Vantec Nexus NXP-101 Temperature Monitor<base href="http://www.atruereview.com/" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="http://www.atruereview.com/images/favicon.ico" /> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/css/template_css.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/css/style10.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/slimbox/slimbox.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/css/rokmoomenu.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="http://www.atruereview.com/images/favicon.ico" /> <style type="text/css"> td.left div.moduletable, td.right div.moduletable, td.left div.moduletable-hilite1, td.right div.moduletable-hilite1, td.left div.moduletable-hilite2, td.right div.moduletable-hilite2, td.left div.moduletable-hilite3, td.right div.moduletable-hilite3, td.left div.moduletable-hilite4, td.right div.moduletable-hilite4, td.left div.moduletable-hilite5, td.right div.moduletable-hilite5, td.left div.moduletable-hilite6, td.right div.moduletable-hilite6, td.left div.moduletable-hilite7, td.right div.moduletable-hilite7, td.left div.moduletable-hilite8, td.right div.moduletable-hilite8 { width: 175px; 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Most computers are driving out heat by using one form or another of air cooling. Higher RPM fans result in more noise because of fan blades moving air, case vibration, and the higher whine of the fan's motor. </p> <p align="left">One way to quiet down a fan is to lower the RPMs when they are not needed. This is why I like my Volcano 7+. It comes with a fan RPM adjustment switch, although it can be a pain to reach around the back of the case to change speeds though. </p> <p align="left">Digital Docs, Hardcanos and other thermal monitors such as the BC-9901 turn on fans when the case temperature reaches a user defined temperature. Unfortunately, these units do not control the speed of the fan, only whether the fan is on or off. </p> <p align="left">Vantec has entered the thermal monitoring arena with their newest fan and temperature monitoring system, the Nexus NXP-101. Vantec's Nexus NXP-101 presents a possible solution to case temperature monitoring and noise problems.</p> <p align="center"><img src="atruereview/NXP101/nxpbox.jpg" width="294" height="231" alt="Vantec Nexus NXP-101 Box" border="1"><br> </p> <p align="left"><b>Overview:</b></p> <p align="left">The Nexus NXP-101 comes with a lot of features for the price. I will describe the actual monitoring unit itself first. </p> <p align="left">The Nexus allows 1 ATX fan, generally the CPU fan, to be attached to it. The knob on the front controls the voltage to the fan; thus, allowing for an increase or decrease in speed. This is a nice feature because you no longer have to open your case or reach around back to adjust the fan speed like on the Volcano 7+.</p> <p align="left">The front of the unit contains connections for two USB devices and one for an IEEE 1394 fire wire device. The front of the unit has an interchangeable face plate. The three colored plastic face plates that come with the unit are blue, light blue, and light green. Why Vantec chose those colors I have no idea. A black and silver would have been nice. A little Allen wrench is included to screw in the new face plate.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/NXP101/nxpparts.jpg"><img src="atruereview/NXP101/nxppartsth.jpg" width="300" height="248" alt="Vantec Nexus NXP-101 Parts" border="1"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> <br> </p> <p align="left">Plenty of cables included with the Vantec Nexus. The Nexus uses 3 temperature probes. What I like about the probes, is that they temperature sensing lead is very flat. It will fit between the heat sink and processor without a problem. It will not fit under the processor. The other two leads are used for case temperature and hard drive temperature. At least that is what Vantec suggests.</p> <p align="left">The NXP-101 includes the USB internal to external cable, that runs from the Nexus to the back of your computer. The two shielded cables run through the computer and out the back of the case where they hook into the USB and Fire Wire ports. I found this feature to be annoying because I would have rather seen the Vantec NXP-101 use an internal connection for USB. This would take advantage of the extra USB hub on most motherboards today. By not using internal connectors, the user is unable to increase the number of USB ports.</p> <p align="left">Two ATX power extension cables are included. One extension cable runs from the fan to the Nexus device. The other runs from the Motherboard to the Nexus. The reason for the motherboard cable is that the Nexus allows the motherboard to still monitor RPMs.</p> <p align="left">The last cable included, is an AT power to floppy power cable. The Nexus NXP-101 uses a power connector like that on your floppy drive. If you do not have a spare floppy power cable, this will come in handy.</p> <p align="left"><a href="atruereview/NXP101/NXP101.php"><continue to pg. 2, "Installation and Conclusion"></a></p> </td> <td background="../Images/sidebackrt.jpg"width="25" height="739"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25" background="../Images/botlftcor.jpg" height="23"></td> <td background="../Images/botback.jpg" height="23" width="490"></td> <td width="25" background="../Images/botrtcor.jpg" height="23"></td> <tr> </p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div id="footer" class="clr"> <div class="rk-1"> <div class="rk-2"> <div id="the-footer"> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? 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