Fan control unit? Perhaps with USB interface?

  • Thread starter Thread starter x0054
  • Start date Start date
X

x0054

I am looking for a fan control unit. Something that would have 2 or 3
thermal sensors and would be able to control 2 or 3 two-wire 12v fans. On
my Media Center Computer I have a graphics card and a case fan both of
which together make quite a bit of noise. I was looking for a control unit
that would throttle the fans up and down as necessary. So that then the
graphics card isn't used that much and is coold the fan would be turned
off, but as it heats up to a point the fan would slowly kick in. Would be
cool if it could use an internal USB connector to set it.

After few days looking online I only found one unit that was kind of like
what I described, but it was designed for 3-wire fans and was over $120 :(

Any suggestions?

- Bogdan
 
x0054 said:
I am looking for a fan control unit. Something that would have 2 or 3
thermal sensors and would be able to control 2 or 3 two-wire 12v fans. On
my Media Center Computer I have a graphics card and a case fan both of
which together make quite a bit of noise. I was looking for a control unit
that would throttle the fans up and down as necessary. So that then the
graphics card isn't used that much and is coold the fan would be turned
off, but as it heats up to a point the fan would slowly kick in. Would be
cool if it could use an internal USB connector to set it.

After few days looking online I only found one unit that was kind of like
what I described, but it was designed for 3-wire fans and was over $120 :(

Any suggestions?

- Bogdan
Click to expand...
maybe something like this, i just google it
http://www.crazypc.com/products/5625.html and has variety of sizes

just google for thermal controlled fan, those fans have thermal
sensitive resistor that automatically adjust fan speed depending on the
temperature

brgrds
TheProphet
 
x0054 said:
I am looking for a fan control unit. Something that would have 2 or 3
thermal sensors and would be able to control 2 or 3 two-wire 12v fans. On
my Media Center Computer I have a graphics card and a case fan both of
which together make quite a bit of noise. I was looking for a control unit
that would throttle the fans up and down as necessary. So that then the
graphics card isn't used that much and is coold the fan would be turned
off, but as it heats up to a point the fan would slowly kick in. Would be
cool if it could use an internal USB connector to set it.

After few days looking online I only found one unit that was kind of like
what I described, but it was designed for 3-wire fans and was over $120 :(

Any suggestions?

- Bogdan
Click to expand...

I think this product may have had a shaky introduction,
but the picture here looks a bit different, suggesting
a slight redesign:

http://www.vlsys.co.kr/English/product_zephyrus.php

Review:
http://www.short-media.com/review.php?r=273&p=1

It is $59.99 here:
http://www.frozencpu.com/bus-52.html

It uses an FTDI USB chip, and that is how the computer
talks to the logic on the little PCB. The card mounts by
being fastened to a PCI slot, but doesn't use any signals
on the PCI connector.

Another unit is the M-Cubed T-Balancer.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2004/11/22/mcubed/index.html

It doesn't seem to be well distributed, as a quick search
turns up more reviews than anything else:

http://www.mcubed-tech.com/english/shop.htm

Considering the small quantities that are made, of designs
like this, you are lucky to get them for $120. The designer
or designers probably made little money on them. You'll notice
that the Taiwanese haven't tried to copy them :-)

Paul
 
Why not just update the case with 120mm fans (or change the case). Install
thermally controlled CPU fan and a Zalman VGA fan and you shouldn't even
hear the PC.
 
Noozer said:
Why not just update the case with 120mm fans (or change the case).
Install thermally controlled CPU fan and a Zalman VGA fan and you
shouldn't even hear the PC.
Click to expand...

I think that's what I am going to do. I got a Zalman VGA and CPU fan.
That combination should quite things down. My system already has 120mm
fans for both case an PS, so that's not the problem. The biggest noise
maker was the graphics card, but hopefully now it should be less loud.

I still would like to get a Thermal Fan Speed Controller. After looking
on line I found few schematics for the kind of thing I am looking for.
Here is one:

http://www.overclockers.com.au/techstuff/a_thermalfans/

But it would be nice to find something like that already made, I am not
that good with a soldering iron. :(

I like the T-Balancer and the L.I.S units, but both are based on square
wave reduction method which is noisy at low speeds. And they are a bit
expensive :(

- Bogdan
 
x0054 said:
I think that's what I am going to do. I got a Zalman VGA and CPU fan.
That combination should quite things down. My system already has 120mm
fans for both case an PS, so that's not the problem. The biggest noise
maker was the graphics card, but hopefully now it should be less loud.

I still would like to get a Thermal Fan Speed Controller. After looking
on line I found few schematics for the kind of thing I am looking for.
Here is one:

http://www.overclockers.com.au/techstuff/a_thermalfans/

But it would be nice to find something like that already made, I am not
that good with a soldering iron. :(

I like the T-Balancer and the L.I.S units, but both are based on square
wave reduction method which is noisy at low speeds. And they are a bit
expensive :(

- Bogdan
Click to expand...

Have a look at this new version of the T-Balancer. The "bigNG"
has both analog and PWM options for control, so if you want
an analog voltage reduction, the product has that option.
68 Euros.

http://www.mcubed-store.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=169

The presence of the large heatsink, tells you of the analog
power control it has got. The analog control limit is listed
as 20W, which should be plenty for all but the largest of
fans. A little forced air, blowing on their heatsink, would
not hurt either :-) You can figure out whether that is needed,
by placing your finger on the heatsink, when the fans are set
to their _lowest_ expected speed.

http://www.mcubed-store.com/catalog/images/products/TBAN/1132-c.jpg

Paul
 
(e-mail address removed) (Paul) wrote in
Have a look at this new version of the T-Balancer. The "bigNG"
has both analog and PWM options for control, so if you want
an analog voltage reduction, the product has that option.
68 Euros.

http://www.mcubed-store.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=169

The presence of the large heatsink, tells you of the analog
power control it has got. The analog control limit is listed
as 20W, which should be plenty for all but the largest of
fans. A little forced air, blowing on their heatsink, would
not hurt either :-) You can figure out whether that is needed,
by placing your finger on the heatsink, when the fans are set
to their _lowest_ expected speed.

http://www.mcubed-store.com/catalog/images/products/TBAN/1132-c.jpg

Paul
Click to expand...

Actually, from the same site you recommended this looks perfect:

http://www.mcubed-store.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1_35
&products_
id=135

It's a 2 fan model that should fit a bit easier in my case from
T-Balancer. Now I just need to find it here in US :)

Thank you,

- Bogdan
 
Very nifty... But what happens if the computer freezes up and can't control
the fans?
Click to expand...


I'd imagine that the software interface sets registers but
if the system went instable the (existing) setting would
persist- so long as it's getting enough power to not jam up
the logic.

I can't tell from the pictures but one issue might be if
it's a PWM control- some fans don't like that and could
malfunction. Most of the bay w/knob types are PWM though,
as well as most motherboard integrated types.
 
I'd imagine that the software interface sets registers but
if the system went instable the (existing) setting would
persist- so long as it's getting enough power to not jam up
the logic.

I can't tell from the pictures but one issue might be if
it's a PWM control- some fans don't like that and could
malfunction. Most of the bay w/knob types are PWM though,
as well as most motherboard integrated types.
Click to expand...

It is a PWM. Another problem with that is at low RPM, less then 50% full
power, some fans actually become more noisy due to power cycling. Still
looking, haven't found a perfect one yet, plus I need something that
would run in linux as well.

Thank's for the ideas though, I did get a Zalman VGA cooler and my video
card is very quite now.

- Bogdan
 
Back
Top