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FWIW I have 2x Noctua AF-15 PWM CPU fans.
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It is definitely the CPU fan spinning up and down instantaneously. My case fans are virtually silent at my q-fan settings, hence the 0s step up, coupled with the fact the lowest step setting is 25s for case fans. With chrome only taking less than a second to load, obviously my step up/step down settings are not being followed. opening chrome will result in an instant boost in fan speed and than an immediate decrease once it's loaded. I have my CPU set to 3.6s step up and 12s step down, case fans at 0s step up and 25s step down, but my CPU fans still ramp up and down instantly eg. I've now had two maximus boards, an 8 ranger and X hero, and both have never followed my fan step up and step down bios settings.
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