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Three multi-channel fan controllers tested

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tin can 16th August 2009, 09:28 Quote
ha! Thanks, Pedro. Great bit of design!

Looking at it closely, I can see a faint blue tinge from in there; I'd assumed that was just light bleeding off from the other LEDs. For some reason, though, it doesn't turn red when I turn the dial up like the others do (the fan is spinning up, I checked!)

I'll have a little look at this next time I've got my case open...
mystvearn 16th August 2009, 10:39 Quote
I used to have 2 fan controllers.

One is a simple rheostat-from thermaltake when I got when buying thermaltake butterfly 480w

The other Thermaltake hardcano 12. LCD screen, automatic fan control

From my experience, the auto fan control will work 3/4 years before it breaks or goes wrong. In this case the hardcano warning sound kept coming on. I had to take a screwdriver and rammed it into the speaker. I can see the Zalman break down after few years.

Another experience I have is that coming from a equator based country where its around 28-34C whole year around, hot and humid, and being in UK is that, you don't need it if you are in UK. Really, it is a waste of money. Unless you get 28C all year round, this thing will be useless. Does not make that much of a difference. More fans=more dust=more electricity bill.

Might as well just stick to stock fans and let the PC become a makeshift heater unit. Save your heating bill.

Another thing to note that modding pc, making bling pc's etc only appeal to you in one part of your lifetime. I modded mine to the max, but then settled for something without lights and minimalistic design.
capnPedro 16th August 2009, 10:43 Quote
Quote:
Originally Posted by mystvearn
Really, it is a waste of money. Unless you get 28C all year round, this thing will be useless. Does not make that much of a difference. More fans=more dust=more electricity bill.

=more noise. Yes, it does make sense! ;)
TheGovernator 16th August 2009, 18:35 Quote
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrbens
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.

I got the TJ09B coupled with Kaze Master. I actually wanted to get the Ace, but there was this mix-up at the etailer i bought it from and bam: no brushed alu. Anyways, the Kaze Master is fitting in pretty good, and it's working without a hitch so far. Nice blue\greenish display (doesn't fit my black\white colour combination but whatever), and it's nice and clear from where I'm sitting (Couch gaming). I'd give it a big plus for not being so garishly bright as the NesteQ reviewed (that blue flashing has the potential to be quite annoying methinks).

Also worth considering is the option to completely turn off the fans. I don't have the most noisy setup possible (5xNoctua NF-P12) but as my bedroom is adjacent to my living room and I never bother to close the door I really appreciate the possibility to make the PC shut up. (now to do something about that 4870X2 vacuum cleaner.... lol)

Overall I'd say that the Ace is a better fit (my friend's got one) to the silverstone brushed alu, but if you're not insanely picky it might work out very well for you with the regular ace.

There, word diarrhea done.

TG out :P
mrbens 16th August 2009, 22:44 Quote
lol thanks TheGovernator. Might just buy them both and return one!

I'm going to be watercooling my 4870X2 and CPU when i upgrade my system. The noise is just too much from the fans when I'm trying to game!
Fozzy 17th August 2009, 05:44 Quote
ummmmm

A bit like a city banker then in their BMW M5 too busy looking cool while the economy falls apart around them.

Number one: Crappy comparison
Number two: What the hell are politics doing in a fan controller review?

I get the hole freedom of speech thing and freedom in journalism but come on man that's a serious reach just to say "Hey everyone here's my VIEW" Kinda lame
wiak 17th August 2009, 06:23 Quote
i still got my trusty Vantec Nexus Fan Controller that is over 5 years old hehe
mystvearn 17th August 2009, 11:18 Quote
More noise on stock fans? Might as well just buy those tri-cool fans where you can adjust the speeds and leave it be. Really, front control panel are just to impress your mates.
Combatus 17th August 2009, 14:14 Quote
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fozzy
ummmmm

A bit like a city banker then in their BMW M5 too busy looking cool while the economy falls apart around them.

Number one: Crappy comparison
Number two: What the hell are politics doing in a fan controller review?

I get the hole freedom of speech thing and freedom in journalism but come on man that's a serious reach just to say "Hey everyone here's my VIEW" Kinda lame

Simply the first thing that came to mind when thinking of an other similar example to give another point of view. I thought given that unemployment is the highest in nearly 15 years with plenty more mess besides and then we see things like this it was a fairly apt comparison seeing that the Zalman is expensive, flashy but probably won't do a lot for your PC. Sorry for it's aparent lameness but it was just one sentence in a whole review so I thought I'd get away with it! Hopefully the rest was fairly informative ;)
SpeedLegion 17th August 2009, 15:09 Quote
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrbens
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?

http://forums.bit-tech.net/album.php?albumid=446&pictureid=4615

http://forums.bit-tech.net/album.php?albumid=446&pictureid=4614

http://forums.bit-tech.net/album.php?albumid=446&pictureid=4613

I'll take some more pics once i have actually got round to building the new rig but that's what i got for now.

