Three multi-channel fan controllers tested

Value and final thoughts

If you're building a PC with lots of fans to keep it cool, or maybe have a large radiator, a fan controller can make a massive difference to the noise your PC makes. Fine tuning things can be fun and you'll be surprised just how little your case temperatures are affected despite the drop in noise.

We've looked at three very different controllers and the thing that stands out is the need for simplicity. After all, you shouldn't have to spend the same amount of time adjusting fan speed as you do overclocking your PC. It should be quick and easy with a minimum of fuss but the amount of control is also important.

In this light the Zalman ZM-MFC3 really isn't what we'd describe as a good fan controller. It takes too long to do what other fan controllers can do in an instant - so much so that we think many people would find it so tiresome that it would eventually sit in that valuable 5.25in bay and never get used.

While it is the most feature packed fan controller here, it tries too hard to look sleek and flashy and forgets what it's meant to be doing which is to provide an easy method of controlling your fans. A bit like a city banker then in their BMW M5 too busy looking cool while the economy falls apart around them. Retailing for over £50, it's twice as expensive as the NesteQ FanMax too.

The Scythe Kaze Q on the other hand is very good value for money and if you only need to control four fans and don't mind using a 3.5in bay then there's really nothing wrong with it. It's cheap, simple and does the job and doesn't faff around like the ZM-MFC3. It also includes all the cables you need to get started although if your fans only have 4-pin molex connectors, you'll need to buy some adapters but this is the same with all three fan controllers here.


The NesteQ FanMax ticks all the boxes though. It slots straight into a 5.25in bay, has enough channels for up to eight fans (more if you get some splitter cables) is easy to set up thanks to the proprietry power cables and you can even turn fans on and off as required. Maybe you have a water-cooled PC with two large radiators but only need one of them to be actively cooled for most of the year? Perhaps you only do demanding things once in a blue moon, in which case you can fire up a few extra fans to keep things cool.

Either way the NesteQ FanMax has the means to suit a vast array of situations. It costs half the price of the ZM-MFC3, and can control oodles of fans with the only fly in the ointment being the flashing LEDs but they're only an issue if you view them head on. Too the side their not too bad but it's still a shame NesteQ didn't opt for quite literally a less flashy design or at least enabled the end user to turn them on or off.

NesteQ FanMax 8-Channel Fan Controller

• Build Quality
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• 8/10

• Ease of Use
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• 9/10

• Features
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• 8/10

• Value
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• 8/10

• Overall
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• 9/10

Zalman ZM-MFC3 Multi Fan Controller

• Build Quality
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• 8/10

• Ease of Use
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• -
• -
• -
• -
• 4/10

• Features
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• 8/10

• Value
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• -
• -
• -
• -
• 4/10

• Overall
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• -
• -
• -
• 5/10

Scythe Kaze Q 3.5inch Fan Controller

• Build Quality
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• -
• 7/10

• Ease of Use
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• 9/10

• Features
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• -
• -
• -
• 5/10

• Value
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• 8/10

• Overall
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• 8/10

Score Guide