We recently looked at different profiles in AMD Software, and today we’ll dive deeper into adjusting the fan control settings in more detail. First, we’ll test how fan performance affects the card’s behavior across the entire working range of fan speeds. Then we’ll focus on how fan control behavior differs between automatic and manual fan-speed settings, and on how to set the fan-control curve settings for the card.
Default settings vs. custom, adjusted fan curve
From the previous chapter, it’s clear that the default curve is practically unusable; the fans ramp up past 4000 RPM and the card is extremely loud. So I will shift the control points significantly to the right and we’ll see how this reflects in the card’s behavior. And I’ll reveal right away that even if we get closer to the card’s original setting, it will still be insufficient.
We will compare the values again with the default control setting. You might notice that the temperature axis ends at 100 °C, which will be a problem if the hotspot temperature routinely exceeds 100 °C under default settings.
And another problem is that in this area, you cannot set the speed control more finely. Between control points, the settings don’t allow a difference smaller than 5 °C, so if you want to set a value for 100 °C, the nearest lower control point will be at 95 °C.
We will compare this in the graphs below.
Cyberpunk 2077, BIOS Quiet, default settings vs. custom fan curve
The first performance test was conducted using the Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark with RT Medium settings at the native resolution of 3840 × 2160. It consists of eight consecutive runs, with average values taken from the final run.
You should see the results in the interactive graphs, which switch when you hover over them. If they don’t work, the same graphs are available below as clickable thumbnails that open in a lightbox.
The first two graphs with performance and clocks again don’t differ significantly; the differences will be in the temperatures.
Default settings | Custom fan curve
Default settings | Custom fan curve
All temperatures are lower. This is a consequence of the control essentially preventing us from reaching 100 °C on the hotspot, which the card otherwise runs at under the default control settings.
Default settings | Custom fan curve
The fans ramp up to 69% performance because the hotspot temperature reaches around 95 °C.
Default settings | Custom fan curve
Default settings | Custom fan curve
F1 24, BIOS Quiet, default settings vs. custom fan curve
The next tests are from the F1 24 benchmark at 3840 × 2160 resolution with Ultra settings. This is a benchmark with five laps on the Singapore map in the wet. Unlike other benchmarks, this is a sustained load; there is no drop in load between test loops, and the card remains heated the entire time.
The differences are similar—with the custom curve, the card quickly spins the fans up to practically maximum speed.
Default settings | Custom fan curve
Default settings | Custom fan curve
Default settings | Custom fan curve
Default settings | Custom fan curve
Default settings | Custom fan curve
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