Zalman has always been an industry leader when it comes to designing unique yet useful solutions for computer cooling, and their latest addition comes in the form of a PWM Fan Controller.

Most users in the enthusiast realm rely on the motherboard BIOS in order to regulate the CPU cooler fan.  However, this can be a hassle, as it requires having to restart the computer to change settings. Zalman seeks to change PWM fan control forever with this new universal controller.

First seen on their CNPS10X Extreme Cooler, the Zalman fan mate provides many solutions in a small package. It uses two different types of control, one is a mode select while the other is a manual dial for controlling fan speed. This allows users options when it comes to balancing noise vs. performance with their specific heatsink/fan configuration. Built-in LED’s display whatever mode the controller is in, allowing the user to see at a glance what their fan is set to.

Another very useful and practical feature is the 4-pin connector Zalman’s Fan Mate comes with. It is in essence a splitter which allows the motherboard to still ‘see’ the CPU cooler attached, and still allow the Fan Mate to adjust settings. This is very useful for those motherboards that will not boot unless they detect a CPU fan attached. It also it gives anyone who uses third-party monitoring software the chance to still see the RPMs of their fan.

Pricing and availability have not yet been determined.