Range of Fan Controllers

[QuantumSlip]

I'm looking into getting a fan controller to help control the amt of noise coming out of my computer. I would like to have a nice range so I can adjust it to my liking (7v-12v would be nice), but some of the reviews I've read said that some have a smaller range (like 9v-12v), such as the Vantec 3.5" controller. I'm sure many of ya'll have fan controllers, and I was wondering how is the range of control on your controllers.

 

[WobbleWobble]

0-12V on my Sunbeam.

The reason why some would have limited voltages is because many fans can't start below 5 or 7V.

 

[Zepper]

Yeah, most 12V fans won't start below 7V, but once started, may run at a lower voltage. One of my 120mm fans has a range of only 10-12V...
..bh.

 

[QuantumSlip]

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
0-12V on my Sunbeam.

The reason why some would have limited voltages is because many fans can't start below 5 or 7V.

yea i know, but one review said one fan controller only did 9-12V (the 3.5" VR ones from svc.com)

 

[Matrices]

Sunbeam, available at absolutely no online retailers anywhere, is the only fan controller that does 0-12V. In my book that makes it the only one worth having, can control pumps, too.

 

[xbassman]

You'll like either the Sunbeam or Nexus. They are both quality units.
I am using a Nexus (3.5") unit in my PC right now and like it. The lights aren't annoyingly bright and I don't mind the 7-12v range. I have 2 Sunbeams in other boxes. One thing I will say is, don't buy a cheap generic unit. I bought one that was useless within a month. Had a Digital Doc 5 also. It would lose its settings every time I rebooted.

I just checked and SVC.com has both the Nexus and Sunbeam units in stock.

 

[MichaelZ]

vantec nexus are pretty decent, check those out. aerogate II's range is very limited.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: i82lazyboy
vantec nexus are pretty decent, check those out. aerogate II's range is very limited.

The nexus only goes 7-12v. That's what I have.

 

[MichaelZ]

i have an aerogate 2, it's pretty limiting especially if you got them 5700RPM fans and you want to it down to an inaudible level.

 

[Tiamat]

Ive had the Vantec Nexus 5.25" and I cannot recommend it if you want a quite computer. Dont get me wrong, its great at what it does, however rather than using resistance to knock voltage down, it lessens the voltage by using some sort of transformer to supply less voltage. Not sure how it works, but in doing so, it makes an electronic noise. When your room is silent, you can here it, and it kinda reminds me of the western digital HD grinding noise. Kinda like a buzzing. Im not sure if my part was defective, but ive read in another forum here of the same "noise."

 

[Matrices]

The vantec nexus is no good at all. The 5.25 version, which I own, emits more noise than my 2 7200 RPM hard drives because when you turn down the voltage, resistance increases, which produces noise in this unit obviously because it is of shoddy quality.

The 3.25 unit didn't make noise, but it was ridiculous in that it barely made my fans quieter at its lowest settings; it was a bizarre situation and my fans sounded like they were grinding.

 

[fireontheway]

i own both 3.5 & 5.25 nexus' controllers and both are working great. i did have one problem with the 3.25 nexus but the item was deffective. it barely turned the fan's rpm. so i brought it back and had it exchanged, after that all is good.

 

[mindwreck]

12v-0v on a sunbeam

 

[Bobalude]

http://store.yahoo.com/svcompucycle/surheafanspc1.html

sunbeam avail at SVC

 

[0roo0roo]

its not really that important. i haven't met a fan that spins fast at minimum on a vantec. they really barely move at that setting. maybe tornados.. but tonados are crazy.