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Looking for a quality Fan Controller

DragonMatt
By DragonMatt
in Cooling
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I built a new gaming pc not to long ago and I got the lower end of a gigabyte mobo so it doesn't have the best fan controller options, i've been reading reviews on all kinds of controllers and I sort of want a mechanical type rather then a touchscreen, unless there is a touchscreeen out there that is really reliable, now for the parameters.

Needs to be a single 5.25 bay or external

Needs to have AT LEAST 5 separate controllers

Needs to be able to handle high-end 120s and a 140

I'd like it not to be over $70 (US)

And of course it needs to be very reliable and high quality

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https://linustechtips.com/topic/632-looking-for-a-quality-fan-controller/
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Lamptron FC8

3930k | RIVBE | 32GB Dominator Plat. | Titan XP | Intel 750 1.6TB | Mellanox 10Gb NIC | AX1200i 

Custom TJ07 | 2xD5 pumps | EK Supremacy EVO | EK Titan XP | EK RIVBE Block | Cu Tubing | 25x120mm Rad

Samsung U28D590D 4K | Leopold Otaku w/Browns | Corsair M65 | Corsair SP2500 | Sennheiser HD595

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This isn't the droid your looking for, but still worth a look cause this damn thing is bad ass... MAN I LOVE nixe tubes...

http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=76405

2600K 4.6ghz, Maximus IV extreme-z, 16gb 1600, GTX 780, SB X-Fi Titanium HD, CM silent pro m 850, corsair 800D

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How many watts per channel do you need? What brand of fans? Some fans will simply not work well on a controller, like my Corsair SP's.... make a horrible motor whine...

I have a BitFenix Hydro Pro - nice, sleek, simple... Works great with my BitFenix fans...

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Well I guess that could be another question, what fans would be better the the new corsair fans on the market, I don't really want a Noctua fan, can't get over the color, unless it's easy to paint them and make them look all pretty

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Well I guess that could be another question' date=' what fans would be better the the new corsair fans on the market, I don't really want a Noctua fan, can't get over the color, unless it's easy to paint them and make them look all pretty [/quote']

painting fans is not easy let me tell you.... but as far as fans go, I have had great success with CM 120mm fans, there cheap, their LED, and there fricken tuff as nails... I now have a couple noctua fans in my system, though they are better fans, the CM fans still get my vote...

2600K 4.6ghz, Maximus IV extreme-z, 16gb 1600, GTX 780, SB X-Fi Titanium HD, CM silent pro m 850, corsair 800D

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Stay away from the NZXT Sentry. Even though it is a bit of a low-end product, just a heads up. I've had mine catch fire, along with some others I know have had the same thing happen.

My Rig:

  • CPU: 1090T@4.1ghz
  • GPU: Gigabyte 7870
  • MOBO: Crosshair Formula V
  • RAM: 8GB 1333mhz
  • PSU: 650w corsair HX
  • SSD: 120GB Kingston HyperX
  • Sound card: Asus Xonar DX

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Stay away from the NZXT Sentry. Even though it is a bit of a low-end product' date=' just a heads up. I've had mine catch fire, along with some others I know have had the same thing happen.[/quote']

Your fan controller caught on fire? O_O

Hello

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Stay away from the NZXT Sentry. Even though it is a bit of a low-end product' date=' just a heads up. I've had mine catch fire, along with some others I know have had the same thing happen.[/quote'] Your fan controller caught on fire? O_O

Yeah, one of the connections short circuited and *poof* up in flames(though small). Luckily, I was able to save all my computer parts in spite of the accident.

My Rig:

  • CPU: 1090T@4.1ghz
  • GPU: Gigabyte 7870
  • MOBO: Crosshair Formula V
  • RAM: 8GB 1333mhz
  • PSU: 650w corsair HX
  • SSD: 120GB Kingston HyperX
  • Sound card: Asus Xonar DX

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Not to rain on your parade, but what are you hoping to gain from installing a fan controller? I would just invest the money that would be spent on one into putting better fans in your system that are properly optimized so you can always run them at optimal RPMs and have your system remain silent and cool.

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Not to rain on your parade' date=' but what are you hoping to gain from installing a fan controller? I would just invest the money that would be spent on one into putting better fans in your system that are properly optimized so you can always run them at optimal RPMs and have your system remain silent and cool.[/quote']

What would you suggest?(I'd be cool if you could provide more than one option)

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Not to rain on your parade' date=' but what are you hoping to gain from installing a fan controller? I would just invest the money that would be spent on one into putting better fans in your system that are properly optimized so you can always run them at optimal RPMs and have your system remain silent and cool.[/quote'] What would you suggest?(I'd be cool if you could provide more than one option)

If your motherboard does not have a good fan control system built in, and just gives the fans constant power, I would suggest getting some Noctua fans or similar high-quality fans (look at reviews) and installing them where necessary with low-voltage adapters to keep the noise levels down. As long as your system has good air flow, you shouldn't need to worry about fan speeds too much as the GPU will adjust it's fan speed accordingly, and the CPU fan header on your motherboard should at least know when to ramp up the RPMs when the processor is getting pretty hot.

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I would say if you're doing some low-performance work, and some UBER performance work, you could have a good fan controller in your case, but if you're not that differentiated just connect your fans to either 12v, 7v or 5v, depending on what makes the best performance to noise ratio.

