Thermaltake Hardcano 13

Manufacturer: Thermaltake Technology
Supplied by: Thermaltake Technology
Street Price: $65

By Dean Barker (10/27/2004)

 

Introduction

 

At the beginning of this year, we reviewed Thermaltake’s Hardcano 12.  The unit has been in my mind, the best available thermal monitor/fan control panel available up until now.  Today, we have Thermaltake’s next generation unit styled, logically enough, the Hardcano 13.  As far as temperature monitoring and fan control, its functions remain fundamentally unchanged.  What is different, is the slick looking bezel design reworked around an integrated 6 in 1 card reader, elevating the unit’s usefulness and potential market quite a bit.  Did Thermaltake improve on a proven design?  Let’s find out.  Starting us out is a look at the white papers on the newest Hardcano.

Specifications

• Application: 5.25” drive bay

• Dimensions: 148 x 40 x 168mm

• Weight: 800gms

• Construction: Steel alloy and plastic

• Color: Black

• Manual and automatic fan speed control for up to four fans

• Connections: four 3-pin power out connectors, four thermal probe inputs and one 4-pin Molex power in connector

• Alarm functions

• Backlighting color control (Eight colors available)

• Integrated 6 in 1 card reader (CF, SM, MMC, SD, MS, MS Pro, Microdrive)

 

What you get

 

The Hardcano 13 is set up to monitor and control up to four fans.  With that said, it stands to reason we should find four 3-pin power line extensions and four thin wired thermal probes.  Also included are two 4-pin to 3-pin Molex adapters with RPM wires so you can run larger fans.  By using the adapters in operation, you can monitor fan speeds but can't exercise any control over them.  The Hardcano 13 package encloses a USB connector for the card reader, instruction manual, driver CD (for Win98/SE) and four one inch squares of double sided thermal tape.  As we found with the Hardcano 12, all the lines are labeled one through four to aid you in matching up power lines to corresponding thermal sensors. 

 

     

 

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