This is quite analog and simple compared to some of the other high-tech PC gadgets in my possession, but Thermaltake still has a few tricks up their sleeve even for simple products...
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| Online storefront image of the XController. Pictures and documentation online of this unit are quite sparse. |
This is the Thermaltake Xcontroller, a simple 4-fan controller operating off of 12v. Around the back end, you'll find a long 2-wire pigtail with a combination male+female molex connector. There are also four 3-pin fan connectors visible through cutouts in the metal casing. Both tachometric and voltage control is supported, in case your cheap fan only has two wires.
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| Online storefront image of the unit's backside. Notice the 1/3 size compact form factor. Great for freeing up some room in your cramped case! |
On the front of the unit, you get a nice dogbone-shaped bit of black paint highlighting your four fan speed controlling dials, with silver negative space. The entire front faceplate has a glossy laminate finish, so the looks aren't half bad, compared to some of the more spartan drive bay controllers I've seen. The four dials are simple silver-painted plastic, and have half-opaque trim filling in the gap between the faceplate and the dials, in order to let light through.
The real interesting feature about this fan controller is that the light parented to each dial changes color based on the flow level you have the dial set to. Low = blue, medium = green, high = red. You can quickly tell what your fans are set at just from a glance, and comes in handy in the dark.
My own controller arrived to me a bit beat up. The build feels a bit loose, only one blue LED still functions (these are quite old style of LEDs) and the far right pot is missing its clouded plastic surround trim. The lights also tend to flicker when the potentiometer is set close to a change-over point where the LED will change color.
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| visualization of every level of fan speed. Left to right, low, medium, high, low (the last one's blue LED is broken) |
Other than its snazzy looks and useful visual cues, there isn't much else to this fan controller. It operates like any other potentiometer-controlled fan controller on the market then and now. Sadly fan controllers now are a bit generic, as no current name brand has any stake in anything to do with drive bays. It's pretty sad to see drive bays being given up, and the inconvenience that brings isn't lost on me. Lately I've had friends ask to use my PCs because anything left in their own house completely lacks an optical media player that actually lets you access files and the like.
Thanks for reading this shorter post, the next couple will be about some familiar-looking speakers, and my completely retro-styled modern(ish) PC project.
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