Looking for Fan Controller

[smoats]

I'm looking for a fan controller that has a display but not a touch screen can handle up to 5 or 6 (4-pin) fans. I've been looking around on newegg, tigerdirect, and most other popular sites but hadn't found much.

If anybody can suggest one that would work that would be great. Thanks in advance.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

That's a tall order... I haven't thought of using PWM fans for a long time as current technology allows getting PWM control of 3 pin DCV fans.

Peeps using PWM fans tend to favor the Swiftech type hub units and not be fiddling with knobs all the time.

http://www.swiftech.com/8-WayPWMsplitter.aspx
http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l3/g34/c17/s240/list/p1/Bay_Devices-Fan_Controllers-PWM_Controllers-Page1.html

[Note FCPU is closed for the next 30 days at least]

And thatz why you find these.....

http://www.overclockers.com/pwm-fan-controller/
http://www.bit-tech.net/modding/2001/12/03/pwm_fan_controller/1

I use the Reeven 6 Eyes which would be purrfect for you but it's not for PWM fans. I use it simply for temperature indication w/ 6 temp sensors as the last thing I wanna do is be turning 6 buttons ever time my load ramps up and down.

I use Asus FanXpert 2 with a Phanteks PCB to control the fans because ....

a) It's hands free control
b) It allows me to provide PWM control to up to 11 DCV fans
c) I save $5-10 a fan not using PWM fans ... important with 15 fans
d) No low speed PWM clicking / Hum
e) full low speed control via PWM down to 25% of fan speed.

Here's the lowdown on the 6 eyes
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/6796/reeven-six-eyes-ii-rfc-02-fan-controller-review/index6.html

And the Phanteks Hub
http://www.phanteksusa.com/products/phanteks-fan-hub

 

[smoats]

Sorry for the late reply.

I wasn't aware that you could control the speed of a 3 pin fan. I'd assume it's done by under or over volting correct? Would that cause issues down the road?

I should mention my setup I suppose:
Mobo: Asrock z75 pro 3
CPU: I5-3570k w/ Hyper 212 plus
Case: CM690 II Advanced usb 3.0
I have 3 drive bays available right now.

 

[Bossyfins]

I doubt it. In my case(CM Cosmos II), it has a fan controller built in, it pretty much over volts and under volt it

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I'd assume it's done by under or over volting correct? Would that cause issues down the road?

Not at all .....

From what I have seen, most Z87 boards have 4 pin fan headers on the MoBo but only the CPU and CPU_OPT are PWM, the rest are DCV or DC Voltage controlled. They do this the same way that 3 pin headers controlled fans by varying the voltage to the fan..... BIOS control is generally limited to 5, 7 or 12 volts (the get 7 from the differential between 12 and 5). I was under the assumption that 3 volts wasn't used much as it may not have enough oomph to start 12v fans. However the MoBo utilities are able to provide continually varying voltage.

FanXpert (Asus) is truly wonderful in this respect. Using the auto tune function, it determines the "stall point" of the fan at low voltage and it sets the base of the fan curve at this level. It then matches the DCV or PWM signal to various speeds and prepares fan curve based upon actual measured data.

With Z97, all the headers are 4 pin again. The ones I have seen have PWM only on CPI / CPU_OPT but the other headers can use either DCV or PWM control (selectable in BIOS)... so you can use either 3 of 4 pin fans.

If you have 4 fans and 6 headers, well then no need for a controller.

The Phanteks Hub is a little genius of a thing. It works two ways:

PWM - Connect it to a PWM hub and connect how many fans as ya want w/o exceeding the headers amp rating.... so if you had say 6 fans @ 0.14 amps, your fine. If you need more than the 1 amp, then connect the Power Cable to the hub and do 11 fans

DCV - As above, Connect it to a DCV hub and connect how many fans as ya want w/o exceeding the headers amp rating

I have my Z87 system as follows:

PWM CPU Header => Water Pump No. 1
PWM CPU_OPT Header => Water Pump No. 2

DCV CHA Header No. 1 => Phanteks Fans Hub No.1 => (6) DCV fans on 420mm Radiator
DCV CHA Header No. 2 => Phanteks Fans Hub No.2 => (4) DCV fans on 280mm Radiator
DCV CHA Header No. 3 => Phanteks Fans Hub No.3 => (5) DCV case fans

Check your manual....

