Fan Controllers?!

WooDWoRkeR420 · 22-January-06, 06:07 PM

I have begun the process of upgrading my machine, and on the long to do list, are case fans. My case comes with 3 fans (2) 120mm (1)intake and (1)exhaust, and (1) 92mm side panel fan. I plan on adding another 92mm side fan, a 120mm blowhole, and potentially another 120mm fan for both intake and exhaust. With all the case fans the need comes for a good fan controller. I have read the reviews here at pimprig and some from several other sites about which fan contoller has the features that one needs.

I turn to the forums for peoples opinions or experiances with their various fan controlling devices and what has worked for them, or what to steer clear of.

Any input will help!

The Dragon Reborn · 23-January-06, 08:40 AM

I still love the classic Sunbeam Rheobus... it can handle quite a lot of load plus it goes from
0v to 12v!

The best system I've seen so far is the MCubed T Balancer.... but it comes at a price....

TDR

prime-evil · 23-January-06, 09:06 AM

If you only need to control two fans the SunBeam 20 in 1 Superior panel (what a name!)
is a good unit.
http://www.xoxide.com/sunbeam-superior-panel.html

Gives you the ability to control two fans plus temp readouts, temp alarms, a variety of I/O ports, USB, Firewire, and a multi format memory card reader. This unit has been working well for me for almost a year now. I cut that hatch out of the top of the Tsunami Dream, when putting in a blowhole. This replaced the ports I lost from removing that hatch, and gave me even more in exchange for the space.

You may be looking for more than two controls though. I decided to control only the blowhole and the window fan.

WooDWoRkeR420 · 24-January-06, 11:31 AM

These are the fan controller that i have been looking at.

Does anyone have any recomendations and suggestions or things to know about before purchasing.

Zalman ZM-MFC1 Fan Controller
http://www.frozencpu.com/bus-15.html

Thermaltake Hardcano 13
http://www.frozencpu.com/bus-53.html

Vantec Black Nexus NXP-205 Rheobus
http://www.frozencpu.com/bus-20.html

The Dragon Reborn · 24-January-06, 02:17 PM

I've got the Zalman as well, I even modded it, see the result here;
http://forums.pcapex.com/painting/57...ight=vinyl+dye

Although it can control more fans than the Sunbeam, 'pots go down only to 5v and with the switches
it's a set value... still it's a nice controller, imho...

TDR

prime-evil · 24-January-06, 02:55 PM

At first I liked the look of the Hardcano, I'm partial to being able to employ a built-in memory card reader in a computer... But I saw a lot of mixed reviews on this baby. It's designed for fans with 3-pin connectors. You can employ some work-arounds, but it's a bit more stuff to do.

The Vantec seemed to get pretty good reviews overall. It was rated as having a strong 18 watts per channel.

Dragon Reborn seems somewhat happy with his Zalman.

SO, it looks like you may want to Google on and do some more research before making a choice. Or at least see if more people chime in with their favorites.

WooDWoRkeR420 · 24-January-06, 05:10 PM

Thanks for the posts, I have tried to search around and check all my review resources and sometimes its hard to distinguish between, actuall quality reviews, and the ones that are just saying its good so that they will get more products to review from the company in the future.
From what i have read, i feel that the Vantec Nexus (NXP-201) Fan Controller seems to hold all the features that i am looking for.
Reviewed here:
http://www.overclockersclub.com/revi...controller.php

4 Channel Fan Controller
Adjustable Fan Speed Knob
Aluminum "U" Type Housing
Each Channel Will Support 15 to 18 Watts
Fits In a Standard 5.25" Drive Bay
No Need to Cut Wires Like Other Fan Controllers. Just Plug The Cable In
Great for Vantec Tornado or Other High CFM Fans

I dont mind loosing a 5.25" bay, the Tsunami has 4 and im currently only occuping 2. Plus the black on black contrast of the controller and the tsunami, should add some bling along with the LED lighting.

As of now that controller is currently the front runner, unless others chime in and give me a solid reason to avoid it.

PS- do either of you guys have some links to good hardware review sites? I have about 10 or so, but am always on the lookout for good review sites, as well as good PC news sites.?

anbraxas · 24-January-06, 05:49 PM

Vantec Black Nexus NXP looks great.. the 305 version can control 3 fans and a pair of cathodes.. so I bought one for The Abyss Project.

BigJunk93YJ · 07-February-06, 04:02 PM

I run the Vantec Nexus 3.5", same as the one you are looking at but fits in a 3.5" bay. I have 2 Tornado's hooked to it along with 2 other basic fans. With all the fans on low my case temp dropped by 10 degrees C and my processor runs about 6 degrees C under load! I got it for just over $26 shipped from (I hate to say it) Tiger Direct.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...p?Sku=V13-1104

Features

* 4 Channel Fan Controller
* Adjustable Fan Speed Knob
* Aluminum "U" Type Housing
* Ultra Bright Blue LED Lights
* Each Channel Supports Up to 18 Watts
* Fits In A Standard 3.5" Drive Bay
* No Need to Cut Wires Like Other Fan Controller. Just Plug The Cable In
* Great for Vantec Tornado or Other High CFM Fan

Fire Hawk · 07-February-06, 04:38 PM

Have you concidered building one? It's pretty straight forward, and you can use the features that you like (ie: turn them completely off or on, the range and other things).

