Welcome to my review of the Aquaero 5 XT controller. While there are many manual fan controllers out there and some software controlled options, few take the features and control as far as the Aquaero 5. This is not the first iteration of the aquaero, it’s been many years in development through previous generations, so quite a history(since 2004) behind it. While I have done some testing on the aquastream XT here, this is my first look at a controller as advanced as the aquaero XT 5 and it is without a doubt the most feature rich and most highly configurable controller out there. Calling it a fan controller really doesn’t do the product justice as it is so much more and really acts as a mini computer to monitor and control your entire computer cooling system.
Before getting started, I’d like to thank Shoggy from Aqua-comuter.de for supplying this review sample. Thanks!
The product I’m reviewing is the top model aquaero XT with IR remote as you see above but there are several model options and many accessories to chose from that I’ll go into later.
GENERAL CONCEPT
Aqua-computers called it the “Aquaero” because it serves to integrate controls for and between water and air and I think that pretty fitting.While it does control fans, it also does much more to act as the brains and control behind both a normal PC and also HTPC with all the IR connection features and ability to control other IR devices through the Aquaero 5. I basically gives you the ability to monitor, adjust, and dynamically control pretty much anything air, water, and light related. Since I’m a visual person, I created this simplified diagram to show the various communications that may occur depending on the setup.
A big part of my intent of this guide/review is to emphasize on the “Guide” portion by learning how to use the controller and sharing what I’ve learned.
FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS
- Processor – 32bit, 48MHz with Watchdog functions
- Flash Memory (140,000)
- 148mm wide x 42mm tall x 62mm deep
- Built programmable buzzer for alarm and key notes
- Standby power via USB or 5V standby connector
- Automatically determines which sensors are present and lists in menus
- Automatically adjusts menus to custom renamed sensor values
LCD (XT and Pro models)
- Backlight LCD
- 256 x 64 resolution, 20 fps
- Black and white (reversible & adjustible)
- Configure menus and up to 32 customizable information pages (scrolling)
Communication/Navigation
- Native USB 2.0 Interface to PC (no need for special drivers)
- 1x aquabus low speed interface (multiswitch or tubemeter)
- 1x aquabus high speed interface (aquastream xt or poweradjust 2)
- Universal infrared receiver (Pro or XT models)
- Device buttons – XT=3 capacitive navigation, 4 menu/programmable, Pro=3 mechanical navigation, LT-none
- Remote Control “Aquaremote” (XT included) optional for “Pro”
- External IR transmitter output expandable to control other devices
- Remote control may also be switch to control the computer (minimal mouse/keyboard control)
- 4x dedicated fan channels (expandable to 10 via up to 6ea poweradjusts)
- PWM free analog DC voltage to prevent noise capable
- Channel #2 may be converted to flow sensor
- Channel #4 may be used to control 4 pin PWM fans/pumps
- Max Current @12V= 1.65A/channel, max total 5A (Heat Limited)
- Min & Max Power Setting
- Min & Max RPM Setting
- Startboost functions (Improves low speed startup)
- Programmable Fuse function (1000mA)
- Fan channels could also be used to feed pumps withing current limits.
- 1X 3 pin Relay – 12V, 1A may be used for emergency shut down or other uses
- 2x 2 pin PWM – 12V, 1A modulated at 15 kHz. May be used for lighting.
- 1X RGB-LED 4 pin output – up to three single color LEDs or one RGB module. 20mA, 3-4V. Resistor built in AQ5.
- 1X “Tacho” signal generator for Alarm functions to motherboard.
- 8x analog sensors ports (expandable to 40) 10kOhm NTC
- 4x sofware sensors
- 4x virtual sensors (Min, Mas, Delta, Abs. Delta)
- Renaming of sensors
- Calibration of analog sensors by offset
- 1x aquaero cpu sensor
- 4x fan amp sensors
- 1x dedicated port
- 2x ports if using fan port #2 as flow sensor
- Default calibration values for AC sensor
- Custom calibration in pulses per liter in 1 pulse increments
- Fans – RPM, %, Voltage, Current
- Temperature Sensors – Degrees C/F/K
- AquastreamXT Pump – Speed in Hz, Current, RPM, Voltage
- Fill Level
- Power Consumption using flow rate and temperature differential values
- Logging and programmable charting functions
- May program controls of Fans and RGB-LED
- 4x Curve controllers – 16 point programmable curves targeting temp sensors
- 8x Target value controllers – Programmable PID targeting control
- 16X Two point controllers – Simple on/off lower/upper control
- 32X Preset value – Constant
- 1X RGB LED controller
- Can be triggered by Temperature, Fans, Flow, Pump, Fill level
- A variety of programmable actions: speed signal generator, buzzer,relay trigger, profile loading, power down
- Aquasuite 2012 – Allows configuration & monitoring of the unit. Settings can be saved to unit (autonomous)
- Aquaero 5 – Software sensor tool – Allows reading of 4X software sensors from speedfan and other programs (must be running)
Having trouble getting out of recovery mode and getting the latest 1021 firmware put on the new unit. The new board was working perfectly with 1020 on it, but I wanted to update to the latest…I’ll keep working on it, hopefully I can get this figured out.
