Introduction

Ever since overclocking was born, CPU heat has been a problem. That and the ongoing controversy that overclocking will shorten the life of the processor. When AMD released their Thunderbird and Duron line of processors, heat really became a serious problem, even for the non-overlcocker.

It appears that our buds over at PC Mods have a solution to this problem, belated but still a solution. Here's what they had to say:

"This device addresses an issue that has long been overlooked: your chip is the hottest when you first power down your PC. This device keeps your HSF fan running after you hit the power button, draining the heat out of the chip safely. This is very similar to a turbo timer on cars. This could extend the life of your chip significantly, especially if you overclock your pc.In addition, this slick little unit also controls a SECOND fan. A good use of this is if you want you can keep your blowhole fan "powered on on" so that it will continue to exhaust out hot air. Lastly, the amount of time the fan runs can be customized to your needs."

So, without further a due, I present to you the PC Mods Power Down Protector...

The Package

Some specs from the PCMods Website:

Includes

• Power Down Protector
  
• 5 cables (1 WOL, 2 fan cable, 1 Molex-male, 1 Molex-female, 1 LED cable)
  
• Velcro fastener (can also be attached to PCI cards)
  
• Manual

Specifications

• Anodized Aluminum Cover
  
• Controls 2 fans
  
• Approximately 1.96 inch x 1.25 inch (50mm x 32mm)
  
• Powers Heatsink Fan for 1-10 minutes after shutdown

It's HUGE!

For some perspective. :)

Unit + Connectors

The unit itself was much smaller than what I expected, I added the case badge in the second pic for you freaks who are more familiar with a case badge more than a quarter. :p The anodized casing on the unit is a very nice touch, just one of many subtle features this unit is packed with. Let's install this bad boy and see what it can do...

Installation

OUT1 and OUT2 Ports

IN1 and IN2 Ports

Simple enough

Setup is rather painless, you can hook your fans and power connection up in many different ways. Since the power source for both of my CPU and Video Card fans were 3-pin, I used the female 3-pin to female 3-pin connector to give power to the unit (IN1, IN2), then plugged the fans directly into the other side of the unit (OUT1, OUT2). The Power LED connector is there to keep your LED blinking after you turn your computer off while the PDP is running, just another nice feature.

Jumper Settings

This Jumper Settings is yet another small feature that allows you to set how long the fans go on after powering down. Options are 1, 3, 5, and 10 minutes.

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