Fan Controller

MeMeMeMe · 17 Jul 2011 at 14:03

I have a coolermaster Haf X case - 2x120mm fans on top, 1x230mm on front, and 120mm on back and side.
Plus a CPU cooler which will initially have 1 120m fan but will probably mount another later.

Most fan controllers I've looked at only control 4 fans. Anyone have any suggestions for a decent one that will handle these?

Also, a really newb fan question:
How do you know which way to mount a fan so that it is an intake rather than an exhaust fan?

Phenomenologica · 17 Jul 2011 at 14:21

MeMeMeMe said:
How do you know which way to mount a fan so that it is an intake rather than an exhaust fan?

Look at the blades. They'll be designed to scoop air so you can see which way it pulls. Also they normally have arrows printed on the cowling somewhere.

Subliminal Aura · 17 Jul 2011 at 14:26

Lamptrons seem to be very popular here

Depending on how many watts per channel, you can split a single channel to drive 2 or more fans...

Like this (albeit yet to be released)

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18296258

Tealc · 17 Jul 2011 at 19:26

Every fan I have had has airflow going from the fan side to the framed side, if that makes any sense. Most fans do have arrows too.

Krony · 17 Jul 2011 at 20:21

I run 10x 120mm Scythe GT's and an MCP355 waterpump of one of these

Activ8 · 18 Jul 2011 at 11:37

Airflow and fan rotation are marked on the fan casing.

I'm rinning a Lamptron FC5 V2 with 6 fans connected to it. My 3 Radiator fans are connected to one header as these will all run at the same speed. If you do this just rememberr to cut all but one yellow wire to the header as it only needs to read one fan speed per header, any more will cause the speed readings to fluctuate massively.

Greboth · 18 Jul 2011 at 11:52

Personally I would run the cpu cooler fans of the header just to keep the pwm control and not always having to manually adjust it. Lamptron do make some good fan controllers from reviews I read when looking for one. As long as you dont exceed the maximum watts per channel you can run more than one fan on one channel ( at the moment I have 9 fans on 4 channels).

Just remember that amps x volts = watts and you will be fine.

Socrates470BC · 18 Jul 2011 at 11:54

Have you checked out the Corsair Link Kits?

Also check out Introducing Corsair Link Video.

If you find that you do not have sufficient control options, you can always use a splitter, as previously suggested.

P.S. You may have to wait for Corsair Link availability.

EniGmA1981 · 18 Jul 2011 at 13:36

I've just been given a Scythe Kaze Server - it's 1 Ampere/12w per channel - how many fans (230mm CM fans) could I hook up per channel without blowing anything?

Tealc · 18 Jul 2011 at 14:08

Depends on the rating of the 230mm fans mate.

Can't find any CM 230mm fans, just the 200mm ones. They are rated at 0.16A (Max 0.28) so that would be 3 per channel if you want to be over cautious and 5 if not. The max value is probably the initial current which is very short lived. The voltage regulators on the controller will cope with a burst of high current easily.

koooowweeee · 18 Jul 2011 at 17:10

Ive got this in the same case

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BB-000-LP

MeMeMeMe · 21 Jul 2011 at 16:42

For those who use fan controllers without temp probes - do you have anything to measure temps?

Socrates470BC said:
Have you checked out the Corsair Link Kits?

Also check out Introducing Corsair Link Video.

If you find that you do not have sufficient control options, you can always use a splitter, as previously suggested.

P.S. You may have to wait for Corsair Link availability.

Wow, I hadn't heard of them. Looks impressive. While looking for fan controllers, I had wondered why no-one had made a fan controller that can be controlled within windows, and take advantage of the onboard temperature monitors rather than having to stick proves here and there. I'm glad to see someone is doing it - though the price is a bit worrying: it looks like $100 dollars (whatever that turns out to be in pounds - probably 70-80) will be the minimum outlay.