Fractal Design Adjust 108 review

Fractal Adjust 108 Review

Manufacturer Fractal Design
UK price (as reviewed) £29.99 (inc VAT) (approx)
US price (as reviewed) $35 (ex tax) (approx)

Fan controllers, like so many other enthusiast-orientated products, have become PC fashion accessories in their own right these days, and are often a far cry from the bland switch boxes we had to deal with when devices like these first came on the scene. We've even got fully automatic and programmable fan controllers such as the mCubed HFX-112 T-Balancer MiniNG and Aquacomputer Aquaero 5 XT, and even steampunk-friendly examples such as Lamptron's FC10 .

Never one to shy away from unique design and style, Fractal Design has recently launched its first 5.25in bay fan controller and we've received one of the first samples that we're pleased to offer up to you today. Retailing for around £30 (we haven't got firm prices yet), it's roughly middle of the road as far as fancy fan controllers go. It's a crowded market, though, already filled with plenty of designs from the likes of Aerocool, NZXT and Akasa, but with its cases proving to be extremely popular, there's clearly a market for a discrete fan controller sporting the same brushed, black aluminium and a Fractal Design logo to match your Arc Mini or Define R4.


Adjust 108 comes with everything you need to connect six fans, albeit you'll be limited to 3-pin or 4-pin PWM fans. These are already connected to the six channels on the unit, along with a combined SATA and 4-pin molex power connector, allowing you to use either (but not both) as a 12V power source (time at last to remove that final molex PSU modular cable).


Each channel is rated at a hefty 36W - with your average 120mm fan weighing in at less than 3W, there's plenty of scope for hooking up additional fans using splitter cables without fear of things going wrong. Unfortunately, the channels can't be turned off - instead they tune down to 5V, meaning fans with minimum voltage ratings less than this will continue to spin.


The sliders feel very smooth and well-made. They're white for the first 50 per cent range then switch to a moody blue. You're able to adjust the brightness using a jumper at the rear of the unit from 100 per cent, which is pretty bright, to 50 per cent or off completely.


Conclusion

The Adjust 108 is a gorgeous bit of kit that's well-made, has a modicum of light adjustment and everything except the ability to actually turn fans off. If you need to hook up more than six fans then each 36W channel has more than enough headroom to deal with the breeziest of cases. You can get similar features for less, but the Adjust 108's ease of use and built quality will ensure you won't be disappointed.

Specifications

• Dimensions 148mm x 87mm x 41mm (WxDxH)
  
• Materials/colours: Brushed aluminium fascia, steel / Black
  
• Channels: Six
  
• Watts per channel: 36W
  
• Control method: Sliders
  
• Included cables: 6 x 3/4-pin PWM fan cables, SATA or 4-pin Molex power connectors