P180 question

[mooncancook]

Originally posted by: ShazK
Do you have a recommendation for a decent, but not too expensive, fan controller? Is Sunbeam good?

I'm using a Aspire FanMaster. I love it. It has 4 channel, black/silver/red/blue/copper anodized face plates, and a LCD with many backlit color to choose from.

 

[ShazK]

Hm, maybe I'll pick one of those up down the line... is it hard to install a fan controller after you've already assembled the computer?

 

[nealh]

Originally posted by: milleron
I wouldn't replace any of the fans, although many users have. I find the Antec TriCools to be quiet enough for my purposes, especially since all of them are turning so slowly. If you want to buy another for the front, it's hard to go wrong with a medium-speed Panaflo, but many authorities who post at Silent PC Review forums prefer Nexus and Yate Loon. Most people will not need to install a fan in the air duct, and many will not even want to install the air duct itself. I did install an Antec TriCool fan (switched to LOW) inside the duct simply because I have a fanless (totally silent) video card and I wanted to feed it a little air. (The 80-mm Antec on low speed is probably 20 decibels quieter than the small high revving fans on most video cards. I can hear it only if I put my ear within an inch of the duct's rear-panel opening.) If you have a traditional video card, you'll probably opt not to install a fan in the VGA duct.
A lot of people find fault with the 120 x 38 TriCool that comes in the lower compartment. I don't know why. Antec designed it especially for that location. I left it right where it is, switched to Low.

Ron

A couple of comments...nice post BTW

I found the Antec Tricools were louder(motor noise) on low setting moving less air than the Coolermaster 120mm Silent fans(excellent dba/cfm...better than Nexus..not necessarily quieter but there is more air movt by rating and 1/2 price)

At medium setting the tricools were too loud in the rear because venting of noise...in front of the HDD cage set to medium..can not hear it

The large 120mmx38 fan in the lower chamber is a big issue if your psu, ie OCZ powerstream is used...almost no room for the cables

the zalman 80mmx15 fan that fits the vga duct perfectly is $8 comes with mutli connector and can be set to lower voltage and is much quieter than connecting to mobo(12v)

Also I just switched out a Vantec Stealth 92mm on my XP90 for Panaflo 92mm Bx...better air movt but my system is louder.....may need to go back

Mind you I said loder not loud overall still quiet

 

[mooncancook]

Originally posted by: ShazK
Hm, maybe I'll pick one of those up down the line... is it hard to install a fan controller after you've already assembled the computer?

No it's not. It's pretty simple.