Wednesday, July 1st 2009

NZXT Silently Introduces Sentry 2 Fan Controller

Jul 1st, 2009 12:16 Discuss (29 Comments)

NZXT, specializing in making gaming chassis, has silently introduced Sentry 2 series fan controller. Representing a step up compared to the original Sentry and Sentry LX, the Sentry 2 occupies single 5.25-inch slot and displays all the needed information on a big touchscreen display. There are no buttons or knobs, all there is to be adjusted is controlled by touching. The NZXT Sentry 2 has five temperature sensors, and supports up to five fans. It can display the temperature readings from the sensors, fan speeds, it can also manually control fans rotation speeds and alarm you if there's a fan malfunction. The NZXT Sentry 2 will set you back 29.90 Euro.

Source: PCGH

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29 Comments on NZXT Silently Introduces Sentry 2 Fan Controller

A Cheese Danish

Pretty awesome I must say. Very sleek design and I like the touch screen

werez

looks good ... i was looking for a Sentry LX a while ago , but it was really hard to find one around here , so i gave up . Hope i can find this one in the near future .

TheLaughingMan

I am in

CPU mag suggested that this product will retail for about $29.99. I find that a bit hard to believe, but I guess the touch screen doesn't have to be high res for this application though.

If this is released at that price, I will pre-order it.

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

not too sure how good the touch screen will be (too sensitive, not sensitive enough, prone to failure etc) but its definately a good idea to get away from the huge knobs and buttons that are standard on fan controllers.

I just wish you could connect it to a USB header on the motherboard, and use software controls too...

Bjorn_Of_Iceland

I wonder whats the maximim amp for each fan node for this one... Scythe's kama meter only has 1amp per node. above that and its fried.. pretty limiting imo.

Odin Eidolon

nice! hope its brushed aluminium and that it supports at least 1.5A per channel. I see no heatsinks so it has to be either very low watts per channel or some MOSFET kind of regulation, which would be awesome.

reverze

Not a big fan of the look.

TheLaughingMan

Additional

Bjorn_Of_IcelandI wonder whats the maximim amp for each fan node for this one... Scythe's kama meter only has 1amp per node. above that and its fried.. pretty limiting imo.

10 Volts is the maximum voltage. Not sure about the amps.

While it would be nice to have software to control the Sentry, it would kinda make the controller itself pointless. You can control the fan speeds via software without a controller (if the fans can connect to the mobo).

And on that note. Anyone know of fan control software that would allow me to choose at what temps the fans increase speed/voltage?

Odin Eidolon

TheLaughingMan10 Volts is the maximum voltage. Not sure about the amps.

While it would be nice to have software to control the Sentry, it would kinda make the controller itself pointless. You can control the fan speeds via software without a controller (if the fans can connect to the mobo).

And on that note. Anyone know of fan control software that would allow me to choose at what temps the fans increase speed/voltage?

WTF 10 volts? that cant be possible? maybe 10Watts you mean?

BTW you can use speedfan, should be ok for what you wanna do :)

#10

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

Odin EidolonWTF 10 volts? that cant be possible? maybe 10Watts you mean?

BTW you can use speedfan, should be ok for what you wanna do :)

i've seen many fan controllers tap out at less than 12 volts.

#11

TheLaughingMan

10 volts is plenty. 90% of fans for cases are either 3.3V or 5V. I have seen a few 12V fans, but I don't think they were intended for desktops.... 10V across 2 parallel lines and 2 fans per line can easily supply 5V a piece for your average case fan.

Watts = Volt * Amps, your limit of 10 Watts is not plausible. While I am not sure as the exact number of Amps needed to run a case fan, I assume it is more than 2 Amps...I will test that though. If it only needs 2 A, then I should be able to power a case fan with 2 AA batteries.

#12

InnocentCriminal

Resident Grammar Amender

Too many bright colours for me. So like the sleek design & touch-screen though.

#13

TheLaughingMan

That is what it is about. The flash. The "My PC has this! Fuck yo Dell!"

And you can kinda adjust fans and stuff on the fly in game and what not for extra cooler when needed and keep your PC silent for browsing...that too.....but......yeah.....I just realized that CPU mag sucks. Thanks TechPowerUp and Staff, you guys rock.

#14

Odin Eidolon

Musselsi've seen many fan controllers tap out at less than 12 volts.

yep, but they are usually 11-11.5V. 10V isnt much.

TheLaughingMan10 volts is plenty. 90% of fans for cases are either 3.3V or 5V. I have seen a few 12V fans, but I don't think they were intended for desktops.... 10V across 2 parallel lines and 2 fans per line can easily supply 5V a piece for your average case fan.

