There are plenty of people out there that use their computers for more than one thing. More often than not, this blend consists of gaming and something else, be it work, photo or video editing, or simple email and word processing. Because of this situation, we find ourselves needing a quiet PC some days, and a cooling machine on others. Luckily for us, there is a segment of the computer market beyond just fans that is thinking of us. Enter the fan controller.

What To Look For

Brand Reputation:
Obviously, brand reputation is important when you are stuffing parts into your computer. Since that can change as time goes by, all you really need to do is research particular models and read reviews. Like Rich showed in his “How to Buy a Computer Case” video, go to Newegg if for nothing else than to read the reviews.

Glitz:
Do you want any? Some people cannot do without turning their computer into a miniature rave warehouse, while others prefer the elegant and understated look. Whichever floats your boat, there are plenty of options out there to satisfy both camps.

Material used:
You don’t want this controller to feel cheap. Are those knobs going to come off after a few hundred turns? Once again, read those reviews, and make sure that the materials used on the product in question aren’t going to fail on you. Steel tends to be the best, because it is the strongest feasible metal to have in a computer, while plastic might get you a cheaper (in both ways) unit.

Features:
Some fan controllers will tell you everything you could ever want to know and more about your computer. That includes temperatures at certain points inside the case, time of day, fan speeds in RPM, fan voltages and more. Some, on the other hand, tell you nothing at all. Unfortunately, this tends to go hand-in-hand with the glitz-factor, as more features means more information to show you.

Tactile Feedback:
Do you want knobs or buttons? It may seem like a trivial thing to consider, but hey, some people like their knobs, and some people do not.

Here is where I interject with a disclaimer. Do not use a fan controller on fans that are already controlled by the motherboard or power supply. They, based on temperature, will determine the voltage needed for the fan’s operation. If the motherboard is only allowing 5 volts to a fan, and you demand 12, you won’t get it. Only get a fan controller if YOU want control over your fans. If you are content with letting the motherboard or power supply do their work, then save your bucks.