Scythe Co. knows the problem: you've got lots of fans, lots of noise, and you still don't know if the fans are actually cooling things off enough. In fact, you don't even know if all of your fans are actually turning.
Here's their solution: a panel that checks the temperature in up to two locations and the speed of up to two fans (may require three-pin connectors on fans) every two seconds. You manually fine tune the speed of each fan for the best compromise between temperature and noise, and an audio alarm lets you know if there is a fan or a temperature failure. Mounted on a sturdy aluminum frame that fits in an unused 3.5 inch bay, it is available in black (KM02-BK-3.5) or silver (KM02-SL-3.5).
Take control of the single most dangerous factor a computer faces: its own heat. Is this for you? That's your decision, but I think I want one.
Control and Monitor Two Fans at a TimeThe Scythe KM02-BK-3.5 allows you to control two sets of cooling fan RPM to minimize the noise while providing sufficient cooling. The large blue-illuminated display provides instant readouts of the fan temperatures and rotation speeds for easy monitoring while an integrated acoustic alarm function warns you of overheating and fan failure.
Fits 3.5" Drive BaysThe Scythe KM02-BK-3.5 features great compatibility with any computer chassis with a standard 3.5” drive bay.
Pros: Have had this controller in and working for nearly two months now without complaint. Looks very nice in the case, readout very legible and it controls the fan speeds well....normally to +/-20 rpm or so. They do fluctuate a bit but I think that is to be expected. Install went easy enough but there ARE a few wires to hook up and route to make everything work. All leads were plenty long enough to reach in the HEC mini-tower and I'd feel confident that they would reach any fan in any case. The controller fit snugly in the drive bay....meaning I had to push it in with a light friction fit. Screws hold it tight. Liking the fact that it won't move around and is secure. Warning horn for when your fans stop is loud enough to get your attention but not annoying. Overall, a nice small controller that does what it is supposed to do.
Cons: None at the moment.
Overall Review: I bought this device without the benefit of NewEggs Reviews....which I ALWAYS read and find to be crucial in my choices of hardware. The KM01 controller seems similar but the reviews were spotty, so I chose the KM02 thinking that maybe they had improved the thing. Can't exactly say what is different about the two...but the 02 is working very well after two months of 10+ hr days. One thing that I wondered about is what kind of fans are being controlled by the units. Thinking that compatibility might be a real issue, I used Scythe 92 and 120mm fluid bearing fans for the controller and they work flawlessly. The 92 replaced a sleeve bearing 80 rear case and the other is in the power supply. Nice being able to control each to max effective flow levels while still being silent. I would encourage anyone looking for such a device to give this one a try.