22-January-06, 06:07 PM		#1 (permalink)
WooDWoRkeR420 Apex Techie Lite	Fan Controllers?! I have begun the process of upgrading my machine, and on the long to do list, are case fans. My case comes with 3 fans (2) 120mm (1)intake and (1)exhaust, and (1) 92mm side panel fan. I plan on adding another 92mm side fan, a 120mm blowhole, and potentially another 120mm fan for both intake and exhaust. With all the case fans the need comes for a good fan controller. I have read the reviews here at pimprig and some from several other sites about which fan contoller has the features that one needs. I turn to the forums for peoples opinions or experiances with their various fan controlling devices and what has worked for them, or what to steer clear of. Any input will help!

24-January-06, 05:10 PM		#7 (permalink)
WooDWoRkeR420 Apex Techie Lite	Thanks for the posts, I have tried to search around and check all my review resources and sometimes its hard to distinguish between, actuall quality reviews, and the ones that are just saying its good so that they will get more products to review from the company in the future. From what i have read, i feel that the Vantec Nexus (NXP-201) Fan Controller seems to hold all the features that i am looking for. Reviewed here: http://www.overclockersclub.com/revi...controller.php 4 Channel Fan Controller Adjustable Fan Speed Knob Aluminum "U" Type Housing Each Channel Will Support 15 to 18 Watts Fits In a Standard 5.25" Drive Bay No Need to Cut Wires Like Other Fan Controllers. Just Plug The Cable In Great for Vantec Tornado or Other High CFM Fans I dont mind loosing a 5.25" bay, the Tsunami has 4 and im currently only occuping 2. Plus the black on black contrast of the controller and the tsunami, should add some bling along with the LED lighting. As of now that controller is currently the front runner, unless others chime in and give me a solid reason to avoid it. PS- do either of you guys have some links to good hardware review sites? I have about 10 or so, but am always on the lookout for good review sites, as well as good PC news sites.?

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23-January-06, 08:40 AM		#2 (permalink)
The Dragon Reborn Apex Elite Expert Tech	I still love the classic Sunbeam Rheobus... it can handle quite a lot of load plus it goes from 0v to 12v! The best system I've seen so far is the MCubed T Balancer.... but it comes at a price.... TDR

23-January-06, 09:06 AM		#3 (permalink)
prime-evil Apex Tech Fanatic Supreme	If you only need to control two fans the SunBeam 20 in 1 Superior panel (what a name!) is a good unit. http://www.xoxide.com/sunbeam-superior-panel.html Gives you the ability to control two fans plus temp readouts, temp alarms, a variety of I/O ports, USB, Firewire, and a multi format memory card reader. This unit has been working well for me for almost a year now. I cut that hatch out of the top of the Tsunami Dream, when putting in a blowhole. This replaced the ports I lost from removing that hatch, and gave me even more in exchange for the space. You may be looking for more than two controls though. I decided to control only the blowhole and the window fan.

24-January-06, 11:31 AM		#4 (permalink)
WooDWoRkeR420 Apex Techie Lite	These are the fan controller that i have been looking at. Does anyone have any recomendations and suggestions or things to know about before purchasing. Zalman ZM-MFC1 Fan Controller http://www.frozencpu.com/bus-15.html Thermaltake Hardcano 13 http://www.frozencpu.com/bus-53.html Vantec Black Nexus NXP-205 Rheobus http://www.frozencpu.com/bus-20.html

24-January-06, 02:17 PM		#5 (permalink)
The Dragon Reborn Apex Elite Expert Tech	I've got the Zalman as well, I even modded it, see the result here; http://forums.pcapex.com/painting/57...ight=vinyl+dye Although it can control more fans than the Sunbeam, 'pots go down only to 5v and with the switches it's a set value... still it's a nice controller, imho... TDR

24-January-06, 02:55 PM		#6 (permalink)
prime-evil Apex Tech Fanatic Supreme	At first I liked the look of the Hardcano, I'm partial to being able to employ a built-in memory card reader in a computer... But I saw a lot of mixed reviews on this baby. It's designed for fans with 3-pin connectors. You can employ some work-arounds, but it's a bit more stuff to do. The Vantec seemed to get pretty good reviews overall. It was rated as having a strong 18 watts per channel. Dragon Reborn seems somewhat happy with his Zalman. SO, it looks like you may want to Google on and do some more research before making a choice. Or at least see if more people chime in with their favorites.

24-January-06, 05:49 PM		#8 (permalink)
anbraxas Apex Techie I	Vantec Black Nexus NXP looks great.. the 305 version can control 3 fans and a pair of cathodes.. so I bought one for The Abyss Project.

07-February-06, 04:02 PM		#9 (permalink)
BigJunk93YJ Apex Advanced Techie	I run the Vantec Nexus 3.5", same as the one you are looking at but fits in a 3.5" bay. I have 2 Tornado's hooked to it along with 2 other basic fans. With all the fans on low my case temp dropped by 10 degrees C and my processor runs about 6 degrees C under load! I got it for just over $26 shipped from (I hate to say it) Tiger Direct. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...p?Sku=V13-1104 Features * 4 Channel Fan Controller * Adjustable Fan Speed Knob * Aluminum "U" Type Housing * Ultra Bright Blue LED Lights * Each Channel Supports Up to 18 Watts * Fits In A Standard 3.5" Drive Bay * No Need to Cut Wires Like Other Fan Controller. Just Plug The Cable In * Great for Vantec Tornado or Other High CFM Fan

07-February-06, 04:38 PM		#10 (permalink)
Fire Hawk Apex Tech Maniac	Have you concidered building one? It's pretty straight forward, and you can use the features that you like (ie: turn them completely off or on, the range and other things).