Zalman ZM-MFC2 Multi Fan Controller

Introduction:

Since SLI, Crossfire, and Multi-Core Processors are in full swing, people have been questioning just how much power is enough to feed dual video cards and quad core processors. Even more so is the necessity for good cooling. Let's face it, the current top video cards get pretty hot compared to cards from 5 years ago. And quad cores does in fact equate in to more heat especially if your system utilizes more than one core regularly. If you're a hard core gamer, you're system is definitely kicking up the heat.

How do you cool your system down? If you're anything like the rest of the enthusiasts, you'll probably pick up some fans capable of moving enough air to do the job. As you install your cooling solutions, you find that running all the wires sporadically to your power supply leads quickly turns the inside of your case in to spaghetti. And chances are that you have different speed and brand name fans collected over a period of time. This now leaves you with a some what chaotic box destined to be really loud or quiet, but unsure of how well your changes are effecting the internal temperatures. So, what do you do about it?

There are quite a few Rhoebus and Fan Controllers out there that will allow you to control your fan speeds. I don't know of any that can do what the Zalman ZM-MFC2 Multi Fan Controller can do. Not only does it provide you with the ability to control your fans, but it can also report your system's temperatures, and how much wattage your system is using. And, it looks nothing like any other unit out there. Finally, a Fan Controller that can do more than just the basics.

Specifications:
 

1. Real time display of power consumption. 2. Four sensors for temperature monitoring and display. 3. Monitoring and control of one PWM fan and three standard fans. 4. Alarm system to notify non-operation of any of the fans. 5. Fan’s operation status indicated with animated propeller images.

Front Panel   1 Graphic Power Load Meter: Displays power between 30 to 800W in 4 stages. 2 Numeric Power Load Display: Numerically displays power between 30 and 800W. (The Numeric Power Load Display will read “LLL”when an overflow occurs. “LLL”indicates power loads beyond the unit’s measurable range.) 3 Fan Status Display: The Fan’s operation status is indicated with animated propeller images. 4 Fan Channels 5 RPM Display: During RPM Setting, RPM is displayed in units of 60RPM, and actual operational RPM is displayed in units of 10RPM. 6 Temperature Display: Displays temperature readings between -9 °C and +99 °C 7 Jog Wheel: Used for adjusting Fan RPM. RPM can be set from 1000 to 5940RPM in units of 60RPM. 8 Mode Button: Used for selecting a Fan Channel and saving the Fan RPM setting.   Back Panel   1 Standard Fans (Fan 1~3): 3-Pin fans that include the RPM output function can be connected for use. PWM Fan (Fan 4): 4-Pin fan that includes the PWM function can be connected for use. 2 Temperature Sensing: Four temperature sensors can be connected.  3 CVS Terminal: Receives the measured values of the CVS. 4 Power Connector: Connects with the PSU’s 4-Pin connector.   Operational Guidelines - Four channels of ZM-MFC2 detect fan RPM signals. - The Alarm will activate if a fan is not connected or if there is no RPM input signal for any of the channels. - To deactivate the Alarm, the Stand-By Mode (default setting: ON) of each unused channel must be deactivated.   1. 1. Selecting a Channel/Deactivating Stand-By Mode (1) Select a channel with the Mode Button (The selected channel will begin to flicker). (2) Press the Jog Wheel to deactivate the selected channel’s Stand-By Mode. The fan image will turn off. (3) Deactivate the Stand-By Mode of all unused channels as mentioned above. Note: Deactivating the Stand-By Mode of all the channels will not deactivate other functions (Channel Output, RPM Display, RPM Setting & Saving etc.) 2. 2. RPM Setting and Saving (1) Select a channel with the Mode Button. (2) Set the RPM with the Jog Wheel. (Turning the Jog Wheel in clockwise motion will increase the RPM, and turning it counter-clockwise will decrease the RPM) (3) Press the Mode Button again to save the set value and to select the next channel. (If nothing is input for 5 seconds, the ZM-MFC2 will automatically save the latest setting and leave the Setting Mode). 3. 3. Initializing to Default Settings Press the Mode Button for 3 seconds. (The entire display will be on for 1 second and all fans will be set to 1500 RPM)

 

1) One ZM-MFC2 2) One CVS (Current/Voltage Sensor) 3) One Bracket / CVS Extension Cable 4) Four Temperature Sensors 5) Fan Cables - 3-Pin 2EA, 4-Pin 1EA, Y-Cable 1EA 6) Four ZM-MFC2 Installation Bolts 7) One Bracket Installation Bolts 8) One User’s Manual

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