NZXT's Smart Device Doesn't Do Anything CAM ANR Deep-Dive
video description
Date: 2020-05-06
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 10
Pixel
The very concept of using adaptive fan speeds to chase an ideal inner case sound level is illogical and probably impossible to achieve, even if the Smart Device does as it is designed to do. In order to measure such a target ambient noise level and then make changes to fan speeds requires a device 1) to listen to sound levels produced by each individual fan and 2) watch heat levels simultaneously to make such changes. It will have to experiment with changing different fan speeds separately, and to varying levels, before it can create one set of circumstances where the least amount of fan activity is used to produce the best sound emissions. This will take time to develop, because heat load, normally, is slow to rise and slow to lower. It may very well take over thirty minutes of trial-and-error of adjustments just to achieve the first stable state. In any case, the sound sensors need to be distributed throughout the case, because it is impossible to predict which fan is going to change case sound levels overall. Case airflow is complex and unpredictable. Interaction between fans is also hard to predict, because one fan can interact with case components in unpredictable ways. It also assumes a steady state of PC activity. Any activity that raises the heat load of any case component will start the cycle over anew. PCs do this sort of heat-producing thrashing activity quite frequently when being used for anything other than playing a screensaver. It simply appears that NZXT did not produce a workable logical model of how fans-heat-noise interact. Changing the fan speeds while keeping low sound levels in reaction to varying heat loads is much akin to a dog chasing its tail(s.
reply
The very concept of using adaptive fan speeds to chase an ideal inner case sound level is illogical and probably impossible to achieve, even if the Smart Device does as it is designed to do. In order to measure such a target ambient noise level and then make changes to fan speeds requires a device 1) to listen to sound levels produced by each individual fan and 2) watch heat levels simultaneously to make such changes. It will have to experiment with changing different fan speeds separately, and to varying levels, before it can create one set of circumstances where the least amount of fan activity is used to produce the best sound emissions. This will take time to develop, because heat load, normally, is slow to rise and slow to lower. It may very well take over thirty minutes of trial-and-error of adjustments just to achieve the first stable state. In any case, the sound sensors need to be distributed throughout the case, because it is impossible to predict which fan is going to change case sound levels overall. Case airflow is complex and unpredictable. Interaction between fans is also hard to predict, because one fan can interact with case components in unpredictable ways. It also assumes a steady state of PC activity. Any activity that raises the heat load of any case component will start the cycle over anew. PCs do this sort of heat-producing thrashing activity quite frequently when being used for anything other than playing a screensaver. It simply appears that NZXT did not produce a workable logical model of how fans-heat-noise interact. Changing the fan speeds while keeping low sound levels in reaction to varying heat loads is much akin to a dog chasing its tail(s.
reply
Finta
The problem with CAM is that, no matter which version they made, it always reported some problems within the app. Either you can not see the cooler like Kraken, or the lighting module i. e. Hue+. And their solution is always that u have faulty USB cable? And just when you fix that with re install the damn thing and do an internet deep, deep, research to find some weird random fix and sequence how to do it, then a new version of CAM goes out, and then, here we go again! Now, I have 4. 5. 2. and it is an issue where Kraken X is reporting that: Another program is trying to communicate with your device. If You encounter any errors configuring your device please close the following programs and retry: And no program is shown! Before that I couldn t even see my Hue + and the light strips with same message and it stated that NZXT. exe program was accountable for that! Somehow that went away and I see HUE + and lights and can manage them but is still has above mentioned warning. And i can hear more noise with new version, in fans ramping up when processor is doing some demanding task, but can t lower the rpms, like Hysteresis was able to in previous software versions. Strange, strange guys at NZXT. And You have to buy HUE 2 to have alll the lighting modes unlocked. Because with HUE + you are robbed of some light effect options. Also it doesn t see any audio device and power supply device. Even their own brand PSU!
reply
The problem with CAM is that, no matter which version they made, it always reported some problems within the app. Either you can not see the cooler like Kraken, or the lighting module i. e. Hue+. And their solution is always that u have faulty USB cable? And just when you fix that with re install the damn thing and do an internet deep, deep, research to find some weird random fix and sequence how to do it, then a new version of CAM goes out, and then, here we go again! Now, I have 4. 5. 2. and it is an issue where Kraken X is reporting that: Another program is trying to communicate with your device. If You encounter any errors configuring your device please close the following programs and retry: And no program is shown! Before that I couldn t even see my Hue + and the light strips with same message and it stated that NZXT. exe program was accountable for that! Somehow that went away and I see HUE + and lights and can manage them but is still has above mentioned warning. And i can hear more noise with new version, in fans ramping up when processor is doing some demanding task, but can t lower the rpms, like Hysteresis was able to in previous software versions. Strange, strange guys at NZXT. And You have to buy HUE 2 to have alll the lighting modes unlocked. Because with HUE + you are robbed of some light effect options. Also it doesn t see any audio device and power supply device. Even their own brand PSU!
