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which fan controller?

P

polonyc2

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Oct 25, 2004
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can someone recommend a good fan controller to use...I have 5 S-FLEX SFF21F 1600 RPM fans currently in my case and the noise can get a bit high...I've always used the motherboard fan controllers but I don't want to have to keep going into the BIOS each time I want to change my fan settings

what's the best fan controller out or at least a very good one?
 
I'm hearing good things about the NZXT Sentry 2...anyone have any opinions on the Sentry 2?
 
polonyc2 said:
I'm hearing good things about the NZXT Sentry 2...anyone have any opinions on the Sentry 2?
Click to expand...

I've actually read some mixed reviews on it. Supposedly it's not too great with LED fans, at least.
 
I should have mines today or tomorrow, I will give you some feed back on how well sentry 2 works.
 
You need to define "good".

This is good as in inexpensive and works well.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...re=fan_controller_5.25-_-11-998-808-_-Product

It is not a pwm controller which tend to be pricey but instead just uses reostats (variable resistors). LEDs pretty bright and some people mod it to tone them down.

hmm that Sentry 2 is nice, not too awful pricey. Remember you have to run temp probes everywhere if you want to use that function. I read a couple of reviews but none mentioned how well it works under automatic control. I used to try to use a Digital Doc fan controller which worked on the same principle and had to give up as there was no hystersis (temp buffer band) , when the temp trip point was reached the fans speed up to full speed, temps drop, fans slow, temps rise, fans speed back up, repeat. In a hot chassis damn fans constantly spinning up and down was annoying as hell. As I said I do not know if the sently does this, if there is a delay buit in, if it ramps up speed instead of going to full power, all of which might make it OK, or not. If I was buying it I would read all the reviews and try to find the answer to that question, when the temp trip point is reached and the fans are on auto and need to speed up, what happens ? (hopefully they would just increase 10% in speed in steps over a medium amount of time until the temps dropped).

Anybody know the answer ?


__________________


lt_shiro
Hey, let us know how that thing works on automatic temp control would ya ? Thanks !!!!
(I might bite as if the fan speed control is not totally annoying it would be good for controlling my radiator fans)


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edit> damn crappy bullshit half-assed reviews. nobody bothers to tell how it works on auto, still checking....

eh, couple of reviews hint at that it may adjust fan speed in 10% increments. Tired of trying to find out for sure.
 
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with the Sentry 2 I hear each channel only has 10 watts of power...how many fans can you put on each channel then?...is it best to keep it to 1 fan per channel or can you put 2+ fans and not run into any issues?

BillParrish said:
This is good as in inexpensive and works well.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...re=fan_controller_5.25-_-11-998-808-_-Product
Click to expand...

I heard some negative things about the Sunbeam Rheobus...mainly that it's a fire hazard and has been causing some flameouts in some PC cases
 
@ BillParrish

I wasn't planning on using automatic due to that fact, I would have to put in place the temp probes and that would be a pain as I am moving to a new case soon.

@ polonyc2

most fans run as low as 2w but some are closer to the 6w mark. just check the model you are planning on using.
 
BillParrish said:
when the temp trip point is reached and the fans are on auto and need to speed up, what happens ? (hopefully they would just increase 10% in speed in steps over a medium amount of time until the temps dropped).
Click to expand...

read a review which gives an answer (although not very specific on details)

"When the sensor goes over the max temperature an alarm will go off. On auto mode the fans will automatically increase speeds to keep your hardware under these alarm temperatures"

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/nzxt_sentry2/3.htm
 
K, I understand, my DigiDoc made my case look like an explosion in a spaghetti factory. real pain to run all that stuff.

I read the same comment about the sunbeam. It apparently takes a little care in messing with the main power molex, once someone is aware of that it should not be a problem. eh 10W is plenty for most people but point taken.