Dame that’s worrying, I’m stuffed then i have the patience of a 3 year old
O and you might be interested to know that Aquacomputer has released a new Aquaero water block!
I was just installing my water block’s to find there is two different types!
The new one has a heightened area to cool the metal connectors below the fan amps! (as seen in martinm210 “things that need to be cooled on the Aquaero pic” and notably there not highlighted
)
Hi Martin
Norman (Namron) here, Thanks for the link to my post I did on the Aquaero, Much apreciated & comming from such a highly regarded reviewer as yourself & from still, one of the best Aquaero reviews out there, It’s very gratifying
…
I’m just posting up a working link for the Link posted in your review as It appears to be broken. I hope you don’t mind?.. If It’s not the done thing, then apoligies & please delete this post/link..
Good luck with the recovery & testing to come…
Thanks again, not just for a great review, but for the mention
..
All the best
Norman
OOPS!!!! Forgot the New link lmao…….. http://www.specialtechforums.co.uk/showthread.php?1403-AQUAERO-5-Review-A-personal-look-at-the-new-AQ5-XT
Cheers Martin
..
N.
Thanks for catching that, got the link fixed now.:)
Much appreciated!
Cheers!
Martin
How it going…. got the Aquaero 5 XT working on 1021? looking forward to the rest of your review
Unfortunately, no. It seems to be perpetually stuck in recovery mode. My fault for flashing it backwards from 1020 to 1019 I guess, that’s what made the screen go black, then when I put it in recovery mode it seems to be stuck there. No matter how many times I flash or what version, it never pulls out of recovery model. The green bar moves to completion, but the recovery mode screen remains. Considering ordering #3, but baking my cookies still…
Hi Martin, great site ! I’m building my own PC since over 10 years but now I will custom watercooling my latest PC.
Spec:
i7 3770K
Asus Maximus V Formula with Fusion block
Corsair Dominator Platinum
EVGA GTX 680 Signature Edition
SB Zr
Corsair H100i
Cooler Master Cosmos II
Seasonic X-1250
I have these fans: Noctua NF-F12, Gentle Typhoon AP15, Scynthe.
Here are the Watercooling parts: (not build yet in my PC)
Koolance RP452x2
Koolance PMP450 Vario (2 pumps)
Koolance CPU380i
XSPC EX360
Heatkiller GPU 3X black Hole Edition for GTX 680
Primochill 3/8 – 5/8 tubing
My concern is to control all the fans in the PC.
3 x Gentle Typhoon for 360 RAD
1 front 200 mm fan with led
1 back 140mm fan
Here I have some options:
Option 1
Use the Cosmos II fan controler but I found this solution not practical because I can’t monitor fan speed and also I only have 3 speed option: Low, Med, High
Option 2
- Use motherboard fan headers and Y cable to combined the 3 typhoons for the top radiator. The MB fan headers can accept 1A Max.
- Use Asus Fan Expert 2 software to monitor and control fan speed
Will 3 Typhoons be too much for 1 fan headers ?
Option 3 (most expensive)
Aquaero 5 XT ($229 Canadian) !!!!
With this controller without any extra module control :
2 x PMP-450 pumps at speed around settings 3
3 Typhoon AP-15
1 200mm front fan
1 140mm Exhaust fan
Later I will add anotther GTX 680 in SLI and I will also add 1 or 2 240mm radiator in series on the bottom of the case with extra Gentle Typhoon fans on the bottom radiators.
So in my final setup I will have more like 5 to 7 Typhoons fans.
Will the Aquaero 5 XT handle all the fans and the pumps in my system ?
Any recommendation will be appreciated
Thanks
GT ap15 seems to only draw about 1W. 1A is 12w at 12v so theoretically the MB Should handle it, just not sure I trust the 1A spec. You might check around a bit. Aquareo or a fan amp or similar could probably do it too.