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IDProjectCategoryView StatusLast Update
0001250SpeedFanFan controlpublic2008-09-15 17:37
Reporterjimpap Assigned Toalfredo  
PrioritynormalSeverityfeatureReproducibilityalways
Status assignedResolutionopen 
PlatformAnyoneOSAnyone 
Product Version4.35 
Summary0001250: Clearly separate manual from automatic fan speed mode
DescriptionAs it is now (v4.35/4.36b), manual fan speed control isn't fully working. It's either a hack of the automatic mode (when max=min speed, also needs some adjustments in temperature limits) or a manual mode that is not remembered between sessions. Here is why it needs to change:
- automatic mode isn't as easy to make it work, making it all neccessary to improve the manual mode (hence the need for remembering speed adjustment on startup).
- Not all "power" users may fully understand the above. Why not giving them a fully working manual mode? There are quite a few manual hardware controllers in the market (from Zalman, to name one manufacturer). Since there is a market for these controllers (and I suspect they are the majority), why not making Speedfan an able manual controller?
- Sometimes the target is low noise, not low temp. A full manual mode (clearly separated from the automatic mode) is needed for those cases.

Here is my proposal for the main window interface. It should have two radio button options:
i) MANUAL SPEED MODE. In that case, one should be able to modify the speed adjusters. Those adjustments should be remembered on startup/resume from hibernation/resume from standby
ii) AUTOMATIC SPEED MODE. In that case, one should not be able to modify the speed adjusters. Nothing should be remembered after a startup/resume from hibernation/resume from standby
TagsNo tags attached.
Motherboard Model
Video Card Model

Relationships

related to 0000879 acknowledgedalfredo Set fan speed at startup 

Activities

jimpap

2008-09-10 21:12

reporter   ~0004145

>Sometimes the target is low noise, not low temp. A full manual mode (clearly separated from the automatic mode) is needed for those cases

To clear things up, I don't mean that it is impossible to make Speedfan remember speeds between sessions. This is already mentioned in the first two sentences of my previous comment. What I would expect is a less confusing interface. Otherwise, more and more users will keep asking why speeds are not remembered. this is because the expected behavior of the speed adjusters significantly differs from the actual behavior.

alfredo

2008-09-11 09:43

manager   ~0004147

If you set MAX FAN SPEED to the value you would like to use for MANUAL setup and then enter WARNING temperatures, SpeedFan will keep your favourite fan speeds unless any temperature crosses its threshold. In this case, all fan speeds would be to to 100%. I think that this is much better than manual mode alone.

Users that ask why speeds are not remembered, usually would simply like SpeedFan to set fan speeds to the minimum value set in configuration. This is done in the latest beta.

jimpap

2008-09-15 17:37

reporter   ~0004164

>If you set MAX FAN SPEED to the value you would like to use for MANUAL setup
>and then enter WARNING temperatures, SpeedFan will keep your favourite fan
>speeds unless any temperature crosses its threshold. In this case, all fan
>speeds would be to to 100%. I think that this is much better than manual mode
>alone.

Well, I now understand your reasoning: you prefer a safety feature that prevents system overheating. I would prefer a real manual mode (not only the current workaround) for the cases where someone is pretty sure about what he/she is doing (this is a prerequisite for all modes, anyway) and wants a fast solution. At least, could you offer user a message saying manual speed will not be remembered? That could be implemented e.g. via a message area immediately under the speed adjusters.

This should the philosophy of a clear user interface, for any application : if you offer someone a feature, it should be in fully working and hassle-free state. A crippled feature (as the current manual mode) is a source of confusion and useless bug reports like mine :) I hope you will understand what I wanted to say (keep in mind that I am not a native speaker).

In ANY case, please disable the manual modification of speed adjusters when in automatic mode. This is, at least, a necessary step for clearing up the ui without affecting the current way of operation. That, of course, couldn't change the fact that you already have offered us a very useful piece of software.

>Users that ask why speeds are not remembered, usually would simply like
> SpeedFan to set fan speeds to the minimum value set in configuration. This
> is done in the latest beta.

This may sound interesting but I couldn't fully understand it. Could you please elaborate a little?

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
2008-09-10 00:19 jimpap New Issue
2008-09-10 00:19 jimpap Status new => assigned
2008-09-10 00:19 jimpap Assigned To => alfredo
2008-09-10 21:12 jimpap Note Added: 0004145
2008-09-11 09:43 alfredo Note Added: 0004147
2008-09-11 09:44 alfredo Relationship added related to 0000879
2008-09-15 17:37 jimpap Note Added: 0004164