The 2024 ZimaCube Pro / Unraid thread did not establish a working, supported fan-control method. Users could not read fan speeds, and one community member proposed that an ITE IT5570E controller might be involved, but that chip identification was presented as an understanding rather than an IceWhale-confirmed hardware specification.
That matters because an Unraid fan plugin can only control hardware that Linux can actually detect through a supported sensor or controller driver.
What the Thread Proved—and What It Did Not
The thread proved that at least two Unraid users could not see the system, CPU or rear fan speeds through their normal tooling. It did not prove that the IT5570E is the controller on every ZimaCube Pro revision, and it did not provide a tested kernel module or supported write interface.
Avoid using undocumented register writes or random laptop fan-control modules simply because the chip family looks similar. The risk is not only inaccurate RPM reporting; writing the wrong controller registers can also create unsafe cooling behavior.
Why Unraid AutoFan May Not Be Enough
The Unraid AutoFan plugin can automate fans when the required probes and drivers are available. The plugin documentation itself notes that hardware support and additional drivers may be required.
So installing AutoFan is a reasonable detection test, not evidence that the platform exposes a controllable fan channel.
Use Read-Only Diagnostics First
Start with read-only sensor discovery: check what lm-sensors, Unraid hardware monitoring and the kernel expose. Record temperatures and whether any fan RPM values appear before changing control settings. Compare this with the current Zima hardware overview rather than assuming the 2024 discussion describes every hardware revision.
If your goal is quieter operation, first confirm whether heat is coming from disks, CPU, PCIe devices or background services. The NAS power guide helps separate cooling demand from fan-control software.
Bottom Line
The forum thread is best treated as an unresolved compatibility report. Unraid can control fans only when the hardware controller is exposed through a usable driver. Until you have a confirmed sensor path for your exact unit, monitor temperatures and use the platform’s existing cooling behavior rather than forcing undocumented fan registers.