It actually looks really really nice, might have to borrow a better camera to try and get some better pics of it to do it justice.
DraigUK 17th August 2009, 15:10 Quote
Quote:
Originally Posted by mystvearn
More noise on stock fans? Might as well just buy those tri-cool fans where you can adjust the speeds and leave it be. Really, front control panel are just to impress your mates.


Disagree. Fitted mine months back and, yes, while it does look good, it is very useful indeed.

When I'm gaming I crank up the noise to keep the system cooler, when I'm not doing so much on it they go right down which results in a practically silent PC. I can just about hear HD activity. No pulling the case apart or fiddling around with switches inside/rear of the case or the BIOS.

The wife was very impressed, as the PC is in our bedroom. When she sleeps the fan noise used to keep her awake, it no longer does.

All for about a £5 and 20 mins fiddling with wiring. Would not be without one now.

Mine can control 6 fans but it is wired up to 3 case fans, and the GPU fan.

One of the best purchases I ever made.
mrbens 17th August 2009, 19:26 Quote
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpeedLegion


http://forums.bit-tech.net/album.php?albumid=446&pictureid=4615

http://forums.bit-tech.net/album.php?albumid=446&pictureid=4614

http://forums.bit-tech.net/album.php?albumid=446&pictureid=4613

It actually looks really really nice, might have to borrow a better camera to try and get some better pics of it to do it justice.

Thanks, nice collection of bits you got delivered there!! Making me excited for when I finalize my order of new bits too. I was dying to get the Corei7 920 with P6T V2 but holding out for Lynnfield prices and benchmarks.

Have fun putting it together!

Just got my subscription copy of CustomPC today and can't believe there is a master class on putting together a water cooled TJ07B-W rig! Just what I'll be doing. =)
mystvearn 8th September 2009, 23:01 Quote
Quote:
Originally Posted by DraigUK
Disagree. Fitted mine months back and, yes, while it does look good, it is very useful indeed.

When I'm gaming I crank up the noise to keep the system cooler, when I'm not doing so much on it they go right down which results in a practically silent PC. I can just about hear HD activity. No pulling the case apart or fiddling around with switches inside/rear of the case or the BIOS.

The wife was very impressed, as the PC is in our bedroom. When she sleeps the fan noise used to keep her awake, it no longer does.

All for about a £5 and 20 mins fiddling with wiring. Would not be without one now.

Mine can control 6 fans but it is wired up to 3 case fans, and the GPU fan.

One of the best purchases I ever made.

I assume you are in the UK as well. Fan controller's do not work that much here. The weather is always at most 25C and usually its in the teens where I am from. Stock coolers with fan controller on it does the job. Unless you live around the equator where its hot then its worth it. My auto fan controller failed after 4 years.

I used to open the pc at night, but now I just turn it off alltogehter. Need total darkness and totall silence to sleep.

Also, I don't mind my pc becoming hot, I don't need to turn on the heater that way:D
Sylar Powers 23rd November 2009, 18:10 Quote
First Post Ever! Been reading on Bit Tech for a bit this winter, and I must say I'm impressed. The fan reviews here helped me choose the Gentle Typhoons 1850rpm 120mm fans, the case reviews steered me in the direction of the Lian Li PC-P50 and PC-X1000, my two case choices at the moment, and now this fan controller review is helping me quite a bit.

I really want that NesteQ fan controller. However I need to know if it is a "dirty PWM chopper" (I hear that's bad), how come I don't see heatsinks (Do I need those?), and where can I buy in the USA? I can't find it. NesteQ also has a new model coming out in Jan, has an LCD, but I like that your review cuts to the case and states that you don't need all these LCD features.

My only other fan controller option seems to be the Sunbeam Rheobus Extreme, it has heatsinks but lacks the features of master switch groups, consolidated connections and nicer metal knobs.

BTW, if this gets a staff response (My first post, welcome me in!), did you feel that the Lian Li PC-X1000 was slightly lacking frame support when the side panels were off? Seemed that way to me when I felt it one time. With the side panels on, it was much stronger I noted. Also, what you guys think between the Lian Li PC-P50R (I can order one without the window, or cut my own), the Lian Li PC-P50BW (all black inside with a window), the Lian Li PC-B25F and the Lian Li PC-X1000. I seem to like these cases, having trouble picking. I found the PC-X1000 delivered for $366 USD. The other options run me 2-3 hundred USD. There was the new Lian Li PC-A71F, but it looks too big with not enough fan positions.
Sylar Powers 24th November 2009, 17:47 Quote
Nesteq does not sell in the usa. What bad luck. I really was sold on it too. What is the best usa counterpart?
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