Fan Controller Help Needed!

[relwof]

I have a total of 8 fans in my corsair 900D, the 4 stock fans plus 4 af-120's on my 480 rad.

I have an Asus rampage Iv extreme black edition mobo.

I would like to be able to control all 8 fans and possibly take some temperature readings? I would settle for a 6 channel fan controller but I would prefer 8.

My budget is under £50 ($85) I would also prefer a black or metal finish on the fan controller. The fan controller must be available in the UK!

Also if someone could explain fan connections (3/4 pin, PWM?) as it is the only aspect of my PC I don't fully understand =D

This community is ace, I only have a few topics but I've received absolutely amazing help and I'm sure I'll get the same great experience on this one

Many thanks,

Relwof

[kcchi]

Phanteks has a fan hub that lets you connect up to 11 fans while only taking a single 4 pin connector on your motherboard. You can then control them through software. 

That's the one I'm currently using as it came with my case. I don't quite understand the technicality of 3/4 pins but all I know is that you cannot control 3 pin fans connected directly to your motherboard while you can with 4 pin PWM fans (pulse-width modulation). Since the hub uses a 4 pin connector, you can control your fans that way. Note that all fans are going to be considered as one, since the motherboard recognizes only 1 fan (the hub) plugged in. Fan speed will be the same for all.

 

Hopefully it's available in the UK If you want individually controlled fans, you'll have to look at more expensive solutions

[relwof]

Phanteks has a fan hub that lets you connect up to 11 fans while only taking a single 4 pin connector on your motherboard. You can then control them through software.

That's the one I'm currently using as it came with my case. I don't quite understand the technicality of 3/4 pins but all I know is that you cannot control 3 pin fans connected directly to your motherboard while you can with 4 pin PWM fans (pulse-width modulation). Since the hub uses a 4 pin connector, you can control your fans that way. Note that all fans are going to be considered as one, since the motherboard recognizes only 1 fan (the hub) plugged in. Fan speed will be the same for all.

Hopefully it's available in the UK If you want individually controlled fans, you'll have to look at more expensive solutions

Thanks! I'll have a look at that tonight, although I would like to be able to control some fans individually. Thanks a bunch

[kd1011]

3 pins: Regular DC fan, can either be run at a set speed, or some motherboards (e.g ASUS) can control them by changing the voltage.

4 pins: PWM fans, all fans receive the full 12V and a separate signal is used to set speed. If your fan controller or motherboard has 4 pin headers, PWM fans are a better choice, as you can set things like fan curves.

For fan controllers, NZXT has a new software one out (I think it's called grid+), and corsair are apparently working on a new link software module.

NB: the NZXT one only supports 3 pin fans

EDIT: Looks like your mobo is similar to the VII Formula I'm getting, you have 3 4pin PWM headers on the mobo. Each header supports 12W, so using splitters, you could have software control basically for free, with 3 zones of control.

You could also get the ROG front base, for manual control of the mobo headers.

[Shaqo_Wyn]

My budget is under £50 ($85) I would also prefer a black or metal finish on the fan controller. The fan controller must be available in the UK!

Also if someone could explain fan connections (3/4 pin, PWM?) as it is the only aspect of my PC I don't fully understand =D

 

Have a look at the Lamptron FC5 v3, hopefully it's available in the UK. 

 

Some modern motherboards can control both 3-pin and 4-pin PWM fans through the motherboard fan headers. 3-pin being voltage controlled and 4-pin fan through Pulse Width Modulation. 4-pin PWM fans have the advantage because they can be controlled more precisely and smoothly without annoying harsh ramp ups or downs. You can plug 3-pin fans in 4-pin fan headers. 3-pin fans are cheaper tho and I recommend you use those with a fan controller as it would be waste to buy PWM fans and voltage control them.