Hardware Practice Reviews Software

CrankzWare RainPOW! 2.0 Review – RGB controller, intelligent fan control, image controlled monitor backlight and much more

Summary

Almost everything worked and the device presented today has now in its second version also the necessary maturity to recommend it without restrictions. But a few more words about that in a moment. The corresponding software is constantly being developed, but already offers a lot of functions and was also free of crashes or hangs. The system load is pleasingly low, because in total no more than 100 mA should ever be measurable for the control electronics at the inputs of both modules. The reaction time is consistently good to very good.

The LED control works flawlessly and offers interesting features, the hardware monitoring with the external or internal sensors of the system worked on current AMD and Intel systems without complaint. However, the software only runs under Windows. EyeLight could convince completely and who really wants to use the aRGB-signal from the motherboard and quasi boost it, can still do so, even if it has actually become completely superfluous.

The next revisions of the hardware will, I asked explicitly, have an electrical isolation on the 5-volt rail of the board between USB and Molex. Because as we know, the motherboards are delivered by default and contrary to the current ErP/EuP guidelines, unfortunately with the power saving function deactivated. As a result, the USB connections always carry the 5V voltage even when switched off and both the RainPOW and the connected aRGB devices are constantly supplied with power. This can be easily avoided by activating this function in the BIOS. Then one does something for the environment even without RainPOW, because only then the guidelines prescribed by the legislator are also met with <=0.5

CrankzWare is a start-up without invisible investors or a big company in the background. Except for the use of some 3rd party modules, motherboard, firmware and software of the RainPOW! 2.0 were developed completely by myself. That really demands respect, because the valley of tears, through which you always have to go, is well known and always the same. Learning curve, setbacks and a closed market dominated by a few big players are just some of the factors.

Conclusion and recommendation to buy

The RainPOW! 2.0 is a nice add-on board that can be used to add a custom water cooling and / or a larger system like my PC table in the areas of fan and RGB control up to the Ambilight equivalent. The purchase price is of course open to discussion, but just under 105 Euros for the finished complete solution and just under 125 Euros for the controller including an EyeLight strip for a monitor over 32″ diagonal are really fair. Such a thing is also much more expensive in the long run, especially with the follow-up costs for a software subscription.

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About the author

Igor Wallossek

Editor-in-chief and name-giver of igor'sLAB as the content successor of Tom's Hardware Germany, whose license was returned in June 2019 in order to better meet the qualitative demands of web content and challenges of new media such as YouTube with its own channel.

Computer nerd since 1983, audio freak since 1979 and pretty much open to anything with a plug or battery for over 50 years.

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