The higher the revolutions per minute (RPM) a fan spins at, the more noise is generated. Add seven more fans into the mix, and it can quickly get out of hand. This is why modern fans inside PCs are all controlled by PWM headers on the motherboard. Pulse width modulation enables finer control over how much power is supplied to the fan and how fast the motor spins at any given time. Most UEFI BIOS solutions for motherboards will allow you to take this a step further and fine-tune default fan curves, letting you set how fast each fan spins at for various temperature readings.

If you're looking to configure your fan curves for the first time, here are some handy pointers to remember when setting everything up.

5 You can use your mouse

There's another way!

Wondering how to precisely adjust fan curves within UEFI BIOS? I always use the keyboard as it's generally easier, and I've done it countless times, but you can actually use your mouse if supported by the motherboard. This allows you to click and drag each fan curve point to a desired setting without striking a key. It's handy for those who are new to the BIOS game and prefer to use the same input device they use 90% of the time in Windows.

4 Set speeds to 100% to detect fans

See which fan is connected to each header

Motherboard headers are all labelled, so it's easy to note which fans are connected to see which ones you're currently managing in the BIOS. That said, if your motherboard isn't labeled or you're unable to open the case up to check, there is another handy little tip. Within the UEFI BIOS fan control page, you can set each header to run at maximum or turn off completely. This would allow you to check where the additional noise (or lack thereof) is emanating from on the system, preferably visually.

Once you've worked out which header corresponds to which set of fans, you can make fine-tune adjustments based on how you wish the temperatures within the chassis to be handled. CPU fans should run slightly harder than case fans since they're the primary coolers for the processor, which can hit temperatures up to 100 degrees Celsius! Just remember to document which fans are on which header so you don't forget the next time you wish to make some adjustments.

3 Modern CPUs are designed to run hot

Don't go chasing numbers

When playing with fan curves, it's vital to remember that modern AMD and Intel processors (any chip from the last couple of generations) are designed to run hot. Unlike before, where performance would top out long before hitting what's known as the TJMax temperature. This is the Thermal Junction Maximum and is the highest reading the CPU will allow before thermal throttling. Thermal throttling is bad and should be avoided, as it means your cooling is insufficient to handle the heat output of the CPU.

That said, an Intel Core Ultra 7 265K or an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X are designed to run at these temperatures thanks to their advanced boosting algorithms. While before we had to manually overclock processors to get as much performance out of them as possible, AMD and Intel now allow their CPUs to boost considerably higher if the available cooling headroom is present. Don't worry if your CPU runs at higher temperatures. Ramp up the cooler speeds, and you should be good to go.

2 Control your AIO liquid pump speed

If the manufacturer recommends it

Not all brands recommend adjusting the pump speed on the fly using PWM controls. Some prefer you to run the system at full pelt and only adjust the fan speeds. If you are advised to manage the pump speed based on temperature readings, this can be achieved within the UEFI BIOS, much like it can with fans. I would advise keeping the pump running at higher speeds, even if your CPU fans on the liquid loop are at near idle. This is because the liquid cooler needs to extract heat from the CPU and pass it through the loop.

Slower pump speeds will worsen the efficiency of the cooler, which will cause the fans to ramp up alongside the pump. Keeping the pump working slightly harder, even at idle, can help reduce noise and prolong the lifespan of your parts.

1 Make subtle speed changes

Loud fans are less distracting

There's nothing worse than hearing fans ramp up and down in quick succession. This is, after all, why we're manually setting fan curves in the UEFI BIOS. Having a gentle incline would be less noticeable. Better yet, should you be using premium fans, you can even get away with setting a minimum speed of 30% up until the maximum temperature your CPU reaches under lighter loads. This could be around 50 degrees Celsius, which would see the fan speeds stay at 30% until you push the system hard.

You can then set a maximum temperature you wish the PC to run at. 70 to 80 degrees Celsius is a good area to work within under intensive loads for most modern AMD and Intel desktop processors. These chips are designed to run hot to make the most of the available thermal headroom. So long as your cooling solution can handle the additional heat, it will be safe to set your fans to run at 100% at these readings to get the most out of your PC in terms of performance and cooling.

Get the most from your PC

Allowing your system to run at higher speeds allows you to enjoy better performance for various tasks, be it gaming, media, content creation, or benchmarking for world records. Setting fan curves is great for configuring your fans to run at optimal speeds for the load, slowly ramping up as temperatures increase as not to draw attention away from what's displayed on-screen. These tips and tricks will help you get started from zero to hero.