Three multi-channel fan controllers tested

Honestly anything >~£12 is not going to be bought by me. Am I the only person who finds the "features" scores skewed in this article? IMO a fan controller should allow you to speed up/slow down fans, anything else is just feature creep and a waste of money.

Bah, humbug and such!

They all fail to control the speeds automatically, as well as automatically turn the fans off when not needed. I could build a better one myself.

+1 Bah, humbug :P

I'm curious why you chose to review the Scythe Kaze Q, instead of one of its big brothers?
The Scythe Kaze master and master ace are not much more expensive then the NesteQ FanMax 8 but offer temperature and RPM monitoring and alarms on the ace, which can be disabled if you find that annoying.
£31 is the cheapest I found the Ace model http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?product_id=32312&tid=frooct#

Just seems strange to compare such different fan controllers. The zalman is overkill though agreed :)

<3 ZM MFC-1 Plus

The Kaze Master seems to be pretty good too.

Originally Posted by DragunovHUN
<3 ZM MFC-1 Plus

The Kaze Master seems to be pretty good too.

Agreed ;)

Originally Posted by DragunovHUN
<3 ZM MFC-1 Plus

+1 :)

Originally Posted by SpeedLegion

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragunovHUN
<3 ZM MFC-1 Plus

+1 :)

Plus one more,in use now

Another +1 for the ZM-MFC1 Plus. Though I've never worked out why fan 2's LED doesn't illuminate - is this the same for everyone else using one?

According to CCL the Kaze Q has been discontinued!

linky

Any of the fan controllers by this company.... Same sort of price as the Zalaman and much more feature rich :)

I'm looking to buy either the Scythe Kaze Master or the Scythe Kaze Master ACE when I build my new PC soon. http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/casefanaccessories/kaze-master http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/casefanaccessories/kaze-master-ace

Anybody know which would look best on the black SilverStone TJ07B-W? I prefer the look of the normal one but the brushed effect of the ACE might look better in the flesh. It's hard to tell from photos.

Originally Posted by Toka
linky

Any of the fan controllers by this company.... Same sort of price as the Zalaman and much more feature rich :)

now that i could get into, invisible from the outside of the case and does everything for you

mrbens: I think the chrome frame on the Ace looks tacky.

that's tight toka- run off software

Originally Posted by mrbens
I'm looking to buy either the Scythe Kaze Master or the Scythe Kaze Master ACE when I build my new PC soon. http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/casefanaccessories/kaze-master http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/casefanaccessories/kaze-master-ace

Anybody know which would look best on the black SilverStone TJ07B-W? I prefer the look of the normal one but the brushed effect of the ACE might look better in the flesh. It's hard to tell from photos.

I'm picking up my Ace on Monday, can put some pictures up for you if you want a better idea of how it looks in the "flesh"?

Originally Posted by DragunovHUN
mrbens: I think the chrome frame on the Ace looks tacky.

Thanks, that's what I thought too. I prefer the plain glass like look of the normal one but hope it doesn't look plasticy. Since the ACE is brushed aluminium it may look smarter but I don't like the frame around the screen. If anybody has them on the TJ07B-W already, please take a pic :)

buy Zalman fanmate for ~2 pounds, cut all the fans you are going to use and re-solder them onto one connector, plug into zalman fanmate and done!

that's what i did with fans that i want for lower constant speed. all those fan "controllers" are essentially just variable resistors.

take zalman for example, it have the temperature sensor, but doesn't use it to allow for automatic control.

+3 for the ZM MFC-1 Plus. Dunno what Zalman are thinking with these LCD display controllers. Over complicated, over specified and over priced. ZM MFC-1 Plus on the other hand is exactly what most of us are after. I did like the NesteQ though ;)

Yeah fanmates are great, I have 4 in my current PC with the controls stuck to the side of the case for easy access to the dial but want something more proffesional looking with temperatures on screen in my new build. Just waiting on full Lynnfield reviews and availability.

If you want automatic control then check out Scythe Kaze Server: http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/casefanaccessories/kaze-server

Yes please to the pic SpeedLegion. Which case are you using?

Going to be putting it a coolermaster cosmos 1000, was going to get an atcs 840, hence why I went for the ace with brushed aluminium, but funds did not allow :(
I'll grab a couple of pics for you once I got it :)

Originally Posted by mrbens
I'm looking to buy either the Scythe Kaze Master or the Scythe Kaze Master ACE when I build my new PC soon. http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/casefanaccessories/kaze-master http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/casefanaccessories/kaze-master-ace

Anybody know which would look best on the black SilverStone TJ07B-W? I prefer the look of the normal one but the brushed effect of the ACE might look better in the flesh. It's hard to tell from photos.

I have the Kaze Master Ace. Hooked up to 7 fans (2 spliced on to each of the first three channels to control my radiator, and one connected to the fourth channel for my NB fan). It functions perfectly, and the display is a very bright and well made piece. The temperature probes are also excellent. And while the alarm is very useful (it will go off if a fan is receiving power but not spinning, helping you know when one dies or is not getting enough voltage), I personally have it disabled.

The black Ace looks amazing with my Cosmos S, but that is only because it is black also. I think you should go with the one that matches your case the best. The Cosmos S is brushed black as well, so it suits perfectly. Other than that, there really is no difference between the Ace and the none Ace, so you might as well go with the cheaper option (unless your case is brushed as well, I don't know).

I'm surprised the Master or Master Ace weren't on this test actually.

oh how ironic. Just after i order my scythe for under a fiver just to be told it's discontinued you guys review it. Oh the irony :'(

Mistake

Thanks Skiddywinks.

I don't actually have the case yet so was hoping to ask people that already have the TJ07B-W which they think looks best in it.

Originally Posted by tin can
Another +1 for the ZM-MFC1 Plus. Though I've never worked out why fan 2's LED doesn't illuminate - is this the same for everyone else using one?

IIRC, there's a little metal tab which holds the PCB to the baycover which happens to be right in front of the LED! :(