Aquaero 5 Series

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beh* said:
How is the assembly? Can you describe the steps you went through to install? I'm thinking about retiring my Zalman fan controller and Silent Eagles for some GT's and the Aquaero 5 PRO.

EDIT, whats the difference between the normal and pro version? Is it worth it? Also, can the Aquaero 5 handle 2 loops?
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First and foremost I changed the faceplate for a black one - four hex screws on the front of the panel easy enough to swap out.

Steps to install were simple enough - I've got 3 x Scythe GT (1450 RPM's) connected via a three-pin splitter cable to channel 1 on the AE5. 3 x Corsair 140mm (stock 700D) fans all connected using the same type of three-pin splitter cable to channel 2 on the AE5.

Last but not least I plugged in my Water Pump's 3 PIN connector to channel 4 (PWM monitoring). Oh and power (4 Pin molex) to the back of the AE5. I also connected the USB cable for the AE5 in preperation for the Aquasuite software (to be released this week) - You don't have to connect the USB cable - its only if you want to be able to control it later using the Aquasuite software.

The controls are simple (I thought too simple at first!) - and the options available are just downright immense! - overwhelming at first but once you run through the menu's you'll get the gist of it. Most of it is waaay overkill for just using it as a fan controller lol.

I then set Fan 1 name (To Radiator Fans - now that IS a pain without the keyboard!) and lowered its output down to 1000 RPM. Repeated this step for Fan 2 (name and output) down to 700RPM. -It's actually measured in % but shows what RPM it drops down to so easily configurable. you can also set limits for your fans in terms of actual RPM's so the percentage changes match perfectly.

I ran prime95 for 4-5 hours and noted that even at them RPM's my CPU overclock was still only hitting 57Degrees C (The same as using the GT's at full pelt!) - but the noise reduction was amazing - my PC makes less noise than my NAS box (which has no fans!).

Once I get my water temp probe's adapter I'll be taking it up a notch and be configuring the controller so it can auto adjust from lowest fan settings upto 1000RPM for the GT's (as I know now that I don't need more than that to keep my system cooled under full load). I'm being lazy and rather than going for a in-line temp probe - got one that can be plugged into a 1/4" socket - in effect, i'll be simply connecting this to the fill port on my rad once the adapter arrives (my fill port is slightly bigger 3/8" doh!). When I get round to breaking my loop - I'll add an in-line temp monitor and flow meter (you don't have to use just aquacomputer accessories ;) )
The menu's are very simple - apart from the bits for configuring curve control oh and inputting names (as you have to scroll through a million and one letters to get the letter you want).

The LCD is FULLY configurable - right from LCD contrast and backlight, timeout etc through to which stuff is displayed etc.

Now I know why it costs £100! - Be careful to choose the model you want - I know one individual who preferred the PRO looks and ended up selling his XT to 'downgrade' lol :) - You'll only need the optional heatsink if your powering a super duper fan setup and water pumps etc. So all I need now is the optional keyboard ;)

Normal one doesn't get the heatsink and keyboard like the XT model (apart from the obvious fact that the XT model also has capacitive buttons) and yes two loops are no problems. Check out the thread on Xtremesystems for more info about that. Also check out the actual aquacomputer website for a new english forum which should answer any more queries ;)

hth - phew - that should have been a review!
 
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Firstly thanks for the mini review! I do however have some further questions if that's cool?

zoomee said:
Steps to install were simple enough - I've got 3 x Scythe GT (1450 RPM's) connected via a three-pin splitter cable to channel 1 on the AE5. 3 x Corsair 140mm (stock 700D) fans all connected using the same type of three-pin splitter cable to channel 2 on the AE5.
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I have never used a 3 PIN splitter cable. Was there a reason why you used these instead of the daisy chain method?

zoomee said:
Last but not least I plugged in my Water Pump's 3 PIN connector to channel 4 (PWM monitoring). Oh and power (4 Pin molex) to the back of the AE5. I also connected the USB cable for the AE5 in preperation for the Aquasuite software (to be released this week) - You don't have to connect the USB cable - its only if you want to be able to control it later using the Aquasuite software.
Click to expand...