I don't usually respond to these (best fan, best controller, best heatsink, etc. ) as people get all bent out of shape over fan controllers or what have you. Frankly I have not found an inexpensive one worth a crap yet, I had see a post just below "best investment..." yesterday where someone got the sunbeam and was very happy so I just thought I would mention it and got sucked in with the automatic fan control. I have been trying a long time to find auto temp control implemented well.

bah no rpm readout.... eh not a biggie, still looks like it does increment in 10% steps but I have decided I don't like the look of the display. So I will bail out and leave you guys to carry on...
 
polonyc2 said:
read a review which gives an answer (although not very specific on details)

"When the sensor goes over the max temperature an alarm will go off. On auto mode the fans will automatically increase speeds to keep your hardware under these alarm temperatures"

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/nzxt_sentry2/3.htm
Click to expand...



Yep, I read that one too, going through all the ones on the manuf page.

Question is, does it increase the fan speed slowy over time or does it jump to full speed and then back to whatever it was set at ? That constant changing fan speed can be annyoing as hell as I tried to explain.

I have seen two reviews now that hint that it works like I would want/expect. At thermal trip point fan speed increases in 10% steps. Thats good.

What no one has said yet is what if that first 10% is not sufficienct to bring temps down ?
How long until it jumps another 10%, and then again how long for each step to 100% ? Once things are cooled off does it deacrase in 10% jumps and how long between each change ?

Basically all I am asking is that someone reviewing the thing actually check the device for how it works and explain it to me. I would have thought that might have been a major consideration in a product review. apparently I am wrong.
 
BillParrish said:
What no one has said yet is what if that first 10% is not sufficienct to bring temps down ?
How long until it jumps another 10%, and then again how long for each step to 100% ? Once things are cooled off does it deacrase in 10% jumps and how long between each change ?
Click to expand...

I looked through most of the reviews listed on the NZXT site but still couldn't find an answer...definitely worth knowing...guess the next best thing to do would be to find someone who owns the Sentry 2 to do some testing...too bad It_shiro is not going to use the Auto feature

I think I'm going to buy the Sentry 2 regardless as it's fairly inexpensive and seems like a great fan controller...plus I think I'll be using the Manual fan control most of the time anyway...the no RPM readout bugged me at first too but I think I can live with it due to all the other positives
 
yesterday where someone got the sunbeam and was very happy so I just thought I would mention it and got sucked in with the automatic fan control
Click to expand...

That was me with the Sunbeam fan controller. Granted I have had the controller for all of three days now, but I spent a lot of time looking into different fan controllers. I looked into the Sentry 2, and I liked it a lot, but in the end it just boiled down to what I needed.

I didn't need to know the fan RPM's. All I wanted was to quiet my fans down and in the end thats why I went with Sunbeam.

Let me know how the Sentry 2 is if you decide to get it, because who knows when I am might get another controller.
 
I ended up buying the NZXT Sentry 2 and I like it a lot...easy to use...cool digital readout...decent price

I don't have any of the temp probes currently attached as I don't like all the wires all over the case...the fan control is my main concern and it works fine

what do most people set their fan speeds to when not gaming?
 
polonyc2 said:
what do most people set their fan speeds to when not gaming?
Click to expand...

Down just enough that the noise from the fans blends in with the background noise. My contorller doesn't have an RPM monitor, but I'd guess they're around 900-1100 RPM. Having my case sitting about 6' away helps though, so you might have to go lower.
 
SicKlown42012 said:
Down just enough that the noise from the fans blends in with the background noise. My contorller doesn't have an RPM monitor, but I'd guess they're around 900-1100 RPM. Having my case sitting about 6' away helps though, so you might have to go lower.
Click to expand...

I have mine set to 70% when not gaming...which for me is around 1100 RPM since my fans are 1600 RPM...I was thinking that 70% might be too high but I guess it's OK then
 
I have this.Works great. Several led colors to choose from, gradual increase and no whine unlike some controllers. And 30W per channel.
 
i picked up the nzxt sentry lx last week. its way overpriced but it looks pretty good. i just run it on manual but i occasionally get the beep and it will ramp up the fans and then settle down (even though ive set the temp to 275c lol. oh well., works for me. if i could redo my purchase though i think i would have chosen the sentry 2. smaller and cheaper.
 
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