Two questions per fan-speed regulation

[BonzaiDuck]

I'm using the Striker Extreme motherboard, and have yet to fully configure the system with a RAID5 and other features in a case that is still in the "construction-zone."

I was really happy with the some 8-odd fan plugs on the mobo, but the BIOS doesn't seem to have any more in the way of user-chosen thermally-controlled fan speeds than an earlier generation motherboard. (Or -- maybe I'm missing something, but I doubt it.)

My first inclination was to install the latest version of Alfredo Comparetti's "SpeedFan," which has served me well on my aging system with the Springdale chipset.

And at that point, I was confronted by absurd fan-speed reporting, even if the temperatures and their identification were in order. My CPU fan, according to the program, is spinning at some 280,000 rpm, and other fans are similarly reported with ridiculous speeds. I tried tweaking the advanced settings, but have had not luck so far.

Checking with "Almico's" SpeedFan web-site, I found the list of motherboard configurations available for download. No Striker. No 680i boards. The updates to the program seem exclusively addressed to the 975 chipsets, for instance, the ASUS P5WD2 board.

So . . .

Question #1: Has anyone any tips for making Speedfan work with my 680i board?

Question #2: Positive or negative, I'd like to get observations from people about their success or failure with this controller from SunBeam Tech:

Theta 101

 

[Zepper]

There are several reviews of the Theta out there. As I recall, its main drawbacks are its main features - i.e. it's software controlled and takes up a PCI slot when it really doesn't have to - it could have been made in a little box that could be mounted anywhere inside the case with velcro or double-sided, foam mounting tape. Some have modded it for non-slot mounting... It also is capable of only 10W per channel while many manual controllers can do 18 or 20 Watts per channel. OTOH, most fans used in PCs fit within the 10W spec. IIRC, it doesn't show much in the way of the negative PWM side-effects of some of the older PWM fan controller designs.

.bh.

 

[Zardnok]

I have a Theta, but it is not installed currently in my machine. I did not put it back in when I upgraded to the P5K Deluxe mobo. I honestly did not play with it enough to give an honest assessment. The documentation for it is rather poor, so if you decide to go with one, do some research online for articles and make note of which thermal sensor should go in which slot. It is not in the documentation. I would tell you myself, but I don't remember and will have to do the same search when I install it into my new machine.

As Zepper said, the usage of a PCi slot is rather annoying. I will likely mount mine elsewhere when I do the reinstall. You will be surprised how quickly you can run out of things you want temps on though. CPU, GPU, NB, SB, Case, HDD, maybe PSU. Fun Fun Fun!!

 

[Zepper]

BD,

The mfr's product page that is linked from the SVC page that you linked in your OP has three or four links to reviews that may be useful to you - even if they are of the uncritical, fan-boy type. From re-reading the Big Bruin review, I conclude that anyone would be wise to mod it to mount internally with the USB connection to an internal header as if the USB cable gets unplugged accidentally, the fans all go off so apparently there was no fail-safe design applied to it. I'd also hot glue the USB connector at both ends so it doesn't come undone accidentally even connected internally. I have nearly smoke-tested my CPU and PSU from similar causes - luckily my nose caught them before the no-return zone...

.bh.

 

[Spanki]

The T-Balanacer bigNG by mCubed might be worth looking into (expensive though).

 

[Zepper]

mCubed products are very hard to get in the States plus being very expensive when you can.

.bh.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Thanks.

It looks fairly obvious to those who would trouble themselves that one could remove the PCI slot-plate and mount the thing with some standoffs in a reasonably roomy case.

The other thing that puzzles me about this and other devices like front-panel USB hubs -- why does the manufacturer insist on running a cable outside the case to plug into a USB port?

So far, I've installed three USB hubs for family members, all with the "hole-in-the-slot-plate external USB connection, but I just made up a shielded USB cable for each with the ground-wire.

I'd still like to control my 8 Striker fan-headers, though. I only installed Speedfan briefly, dropping it from my Startup programs when I saw the fan-speed reports. It now occurs to me that I'd better check for other reporting options before I make "final pronouncement," because there were only two or three displayed.

Even so, you'd think Alfredo would have his act together on the matter of 650i and 680i chipsets -- he's apparently addressed features of the Intel 975.

I'll still be checking this thread for more ideas until I'm sure it's died. So to those who posted, thanks again. . .

 

[zagood]

Is Alphacool rebranding mCubed products?
http://www.performance-pcs.com...in_page=index&cPath=48

-z

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Wouldn't know. It was a couple years ago when I was running searches to find products like these, and I ran across the mCubed products. Some of those products were hard to find then in the US, and I thought mCubed items fell into that category.

 

[Spanki]

Originally posted by: zagood
Is Alphacool rebranding mCubed products?
http://www.performance-pcs.com...in_page=index&cPath=48

Looks like it... this often happens for distribution purposes. ie. I don't think you can find mCubed products in the US.

SilenX sells re-branded 3RSystem iCEAGE 90 heatsinks on Newegg.

Rosewill sells re-branded Akasa Evo 98 / Blue heatsinks on Newegg.

etc.

Heck, based on the number and diversity of Rosewill products, my guess is that it's all re-branded.

...of course mCubed sells re-branded Yate Loon fans, so the circle is complete .