Recommended Fan Controller

Puppetmaster · 29 Aug 2012 at 21:14

I'm looking into getting a fan controller and moving over to 3 pin fans. Looking to at least have 3x 120mm for my radiator connected, if possible 2 - 4 more but not essential.

Any recommendations. Its to go in an 800D if its relevant. Budget is roughly up to £50. Has to be single slot height. Ideally black.

Any suggestions? Its probably asking a lot, but if there is one that can respond / adjust to system load. that would be amazing.

Tealc · 29 Aug 2012 at 22:26

Fan controllers are still separate from the true temperatures of a system and only respond to their temperature probes. I think a fan controller should plug into the motherboard and get CPU temps and stuff and give you the option of using it as a reference. I don't think such a thing exists.

The best we can do is tape the probes to the hot area and hope it responds appropriately.

I'm not sure why some fan controller makers can't work this interface out and get it to work.

Until such a time as this happens we are stuck with using the PWM out of the motherboard and using PWM fans or a awesomely clever PWM to 3 pin fan converter, like the one I use in my rig.

Puppetmaster · 29 Aug 2012 at 23:55

After taking a look around, I think I will go with the Bitfenix Recon. Seems to have some useful features at a decent price.

n3mss · 30 Aug 2012 at 00:40

Tealc said:
The best we can do is tape the probes to the hot area and hope it responds appropriately.

Would a user definable "calibration factor" in the software help? E.g. set probe 1 to be adjusted up (or down) by a percentage. So if probe 1 was on your CPU heatsink and it reads 29C but the actual CPU reading from the mb says it's 31C the software could report the probe reading increased by 1.07 (7%)

Edit: Yes, it wouldn't be perfect... the temperature differences between the probe and the actual temp are not likely to be linear for a start, but it might be "close enough" for a lot of cases (?)

n3mss · 30 Aug 2012 at 00:47

Puppetmaster said:
..... but if there is one that can respond / adjust to system load. that would be amazing.

I spent about 2 hours the other day googling how to read system load in a cross platform / portable way and ran up against a brick wall. This is something I want to do, also.

zx|muppet · 30 Aug 2012 at 05:38

i know its overkill but running an aquearo 5 atm and i can use the info off open hardware monitor to controll my seprate fan banks on the unit.. dunno if any others can do this though??