Vantec NEXUS-205 Fan Controller
This content was originally featured on Amdmb.com and has been converted to PC Perspective’s website. Some color changes and flaws may appear.
The NEXUS-205 Fan Controller is a 3.5” bay version of Vantec’s very popular NEXUS-201 unit.
It comes packed in a plastic tray insert inside a traditional blue Vantec box. The controller’s features, specifications and installation instructions are all printed on the outside of the box.
- NEXUS-205 fan controller
- Power extension cable
- (4) Fan extension cables (with 3-pin to 4-pin adapters)
- Mounting hardware
The NEXUS-205 exhibits clean styling in a compact package. There are four speed-control knobs mounted across the front panel, each surrounded by a blue backlight.
Installation was a snap – slide the controller into position and secure it with the included screws. I found it easier to connect the power and fan extension cables first though. Just like on the NEXUS-301, the fan extension cables required quite a bit of force to fully seat them into the circuit board connectors. I used a flat blade screwdriver to “back-up” each connector while I pushed the mating cable connector on. The big advantage of this unit is that it mounts in a spare 3.5” drive bay and doesn’t take up one of the typically more valuable 5.25” bays.
There are five connectors mounted across the back edge of the NEXUS-205 circuit board. The large Molex power connector is on the left and the four 3-pin fan connectors are on the right.
Once again Vantec has supplied all the extension cables you might need. The fan cables are terminated with both 3-pin and 4-pin connectors, just like the cables supplied with the 301.
Once installed the unit added welcome functionality to my PC. I have five medium speed case fans in my custom Lian Li PC-60 enclosure (not counting the PSU and CPU, GPU and NB HSFs). The NEXUS-205 provides easy access to dial-in whatever combination of airflow and noise is appropriate. The blue LED lighting is attractive without being too bright.
