While NZXT may be best known for building high-quality cases, they should also be known for great design and functionality. One of their most popular accessory products is the Sentry 2 fan controller. In this review we will look at their latest follow-up to the Sentry line of fan controllers - the Sentry LXE. Unlike its predecessors, the LXE is an external unit so you need not worry about free case bays or reaching under your desk to adjust your fan settings.



The promotional image above provides a quick look at this novel, free-standing twist on a fan controller. Before taking a closer look at the sample provided for review, let's take a look at some more information on the Sentry LXE, as taken from the official product page on the NZXT website...

Introducing Sentry LXE, a high performance external fan controller with an intuitive touch screen. Its unique patent-pending PCI card interface desktop design allows effortless control without having to reach underneath the desk to configure the settings. Some of the additional advanced features include touch screen capability, 5 channel fan control and temperature detect, time and date display, temperature alarm, and screen on/of functions.

Features:

» Intuitive Touch Screen LCD â€" Advanced, touch screen LCD displays temperatures in C/F, RPMs,
   along with the date, time, and day of the week. Users have the ability to switch the display off
   for complete darkness for more immersive gaming sessions.

» Complete Control â€" 5 Temperature Probes keep tabs on thermals throughout the case while
   the 5 Fan controllers adjust the fans’ RPM speed for at least 10W per channel. Allows users to
   automatically adjust the fan speeds to correspond to a specific temperature, manually customize for
   extreme overclocking capabilities, or set to absolute silence.

» Temperature Alarm â€" Instant notification if temperatures rise above a designated point.

» Sleek Design â€" Brushed aluminum frame provides sleek aesthetics for any desktop.

» Rechargeable Battery â€" The Sentry LXE features a rechargeable battery for up to 500 times, keeping
   the LXE life time longer without the hassle of replacing batteries constantly.

» Using a NZXT developed PCI board and external touch display, the LXE allows for more 5.25" bays
   freed up for other peripherals.environment. Simply set the fan controller atop your PC or desktop
   and connect through PCI card interface.

Specifications:

» Fan Adjustment Range: 3.7V to 12V
» Fan Channel: 5
» Max watt per channel: 10W
» Temperature Module Channel: 5
» Temperature Range: 0 ~ 99℃ / 32 ~ 199.9℉
» Measurement Frequency: Every 2 Seconds
» Temperature Alarm Range: 30℃ to 90℃
   Â» Auto: Min 50%, Under 0-25℃，fan RPM 50%
   Â» Manual: Min 40%
» Screen Size: 5.27 inches
» External Cable Length: 6.8 feet