Closer Look & Function:

This is what Windmill is made for. Allowing the users to control up to 7 fans + 3 temp sensors.




Click to enlarge


Fairly straight forward, the back cover has all the markings for power, fan connections and temp sensors. Drop in the 3 Volt battery (an extra one is provided) to keep the time and temp alarm settings after the PC is powered off.

Unlike the Sunbeam 20-in-1 Superior Panel, which provides a Y cord with extra sensor connector to the motherboard CPU fan sensor so that users don't have to give up motherboard fan failure shut down feature (an important one). Windmill DOES NOT provide this Y cord, I am totally surprised!!

Adjusting/setting up the Windmill is also straight forward. Just remember to hold/press down the four function "buttons" for their intended function for 3 to 5 seconds to activate setup.



On the left, turning clockwise to increase & counterclockwise to decrease. On the right, the four main function buttons, namely: Fan, C/F, Key and Set.

Let's go thru the drill (press down the button for 3-5 second) with the aid from the photo below -

"FAN" Press for Fan Speed mode. Turn the left knob clockwise or counterclockwise to adjust fan speed with which the "fan graph" will be flashing. Press "SET" to confirm, you are ready for the next fan setup by pressing "FAN" button again. (Fan must be connected, otherwise nothing will display).

"C/F" switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit.

"SET" Press until display light flashing. In sequence showing; YEAR, MONTH, DATE, TIME and OVERHEAT ALARM. You cannot change the date format.

"KEY" this is an easy part - press to "lock" or "unlock" meaning "protected" or "unprotected" from your friend's trigger happy fingers.


Temp Sensors/Probes

Many users ask "where to install" temp probe to the CPU. This is an excellent question as the CPU temp can be confusing;

1) Intel and AMD list max CPU temp based on temperature on the center of CPU "case" or heat spreader,
2) Some motherboards report CPU temp based on diode inside the CPU and others are not,
3) Heat sink or water cooling product reviews may use one of the two, giving some folks a big headache.

For illustration, I borrow a couple nicely taken photos from systemcooling.com (never place the temp probe on the heat spreader or CPU core, else it will be crushed by the heatsink)

Click to enlarge

Photos from SystemCooling


Testing the fun part next ->