Heap of crap.
review by
davelt
NZXT recently released a new fan controller to update their old NZXT Sentry 2.
Also, I want to say thank you to Hydra Distribution for sending it to me
15W ...
I've got fan controllers that will do 30W all day and night across 3 channels
Mind you there really isn't a single word about where it's made ... this is not a good sign ...
5.4" Massive.
Package contents
Straight away you can tell it's irksome. Just.Look.At.The.Touch.Pads
Zip ties, an extra thermo probe in case you lose it.
A hopelessly complicated user manual that doesn't say anything about manual mode not reporting any RPM. Strangely the user manual says there are 3 thermometer probes. Odd.
This in quiet mode. "Quiet" minimum speed is 40% and it ramps up to 50% at 32C :sarcastic and it also spins for 30secs at full speed before going down to set speed when you turn it on, change mode and change fan settings.
You see what I mean.
Performance mode? And they expect the probe to placed on the cpu socket ...
It gets worse.
Temp probe is off by 0.9C and the circuitry is only good for 0.5C gaps. Well meaning it only updates from 42.1C to 42.6C as an example even if the actual temp dropped by 0.1C only.
You get the drift now?
They didn't even bother to clean off the mound of flux
Holtek chips (Possibly LCD, haven't checked on it) on two ends of the boards.
No wonder it's only good for 15W the transistors are SOT23! Still better than the previous gens which brought to the table bling and 5W or 10W. Also it's a PWM design although the pathetically low rating lead me to think it's a voltage design but .. NAW. this is 2014
In case you still don't get it I have a video for you
Also, Bad viewing angle. Viewed straight on it is dim but the only real viewing angle is from above
Pros
Touchscreen!
Automatic fan control ability
Cons
40% minimum
30sec delay between modes and fan settings when turning it down ...
Bad viewing angle
Exposed touch pads, not something you want to see
Only 1 temperature probe unlike NZXT Sentry 3 or the majority of fan controllers out there
Wrapping up I initially wanted to use it so badly for my project log fall of schwarz but it is so clunky and weird that I don't want to use it anymore ... Oh well.
It is a feature packed and great fan controller on paper ... Good idea but not refined at all.
Pros | Cons |
---|
Touchscreen Automatic fan control ability | 40% minimum speed, 30 sec delay on turning on etc etc, bad viewing angle, exposed touch pads, only 1 temp probe |