Watts = Volt * Amps, your limit of 10 Watts is not plausible. While I am not sure as the exact number of Amps needed to run a case fan, I assume it is more than 2 Amps...I will test that though. If it only needs 2 A, then I should be able to power a case fan with 2 AA batteries.

i think you are confusing Volts and Watts. All case fans run at 12Volts. They run directly form the power supply's 12V line. Most case fans consume between 0.1 and 0.5 ampere, which is between 1.2 and 6 Watts. Just check one of your fans, or newegg specs, it will say 12V and xAmperes.

#15

TheLaughingMan

I just did and I don't see Voltage listed as a spec on any of the fans at newegg.com. except for that one that is 48V that everyone hates because it was mis-labeled at first.

I did check my fans manufacturer site and it does say start voltage at 6V, 12V rated. 10 Volts should still be enough, just have to hook all fans on the controller circuitry in parallel to give them 10V a piece.

P.S. Thanks I though those fans were on a 5V rail.

#16

Bundy

A while back, I was interested in getting a fan controller but am no longer interested because I am worried about introducing a vulnerability to my system. By this I mean that a fan controller is the perfect means for a small child or someone ignorant to totally fry your system.

#17

t77snapshot

malwareThe NZXT Sentry 2 will set you back 29.90 Euro.

What I'm confused.... :confused: I read other articles and it's msrp is $29.99 USD, but 29.90 Euro is like around $42. bucks in USD? I will admit that $30. for a touch screen 5 fan controller seems like a really good deal. I've been waiting for these to hit the market...:rockout:

#18

TheLaughingMan

Not really.

BundyA while back, I was interested in getting a fan controller but am no longer interested because I am worried about introducing a vulnerability to my system. By this I mean that a fan controller is the perfect means for a small child or someone ignorant to totally fry your system.

That is what the fan fail system is for. If some small child is messing with it and turns a fan off, fail safe on most controllers will either, simply not allow your fans to be turned off completely, turn them back on when the system gets too hot, or shut down the system before the heat does any damage.

#19

Kitkat

k that looks VERY COOL

#20

MKmods

Case Mod Guru

I dont see any heatsinks so its unlikely to be for 1A and above fans. However its very nice for modding, flat face, thin unit.

Very good job Nzxt

#21

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

TheLaughingMan10 volts is plenty. 90% of fans for cases are either 3.3V or 5V. I have seen a few 12V fans, but I don't think they were intended for desktops.... 10V across 2 parallel lines and 2 fans per line can easily supply 5V a piece for your average case fan.

Watts = Volt * Amps, your limit of 10 Watts is not plausible. While I am not sure as the exact number of Amps needed to run a case fan, I assume it is more than 2 Amps...I will test that though. If it only needs 2 A, then I should be able to power a case fan with 2 AA batteries.

... what the hell? all PC case fans are 12V

edit: damnit, someone else already pointed that out.

#22

msgclb

TheLaughingMan10 Volts is the maximum voltage. Not sure about the amps.

While it would be nice to have software to control the Sentry, it would kinda make the controller itself pointless. You can control the fan speeds via software without a controller (if the fans can connect to the mobo).

And on that note. Anyone know of fan control software that would allow me to choose at what temps the fans increase speed/voltage?

www.nzxt.com/products/sentry_2

Features
* Touch screen interface
* Five fan control through an intuitive interface
* Ultra fast selection and response time
* Display temperatures in both F and C
* Light switch turns off the meter when sleeping
* Automatic and manual modes of control
* Full compatibility with all types of fans using voltage control
* With a minimum of at least 10 Watts per channel, the Sentry 2 will support almost all high end fans
* Tuned accuracy with only a tolerance of one degree
* Sound alarm to alert when the temperature is over
* Stored settings, the Sentry keeps your settings even after power off

www.neoseeker.com/news/11167-nzxt-sentry-2-fan-controller/

NZXT expects the Sentry to be available this month at a MSRP of $29.99 US.

#23

BumbleBee

it's 10 watts per channel not volts this should be enough to control 200mm and above fans as the original Sentry LX had problems with only having 4 watts per channel. in my opinion this is much better than the original Sentry LX which took up 2x 5.25" drives still wish there was some heatsinks. by the way not all fans are 12v some are higher like Yate Loon, Delta, Sanyo Denki, etc.

#24

Kantastic

t77snapshotWhat I'm confused.... :confused: I read other articles and it's msrp is $29.99 USD, but 29.90 Euro is like around $42. bucks in USD? I will admit that $30. for a touch screen 5 fan controller seems like a really good deal. I've been waiting for these to hit the market...:rockout:

I believe almost everything tech-related in Europe is more expensive.

#25

damtachoa

I'm not a fan of this one. I like the old one better.

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NZXT Silently Introduces Sentry 2 Fan Controller

29 Comments on NZXT Silently Introduces Sentry 2 Fan Controller

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