Ok, so the A5 can regulate the speed of the pump as well? I was on OC forums and there seems to have been signifacant delays with the software although I belive the devs have been working this weekend to try and get it sorted. Lets hope it's not to buggy!

zoomee said:
The controls are simple (I thought too simple at first!) - and the options available are just downright immense! - overwhelming at first but once you run through the menu's you'll get the gist of it. Most of it is waaay overkill for just using it as a fan controller lol.
Click to expand...

So without the software how do you do it? I assume using the remote?

zoomee said:
I then set Fan 1 name (To Radiator Fans - now that IS a pain without the keyboard!) and lowered its output down to 1000 RPM. Repeated this step for Fan 2 (name and output) down to 700RPM. -It's actually measured in % but shows what RPM it drops down to so easily configurable. you can also set limits for your fans in terms of actual RPM's so the percentage changes match perfectly.

I ran prime95 for 4-5 hours and noted that even at them RPM's my CPU overclock was still only hitting 57Degrees C (The same as using the GT's at full pelt!) - but the noise reduction was amazing - my PC makes less noise than my NAS box (which has no fans!).

Once I get my water temp probe's adapter I'll be taking it up a notch and be configuring the controller so it can auto adjust from lowest fan settings upto 1000RPM for the GT's (as I know now that I don't need more than that to keep my system cooled under full load). I'm being lazy and rather than going for a in-line temp probe - got one that can be plugged into a 1/4" socket - in effect, i'll be simply connecting this to the fill port on my rad once the adapter arrives (my fill port is slightly bigger 3/8" doh!). When I get round to breaking my loop - I'll add an in-line temp monitor and flow meter (you don't have to use just aquacomputer accessories ;) )
Click to expand...

This is the bit that I am not so clear on. So you have connected the pumps to regulate pump speed and fans to regulate fan speed but not the temperature probs. For me this would be critical as I have two loops and I would want to control them independently. I think what the Asgard is saying is that you would need in-line temp sensors? Would this give me the ability to control my loops separately based on what I was doing?
 
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beh* said:
Firstly thanks for the mini review! I do however have some further questions if that's cool?

1)- I have never used a 3 PIN splitter cable. Was there a reason why you used these instead of the daisy chain method?

2)- Ok, so the A5 can regulate the speed of the pump as well? I was on OC forums and there seems to have been signifacant delays with the software although I belive the devs have been working this weekend to try and get it sorted. Lets hope it's not to buggy!

3)- So without the software how do you do it? I assume using the remote?

4)- This is the bit that I am not so clear on. So you have connected the pumps to regulate pump speed and fans to regulate fan speed but not the temperature probs. For me this would be critical as I have two loops and I would want to control them independently. I think what the Asgard is saying is that you would need in-line temp sensors? Would this give me the ability to control my loops separately based on what I was doing?
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Hey dude,

1)- Not sure what the daisy chain method is your talking about here. There are 3 normal 3-pin connectors and 1 four-pin pwm connector at the back of the AE5. I used a cable similar to this one: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-013-AK&groupid=1929&catid=153&subcat= but which lets me connect four fans to one 3-pin connector (on the AE5 Fan channels one and two (hence why I have two of them splitter cables) - thus allowing me to control all three identical fans on the rad from one AE5 output (Channel 1) and the three 140mm system fans from another AE5 output (Channel 2). That leaves one 3-pin output free.

2)- The four-pin output I connected my RPM only connector from my water pump (so I can monitor RPMs - NOT control it - due to it being a really old pump). If you have a suitable pump, yes you can control it from the AE5.

3)- Without the remote and the software you can still access ALL the menu's - This fan controller is designed to be automated - regulating temperature v's fan control - There are options to manually set the device into NIGHT, SILENT or LAN modes albiet you have to navigate the menu system to do this. The three buttons are all that it requires to navigate the menu system - top and bottom buttons for up and down and the middle one to select / enter (The XT model has four more buttons below the LCD which can be used to select things aswell as programmed as soft keys). It's not like you will always be manually adjusting the fans - set it up correctly and you shouldn't need to mess with it ;)

4)- Yes - you can use any individual temperature sensors to control the pumps. With two pumps though you'll need to make sure its cooled adequately - hence why it has a watercooled block for it :) Once the software is released, updates will come which will allow you to use not only hardware temp sensors but ones built into your mainboard / gfx's to control outputs too ;)

