- Apr 27, 2002
- 6,278
- 6
- 81
Ok, so my long awaited package from America (10 days delivery time!) has arrived. Fought through the 1000's of packaging stickers and selotape to open the box, took out my shovel and shifted out the polystyrene 'S' shapes I loved to play with as a kid and took out my fans + fan controller.
Disappointed this time as Sidewinder sent me some American newspaper in amongst the packaging with one of the comics pages. None this time but I didnt pay any extra for any so I cant complain.
Ordered:
2 x 120mm Panaflo Low Speed
1 x Noise Isolator 5.25" Fan Controller
Components also used but not purchased from Sidewinder:
1 x Vantec 120mm Fan Vibration Dampener Kit
After removing the HDD Bay and rear 120mm fan, I gazed in awe at the 120mm Panaflo's. Compared to the Antec fan, it was large and it dwarfed the 80mm's I had lying around. Installation of the Panaflo's and the vibration dampener kits were simple although the Panaflo at the front of my SLK3000B was *extremely* close to my HDD bay. Pics should be available tomorrow since I cant be bothered to rip everything apart now.
The fan controller was a bit awkward to install. Slightly cramped conditions in the 5.25" bay and the fact that I didnt have enough fan extension cables to give me much room to install the fans with any degree of ease. I need a few more extension cables to make everything nice and tidy and to hook up my Zalman VF700's fan to it. I have a Tt PSU in here which has a fan controller knob which is attached to a backplate. I might jury-rig a 3-pin thing to the end of it and hook it to the controller too.
Hardest part of the whole thing was fitting the front back on my SLK3000B. It didnt want to go back on. The special rails for the 5.25" bays was restricting the frony from going on properly so after a slight reseating of the Fan Controller, everything went smoothly.
The Panaflo 120mm's are massive, the centre part is quite large also. They may not be silent at 7v but they certainly are quiet, their tone seems to change slightly at around a half turn of the controller so at around 9.5V-10V, they become a little too noisy for my tastes... same seems to be true of my 92mm Panaflo. Even at 7v they push a considerable amount of air.
Vantec dampener kits, whether they do a lot... I cant say but there doesnt seem to be much vibration from both 120mm Panaflo's (got both Panaflo's on 1 channel, 7v-12v sweep doesnt increase vibration much using my hand to test.
The fan controller is a rather simplistic controller and probably a bit more powerful than I actually need but it does the job and allows me to use more powerful fans in the future if I so wish. The middle knob feels a bit rough to turn but the outer 2 run freely. Havent used the on-off switches yet but Ill find something to use them on. Strangely, green light = off, red light = on. Just a quirk.... I guess the LED's could be switched easily if you were picky.
One problem I have with my Antec SLK3000B. The bottom pop-latch wont close when the panel is on and screwed in even lightly. It is pretty weak on closing even when the panel is off but it stays closed without any trouble. Its not a major problem but I hear it may be a source of extra vibration noise which Im trying to eliminate. Any ideas would be gratefully received.
Once again, Id like to thank Sidewinder Computers for their excellent Customer service. $16 (~£10) for a 2 lb 7 oz package, 10 days delivery time. Pretty good I think compared to most UK deliveries seem to cost £2-4 for 1-3 day delivery.
Comments and picture requests welcome. Just ask what you want piccies of and I'll try to oblige.
Disappointed this time as Sidewinder sent me some American newspaper in amongst the packaging with one of the comics pages. None this time but I didnt pay any extra for any so I cant complain.
Ordered:
2 x 120mm Panaflo Low Speed
1 x Noise Isolator 5.25" Fan Controller
Components also used but not purchased from Sidewinder:
1 x Vantec 120mm Fan Vibration Dampener Kit
After removing the HDD Bay and rear 120mm fan, I gazed in awe at the 120mm Panaflo's. Compared to the Antec fan, it was large and it dwarfed the 80mm's I had lying around. Installation of the Panaflo's and the vibration dampener kits were simple although the Panaflo at the front of my SLK3000B was *extremely* close to my HDD bay. Pics should be available tomorrow since I cant be bothered to rip everything apart now.
The fan controller was a bit awkward to install. Slightly cramped conditions in the 5.25" bay and the fact that I didnt have enough fan extension cables to give me much room to install the fans with any degree of ease. I need a few more extension cables to make everything nice and tidy and to hook up my Zalman VF700's fan to it. I have a Tt PSU in here which has a fan controller knob which is attached to a backplate. I might jury-rig a 3-pin thing to the end of it and hook it to the controller too.
Hardest part of the whole thing was fitting the front back on my SLK3000B. It didnt want to go back on. The special rails for the 5.25" bays was restricting the frony from going on properly so after a slight reseating of the Fan Controller, everything went smoothly.
The Panaflo 120mm's are massive, the centre part is quite large also. They may not be silent at 7v but they certainly are quiet, their tone seems to change slightly at around a half turn of the controller so at around 9.5V-10V, they become a little too noisy for my tastes... same seems to be true of my 92mm Panaflo. Even at 7v they push a considerable amount of air.
Vantec dampener kits, whether they do a lot... I cant say but there doesnt seem to be much vibration from both 120mm Panaflo's (got both Panaflo's on 1 channel, 7v-12v sweep doesnt increase vibration much using my hand to test.
The fan controller is a rather simplistic controller and probably a bit more powerful than I actually need but it does the job and allows me to use more powerful fans in the future if I so wish. The middle knob feels a bit rough to turn but the outer 2 run freely. Havent used the on-off switches yet but Ill find something to use them on. Strangely, green light = off, red light = on. Just a quirk.... I guess the LED's could be switched easily if you were picky.
One problem I have with my Antec SLK3000B. The bottom pop-latch wont close when the panel is on and screwed in even lightly. It is pretty weak on closing even when the panel is off but it stays closed without any trouble. Its not a major problem but I hear it may be a source of extra vibration noise which Im trying to eliminate. Any ideas would be gratefully received.
Once again, Id like to thank Sidewinder Computers for their excellent Customer service. $16 (~£10) for a 2 lb 7 oz package, 10 days delivery time. Pretty good I think compared to most UK deliveries seem to cost £2-4 for 1-3 day delivery.
Comments and picture requests welcome. Just ask what you want piccies of and I'll try to oblige.
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