Recommend a fan controller

[Icepick]

I'm looking for a decent quality fan controller that can accommodate four fans. It must be black and preferrably fit in a 5.25" drive. I'm willing to spend up to $30 as long as it's good quality.

Thanks!

 

[Walternowi]

How about a Black Sunbeam Rheobus ?

 

[Zepper]

Walt beat me to it. The Rheobus is the simplest and one of the best fan controllers for the money. About the only potential drawbacks are: 1- knobs. Some cases may have a clearance problem but the knobs are barely 1/2" above the panel, 2- the LEDs are tres bright but there are numerous inexpensive ways to deal with that. The top Pro feature in my book is that they are linear - thus no potential noise addition.
Vantec is the other one that still sells linear fan controllers, but they have just 3 fan channels plus a light switch.

OTOH, you could click on the link in my sig for a CM Aerogate 3. Yes, it's silver, but easy to color the bracket any color you want. So far I've tested 8 different makes and models of fans (and both ball bearing and sleeve bearing models) w/o noticing any artifacts of a PWM controller. Of course, YMMV.

.bh.

 

[dasmokedog]

I have had a few but just bought the Zalman ZM-MFC1 Multi Fan Controller and IF ROCKS!

But in the end it is hard to screw up a fan controller.

 

[markymoo]

NO the zalman is not that good or in looks

You want THIS! http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=257657

It will control 4 fans comes with extension cables and 6 colour plates. Its quality.

 

[Zepper]

FYI Markymoo,

Very few Akasa products are sold here and those that are have been direct imported by the resellers. For some reason they have yet to establish an office here. I guess they are too small to handle the vloume.

.bh.

 

[Icepick]

Originally posted by: markymoo

NO the zalman is not that good or in looks

You want THIS! http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=257657

It will control 4 fans comes with extension cables and 6 colour plates. Its quality.

Now THAT is probably the best looking fan controller I've seen yet. That could be the one if I can find one around here. Unfortunately, as Zepper hit on, I'm limited by U.S. shops and don't see any listed after a quick Google search. Maybe I'll check out fleaBay.

Zepper, I've used a Coolermaster AerogateII in my Antec 3700BQE and couldn't get it to mount flush. I think I had difficulty from the fact that it doesn't extend all the way to the back of the drive bay so I couldn't get it to mount right on the removable drive rails.

I think I'd like to try a full-size solution this time. Something that fills the entire bay.

 

[Zepper]

I have my AG3 mounted on rails in my R5604 and it is pretty close w/o doing any adjustments at all. I think I could get it exact with just a tiny bit of futzing around with it, but it's behind a door so I don't worry about the small stuff. I know of no fan control/temp monitor consoles that fill the whole bay unless it also incorporates a HDD adapter to fill the back and those are few and far between. The CM CoolDrive 6 is basically the AG3 with an aluminum HDD enclosure on the back, but it's about four time my price on the AG3.

One other drawback to the Rheobus is that it doesn't come with any fan extensions either. So be sure to order some if needed along with it.

That Akasa looks a lot like the original Vantec 101 with the interchangeable color panels, but those are unobtainium now - not even on eBay. No Akasas there either.

This is about the only other one that might be worth your while: Tt XController. It is pretty blingy though with diff colored LEDs on each knob for three rough temp ranges. And Xoxide seems to have the best price from a well-known reseller.

Or the Vantec NXP-205 if you have a 3.5" bay available or are willing to use a 5" bay adapter.

I see that SVC has the XController as well if you happen to be near enough to them that you could go pick it up so you won't have to add shipping.

.bh.

 

[dasmokedog]

Originally posted by: markymoo

NO the zalman is not that good or in looks

You want THIS! http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=257657

It will control 4 fans comes with extension cables and 6 colour plates. Its quality.

Ughh that is tacky and just looks like a can of smashed ass. Also we are not limies (if you are in the UK you know).

 

[LikeLinus]

I've got a Rheobus and it's great. Does what it needs to and it matches my P180b. That's about all I can say!

 

[bigboxes]

Originally posted by: markymoo

NO the zalman is not that good or in looks

You want THIS! http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=257657

It will control 4 fans comes with extension cables and 6 colour plates. Its quality.

To each his own. I just put the Zalman in my P180 and I love it.

 

[Pens1566]

Originally posted by: bigboxes

Originally posted by: markymoo

NO the zalman is not that good or in looks

You want THIS! http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=257657

It will control 4 fans comes with extension cables and 6 colour plates. Its quality.

To each his own. I just put the Zalman in my P180 and I love it.

 

[markymoo]

its not tacky at all, you havent researched enough, its the best. it comes with 6 different colour fascias. the rest are tacky. sure the red colour looks tacky you just dont do red! its a quality product, my mate has one too.

review here

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=658&page=1&search=AKASA%20AK-FC-03


Quoted

This is certainly the best fan controller on the market. Its functionality is great, it looks superb, and the build quality is excellent. It's lovely to receive products like this but it definitely gets you thinking when it comes down to the disadvantages of the product. The only thing which I can see bad about this product is the price tag of around £40. In my opinion this isn't too bad for a stunning product. You get what you pay for and this has everything you could ever wish for in a fan controller. Well Done Akasa!

but its £ 28 now

good luck finding try specialist pc cooling shops they should have it

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: markymoo

NO the zalman is not that good or in looks

You want THIS! http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=257657

It will control 4 fans comes with extension cables and 6 colour plates. Its quality.

Whoever made that probably also made the Zalman...see the similarities? Look closely..
I only use the zalman on both my PC`s. Its attractive and works well!!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813999251

 

[Icepick]

Yeah, I think I'm going to get the Zalman. It seems to be nice looking and a quality build. There's a good review of it over at SPCR if anyone is interested.

One thing that's weird is that I don't see any of the Coolermaster controllers at any US e-tailers. I can't even find it on Coolermaster's North America web site. It only seems to be on the International site. I wonder if they're discontinuing them? No big loss there, I guess since they're not very useful - only nice to look at.

Thanks guys!

 

[dasmokedog]

Originally posted by: Icepick
Yeah, I think I'm going to get the Zalman. It seems to be nice looking and a quality build. There's a good review of it over at SPCR if anyone is interested.

One thing that's weird is that I don't see any of the Coolermaster controllers at any US e-tailers. I can't even find it on Coolermaster's North America web site. It only seems to be on the International site. I wonder if they're discontinuing them? No big loss there, I guess since they're not very useful - only nice to look at.

Thanks guys!

You will not regret it...congrats!

 

[Icepick]

Thanks dasmokedog!