MEH

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I would really like a high quality fan controller to control some high performance fans such as the aerocool shark 120mm fans (red leds) and an aerocool 140mm led fan, which is what I am planning on purchasing, unless someone can point me to some better performing (don't care about noise that much) led 120mm and 140mm fans. As long as I can trust the specs from the manufactures website, so far it seems that aerocool has the best 120mm fans that have 82.6 cfm air flow and spin at 1500 rpm. I did research other 140mm fans that much... and I am still undecided on a fan controller :(

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Stay away from the NZXT Sentry. Even though it is a bit of a low-end product, just a heads up. I've had mine catch fire, along with some others I know have had the same thing happen.
Hmmm mine didn't catch fire but i do have a short in the power cable. it caused some of the leds to not be as bright as they normally would. but after jiggling the power cord i got my lights back. overall i have to agree the controller wasn't high quality and i wouldn't recommend it. on the other hand it is great PC bling when you get it to work.
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How many watts per channel do you need? What brand of fans? Some fans will simply not work well on a controller, like my Corsair SP's.... make a horrible motor whine...

I have a BitFenix Hydro Pro - nice, sleek, simple... Works great with my BitFenix fans...

Hey thanks! Mine are doing the same thing, I didn't realize it was due to a fan controller. This really helped me out. Thanks man. It's only one of them, on my lower 240 rad, but the sound if I crank the rpm to max is awful. I'm having to run it at like 700 rpm until I figure out a permanent fix. This saved me a good bit of time though. Gonna go plug it into the mobo and see if it stops. Thanks again.
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How many watts per channel do you need? What brand of fans? Some fans will simply not work well on a controller, like my Corsair SP's.... make a horrible motor whine...

I have a BitFenix Hydro Pro - nice, sleek, simple... Works great with my BitFenix fans...

Glad I could help. Soon as I plugged my SP's direct into a molex connector, motor whine gone. Then I used the included 7V resistor on molex - same. I also emailed Corsair support. They say some (read lots) of controllers don't actually maintain a constant voltage, but that it is constantly fluctuating, which causes the motor whine, also maybe called coil whine.

Forum Links - Community Standards, Privacy Policy, FAQ, Features Suggestions, Bug and Issues.

Folding/Boinc Info - Check out the Folding and Boinc Section, read the Folding Install thread and the Folding FAQ. Info on Boinc is here. Don't forget to join team 223518. Check out other users Folding Rigs for ideas. Don't forget to follow the @LTTCompute for updates and other random posts about the various teams.

Spoiler

Whaler_99 Links - "Green Machine" (watercooled), "Out of the Blue" (watercooled), My 4P Folding rigs, My multi GPU Folding Rigs, The Water Cooling FAQ, My 40TB Storage Server, My Folding Stats. The CM HAF XB review, the Aqualis Pro 450 review, the PrimoChill CTR Phase II Res review, the IcyDock ToughArmor 6x1 review, the 3x2 Storage Cage review, the 5x3 Storage Cage review, my Milwaukee Jobsite Backpack review, my Thermaltake Core X2 review, my CoolerMaster Storm Stryker overview. Link to DA Blogs home.

Follow me on Twitter for updates @Whaler_99

 

 

 

 

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Do u really need 5 channels? I was thinking u could use a y splitter for fans u want to control simultaneously,

I use the Scythe Kaze Master but control 2 fans together with a y-splitter as it only has 4 channels im afraid

Actually if u want a red theme then the kaze wont work
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I've been using the nzxt sentry mix, I love how powerful this thing is

I am able to turn 4 fans on from 1 channel but the thing is I am unable to control the RPM precisely

Still looking for a better one :(

Phenomenon  -  Project Blank - Pinky Promise

 

 

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I would really like a high quality fan controller to control some high performance fans such as the aerocool shark 120mm fans (red leds) and an aerocool 140mm led fan, which is what I am planning on purchasing, unless someone can point me to some better performing (don't care about noise that much) led 120mm and 140mm fans. As long as I can trust the specs from the manufactures website, so far it seems that aerocool has the best 120mm fans that have 82.6 cfm air flow and spin at 1500 rpm. I did research other 140mm fans that much... and I am still undecided on a fan controller :(
Fair warning from someone who already had a controller...you will probably ditch it within the year. I pretty much found myself running everything at lowest rpm's anyways so I yanked the controllers and just ran everything off the 5v rail or connected to a 7v adapter depending on the fan. From the looks of it the aerocool comes with a 7v adapter so it would be easy.

As for other high performance led fans, the aerocools look like they are pretty good but really loud at full 12v. Check out this roundup http://www.overclock.net/t/969907/roundup-the-large-fans-roundup-2010-2011-58x-120mm-140mm-fans-in-the-test. If you REALLY wanted high performance fans and noise REALLY wasnt an issue then you could always go down to a computer recycle shop and pull out some server fans. I got a Delta 92mm fan rated at 160cfm and a Nidec Beta V for 5 bucks each.

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I wouldn't get anything that isn't a Lamptron, fanboy but they make a great product. Other products I always find some kind of problem, they die, they make the fans whine, they don't control them right, yadda yadda, Lamptron I've never had a problem.

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