How many PWM and how many DCV headers do you have ?
How many fans and what is each for ?

 

[smoats]

That's a tall order... I haven't thought of using PWM fans for a long time as current technology allows getting PWM control of 3 pin DCV fans.

Peeps using PWM fans tend to favor the Swiftech type hub units and not be fiddling with knobs all the time.

http://www.swiftech.com/8-WayPWMsplitter.aspx
http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l3/g34/c17/s240/list/p1/Bay_Devices-Fan_Controllers-PWM_Controllers-Page1.html

[Note FCPU is closed for the next 30 days at least]

And thatz why you find these.....

http://www.overclockers.com/pwm-fan-controller/
http://www.bit-tech.net/modding/2001/12/03/pwm_fan_controller/1

I use the Reeven 6 Eyes which would be purrfect for you but it's not for PWM fans. I use it simply for temperature indication w/ 6 temp sensors as the last thing I wanna do is be turning 6 buttons ever time my load ramps up and down.

I use Asus FanXpert 2 with a Phanteks PCB to control the fans because ....

a) It's hands free control
b) It allows me to provide PWM control to up to 11 DCV fans
c) I save $5-10 a fan not using PWM fans ... important with 15 fans
d) No low speed PWM clicking / Hum
e) full low speed control via PWM down to 25% of fan speed.

Here's the lowdown on the 6 eyes
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/6796/reeven-six-eyes-ii-rfc-02-fan-controller-review/index6.html

And the Phanteks Hub
http://www.phanteksusa.com/products/phanteks-fan-hub

I'd assume it's done by under or over volting correct? Would that cause issues down the road?

Not at all .....

From what I have seen, most Z87 boards have 4 pin fan headers on the MoBo but only the CPU and CPU_OPT are PWM, the rest are DCV or DC Voltage controlled. They do this the same way that 3 pin headers controlled fans by varying the voltage to the fan..... BIOS control is generally limited to 5, 7 or 12 volts (the get 7 from the differential between 12 and 5). I was under the assumption that 3 volts wasn't used much as it may not have enough oomph to start 12v fans. However the MoBo utilities are able to provide continually varying voltage.

FanXpert (Asus) is truly wonderful in this respect. Using the auto tune function, it determines the "stall point" of the fan at low voltage and it sets the base of the fan curve at this level. It then matches the DCV or PWM signal to various speeds and prepares fan curve based upon actual measured data.

With Z97, all the headers are 4 pin again. The ones I have seen have PWM only on CPI / CPU_OPT but the other headers can use either DCV or PWM control (selectable in BIOS)... so you can use either 3 of 4 pin fans.

If you have 4 fans and 6 headers, well then no need for a controller.

The Phanteks Hub is a little genius of a thing. It works two ways:

PWM - Connect it to a PWM hub and connect how many fans as ya want w/o exceeding the headers amp rating.... so if you had say 6 fans @ 0.14 amps, your fine. If you need more than the 1 amp, then connect the Power Cable to the hub and do 11 fans

DCV - As above, Connect it to a DCV hub and connect how many fans as ya want w/o exceeding the headers amp rating

I have my Z87 system as follows:

PWM CPU Header => Water Pump No. 1
PWM CPU_OPT Header => Water Pump No. 2

DCV CHA Header No. 1 => Phanteks Fans Hub No.1 => (6) DCV fans on 420mm Radiator
DCV CHA Header No. 2 => Phanteks Fans Hub No.2 => (4) DCV fans on 280mm Radiator
DCV CHA Header No. 3 => Phanteks Fans Hub No.3 => (5) DCV case fans

Check your manual....

How many PWM and how many DCV headers do you have ?
How many fans and what is each for ?

i think I'm goonna go with a Phantek (or Swiftech if i want more pwm fans) hub. Thanks for the info, you saved me a good chunk of change!

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Any problems, yell.