Seeking Suggestions For Fan Controller With USB

FPSguy

Golden Member
Oct 26, 2001
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I just bought this acrylic case (the one on the right in the picture) and I now realize that it does not have front USB. I thought I would install a fan controller with USB ports into a 5.25" or 3.5" bay. I need the controller to control at least three fans. I don't care if two fans are controlled by the same knob, as long as the controller can handle it. I would like to spend $30 or less for this, and I would like it to look decent in an acyrlic case (it might be nice if it had LEDs or an LCD display). This is the best option I have found so far, though it is just over $30 shipped and I am not sure if I can connect two fans to one knob with it. I suppose this would be another option, though it's not very nice looking.

Does anyone here have any other/better suggestions?
 

FPSguy

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Oct 26, 2001
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Thanks! The Thermaltake is an option, though like the one I linked I cannot tell whether I can connect two fans to one of the knobs. The AMS is too expensive. The first Enermax doesn't have USB. The second Enermax is nice but it runs cables out the back of the computer to connect to the external USB connector (I don't think that would look very good with an all-acrylic case). The Thermaltake provides an alternative to the "Smart Power" version, though. Thanks.

Does anyone here have any other recommendations, or do you know whether the "Smart Power" or Thermaltake controllers can control more than one fan from one of the knobs?
 

FPSguy

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Oct 26, 2001
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Bump -- one more try to get suggestions for this. In the absence of suggestions I will take my chances with the "Super Smart Panel 4 Aluminum Multi-Function Panel".
 

FPSguy

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Oct 26, 2001
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Originally posted by: klein297
Found this Vantec NXP-101 Nexus Multi-Function Panel at Newegg. Looks pretty nice.
I saw that too. It is nice looking and reasonably priced, but I think it has two drawbacks. First, it is mainly designed for the CPU fan and, while it is possible to hook up other fans, it only has one connector (so in my case it would need to power three fans, and I don't know whether this device can do that). Second, the USB and firewire cables are designed to go out the back of the case and plug into the external USB/firewire connectors (rather than plugging into the headers on the motherboard). IMO that won't do for an all-acrylic case, where people can see that the controller is operating that way.

Thanks for the suggestion though. It comes close to being what I want and the front firewire would have been nice.