Hi all,
I'm still working to improve my Nano² setup. My current axis of research is on fan controller, as somehow, my motherboard (Gygabte Z170n Gaming 5) doesn't seem to properlly control fan (even pwm). I don't know if it's linked to variant of MB, or simply a bug on mine.
However, I don't really care, because I want to control fan speed mainly on GPU temperature not CPU.
In that purpose, till a couple of days, I was using Nzxt grid+ v2, but it has several flaws :
I guess I found 2 of them :
Aquaero 6 lt seems too large for my Nano² setup, so I went first for this Corsair Commander mini (firmware 1.1.6) :
As you can see, it can handle :
Corsair Commander mini was released in 2014, HOWEVER, it was a complete failure at the starting point, as the related software (Corsair link 3) wa completely BUGGY like hell...
We should wait for early 2016, with release of corsair link 4, to witness power of this Corsair Commander mini.
So I installed it in my Nano², but I was still skeptical as review were not quite stating both cold and hot...and I was simply really well surprised how it was working fine, and even above my expectations!
Let's start with Corsair Link 4 (revision 4.3.0.154). At startup, I was pleased by 2 stuffs :
To setup fan, I mainly use RPM target custom curve, but it required you know properly your fans...not too difficult..
One of the few limitations appears there :
Nice (and very convenient) feature is to copy fan setup to other fans :
OOOO, one last VERY NICE, COOL, (almost genius) feature is that Corsair Commander Mini is applying all the fan setup as soon as USB port are powered (that means 3-5 seconds after I push power button, during bios startup)....that's again GREAT!
To conclude, I'm really well surprised and pleased with this Corsair Commander Mini. Let's sum up its positive and negative points :
Corsair Commander Mini + Corsair link 4 - POSITIVE Points :
I hope you enjoyed this review and let me know if you want to know anything else about it!
I'm still working to improve my Nano² setup. My current axis of research is on fan controller, as somehow, my motherboard (Gygabte Z170n Gaming 5) doesn't seem to properlly control fan (even pwm). I don't know if it's linked to variant of MB, or simply a bug on mine.
However, I don't really care, because I want to control fan speed mainly on GPU temperature not CPU.
In that purpose, till a couple of days, I was using Nzxt grid+ v2, but it has several flaws :
- Control fans only through DC
- Fan voltage variation is done by step (not smooth ramp up curve)
- There is a "turn off" mode, BUT, when fan is starting, it's starting at 12V..so it's pretty noisy
- CAM software is pretty long to load on windows startup
- When CAM software is not loaded (or during boot process), fans are somehow 9v by default
- I noticed also some power delivery inconsistency at 40% or below power. I mean fan keep turning off and on, whereas it should have voltage to run. For example, on Noctua NF-A9 PWM, I cannot go under 40% on CAM without noticing this issue. @40%, this fan was about 1100 rpm, far above starting voltage/rpm @800rpm in DC mode...strange. I noticed same issue on Gentle typhoon AP15 and NF-B9 redux-1600 PWM
- Removing fan header of the grid is simply ridiculous difficult, even with proper flat screw driver
I guess I found 2 of them :
Aquaero 6 lt seems too large for my Nano² setup, so I went first for this Corsair Commander mini (firmware 1.1.6) :
As you can see, it can handle :
- 6 fans (PWM or DC control)
- 1 LED
- 4 temperature sensors (included in the package)
- 4 Corsair link devices (to monitor them)
Corsair Commander mini was released in 2014, HOWEVER, it was a complete failure at the starting point, as the related software (Corsair link 3) wa completely BUGGY like hell...
We should wait for early 2016, with release of corsair link 4, to witness power of this Corsair Commander mini.
So I installed it in my Nano², but I was still skeptical as review were not quite stating both cold and hot...and I was simply really well surprised how it was working fine, and even above my expectations!
Let's start with Corsair Link 4 (revision 4.3.0.154). At startup, I was pleased by 2 stuffs :
- it's really fast to launch (nothing compared to CAM)
- i received a notification from HWINFO64 that was able to monitor everything linked to Commander mini...damn good feature!
To setup fan, I mainly use RPM target custom curve, but it required you know properly your fans...not too difficult..
One of the few limitations appears there :
- On custom rpm target mode, you cannot go below 500rpm (whereas you have some fans able to spin only @400rpm)
- On fixed % pwm mode, you cannot go below 40%, whereas you have fans able to go to 10%
- what ever, custom curve are only done by rpm choice, and corsair commander mini is controlling the fan either by pwm or DC mode
Nice (and very convenient) feature is to copy fan setup to other fans :
OOOO, one last VERY NICE, COOL, (almost genius) feature is that Corsair Commander Mini is applying all the fan setup as soon as USB port are powered (that means 3-5 seconds after I push power button, during bios startup)....that's again GREAT!
To conclude, I'm really well surprised and pleased with this Corsair Commander Mini. Let's sum up its positive and negative points :
Corsair Commander Mini + Corsair link 4 - POSITIVE Points :
- Apply all fan setup during bios boot (as far as USB port is powered, somehow 3-5sec after pressing power button on cold star)
- Fast startup of Corsair Link 4 software
- Easy and nice looking fan configuration
- All monitoring of Corsair Commander Mini is shared with other application, like HWInfo 64
- Controls easily & properlly both DC or PWM fans/pump (1A power delivery per channel and 4Amax in total)
- Fan control could be related to many temperatures (CPU package, CPU core#1/2/X , GPU, MB, SSD, etc)
- Regroup several functions (corsair link, led, temperature sensor), but I don't use them
- Lower limit of fan speed (500rpm) could be improved
- No turn-off fan mode (ideally it would be turn-off mode + smooth starting mode..)
- Quite expensive (90€ in France), even it's really great
I hope you enjoyed this review and let me know if you want to know anything else about it!
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