New Cooler Master Fan controller survey - help us out!

[aigomorla]

I agree with the sentiment, of wanting to have an automatic/invisible solution.
Have a device that hooks up to USB, offers a standard fan control supported in Linux and windows, with standard speedfan software.

Give it 4-6 fan ports with reasonable amperage (a WC solution with a higher amperage should be a second option), and you're done. Integrate it into your higher end cases, and you're another step ahead.

I have an mATX case with neither 3.5 nor 5.25 inch bays, and still want to control my fans automatically with more precision than the ASUS board allows. Currently, there's no apparent reasonable solution.

that requires a micro controller which again adds to the price significantly.
what your asking for is a BigNG.
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/tbalancerbigng.html $93

The Aquero which i said wasnt cheap either:
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/aq4usbfawhwi.html $199.00

Those arent anywhere close to CHEAP!!!

We're asking for a CHEAP + Reliable + user friendly + no Obnoxiously Blinding LED's Fan controller.

Sunbeam Rheobus:
http://www.jab-tech.com/fan-speed-control/sunbeam-5-1/4-rheobus-kit-black/ $14

but no eye blinding LEDS!!!

 

[CZroe]

that requires a micro controller which again adds to the price significantly.
what your asking for is a BigNG.
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/tbalancerbigng.html $93

The Aquero which i said wasnt cheap either:
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/aq4usbfawhwi.html $199.00

Those arent anywhere close to CHEAP!!!

We're asking for a CHEAP + Reliable + user friendly + no Obnoxiously Blinding LED's Fan controller.

Sunbeam Rheobus:
http://www.jab-tech.com/fan-speed-control/sunbeam-5-1/4-rheobus-kit-black/ $14

but no eye blinding LEDS!!!

Not sure what you're saying. Micro-controllers are actually DIRT cheap. It doesn't take a fancy one for a simple fan controller. Heck, the ones I used for making PSX/Wii mod chips and PS3 keys are are less than a dollar. The economies of scale would make pre-programmed ones bought in bulk only pennies. Any example of previous micro-controller based designs being particularly expensive are due to their unique functions that differentiate them from the competition, which I can tell you is exactly what Cooler Master or any other manufacturer wants.

 

[CZroe]

thats if u want to automize everything and have sensors with it.

again... i dont think a lot of people would want to buy a 200 dollar fan controller. The Aquaero can actually cost more with all the options added onto it.

Also Sunbeam makes a PWM fan controller that will do what u ask at 1/8th the price.

It takes the PWM sense line... the line which reads cpu activity and translates it into 4-> 6 fan ports which arent PWM.



well a lot of us dont sit within cord range of our PC's and the headphone jack.
The PC would literally need to sit on top of the desk and not tucked away under it, or off the side of the desk entirely.
If u absolutely needed ports up front, u could also use a usb sound card and have it outport that way.
Unless u were an audiophile and it had to be streamed on a digital sound card.

Infact i get my headphones via bluetooth when i need them.

Having headphone jack on a fan controller would make it look kinda messy. You would have too many cables to the said fan controller which is already messy, and it wouldnt apply to a lot of people.

I cant think of many who do actually use the front port head phone jack if they have a speaker system.

The logitech speakers also have a built in head phone jack on the volume control, which is far more accessible then my PC away.

FPIO is for USB AND audio. Also, USB headphones cost far more and don't allow me to use the same high-quality phones I already use for my portable music. As for the "mess:" No one is complaining about the built-in ports on almost every chassis which no one is forced to use. Those who do use it can unplug as soon as they are done and wouldn't use it if they thought the "mess" weren't worth it.

My suggestion remains: Sell a device that also upgrades FPIO to USB3 and HDAUDIO and yours will be the go-to device for anyone upgrading their old case, building a DIY case, and with an inadequate modern case (add optional/hidden power/reset functions for completeness). I STILL haven't seen a modern case with enough USB3.0 ports for my motherboard and I'm not the only one frustrated by it. People will notice.

 

[_Rick_]

The BigNG is way over-featured for what most people need, who just want to control two or three case fans and a CPU fan.
With controllers come economies of scale. If a "SmallNG" with lower wattage, less sensors and slightly downsized were to be integrated into every case from 100 dollars up, the end user unit cost could probably be reduced to around 30 dollars, and the BOM to the manufacturer would be less than 10 dollars.
The only risk would be, that mainboard makers would eventually start to offer real
(more than two channels, PWM and Voltage control, etc.) fan controllers on-board.

 

[CZroe]

Well, I just ordered a SST-FP32B-E from SilverStone. All it is is a 3.5" 4-port USB 3.0 panel with HD Audio but it has enough blank space to add my own fan controller hardware and/or power/reset buttons. They also have a silver-colored version of the FP32-E.

Resorting to DIY often equals unserved market/demand which also equals opportunity. It's also worth noting that SilverStone formed from a bunch of ex-Cooler Master guys.