Recommend me a Fan Controller

Kirth Gersen · 23 Jan 2007 at 10:54

I left an open question in my earlier thread on setting up my new Lian Li V1000+. That is I am not totally happy with fan performance using my Aerogate 2, (it's silver and and looks plasticky in the V1000. You have to turn the knob about 20 times to move from 1550 RPM to 990 RPM) and so am looking for other options. Rather than hijack that thread, I thought I would start anew.

Requirements:

1. To keep noise levels to an acceptable minimum, I've had to disconnect the GPU exhaust fan and the fan in front of the hard drives. There will be times, I'm sure, when I will want them going, and I don't want to keep opening the case. The Aerogate only reduces the fans to 990 RPM, which is not enough. I want a controller which will reduce to 0 or so slow that it is truly inaudible. Speedfan does not work with my Mobo for case fans, so that is not an option.

2. Only need to control 4 fans. No need for temperature sensors (I get those of Speedfan).

3. Black would be good.

Current options are:

Akasa FC03. But I understand that it doesn't stop fans either. How low does it go?

Vantec NXP-301. Not sure how low these take the fans.

T-Balancer. Definitely stops fans, but is a bit pricey, and I'm not sure which to get.

Ideas anyone?

Kirth Gersen · 23 Jan 2007 at 12:34

Thanks WJA96,

Bit confused though. I see the Vantec 301 standard advertising blurb says 0-12v range, and states that fans can be turned completely off. See here for an example:

"The Nexus NXP-301 Fan & Light Controller combines the functionality of fan control and cold cathode light activation into one single unit. It offers 3 separate channels, which can be adjusted to allow full control of the fan ranging from FULL SPEED to COMPLETELY OFF. This will cut down or eliminate unnecessary noise level by reducing the fan speed. The light activation function support 2 cold cathode lights. By adjusting to either ON, OFF, or SOUND ACTIVATED, it allows you to have full control of how you want to light up your case. Housed in a stylish aluminum casing designed to fit in any standard 5.25" drive bay with ultra-bright LED, the Nexus NXP-301 fan & light controller is the mod you have been waiting for!"

The Sunbeam would seem to do the same, but the lights are a bit leery, and as you say, not too available in the UK. COMPETITOR have it at £15.50, but out of stock.

That kind of functionality is all I need. The T-Balancer is a last stop at the moment.

Kirth Gersen · 23 Jan 2007 at 16:50

Looked around a bit more today, but still not happy with my options. I don't understand how gt_junkie can barely hear his 12cm fans running at 5v, when my ones when controlled by the Aerogate at 5v sound like the wind. My Antec tricools were very quiet on low, which I guess was running 5v, so maybe I should cannibalise. The down side is that I would still prefer to change the settings from the front of the case rather than crawl round the back.

The only two available options for controllers that actually stop the fans are the Vantec 301/305 and the Sunbeam Rhoebus. I have sourced black versions of both in the UK. Frankly, I don't find either particularly attractive.

Still open for other ideas.

No. Decided, and ordered a black Sunbeam. There is enough advice out there to mod the leery lights, and 70's decals. Happy to post piccies once up and running.

Thanks again guys for your help.

Kirth Gersen · 27 Jan 2007 at 18:23

As promised, I thought I let you know about my new Sunbeam Fan Controller. Simply put - I'm very happy with the results.

Here's a pic of the Sunbeam:

It's black metal, but not brushed, so there is a different finish to it. This is far more noticeable in the picture than real life. The picture of the final system below is a better reflection.

The build of the controller is far better than my old areogate 2. Metal, not plastic, a well constructed rear compartment, a solid feel to the knobs, and a reassuring click when you switch off.

The Sunbeam does exactly what I want: ie allow me to switch off the fans entirely. There are dangers though where an inquisitive 3 year old could hurt your system. That is there is no display showing the fan speed, and it could be easy to forget that the fans are off. Worse, even with the fans on low, that does not necessarily mean that they are running as it takes some voltage to get them going. So it is easy to think they are on, and they are not. Added to this, the minimalist design means that there are no clear markers on the knobs to tell you where you are. There is a small indentation on each knob, but it is not differently coloured and it is hard to see.

The saving grace to all this are the coloured leds. No colour for off, red for sub 5V (I think) and blue once you go past that point up tp 12V. Now all I need to do for quiet operation is turn each fan up into the blue, and then ease it back just into the red...

But it is not quite as easy as that. Because, for me, there is still a little bit too much fan noise at 5V (call me picky). There is, however, some room to play with between 5V and stoppage - though not a lot. So how do I do it without opening the case? I listen, then ease back gently until I hear a faint rattle when the fan starts to give up the ghost. and then turn it up a notch. It's bizarre, but it works for me At this level, the fans are now truly inaudible, and I am back to the hard drives being the noisiest thing in the case.

The other failsafe is to make sure you don't connect this controller to anything really important like the CPU or GPU fans, which I don't and have controlled using ATI Tool and Speedfan.

Even with such low speeds, I am very happy with my case temps. Using the Aerogate at 5V, I reported (not at idle as originally reported but with non gaming computer use):

3 fans c990 RPM: CPU - 32 C, GPU - 54 C, Hard Drives (not taken); slightly irritating noise level.

Now with the Sunbeam, @ sub 5V: CPU - 36 C, GPU - 52 C, Hard Drives - 30 C; hum of the hard drives is all I can hear.

So I am still getting good cooling. :cool:

Now onto my worries before I bought the Sunbeam.

First - the 70's decals. Well you can see that they toned them down from what most reviews show. Still not minimalist, but I can live with it without having to mod.

Second - the mega bright LEDs. Take it from me, they are mega bright, you can't sit there and admire your baby without holes being burned into you retina. :eek:

Fortunately, there is plenty of advice out there in internet land, and I came across one suggestion where you minimise the light by pushing the LEDs into the compartment, and they are now indeed much more livable as you can see.

Anyway, how do you like my Lian Li - sweet, isn't she...

Kirth Gersen · 31 Jan 2007 at 07:03

You shouldn't regret it - let us know what you do with the LEDS, and whether you decide to Mod the face plate. I've decided to live with it.

Kirth Gersen · 3 Feb 2007 at 21:10

Good job. Very minimalist. Labelling may well detract.

I'm tempted.

Without the LEDs, how are you going to tell what speed you are running? Or whether the fans are running at all?

Kirth Gersen · 4 Feb 2007 at 09:54

Cracker

I was a bit worried about the weight and if the Lian Li plate could cope with it as the Sunbeam one has additional supports at the back. But once the buttons were all screwed in it turns out it wasn't an issue.

Thinking about this a bit more. Without the supports, what is actually holding the controller board up? Is it just the bolts that the knobs are screwed onto? Seems a bit frgile. Or is this why you were so careful in drilling just the right sized holes?

geff_r

isnt there such a thing as a plain black 4-6 fan controller without logos branding/bright lights all over the front?

I know what you mean - not come across one.

Kirth Gersen · 7 Feb 2007 at 15:26

Sweet.

Just an idea - Yewen, would it be worth while putting this thread in the Mod Log sticky - or is the subject too specific?