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Product:
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Bitspower XP I - 4 Channel Controller & XP II Mod Panel |
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Price:
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$40-45 (CAN) / $30-$35 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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Bitspower
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Author:
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Hi-TEK
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Date:
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October 23rd, 2003
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Rating:
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Installation of the Bitspower XP I - 4 Channel Controller & XP II Mod Panels is a very straightforward
process. Since both products introduce additional cabling to a case interior, it is strongly recommended
that you figure out your configuration beforehand and keep all the lead wires organized. The installation
of the XP I requires four 3-pin fan cables and one 4-pin Molex connector for power. The XP II Mod Panel
requires one or two 2-pin cables which connect to the 12V inverter of the CCFL tubes and one 4-pin
Molex connector for power.
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Click image for larger view
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In order to test both units, I hooked up two 80mm Blue UV LED fans rated at 2.4 watts. Each fan is capable
of pushing 35CFM at 2600 RPM with a noise level of 30dBA. As well as one Bitspower CCFL Fan grill,
and two CCFL tubes (12" and 4") for approximately 1 hour. The Bitspower XP I - 4 Channel Controller & XP II Mod Panels
were able to handle this small configuration with ease which a good indication that these units are
perfect for everyday use. All the advertised features worked perfectly and it was nice to have an all-in-one
solution which could be used in several different ways.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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I have included two night shots just to give some indication of how these units look and operate once
powered. The visual aspect between both units is virtually the same although the illumination represents
different active functions. Since this was not a finalized configuration, I didn't bother installing the
units into a 3.5" drive bay. There are 4 pre-drilled mounting holes (2 per side) on both units which
attach to standard 6-32 screws once installed inside a case.
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Conclusion:
It is very common for manufacturers to rush to the marketplace and introduce products without evaluating
overall design and long term functionality. While Bitspower is certainly not the first to market a 3.5"
based multi-panel and fan controller, the company is headed in the right direction with the X-Panel series.
The XP I - 4 Channel Controller is available in two different colours, offers more wattage per channel
than rival units and comes complete with built-in fan fail alarm capabilities. The XP II Mod Panel is
a unique solution which offers complete management of 4 cold cathode tubes. Consumers who love lighting
effects will appreciate the sound activation, strobe and flashing features which bring new life to
a plain cold cathode tube. The benefit of the units is that fact that they both fit conveniently into
a standard 3.5" which in terms frees up the larger size 5.25" drive bays for storage and optical
components. I didn't find anything negative to complain about the XP I and XP II, other than the fact
that the inclusion of these products does add more wiring to a case interior and proper planning should
be done before hand to keep cable management to a minimum. Overall, I'm rating the The Bitspower XP I -
4 Channel Controller & XP II Mod Panel a 9 out of 10
and would definitely recommend this to users seeking an easy to use management solution. If you have any
questions regarding this review be sure to visit the Bitsmodding
website for more information or discuss them in our forums.
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Pros:
- Easy installation
- Fits into a 3.5" drive bay
- Great aesthetic appeal
- Supports up to 24 W per channel
- Unique backlit knobs
- Fits cases with bezel-mounted doors
- Cable extensions provided
- Built-in fan fail alarm
- Cool lighting effects
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Cons:
- No escaping additional wiring added by these products
- Flash and strobe effects might not appeal to everyone (personal preference)
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