan speed, GPU voltage, memory usage, frequency, and FPS.

Free Windows

It’s the best GPU overclocking software. It’s a real-time on-screen monitor. You can watch the graphs goes up & down when PC temp fluctuates. The GPU/CPU readings are accurate. If you have changed core settings or fan speed then save these tweaking in 5 profiles.

Lenovo Z580 Fan Control Windows 10

To change computer fan speed you don’t have to be a tech-savvy person. Just grab the bar appearing under the fan speed tab and adjust it. If your PC heats up upon running applications then increase CPU fan speed and prevent your PC from overheating. Again this monitoring tool also controls laptop fans.

4. Argus Monitor

Yet another best PC fan control software that can change fan speed in windows 10 PC instantly. Argus monitor is a simple tool made by a German company. It can do anything that other PC fan speed control software can do and a few more things on top of that.

Free Windows

This PC fan control software shows you all of your systems sensor data like HDD temps, GPU, and CPU temperature, and so on but the most amazing feature is its fan control function.

This CPU fan control software for Windows is super easy and simple to use. Each PC fan can be controlled separately and you’re able to select lots of different input factors for your PWM fan curves like for example the CPU temperature or the average GPU temperature make a nice curve.

You can also save and even export your fan control settings in case you have to reinstall your operating system. This PC fan control software is also very flexible in terms of customization there’s a classic and a dark theme.

You can track everything you can think of in the windows tray area without annoying gadgets hovering on your desktop or its edges. The Argus Monitor pro version is also available that will only cost you 8 euros for a year.

After a year you don’t get any more updates but you can still use the PC fan control software as long as you want with your one-time payment.

5. EasyTune 5

Free Windows

EasyTune 5 is another best PC fan control app for Windows 10/7. This software is designed with an easy to use interface. Basically, EasyTune 5 is an overclocking utility but it also has fan control options for Windows 10 users. No matter it’s a CPU fan, case fan, laptop fan, or HDD fan this utility can manage all of them.

You can also use it’s fine-tuning to enhance and manage the system, voltages, and memory clocks in the Windows OS. If you run this fan control program at its optimal level, it can maintain the ideal CPU temperature at 60 C.

EasyTune 5 has a smart-fan control feature to manage the fan speed of CPU and North-Bridge Chipset cooling fan. It also monitors system status to verify PC health, provide an overclocking feature to improve the system’s performance.

It’s a free computer fan control software with an easy to read interface that supports all Windows versions.

6. Mac Fan Control

If you want fan control software that has a straightforward interface then download Mac fan control. This CPU fan control gadget is available for both Windows OS and macOS. But, to run this PC fan controller first, you need to download boot camp.

Free Windows Mac

This fan controller software is the best monitoring software for mac. You can monitor CPU temp on Windows and Mac. It is the best solution for mac Overheating or for those who often deal with the noisy CPU fan. You can also use this CPU fan control on the laptop and easily change the laptop fan speed.

Lenovo Fan Control Windows 10

When you execute mac fan control app you can see that it show all fan on one side and other components on the opposite side. If you want to change mac fan speed then click on the “Custom” button and use the slider to adjust CPU fan speed or intake fan and then click “ok”.

7. smcFanControl

Our last software that can control PC fan speed is smcFanControl. Whether it’s CPU fan or laptop fan this fan control software has all the equipment to change their speed. Download smcFanControl if you want is dealing with heat issues in mac.

Free Mac

This free tool allows its users to individually adjust the speed of CPU fans and main computer fans. All built-in fan is set at a minimal speed which sometimes causes overheating. To counter that problem you should download SMC fan control for mac and increase that minimal fan speed.

Tpfancontrol

It’s a fact that modern mac devices overeat more quickly. You can feel that heat on your thighs. The common reason is compact yet advancedhardware in them. The SMC fan control for mac is a solid answer to counter these issues.

These are the 7 best free PC fan speed control software for Windows 10, Windows 7, laptop, and macOS. These programs don’t have malware or error during installation.

They don’t put a strain on hardware yet this CPU fan control software provides accurate readings. All of these utilities are easy to use even a newbie can change the CPU fan or computer fan speed.