Just to be clear - I am not regulating pump speed on my setup and neither am I monitoring in-line temps yet - because I'm too lazy to break up my current loop lol. as and when I decide to do that - I'll be adding an in-line temp and flow sensor modules. Check out this thread for more info on using pumps etc:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=265912

Oh and one down-side I have found about the LCD display - its viewing angles are REALLY poor - anything more than 40 Degrees up (looking down at the AE5 in the top slot of my 700D) and its hardly viewable - that and the fact the actual LCD doesn't have like a plastic cover over it - hope it can last the test of my kids lol
 
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rjkoneill said:
stock availability would probably be an issue at the moment. i have tried to get one for myself recently and they are like hens teeth.

i will have a chat with Nath on monday for you guys and see if we have plans to get them in.
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we are currently in talks with suppliers and manufacturers about this.
as i mentioned last week, availability is the issue here and really the only thing holding us back.

i will keep you all informed about any updates but the ball is definately rolling :)
 
rjkoneill said:
we are currently in talks with suppliers and manufacturers about this.
as i mentioned last week, availability is the issue here and really the only thing holding us back.

i will keep you all informed about any updates but the ball is definately rolling :)
Click to expand...

Nice one mate,

You'll be glad you havn't got them yet as the Aquasuite 2012 software hasn't been released yet (due today apparantly) - along with a firmware update to address some bugs ;)
 
My XT landed today :)

Gonna have a play this weekend.

Only downside is I have to wait for the black face plate - not available yet, so it ain't gonna match my 800D case nicely.

Suprised really, had no probs getting a black one for my Aquaero 4.

Anyway, I'll post some pics over the weekend.

Also found this link:

http://www.youtube.com/user/aquacom...jlC58W3v3Q#p/c/51BE646C5ED14B02/2/KjlC58W3v3Q might have been shown before, if so apologies...its late and I'm tired :D
 
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can't get the AS 2012 to install at all

Runs through the pre-requisite install (dot.net 4 etc.) but when the actual AS 2012 install starts, I just get a blank, white window and the install does nowt.

Andy idea's zoomee?

win 7 64
tries reinstall .net 4
ran in XP mode
Ran as admin

Still no joy

Aquaero is XT
 
AndyOcUK said:
can't get the AS 2012 to install at all

Runs through the pre-requisite install (dot.net 4 etc.) but when the actual AS 2012 install starts, I just get a blank, white window and the install does nowt.

Andy idea's zoomee?

win 7 64
tries reinstall .net 4
ran in XP mode
Ran as admin

Still no joy

Aquaero is XT
Click to expand...

I'm running Win 7 x64 SP1. If you've got problems with the installer its possibly .NET 4.0 related.

Heres what I did (already had .NET 4.0 framework installed as per standard windows updates).

1)- Right click and select run as administrator on the installer
2)- Allow it to download and install the .Net 4.0 package (it did actually install something so it must be different to the .NET4.0 framework package from Windows Update)
3)- Right click and select run as admin on the actual Aquasuite 2012 shortcut on the desktop.
4)- Run the firmware updater.
5)- First couple of times I ran it without selecting run as administrator and got wierd errors - so each and everytime I run it now - I always use Run as Admin (go into properties of shortcut and set it to run as admin for all users ;) )

It's only the first BETA and theres some extensive 'german' testing going on in their part of the aquacomputer forums, so problems are to be expected at this stage unfortunately.

Overall it worked fine (for a beta)- bit daunting to use at first - but then quickly get used to it - its much easier to use than navigating them darn menu's using three buttons lol!.

I like the screenshot function - nice touch. Its still missing important bits like the ability to download datalogs but I think it's got most things to help set up the actual controller.
 
I'd love to see someone re-arrange all this without the software (which is why I was insisting on it!) LOL:

aquaero5_screenshot.jpg


screenshots are awesome lol:
aquaero5_screenshot_2011-05-20_221722.png
aquaero5_screenshot_2011-05-21_233941.png
 
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Make sure you report it on the aquacomputer forums so they can address it in the next beta mate ;)

Should be much easier for you with the remote :P Only thing you won't be able to do without the software is sync date and time with your PC, and juggle the screens around (well easily anyway!).

I'm still waiting for my remote, backorder till end of this month -parts for these babies are currently quite rare!
 
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