Quote:
Originally posted by pHaestus
One elegant solution would be to make a thermally-controlled setup with a flat thermistor next to the side of the CPU core or (better yet) epoxied under the center of the core. Use that temp (should be in the 30-45C range) to adjust the voltage applied to the fan on the radiator (use an LM317T). You would have a knob on the front of the case still (the potentiometer) that would allow you to dial in how much the fan speed varies with temperature and also this would let you override the temp control. The circuit isn't too complicated:
http://www.tweaktech.com/complab/vfcu.htm
That will give you quiet when the system is idle, airflow when the system is under load, and a fun weekend project 
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It's a nice idea pHaestus, but isn't it just overly complicated?
I see what you mean, and I will do that, with a Pelt, but only because I'm trying to save power. In this case, noise being the issue, I'd just set the fans speed to where it's quiet (like in the circuit that you linked to) and just forget about it. I don't see the point of running a fan based on temps, or more specifically, running fans undervolted (which is not a bad thing) below "quiet mode", if the system should always be quiet.
On the other hand, if noise isn't an issue, then a thermally controlled fan would work very well, and it would have to be linked to a probe, like you suggested.
As for the knobs, I had this idea of hidding them behing some kind of swinging door, right on the 5 1/4 plate, because really, one doesn't fiddle with these all that often. They could even be replaced by miniature pots, the kind you set with a screwdriver.
Then the multi colored LEDs, etc...