Fan Controllers

Introduction

Fan controllers have been around for quite some time and
have evolved into all kinds of varieties depending on style, function and appearance.
In this guide, we're going to discuss the usage of fan controllers, their benefits
and reasons why you might want to install them in your system.

Purpose

First, let's see why we even need fan controllers. There are
several major reasons why and we'll break them down individually, but for now
here's a basic list:

1)     
Noise levels

2)     
Fan Lifespan

3)     
Overclocking

4)     
Balanced airflow

First and most important aspect of fan controllers for many
users is the control of the noise levels.
Typically, fans that are connected directly into a source of power supply, will
perform at their fastest speed, whether you actually want that or not. The
problem is that it may not always be necessary for the fan to spin at 100% of
its ability. At the same time, it could be quite efficient at just 50% speed.
Instead, it is working twice as heard and making much more noise. When you have
several fans installed in your system, this becomes apparent very quickly. The
noise can be unbearable for some, so the fan controller can be used to slow the
fan down.

Being able to slow the fans down also increases their
overall lifespan. You see, if the
fan is working at 100% all the time, it is more likely to fail sooner than the
fan working at 60% or even 30% of its maximum speed. Of course, if the fan is
doing its job at 30%, then there's no reason it should run at 100%, since it
will only create more noise and reduce the lifespan of the fan.

Now, if your system is
overclocked, chances are its pushing temperatures that are a bit higher
than normal. You may want to have a fan controller handy so you can switch
between relatively low speed when you don't need it, and high speed when the
CPU is working hard. Having a fan controller will give you flexibility over how
fast your fans should spin, as well as how loud the system would be. If your
overclocking settings require 80-100% speed, then you can manually ramp it up
while you're gaming, then set it back down when computer goes back to idle
speeds.

Lastly, having synchronized fans helps balance out the airflow in the system. Basically, you
can make every fan as fast as other fans, or faster if you need to. The benefit
of being able to synchronize the fan speeds will provide you with smooth
airflow throughout the case, avoid turbulence, and maximize cooling potential.

How do they work?

Now that we've established why you should have a fan
controller, let's look at how they actually work.

Most fan controllers require a power input. This is usually
coming directly from the power supply. The power supply gives the fan
controller 12v of constant power. Depending on the model and manufacturer of
the controller, it can support multiple channels and fans. Most fan 5.25” bay
controllers usually have 4-6 channels, supporting about 10-20W a piece. The fan
controller then distributes the 12v it receives from the power supply to each
fan you connect to it. Then, using either touch screen controls, analog knobs
or switches, users can set how fast or how slow the fans spin. Some fan controllers
allow very fine dialing, while others are more robust with options like Low
Medium and High or sometimes just Low and High. What happens when you adjust
these dials is the fan controller reduces the voltage going to the fan. So
instead of receiving 12v, the fan might get approximately 7v. This in return
slows the fan down and keeps it at steady pace.

Types of Fan
Controllers

There are numerous types of fan controllers, most common
ones being standard, 5.25” bay controllers. These units slide into the 5.25”
bay where you would normally install a CD/DVD Drive. Most of them are a single
slotted units, however there are dual slot touch screen units which take up 2
bays instead of 1. Make sure that your case will accommodate these types of
controllers before you buy! You must at least have 1 bay available for single
slotted controllers and 2 bays for dual slot controllers.

Another popular type of fan controllers are integrated onto
many cases sold today. Cases such as Cosmos II, NZXT Phantom and others all
have simple fan controllers already in place. They usually have switches or
knobs near the power button area that can control the fans. As long as the fans
are actually plugged into a controller and not into motherboard or power
supply, these units should be able to perform basic fan control.

Lastly, there are fan controllers that are internally
mounted, typically hidden away. These are strictly meant for slowing the speed
of the fans down, and then leaving it as such. They're not very versatile, but
they work well if all you want to do is set a specific speed without adjusting
too often. Some of these internal controllers will have a knob that can extend
into PCI brackets on the back of the system, for easy adjustment. It's still
far from ideal, since not everyone has easy access to the back of their PC, but
it is still better than having to take of a side panel and access a typical
internally mounted controller.

Touch Screen vs Analog

There's a huge popularity of touch screen based controllers,
but some people are wondering if they're actually worth the extra price.
Generally speaking, both of these types of controllers do the exact same thing.
The decision will ultimately come from the end user depending on which style
they like better. Touch screen controllers give the case that modern feel,
since we're pretty much surrounded by touch screen technology nowadays.
However, some analog controllers have really nice finish materials, giving
knobs and switches very sleek look. Depending on the case, these can look very
good as opposed to a glaring LCD screen.

Motherboard
Alternative

In case you don't have a fan controller, but you also do not
have enough fans to justify buying one, you can always plug them straight into
the motherboard. Most boards nowadays have pretty sophisticated fan controllers
already built in which can be controlled through software. By using the common
3/4 pin connection, you can plug in 3, 4 sometimes even up to 6 fans on a
motherboard. Special profiles can be configured within motherboard BIOS system
to allow for any kind of fan control. You can setup manual control, pre-defined
profiles, or automatic system. You can even turn it off and blast the fans at
full speed if you'd like. Either way, plugging into motherboard is a viable
alternative if you have less than 3-4 fans and you have enough headers on the
board. Unless you specifically need a fan controller to support larger number
of fans, most motherboards today will be capable supporting up to 4 fans, and
some even more than that.

We hope that this guide was informative, please feel free to
post any feedback or comments in the Help Desk section or if you have any
questions pertaining to your build, you can submit them in the Configuration
Help & Support.