Nexus NXP101 Fan Controller

[mrman3k]

I am considering getting Vantec's new Nexus fan controller with the USB, Firewire, and rheostat all build into one. What I would like to know is if it is possible to control the speed of a fan like the Vantec Tornado fan. I am not sure how it would do it, but I would really hope that it can since I really want it and a Tornado fan.

 

[blade]

I believe the rated voltage of the max fan nexus can take is 12v, which is also the rated voltage of that tornado fan. That's kind of close.

I had one of those but I never tried the tornado fan. I also didn't like it. The cpu temp sensor it not thin enough to place under the cpu so vantec says to place it between the heatsink and cpu, but not on the raised cpu core of course. This way you'll not get accurate temps.

I already had another sensor under the cpu and I've found if any of the nexus sensors are not connected, you'll hear annoying loud random beeps. So I was gently placing the sensor between my sink fins, and it crumpled. Maybe this one was bad, but that senosr was way too weak.

I did use a fan with it and it worked well controlling the fan. As did the usb and firewire ports. But I still heard those loud beeps at times.


For an actual rhoebus, I suggest the sunbeam one.

 

[mrman3k]

Now my question is what do you plug into the Nexus. For example, the Tornado fan has to leads, one to the mobo for RPM monitoring, and the other a 4 pin molex to the PS for the actual power. Now it seems that the you only hook up the RPM monitor of the Tornado fan to the Nexus and you leave the main power of the fan hooked to the power supply. Now what I do not understand is if the RPM monitor header can change the RPM of the fan, or is that something that you need to hook up to the main molex connector to change the fan speed?

 

[mrman3k]

Okay, after reading about 20 reviews on this product I have answered my question. It seems like fans like the Vantec Tornado cannot be hooked up to this.

Now I really would like the be able to control the fan speed, so if anyone could please tell me if it is possible to still use this with a Tornado like fan, that would be great.

Or if there are any other good rheostats out there that can control the speed of a fan like the Tornado, that would also be great.

 

[mrman3k]

I have been hearing that you can mod the Tornado fan to be used with this, can anyone direct me to instructions?

 

[jader]

mrman3k, I am using the Vantec Nexus multi-function panel with a Vantec Tornado fan. I admit, I think it's odd that both of these products are from Vantec, yet they seem to be so incompatible. What I did was cut the black and red wires going to the 4-pin connector, then put these two wires in the 3-pin connector with the yellow RPM monitor wire. It seems like I had to cut a 3-pin connector off of another fan as the 3-pin that the RPM cable is connected to didn't have the metal wire pins already in it.

Anyway, it seems to work fine most of the time.. For some reason though, sometimes the fan doesn't respond to speed adjustments. The LCD display and USB/FireWire ports work great though. Another thing I didn't like was how easily the screw mounts on the side of the panel stripped out. I guess it does what it is supposed to most of the time, but honestly I'd look at other options.