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FAN
In keeping with the color scheme, the bonus case fan is clear blue.
The bonus 80mm case fan is branded with Silentmaxx' logo, and a google search
of the model number did not prove to be helpful in discovering the OEM. The
current rating indicates a medium-low speed fan, and a quick listening test
showed this to be the case. The noise level was quite acceptable, even at full
speed. Quieter fans are available, but the compromise between airflow and noise
was surprisingly good for a fan that was tossed in as an extra.
On the other hand, the fan felt a bit flimsy and brittle, as though it would
be easy to break. It also comes with a two-pin header that will not fit on a
three-pin motherboard headers without modification.
CABLES AND CONNECTORS
All cable sets were sleeved, and all of the IDE plugs had grips for ease of
removal.
- 18" Sleeved cable for main 20+4-pin ATX connector
- 14" Sleeved cable for auxiliary 4+4-pin 12V AUX connector
- 15" Sleeved cable for 6-pin PCIe connector
- 23" Sleeved cable with two SATA drive connectors
- 27" Sleeved cable with two 4-pin IDE drive connectors and one floppy
connector
- 26" Sleeved cable with three 4-pin IDE drive connectors
- 17" cable with a thermally controlled, nonstandard 2-PIN fan header
The individual cable sets seemed a little shorter than usual. This was a complaint
we had with the FSP Zen as well, but we were pleased to see that the problem
seemed less severe with the Silentmaxx than the FSP Zen. In particular, the
main ATX cable is a much more standard length in the Silentmaxx.
Another difference from the FSP Zen is the inclusion of what appears to be
a fan header. Unfortunately, the tiny two-pin header does not match any of the
fans that we could find in the lab, nor does it match the fan header on the
bonus case fan. For all intents and purposes, it appears to be useless, which
made us wonder whether we had correctly identified its purpose. A quick chat
with Dave Williamson at Quiet
PC USA (our supplier) confirmed that it is meant as a fan header:
"The 2-wire connector is designed to operate a separate case fan if needed.
It is temperature controlled from the PSU. Most of the time the 2-pin connector
will not have power, however when the PSU becomes extremely hot it will activate
the auxiliary fan connector providing power to operate a separate case fan."
Apparently, the header is meant to power an emergency backup fan. Hopefully,
the next revision will replace the connector with one that is a little more
standard — perhaps one that works with the included case fan.
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