Intro:
Fan controllers have been around for years, and have
developed from the simple fanbus to more complex rheobuses. The rheobus design
has hit a wall in recent months, with manufacturers only coming out with
different color and light schemes, but virtually the same base unit. CrazyPC has
provided us with a Thermaltake Hardcano 12 multi-function fan controller, which
is basically a rheobus on steroids. The Hardcano 12 has a combination of fan
controllers and temperature sensors, along with a backlit LCD screen and
programming that automatically controls your fans from four different
sensors throughout your case. Will this combination of technology mesh together
to form the 'perfect' fan controller, or will the Hardcano 12 be remembered as
just 'another overpriced gadget'? Read on to find out.
Retail packaging:
The Hardcano 12 comes packed in a cardboard box with product information on it. The front picture has the Hardcano in what
seems to be the dashboard of a car. The rear of the packaging has the specifications and features listed on it.
Here are the specifications, directly from the back of the packaging.
| P/N |
A1845 |
|
Model |
Hardcano 12 |
| Device Space |
5.25" Driver
Device |
Dimension
(W*H*D)mm |
148*42*166mm |
Backlight LCD
Display |
- 4 sets of
temperature display
- 4 sets of fan speed display
- 4 sets of fan failure status display |
|
Item |
- 4 sets fan speed control function
- 4 sets of alarm temperature setting
- 4 sets of temperature probe
- °C/°F display switch
- 5.25" driver bay
- Available for reading both fan speed and temperature at the same time
- Fashion blue EL back light
- Intelligent cable sleeving |
| Alarm Temp.
Setting |
- 40°C, 50°C, 60°,
70°C (60°C default)
- 104°F, 122°F, 140°F, 158°F (140°F default) |
|
Temp. Display |
23°C ~ 89°C (73°F ~ 192°F) |
| Fan Voltage
Input |
12V |
|
Material |
Plastic and Aluminum alloy |
| Weight |
400g |
Here are a few pictures of the exterior.
 |
 |
| (1) Front of packaging |
(2) Back of packaging |
The inside is packed quite well. There is a pair of foam inserts to protect the
corners of the main unit from getting dinged, and the unit is sealed in plastic.
I'd be willing to bet that you could ship the Hardcano 12 in its retail
packaging and have it arrive in perfect condition. Props to Thermaltake for not
going cheap on the packaging.
|
| (3) Inside the box |
What you get:
Besides the main unit, an instruction booklet, set of wire connectors, and thermal tape is included. The instruction booklet does not skimp on color pictures to go along
with its descriptions, and it has everything you need to know about the Hardcano 12. The instructions are very easy to follow, and I got my review sample up and
running in no time.
The wires included allow the end-user to connect either 3- or 4-pin fans to the Hardcano 12. It is worth mentioning that you will not be able to view fan RPMs on the display if
your fan does not have the third RPM wire. Most 3-pin fans have the RPM wire, but the majority of the four-pin fans do not. If your 4-pin fan does have a
separate RPM wire (like my CoolMax Chameleon), these wires have a connection to read it.
 |
 |
| (4) Package Contents |
(5) Wiring |
The included thermal tape is to adhere your four thermal probes to various components in your computer. I found this to be very useful,
as I have used Scotch tape in the past for thermal probes, and it doesn't stick all that well.
|
| (6) Thermal tape |
The main unit:
As previously mentioned, the main unit is protected by both foam corners and plastic sleeving. Once both of these are removed, the sleek and
sharp looks of the Hardcano 12 are revealed.
 |
 |
| (7) Unit with protection |
(8) Corner view |
The power wiring from the back of the Hardcano 12 is neatly and professionally sleeved with a blue braided cable sleeving. Those of you with different color
sleeving may wish to remove the blue sleeving and replace it with your preferred color, but it is a welcome addition to any case. Thermaltake realizes that with
a fan controller comes a certain amount of wire mess, and they have done pretty much everything to eliminate it from the start. The sleeving is just another
nice feature that goes above and beyond what other rheobuses and multi-function fan controllers out there are offering.
|
| (9) Cables |
The front of the unit is a combination of a gloss black for the face and silver for the buttons. The screen is an LCD with a blue EL backlight. Unfortunately, the backlight can not be
turned on and off, so the display will dim over time. This is just the nature of electro-luminescent lighting, and can't be avoided. LEDs have a longer lifespan
but do not light up LCD screens as nicely or evenly as the EL does.
|
| (10) Face of the unit |
Continue on to the next page for testing and the conclusion.
Next Page >>>
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