Rheobus Extreme

[JKershner]

Introduction​

Sunbeamtech has reinvented their Rheobus fan controllers and came out with the Rheobus Extreme. One of the most powerful fully featured fan controllers for its age. No, it’s not the newest product out there. The Rheosmart Extreme offers 6 individual channels with the ability to handle up to 30 watts per channel. Each knob has two blue led lights that adjust with the voltage output. The fan controller allows the user to kick up cooling performance during gaming and minimize during system idle.

Technical Specs

DC input +12v
DC ouput 0v-12v DC
LED Lamps (12) blue LED 5v
3-pin Fan Connectors 6
Fan RPM Knobs 6
Dimensions 148mm x 42mm x 82mm (LxHxW)
Colors available Black or Silver

Features
Aluminum Design
6 adjustable channels
30w output per channel
Illuminating knob brightness

Packaging contents
Fan controller
Power Wire
RPM Signal Wire for Motherboard (2)
3 pin cable extenders (2)
3 pin to molex (2)
Mounting screws (4)

Packaging​

While the packaging isn’t very much to talk about being your standard shipping box, the box contains your general product information that’s what is included and product features.

Opening the box, we find the fan controller securely packaged in a cardboard container with it’s featured illuminating knobs and included cables and manual in their designated areas enclosed in their compartments.

Physical Unit​

Let’s take a ride to the controller itself; the unit is constructed with a sturdy aluminum body that fits into a 5.25” bay, I received the black model which has the Sunbeamtech logo just above channels 1 and 2. The PCB board is secured into place with 4 screws and foam protective padding from being grounded out while attached to its body.

The back of the unit has 6 individual 3 pin fan connectors for each channel and a proprietary 2 pin power connector. This connector that is being used can be difficult if you’re not paying attention as the connector will plug in either way causing a short or damage to the components. The power end that connects to the controller has a small tab on it that “hooks” into the controller end but doesn’t keep it from being plugged in backwards.

Performance​

Please bear with me as I didn’t use the exact same fans and were of different size, manufactures and wattages, not pictured are two Alphacool DC-LT pumps in order to meet the max 30w requirements. The control knobs are able to be controlled from 0-12v and the variable power indicator LEDs on the knob turns on at approximately 3 volts.

Fans used with wattages:

2x DC-LT pumps 2w ea
1x fn 140rb 2.88w
3x Rocketfish RF-120fan 1.92 ea
2x Rosewill RFA-120-BL 120mm 4.8w ea
3x NZXT FZ 200mm 2.76W (5.04W max.) ea
Total Wattage 30.52 Watts

Channel 1 was malfunctioning upon arrival, it indicated that it was working at times but the slightest movement of the knob would lose power and unreliable. The first image is Channel 1 just a hair before the halfway rotation indicating a 3v output while the second image shows where the knob loses connection and turns off, this happens periodically throughout the rotation.

Channel 2 performed flawlessly; the knob functioned correctly while dispersing the correct amount of voltage as it should while powering all fans connected. First image confirms an output of 3v as Channel 1 showed, image 2 shows the dial at the halfway mark at 5v, and image 3 is at full power.

Channel 3 has some minor output flaws in its channel, approximately ¾ turn it finally hits 5v mark and could possibly indicating a voltage “bleed through” where the full amount of power isn’t flowing. With this indication, the channel fails to provide enough power for every fan. Indicated in the 2nd image you can see that the top left fan isn’t working , the bottom fan failed to run also; however, all other fans were working normally.

It’s difficult to see in the next picture but the knob is at 100% and giving the proper voltage powering all fans.

Moving down the line is Channel 4; unfortunately this channel is completely dead.

Channel 5 is also displaying power issues as its only providing just under 2v at 100% and is unable to power any fans.

The last channel seems to be working flawlessly as well, I apologize for the angle and glare on the knob but the knob is a hair past the halfway point and giving 5v powering all fans and giving a full 12v output at 100%.

Conclusion​

Although it’s difficult to give a great review based on the received product. On this specific product, only 3 out of the 6 channels were functional, not including channel 3 that had a difficult time powering up all fans at 50%. I would hope that I only received a “one of a kind” that had these flaws. However, based on the performance of the functional channels, this product has the potential to provide any cooling needs in any system with a full complement of working channels.

Considering the design and expected functionality of each channel while completely working, the biggest concern that I have against this fan controller is the type of power connector being able to be plugged in any way causing a short and potentially causing damage to other equipment.