Review Item:
Zalman
Fan Speed Controller
Date:
03 - May - 2003
Manufacturer:
Zalman
Supplier:
Zalman
Cost:
$28.85
Reviewer:
Chad
|
Introduction
Cooling has now become one of the most critical factors in the
assembly of any PC. Without adequate cooling, temperatures rise,
and can cause tremendous damage to all of the computer's main
components, which will in turn cause you to spend more to replace
damaged parts and accessories.
Now with all the emphasis on cooling
there is going to be a side effect; as with everything. For
the more fans you pile into your system, the greater the noise
that will be emitted. One of the best ways to have your proverbial
"cake and eat it too" is to either, reduce the number
of fans in your system, change the type of fans that you have,
or get some sort of fan controller.
A controller would allow you to have all your
fans running with out sacrificing their purpose, as you can
have all the fans on at the same time, but reduce their R.P.M.
to eliminate some of the noise coming from them.
Now Zalman has come to the "rescue"
with their "ZM-MFC1 Multi Fan Speed Controller". Zalman
Tech is a company that is well known for their lines of cooling
supplies, especially their Noise Prevention products. So after
speaking with the good people at Zalman, an evaluation was sent
over to us.
The Zalman (ZM-MFC1) Multi Fan
Speed Controller came packaged in a clear plastic blister pack.
Unfortunately, during shipping, it seems as though the box that
it was shipped in, was either, dropped, or something was dropped
on it. Inadvertently, this caused one of the side wings of the
bracket, to be bent inwards. Fortunately this problem was easily
rectified with a simple tool (provided by God), my hand. It
was very easy to fix as it seems to have been manufactured with
a very pliable plastic. While on this note, in the future I
would like to see the bracket made of a stronger plastic.
Anyway, so here's what we got:
1 - Multi-fan speed controller
1 - 4 pack of screws
4 - Extension Cables -
- 2 - C1 Cables (for when fan speed does not need to be check
through motherboard)
- 2 - C2 Cables (for when fan speed needs to be check through
motherboard)
|
Features
|
- 6-Channel Fan controller for 5.25"Bay
- Universal DC fan controller
- 1) 4 Channels :Speed adjustment of 3-pin connector
type DC fan (7W or less) with the Fan speed control
knob.
- 2) 2 Channels :Two-level (+5V, +12V) adjustment of
2-pin connector type DC fan or other electronic device
with the toggle switch.
- Easy fan speed check with color/intensity-changing
LED-lights
- 3-pin extension cable for convenient
installation - for use when the fan's wire length is
too short to reach the controller
|
Yellow:
Fan's 1 & 2 | Red:
Fan's 3 & 4 | Green:
Fan's 6 & 7 | White:
Molex; Power In
|
The power plugs on the PCB for fans 1 - 4 are color coded,
with the cables provided.
-
The white plugs that are highlighted with a yellow circle
in the picture are used to connect the fans who's speed
needs to be checked through the motherboard. eg. CPU Fan.
-
The white plugs, highlighted by a red circle, are used
to connect the fans who's speed does NOT need to be checked
through the motherboard. eg. Intake/Exhaust fan.
-
The two terminals, highlighted with green are used to either
fans or another item that uses either 12VDC or +5VDC. So
you can connect your lighting to these toggle switches.
(Note with these terminals, you will have to cut off the
connector, as it only accepts bare wires)
-
The white circle highlights the power input molex connector.
Now for the installation!
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