Are there any Fan Controllers that anyone recommends?

[badnewcastle]

Looking for a fan controller that has the ability to run automatically or manually depending on temps...

I want the ability to control these fans:

1.) CPU HSF (Tuniq Tower 120mm) has manual dial (hi to lo) through rear pci slot.
2.) Intake 120mm
3.) Exhaust 120mm has manual dial (hi to lo) through rear pci slot.
4.) *Northbridge
5.) *PSU 140mm
6.) *PCI-Express 8800GT on board

*4, 5, & 6 are option and I think I will most likely leave them alone as the NB and PSU work well and I have Rivatuner setup for the 8800GT.

What do you recommend?

 

[aigomorla]

sunbeam rheobus.

you can buy one at jab-tech for fairly cheap and they work absoultely great.

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
sunbeam rheobus.
you can buy one at jab-tech for fairly cheap and they work absoultely great.

Agreed. they're excellent.

Another option, if you want to have full control over all 6 of those fans, check out the Zalman MFC1 Plus: http://www.google.com/products...FC1+plus&hl=en&show=dd. I don't have one myself, so I can't comment on the quality. Some say that the knob mounting is a little flimsy.

-z

 

[badnewcastle]

Thank you for you help... I ended up ordering this. If it doesn't work out at the most I'm out $30 bucks but if it does work out, I will let you all know. The one I got has a ton of other things that will be helpful as well.

I should have pointed out that I'm looking for a flat face control as my case has a door on the front of it and the knobs would be in the way.

 

[Zepper]

The Rheobus IS NOT an automatic controller (unless you mean by "automatic" that your hand automatically reaches for it when things get too hot...

The Silverstone Eudemon (SST-FP52) is one of the few reasonably priced automatic fan controllers.
http://www.silverstonetek.com/....php?pno=fp52&area=usa

.bh.

 

[Sheninat0r]

The Rheobus sets itself on fire... Sunbeam's QC is not good, and neither is their product.

 

[WoodButcher]

Originally posted by: zagood

Originally posted by: aigomorla
sunbeam rheobus.
you can buy one at jab-tech for fairly cheap and they work absoultely great.

Agreed. they're excellent.

Another option, if you want to have full control over all 6 of those fans, check out the Zalman MFC1 Plus: http://www.google.com/products...FC1+plus&hl=en&show=dd. I don't have one myself, so I can't comment on the quality. Some say that the knob mounting is a little flimsy.

-z

Ditto on both, I have the Zalman, a Sunbeam 4 channel, 2 Nexus 4 channel, all that I use in different rigs, in the closet I have a Sunbeam cardreader / front panel like the Scythe you bought, running wiires through the case, out the back to plug into the rear panel doesn't make alot of sense to me. I also have a Lian Li 2 channel LED controller/ temp sensor I won't use either as it is too complicated. Turn a knob and be done with it!

 

[Navid]

I have the Rheobus.
It goes all the way to 0V!

A large portion of the control range of each knob falls below 5V, which is basically useless.

I do not recommend it.

 

[Bluefront]

I have two of those Scythe Kama-Panels. They work ok......the fan control only goes down to about 6.3V. You can remove the bottom four controllers, and use it inside the case.....it has a separate power connector from the main panel. All the adjustment knobs are lighted....a little too bright for me. I painted them over.

 

[badnewcastle]

The Scythe Kama-Panel worked well, don't mind the usb's/firewire coming out the back as the case is mounted in a desk and the back isn't that accessible or visible so it's cool the Fan controllers work well I think the top end is limited by about 50-100rpms, and all the media sockets are nice as well.

 

[RKS]

Originally posted by: Sheninat0r
The Rheobus sets itself on fire... Sunbeam's QC is not good, and neither is their product.

I have one in each of my desktops. They have been fine for at least a year. One of them actually runs 7 or 8 fans. I believe I purchased them for under $10 and I couldn't be happier with the Sunbeam Rheobus.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Based on information we have, we can extrapolate or deduce some things about Sunbeam.

I also have the Rheobus, and as a manual fan-controller, I think it's swell. But I don't want a manual fan controller. I want a fan controller that reads sensors -- motherboard and tape-on -- to adjust fan speeds to temperatures set in software automatically.

The Sunbeam Theta 101 seemed like just the answer. But neither software nor the controller works to do anything but spin the fans up to full bore and hold them there. I later found out that they sub-contract production of the Theta.

They may subcontract production of the Rheobus, but at least the item works as advertised.

Stay away from the Theta 101. I just wish there were more products with the same promise that fulfilled the promise.

 

[Sheninat0r]

Get a T-balancer. One-time software setup, then the hardware spins up/down your fans based on temp.

 

[Binky]

Buy an ABIT motherboard with their uGuru system that controls 6 or more fans!

Sunbeam Theta is a piece of crap. Great in theory, but doesn't work. Avoid it.

I've read good things about the t-balancer over on silent-pc, but they are very expensive.

Sunbeam rheobus is a great little unit for $10-$12. Sure, anything below 50% on the dial is pretty much off, but keep them at 12:00 for a nice quiet setting, and crank them up for more airflow. Simple and manual, but they work fine. No fires here.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Actually, y'all are right -- the T-Balancer does have good press. I'm trying to remember who makes it. Possibly a German company that produces water-cooling equipment? Can't remember, but I remember the reviews were good.

In my case, I've arrived at a point where I do not think I need such an item. My motherboard (Asus Striker Exttreme) has 8 fan-plugs and some 3 (?) thermal-sensor plugs. Two of the fans (CPU and CHA(ssis) ) are controllable by a BIOS temp setting linked to either the CPU TCase or motherboard temperature sensors, and three of them can be controlled in conjunct with the plug-in, tape-on thermal sensors. Monitoring is provided for all 8.

Four of my case fans are 140mm 70-to-80 CFM units that spin up to a maximum of 1,500 rpm, and hardly need to be controlled; the exhaust fans and VGA fan top-end at 2,600 and 3,000 respectively, and would incline one to thermally control them.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: Binky
Sunbeam rheobus is a great little unit for $10-$12. Sure, anything below 50% on the dial is pretty much off, but keep them at 12:00 for a nice quiet setting, and crank them up for more airflow. Simple and manual, but they work fine. No fires here.

That is all true.
What I don't like about it is that hardly any fan works with a voltage below 5V. So, why have such a setting?
If someone accidentally lowers the CPU fan too much, it could stop spinning! I don't want that possibility for my CPU fan!
You may say that no one comes near your PC other than yourself.
I still don't like it because of that useless setting, and the possibility!