what's a good 4 channel fan controller for a 3.5" bay?

digicat · Post by **digicat** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:29 am

I'm looking for one that can turn fans OFF at their lowest setting, and has led illumination on the front. It'll be driving two 140mm and two 120mm fans. Anyone know of a good one?

digicat · Post by **digicat** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:26 am

Anyone?

nwbdan · Post by **nwbdan** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:18 am

I'm interested as well.

will be checking this thread

corrion · Post by **corrion** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:47 pm

A long time ago, I bought the Vantec Nexus which does exactly what you're looking for. I'm still using it today (though not on my primary machine), but unfortunately they don't sell it anymore.

Review linked below:
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews ... 305review/

Looking forward to other people's recommendations!

digicat · Post by **digicat** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 3:34 pm

According to the review you posted, it controls 3 fans.

corrion · Post by **corrion** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 5:57 pm

Ah, misread your post. Sorry. Not like you can buy this fan controller anymore anyways. =P

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:45 am

There ain't such thing really. Only thing closest are Scythe Kaze Q as 4 channel input system but no led and others bells nor whistles. Asking led illumination with turn off method in 3,5" is quite a lot to ask. If you just need good 3,5" 4 channel controller without fancy leds and turn off method, you can find a lot more choices.

I am just wondering if you really need have turn off method? Most fan controller go down to 5v and almost any decent fan is effectively silent @5v.

digicat · Post by **digicat** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 11:03 am

thejamppa wrote:There ain't such thing really. Only thing closest are Scythe Kaze Q as 4 channel input system but no led and others bells nor whistles. Asking led illumination with turn off method in 3,5" is quite a lot to ask. If you just need good 3,5" 4 channel controller without fancy leds and turn off method, you can find a lot more choices.

I am just wondering if you really need have turn off method? Most fan controller go down to 5v and almost any decent fan is effectively silent @5v.

I've currently got a Vantec Nexus NXP205 which is a 3.5", 4 port, LED lit fan controller that only turns fans down, but they're still audible to my sensative hearing. I figured that if I could get one that would actually shut the fans off, I'd have no complaints.

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:17 pm

Led Fans are different than most half-decent fans due they are made clear and bristle plastic that gives completely different type of sound. One reason I abandoned led lights in fans and went CCFL way in Game rig ( that and I hate blue leds )

digicat · Post by **digicat** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:50 pm

thejamppa wrote:Led Fans are different than most half-decent fans due they are made clear and bristle plastic that gives completely different type of sound. One reason I abandoned led lights in fans and went CCFL way in Game rig ( that and I hate blue leds )

I'm actually referring to LED lit fan control pannels, not LED lit fans. I can do without those too. In fact, I've gone as far as disabling the power and HDD LEDs on my case. LEDs inside the case are fine though... since I don't have a windowed case.

sxr71 · Post by **sxr71** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 1:41 am

I must agree about LEDs. It's like a crazy lightshow in these PCs these days.

magu2k · Post by **magu2k** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 5:19 pm

sxr71 wrote:I must agree about LEDs. It's like a crazy lightshow in these PCs these days.

Yeah I currently have an Antec Sonata II until I get my P183, this thing has blue headlights, which I unplugged almost immediately. I also put electrical tape over the standard HD/Power LEDs. Some of these cases could induce a seizure in some people, I am sure.

ces · Post by **ces** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:19 pm

Do you want to experiment, then set it and then forget it.

Or do you expect that you will want to modify the settings with some reasonable frequency?