reply
Level
I set up an H710i with a Kraken X62 two days ago and I'm looking for a solution since then because the Kraken fans are always at full speed. As the NZXT websites writes, the Kraken uses AER P fans, which are PWM fans. I tried connecting the Kraken fans to the Kraken fan headers like in the manual, but with no change. I connected the fans to the Smart device, but with no change. I tried every possible setting in the BIOS and every hint I found in forums and from users, but with no change. As the last step I connected the two Kraken fans to my Mobo and that helped. Now, these fans don't show up in the CAM software anymore, but CAM does its job and works fine for the other NZXT fans and the lightning in the case. The only problem now: I have a Gigabyte Aorus Pro WiFi board and the RGB Fusion software to control the Mobo RGB is in conflict with CAM. As soon as I install the RGB Fusion software, CAM can not control the fans and lightning anymore. Also, the fans are running at a higher speed with RGB Fusion installed. If I uninstall RGB Fusion, everything is fine, but I have no way to change my Mobo RGB. I really didn't think to run into so many problems by building a new system.
reply
I set up an H710i with a Kraken X62 two days ago and I'm looking for a solution since then because the Kraken fans are always at full speed. As the NZXT websites writes, the Kraken uses AER P fans, which are PWM fans. I tried connecting the Kraken fans to the Kraken fan headers like in the manual, but with no change. I connected the fans to the Smart device, but with no change. I tried every possible setting in the BIOS and every hint I found in forums and from users, but with no change. As the last step I connected the two Kraken fans to my Mobo and that helped. Now, these fans don't show up in the CAM software anymore, but CAM does its job and works fine for the other NZXT fans and the lightning in the case. The only problem now: I have a Gigabyte Aorus Pro WiFi board and the RGB Fusion software to control the Mobo RGB is in conflict with CAM. As soon as I install the RGB Fusion software, CAM can not control the fans and lightning anymore. Also, the fans are running at a higher speed with RGB Fusion installed. If I uninstall RGB Fusion, everything is fine, but I have no way to change my Mobo RGB. I really didn't think to run into so many problems by building a new system.
reply
DoubleThinkTwice
This is the case with a lot of smart devices out there. Hey, let's make our solution turing-complete and then solve all the bad design choices resulting from that with AI. As you said, there's a computer inside your computer. And this isn't even the first turing-complete system that's in there. BIOS by now is so complex that it's basically its own operating system, Wake-On LAN keeps listening to your network even if your system is powered down, and now every vendor is putting programmable RGB control firmware on your hardware. Heck, every. single. one. of my peripherals is its own computer by now. Each of these system can crash and has crashed, and it can be exploited and has been exploited. I literally put my last Razer mouse in the trash because it kept crashing. I honestly need all the devices out there to become a lot less smart and instead just well-engineered, with their computational ability matching the actual needs of the product. At no point did a toaster need a computer to make good toast.
reply
This is the case with a lot of smart devices out there. Hey, let's make our solution turing-complete and then solve all the bad design choices resulting from that with AI. As you said, there's a computer inside your computer. And this isn't even the first turing-complete system that's in there. BIOS by now is so complex that it's basically its own operating system, Wake-On LAN keeps listening to your network even if your system is powered down, and now every vendor is putting programmable RGB control firmware on your hardware. Heck, every. single. one. of my peripherals is its own computer by now. Each of these system can crash and has crashed, and it can be exploited and has been exploited. I literally put my last Razer mouse in the trash because it kept crashing. I honestly need all the devices out there to become a lot less smart and instead just well-engineered, with their computational ability matching the actual needs of the product. At no point did a toaster need a computer to make good toast.
reply
meRyanP
I bought the i model thinking this device would give me all the AI deep learning smart profiles and run all my NZXT RGB fans I got with it. I ended up finding out that I couldn't run two NZXT RGB fans off the smart device because it didn't have the required RGB header for their own fans. It's either the RGB strip or the RGB fans, not both. Ok, sent those fans back and just used my non RGB Corsair 120ML's. Then I come to find CAM is awkward to use and doesn't work right. I feel really ripped off, I should've went with the non i version and corsair AIO and never even bothered with CAM.
