Is it possible to build an independent system for a fan controller?

[kaiserchief86]

Hello everyone,

I am curious if you could build a separate system controlling the fans in a computer.

Basicly I have a mini tower and it's cramped. I want to install a fan controller to control my 4 fans. But their is no space in the tower and my CPU is pretty overloaded.

So I was wondering if I could build a side box for my fan controller. Will I be able to connect the fan controller to the mains power via a 13 amp plug in some way?
I am planning on using ZM-MFC1 Plus fan controller. What sort of connectors adapt ors would I be needing?
Please help me out as the noise of my mini powerhouse is getting unbearable.

Thanks for reading into my problem

[Dreaming]

Get an external 5.25" caddy, should work fine but may be a little messy with wiring.

[aidanjt]

Basicly I have a mini tower and it's cramped. I want to install a fan controller to control my 4 fans. But their is no space in the tower and my CPU is pretty overloaded.

There's always space, you just haven't found it yet, time to get the dremil out.

Will I be able to connect the fan controller to the mains power via a 13 amp plug in some way?

Only if you plan on destroying your fans and turning your CPU into liquid mush.

I am planning on using ZM-MFC1 Plus fan controller. What sort of connectors adapt ors would I be needing?

Everything you need comes out of the box, you could strip away the housing and mount it in some little nook or cranny.

[Lucio]

If you want a fairly easy way to do it, try the following.

1) Get some longer cables, try emailing Kustom PC's to see if he can help, you're looking at about 75cm to 1m long

2) Run the first section (the ones that come with the fan controller) from the motherboard and fans to the back of the PC

3) Thread your longer cables through a section of water cooling hose.

4) Thread the water cooling hose through one of those PCI beezles you can get.

Then you can plug the extended cables as normal into the fan controller. If you want to make it look tider, try making a box for the fan controller.

[arthurleung]

If you just want it to be more quiet, just mod the fan so that it runs at 7V instead of 12V. Or perhaps you should just buy a few fans that is more quiet than your current one.

If you want to connect the fans to the mains, get a variable voltage power supply like this:
Maplin > 2.5A Max. Variable Voltage Plug Top Switched Mode Power Supply

6V, 7.5V, 9V and 12V will be the 4 speed you needed. Assuming your fans are 0.3A you can hook up 4 fans to the power supply.

Also, is there anything stopping you from using the motherboard's fan speed control? You can just get a 3pin -> 4pin adapter to connect those fan to your motherboard.

[kmac]

If its noise you are looking to reduce, don't just lookto slow down the fans, also look at

1) PSU - try getting a quieter one like the ENermax Modu 85+ series

2) Look at the number of fans you have - do you need them all? Can you replace with fewer larger fans? or better quality ones such as the Noctua ones

3) Maybe suspend your hard disks from elastic to reduce whirring etc

4) Passive cooling for the chipset

5) More efficient heatsink requiring slower fan e.g. scythe Ninja

start here for more info on all of the above [SilentPCReviews]