Fan Controller - Overclock.net

Jiv · 10-17-09

Hope this is in the right section.

My fan controller just died, it just started smoking for no reason when I flip the case on its side and turn it on.

The controller was a Sunbeam Reobus Extreme 6way controller and I cant find the company to RMA.

Right now, I'm choosing between this and this. Which would you guys pick and why?

Infact, if you find that neither of the ones I linked are good, pick one from here.

I've 5 fans in the case, 2 CM Green, 2 Ultra Kazes and one Enerma Magma. I'm using a Guardian 921 case and do not need the temperature monitors.

Thanks

Tator Tot · 10-17-09

The Lamptron fancontroller is pretty high quality.

But the Zalman is aswell and will work just fine.

Whichever one is cheaper or you like more.

Lamptron will be able to handle either stronger or more fans per channel than the Zalman, but the Zalman is able to do a variety of voltages while the Lamptron can only do Off/5v/12v (IE Off/Medium/High)

dkev · 10-17-09

Well the Lamptron can do 60 watts and the Zaman only 7 watts. Reobus's generate a lot of heat. So you want something heavy duty. I prefer variable frequency units because they generate no heat. The downside is they can be noisy. But I would go with the Lamptron.

justinDA · 10-17-09

Go with this http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...ducts_id=11095 The only reason is because it uses a knob to control the voltage, the 5 port military uses switches and therefore only has 3 voltage settings, 12volts (full speed), 5volts(less than half) and off.

Also lamptron fan controllers seem to produce clicking noises when undervolting some fans. My Lamptron FC-2 seems to do fine when undervolting 20watt deltas however i experience a "pulsing" effect when undervolting fans that require less than 10watts such as Scythe S-Flex, Silverstone etc..

I am not sure if you will experience the same problem with the FC3 though, it seems to occur most on the FC2.

I havnt used the zalman controller.

If you can get your hands on another rheobus extreme or 4channel rheobus you could mount a fan above it using scythe kama bay to cool it, however they are not sold in Australia (I buy them from Performance PCS and pay international shipping). Although you have had a bad experience with it, the rheobus is the best fan controller i have used. Havnt had a problem.

Jiv · 10-17-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinDA

Go with this http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...ducts_id=11095 The only reason is because it uses a knob to control the voltage, the 5 port military uses switches and therefore only has 3 voltage settings, 12volts (full speed), 5volts(less than half) and off.

Also lamptron fan controllers seem to produce clicking noises when undervolting some fans. My Lamptron FC-2 seems to do fine when undervolting 20watt deltas however i experience a "pulsing" effect when undervolting fans that require less than 10watts such as Scythe S-Flex, Silverstone etc..

I am not sure if you will experience the same problem with the FC3 though, it seems to occur most on the FC2.

I havnt used the zalman controller.

If you can get your hands on another rheobus extreme or 4channel rheobus you could mount a fan above it using scythe kama bay to cool it, however they are not sold in Australia (I buy them from Performance PCS and pay international shipping). Although you have had a bad experience with it, the rheobus is the best fan controller i have used. Havnt had a problem.

The Rheobus was a great controller, the only problem I had with it was the freaking bright LEDS.

Actually, thinking about it, lets say I use different speeds for the kazes in a pushpull set up, wouldnt that damage the slower one?

If thats the case, wouldnt the Lamptron be better as in it will make sure that the fans are spinning at the exact same speeds? I wonder how important that is because the good thing about the reobus was that I could choose the speed of each fan individually for noise/performance.

I need to control aleast 5 fans (excluding gpu fan and side case fan)

justinDA · 10-17-09

The LEDs can be removed. just disconect the small bulb inside the controller.

Its best to have the speeds set roughly the same, if there is to much of a difference one fan can be drowned/starved for air.

The lamptron 5 port (60watt) controller is not good because it is not like the sunbeam rheobus where you can choose the speed of the fan for invidivual preference. This controller only has 3 default speed settings. Full, Half and off

However, the controller that i recommended (Lamptron FC-3) is much like the rheobus, allowing you to set each fan's speed to your individual preference.

You can put 2 fans on one channel using 3-pin splitters. So you can put both your ultra kaze fans on one channel and when u turn the knob, both fans are effected.

Lord Xeb · 10-17-09

The Zalmen fan controller is a really good one.

Jiv · 10-17-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinDA

The LEDs can be removed. just disconect the small bulb inside the controller.

Its best to have the speeds set roughly the same, if there is to much of a difference one fan can be drowned/starved for air.

The lamptron 5 port (60watt) controller is not good because it is not like the sunbeam rheobus where you can choose the speed of the fan for invidivual preference. This controller only has 3 default speed settings. Full, Half and off

However, the controller that i recommended (Lamptron FC-3) is much like the rheobus, allowing you to set each fan's speed to your individual preference.

You can put 2 fans on one channel using 3-pin splitters. So you can put both your ultra kaze fans on one channel and when u turn the knob, both fans are effected.

Oh? I totally forgot about the splitters! Thanks! By the way, will there be enough power to use 2 kazes at full speed on one spliter?

justinDA · 10-17-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiv

Oh? I totally forgot about the splitters! Thanks! By the way, will there be enough power to use 2 kazes at full speed on one spliter?

Definitely. Each channel supports upto 30watts.

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