Verdict: A daft power supply and limited features keep this out of the running

Thermaltake classifies the HardCanos as a range of hard disk coolers, but this description isn't really accurate for the HardCano 9. That's because it has no 40mm fan or any other form of bringing cool air into the case, so if you do fit a hard disk behind it'll just have to sit there all by its lonesome.

As a fan controller the HardCano 9 puts in a reasonable appearance but doesn't have the capabilities, flexibility or looks to compete with the Akasa Fan Controller Pro. Yes, there are four fan speed dials, but these connect to the fans via Molex connectors - not a very sensible move when the vast majority of fans have three-pin headers, not four-pin Molexs. You can disconnect the Molex cables from the three-pin headers on the back of the HardCano but then you'll probably have to invest in a set of three-pin extension cables (argh!). Even more annoyingly the HardCano requires you to connect two Molex power connectors to it directly, and to add insult to injury it uses a battery to power the LCD screen.

Once you've successfully navigated around the spaghetti junction of wires and actually got the HardCano 9 up and running it's all very easy, as all four fans have their own dial for speed adjustments. The display is fairly basic as pretty much all it tells you is what temperature the single thermal probe is measuring. It also displays the temperature at which you want the alarm to be triggered, which can be set by rotating a small switch recessed behind the front panel. As the display is battery powered there is an on/off switch to save juice when your PC isn't up and running - a 'feature' that wouldn't be necessary if Thermaltake had bothered with a decent power supply in the first place.

As the HardCano 9 is only available in one colour scheme (black and silver) it could be a problem matching it with a more colourful case. Also the LCD display isn't backlit and so is more difficult to read, especially if your PC is under your desk and you are looking down at the screen. At £19 it's not bad value for money, but the Akasa Fan Controller Pro is far superior overall.

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