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Published: Aug 17, 2008 Author: Niko Lupala Editor: Amber Lupala Provider: NZXT Share this article:

Introduction

We’ve seen a lot of fan controller designs here on rbmods.com, everything from simple knobs to more elaborate controllers.  Today we get a chance to look at a new fan controller from NZXT, the NZXT Sentry LX High Performance Fan Controller.  Will this product live up to its “high performance” claims?  That is what we’re here to find out in this review.

About Nzxt:

NZXT, a company built upon gamer's dreams, hopes to create products that put consumers first. Our objective is to provide every gamer with a case that they can identify with. Combining unique design and case performance, consumers will finally be able to find a quality case that will represent their own style and personality.

In the future, NZXT wishes all gamers who desire a personalized case to find it at NZXT. With the unveiling of every product, NZXT improves upon on weaknesses and strives for excellence. Achieving perfection is not an easy task, however, NZXT is determined to meet and surpass consumer expectations.

Our dedicated sales and customer service team will also work diligently to earn your trust and loyalty. All our products are built with high quality material and engineered in the best conditions.

NZXT products are designed and engineered in the United States and manufacturered overseas in China and Taiwan.
 
Features:
*  Large dual 5.25" LCD screen
* NZXT designed intuitive control, set and change fan speeds and settings on the fly
* Auto/Manual modes, let the LCD take control or set fan speeds to your liking
* Temperature alarm
* Aluminum finish
* NZXT Designed graphical interface, easy to read and understand
* Saved Settings, calender and fan settings are stored even during system off so settings don't need to be redone

Highlights:
• Simple Installation – Sentry LX slides easily into any dual 5.25” drive bay
• Complete Control – 5 Temperature Probes keep tabs on all areas of your system while the 5 Fan controllers adjust the fans’ RPM speed
• Auto/Manual Modes – Allows users to automatically adjust the fan speeds to correspond to a specific temperature or manually set your system for extreme overclocking capabilities or absolute silence
• Temperature Alarm – Instant notification if temps rise above a designated point
• Intuitive Interface and LCD Display – NZXT’s ergonomic interface design allows you to customize your airflow on the fly
• Sleek Design – Aluminum plated front panel is designed to match any high-end chassis

The product:

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The NZXT Sentry LX Fan controller Bay arrived well-packaged in a large cardboard box.  The front of the package has nice picture of this sophisticated controller, and the back of the package provides a list of specifications and features.

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Opening the package, we find the contents securely packaged between two custom foam inserts.  Along with the fan controller itself, the package comes with an instruction manual, battery (used for timekeeping while the computer is off), and a set of cables.

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Taking a closer look at the fan controller, the first thing you’ll notice is obviously the fairly large display and size of the controller.  At ~3” tall, the controller takes up space occupied by two 5.25” drive bays.  I think NZXT made a wise choice by making the controller this big; it allows for a good sized screen that can be read from far away and still allow room for decent sized buttons.  There are a few buttons on the left side that select the fan, determine the mode of control (automatic or manual), and set/reset buttons.

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Looking at the back of the controller, we find a black-matte finished bracket that houses a circuit board with ports for the various cable connections including fan power, the fan controller power, and thermocouples/thermal probes that measure temperature.   As you can see, there are a lot of cables, but that’s because this controller can operate an impressive 5 separate fans and monitor 5 different temperatures.  I’ve never seen a fan controller that can control this many fans; in today’s world of high-temperature computing, this is an added benefit.