BitFenix Recon owners...

Ken · 12 Jan 2013 at 15:07

Hi...

I'm currently running a D14 and NF-P12 case fans all with ULNA and I'm still not happy with the noise output. If we take the NF-P14 on the D14 as an example...

with ULNA = 750 RPM
without adaptors = 1200 RPM

...if I buy the BitFenix am I going to see an improvement? Essentially I need to know if the lowest setting reduces the RPM more than the ULNA. Also at maximum setting I'm assuming it will be 1200 RPM?

Thanks!

Tealc · 12 Jan 2013 at 17:56

I have some of my fans down to 500 on my Recon but they are Spectres so only go to 1000 anyway.

Manually setting my rear mounted NF-P12 lets me go as low as 600/700 on the display while the actual speed is 668RPM so not much less than your ULNA.

I can have my NF-P12 running at less than 400 on my clever little 4pin PWM to 3pin fan converter which is impressive as it used to stall at less than 600 on my motherboard header. I usually have the fan running at 616RPM though as it's a bit slow otherwise.

xbournex · 12 Jan 2013 at 22:47

It's not about how low of RPM it goes, its about how low the voltage will be accepted by the fan. Only then is that RPM read out to you. So you could try 5V. That will mostly be the lowest voltage settings.

Needles · 12 Jan 2013 at 23:09

I have one of these connected to mine Scythe Kaze Jyuni 1900RPM, it's a noisy fan at full tilt and the recon takes it down to 500rpm and I can no longer hear it.

Tealc · 12 Jan 2013 at 23:36

xbournex said:
It's not about how low of RPM it goes, its about how low the voltage will be accepted by the fan.

Well my Recon doesn't go much below 5v before switching the fans off on my NF-P12s but the fans themselves will go down to less than 3v before they stall. It's not a criticism, just fact. It's probably wise to prevent too low a voltage anyway.

Ken · 16 Jan 2013 at 23:59

Thanks guys...think I will buy it as it's cheaper option and worth a shot rather than replacing all my case fans with quieter Noctua S12 fans as I originally intended.

Happyhammer7 · 17 Jan 2013 at 00:02

Brilliant fan controller. Using it with a case full of Noctua's. Didn't know a PC could be this quiet.

xbournex · 17 Jan 2013 at 00:08

Tealc said:
Well my Recon doesn't go much below 5v before switching the fans off on my NF-P12s but the fans themselves will go down to less than 3v before they stall. It's not a criticism, just fact. It's probably wise to prevent too low a voltage anyway.

Also, the way some fan controllers work, it's 12V max, and if you're running it at 5V, that's 7V being burnt and released as heat (5.8W). At 3V, that's 7.5W being released as heat. Enough power to run a light bulb.
*disclaimer*, this is assuming you're using all 10W's and dropping the fan(s) down to 3V. Total amperage available = 0.83A
Formula: W = Amps x Voltage

Tealc · 17 Jan 2013 at 00:23

It's a good thing Recon doesnt work like that. It's a pretty efficient fan controller, even with a near 10W load the main power transistor was barely warm to the touch.

LtMatt · 17 Jan 2013 at 08:47

Its a decent fan controller let down by horrible software that bitfenix should be sent to hell for. Luckily you have the Phoebetria (i don't know how the hell you pronounce that) guys and their software is excellent and i highly recommend you use it instead of the flith that bitfenix provides. Version 1.3.1 is the latest. Keep up to date with their thread here at ocuk. http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18444320&highlight=bitfenix+recon

Phoebetria 1.3.1 Download Link

http://sourceforge.net/projects/phoebetria/files/latest/download

xbournex · 17 Jan 2013 at 09:18

LtMatt said:
Its a decent fan controller let down by horrible software that bitfenix should be sent to hell for. Luckily you have the Phoebetria (i don't know how the hell you pronounce that) guys and their software is excellent and i highly recommend you use it instead of the flith that bitfenix provides. Version 1.3.1 is the latest. Keep up to date with their thread here at ocuk. http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18444320&highlight=bitfenix+recon

Phoebetria 1.3.1 Download Link

http://sourceforge.net/projects/phoebetria/files/latest/download

Creators of Phoebetria, and BitFenix have been working together to bring you this Beta. Our current software is the only one that allows connectivity through your router, which you may or may not have used. This is because its run on WINDOWS Services, not program. Phoebetria is open source. If you have any suggestions, feel free to send us some codes over on that thread, or help us debug and provide suggestions on what you want to see on the software for future versions.

Apparently, hell's a pretty fun place. I haven't been on this ride, but its open every year from Spring - Fall, 25 minutes away from where I currently live.

LtMatt · 17 Jan 2013 at 10:32

xbournex said:
Creators of Phoebetria, and BitFenix have been working together to bring you this Beta. Our current software is the only one that allows connectivity through your router, which you may or may not have used. This is because its run on WINDOWS Services, not program. Phoebetria is open source. If you have any suggestions, feel free to send us some codes over on that thread, or help us debug and provide suggestions on what you want to see on the software for future versions.

Apparently, hell's a pretty fun place. I haven't been on this ride, but its open every year from Spring - Fall, 25 minutes away from where I currently live.

In my opinion you should get these guys on your payroll. If it wasn't for them i and many others would have sent this controller back for a refund. You might want to post a bit on the bitfenix Tech section of your forum (if you don't already). Pages full of people with problems with the bitfenix software and at the time when i posted there were very few responses. I posted there myself, never got any Tech help with the bitfenix software. I searched and it seemed there were a lot of problems with it. Fans ramping up and down being the number one complaint. Luckily one of the Phoebetria guys pointed me towards their software which worked first time and ensured i kept the controller rather than throwing it out the window.

RetrogamerX · 17 Jan 2013 at 12:13

LtMatt said:
In my opinion you should get these guys on your payroll. If it wasn't for them i and many others would have sent this controller back for a refund. You might want to post a bit on the bitfenix Tech section of your forum (if you don't already). Pages full of people with problems with the bitfenix software and at the time when i posted there were very few responses. I posted there myself, never got any Tech help with the bitfenix software. I searched and it seemed there were a lot of problems with it. Fans ramping up and down being the number one complaint. Luckily one of the Phoebetria guys pointed me towards their software which worked first time and ensured i kept the controller rather than throwing it out the window.

1+ Agree 100%

digitalm3 · 23 Jan 2013 at 05:14

I'm late for the discussion but I just wanted to inject my two cents..

We really have to hand it to bitfenix for thinking outside the box and bringing us a fine piece of hardware. Since this is the first of its kind there were bound to be challenges and bitfenix backed our project from literally day one. Your support and theirs have made our software what it is. Finally my hats off to to Craig for engineering Phoebetria and decoding the recon protocol. He would have you believe he's a novice but he's truly a pro

. I've had the pleasure of working with both sides and can't wait to see what's next

n3mss · 23 Jan 2013 at 05:23

digitalm3 said:
He would have you believe he's a novice but he's truly a pro

Well I am... a novice