reply
I bought the i model thinking this device would give me all the AI deep learning smart profiles and run all my NZXT RGB fans I got with it. I ended up finding out that I couldn't run two NZXT RGB fans off the smart device because it didn't have the required RGB header for their own fans. It's either the RGB strip or the RGB fans, not both. Ok, sent those fans back and just used my non RGB Corsair 120ML's. Then I come to find CAM is awkward to use and doesn't work right. I feel really ripped off, I should've went with the non i version and corsair AIO and never even bothered with CAM.
reply
MrEvilDalton
I have it setup(took at lot of effort) so that my GPU and CPU control the fans they are lined up with and it cools amazing this way. when it works. 2 Major problems tho if I close NZXT then nothing works so it has to run in the background: / The other is that I have to close the program to launch Hitman 2 and open it after otherwise it crashes. BUT when it works: I get to cool only my CPU while rendering VT Videos and can have more noise and cooling when I am gaming. That being said I seen ANR was useless and I set everything manually.
reply
I have it setup(took at lot of effort) so that my GPU and CPU control the fans they are lined up with and it cools amazing this way. when it works. 2 Major problems tho if I close NZXT then nothing works so it has to run in the background: / The other is that I have to close the program to launch Hitman 2 and open it after otherwise it crashes. BUT when it works: I get to cool only my CPU while rendering VT Videos and can have more noise and cooling when I am gaming. That being said I seen ANR was useless and I set everything manually.
reply
William
Wait a minute. I agree the device is pointless, even if ANR worked, since you can set a fan curve based on personal preference and leave it, but why does the device have a mic inside the case? My head isn't inside of the case, and aside from a stock NZXT case situation, the device doesn't know a thing about the case's noise isolation, and it definitely doesn't know how far I sit. It'd make more sense to have a cheap mic to string up next to my keyboard for some calibration whenever I swap fans.
reply
Wait a minute. I agree the device is pointless, even if ANR worked, since you can set a fan curve based on personal preference and leave it, but why does the device have a mic inside the case? My head isn't inside of the case, and aside from a stock NZXT case situation, the device doesn't know a thing about the case's noise isolation, and it definitely doesn't know how far I sit. It'd make more sense to have a cheap mic to string up next to my keyboard for some calibration whenever I swap fans.
reply
When
ive been using the nzxt kraken x61 for about 2 years) now and ive never got used to the buggy mess that cam is. honestly its a real mess; and kind of a deal breaker for the Asutek rebranded nzxt kraken series. This has been an issue since cam has ever been a thing(which is a shame because nzxt is a good company with great customer service [obviously an opinion]. I'd recommend nzxt use a third party to make their software because this has been a huge issue for long enough.
reply
ive been using the nzxt kraken x61 for about 2 years) now and ive never got used to the buggy mess that cam is. honestly its a real mess; and kind of a deal breaker for the Asutek rebranded nzxt kraken series. This has been an issue since cam has ever been a thing(which is a shame because nzxt is a good company with great customer service [obviously an opinion]. I'd recommend nzxt use a third party to make their software because this has been a huge issue for long enough.
reply
Morgue
Wait. Why do I care if my CPU has a quiet work environment? Why would I put the mic in the case? The mic should be near my ears. There is no way to know what my ears will perceive based on what the mic inside of the case picks up. SPL aside, there is spectrum analysis - the output of which will require different compensation for different ears. The rhetorical question is, does the inclusion of RGB make this a desirable product? Any answer here would be wrong.
reply
Wait. Why do I care if my CPU has a quiet work environment? Why would I put the mic in the case? The mic should be near my ears. There is no way to know what my ears will perceive based on what the mic inside of the case picks up. SPL aside, there is spectrum analysis - the output of which will require different compensation for different ears. The rhetorical question is, does the inclusion of RGB make this a desirable product? Any answer here would be wrong.
reply
Maciej
I dont have nzxt case but I do own x62 and a set of aer RGB fans. Installed newest CAM. Suddednly my PC started going crazy, 2k RPM on fans despite CPU and GPU in idle, no control over them (not detected lol. Installed 3. 7. 8 and everything stopped instantly. Fck this new CAM man. I'm not a programmer but is that really THIS hard to make a program to control RGB and fan speed? And im not saying some random rgb and fans. NZXT RGB and ZNXT FANS GOD DAMN IT.
reply
I dont have nzxt case but I do own x62 and a set of aer RGB fans. Installed newest CAM. Suddednly my PC started going crazy, 2k RPM on fans despite CPU and GPU in idle, no control over them (not detected lol. Installed 3. 7. 8 and everything stopped instantly. Fck this new CAM man. I'm not a programmer but is that really THIS hard to make a program to control RGB and fan speed? And im not saying some random rgb and fans. NZXT RGB and ZNXT FANS GOD DAMN IT.
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
24:17
