NZXT's Sentry LXE touchscreen fan controller turns you into Storm, minus the cheese

We know, you're probably scoffing at those mortals still using "fans" to "cool their gaming rigs," but unless you've thrown down the cheddar on a swank liquid cooling solution, you'll probably find yourself at least mildly interested here. NZXT has taken a break from the mice and keyboard routine to break out a rather unique piece of kit in the Sentry LXE. This touchscreen fan controller connects to one's desktop via PCIe, and from there provides finger control of up to five internal fans. Users can adjust each one individually, set it to automatically keep the machine at a given temperature or create a silence that would spook even the Reaper. As you'd expect, there's an inbuilt temperature alarm to notify you if temps head north of a designated point, and all this fun awaits you in exchange for a low, low $59.99. Head on past the break if you're in need of a video demonstration.

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NZXT Debuts Sentry LXE High Performance Fan Controller with Intuitive Touch Screen

Sleek, brushed aluminum external fan controller delivers advanced capabilities for under $60

El Monte, CA – June 30, 2010 – NZXT, a company built on realizing the dreams of gamers worldwide, is proud to announce the 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...

Intuitive Touch Screen LCD – 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 – 5 Temperature probes keep tabs on thermals throughout the case while the 5 Fan controllers adjust the fans' RPM speed. 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 – Instant notification if temperatures rise above a designated point

Sleek Design – Brushed aluminum frame provides sleek aesthetics for any desktop environment. Simply set the fan controller atop your PC or desktop and connect through PCI card interface

"Sentry LXE is a unique blend of high performance, complete monitoring and control, intuitive operation, and sleek design" said Johnny Hou, Founder and Chief Designer at NZXT. "The customization capabilities are perfect for the enthusiast who wants to tweak every aspect of airflow and keep tabs on system thermals. Having already launched several highly-acclaimed fan controllers, we truly feel that Sentry LXE offers unparalleled value and is a must-have addition to any performance PC."

Sentry LXE will be available soon for the MSRP of $59.99. For more information visit http://www.nzxt.com/new/products/fan_control/sentry_lxe.

[GGG Posted Jul 2nd 2010 4:58AM]

Why would i want to buy this?

Can't the fans be controlled well enough through software?

[cashclientel Posted Jul 2nd 2010 5:25AM]

@GGG because the follow equation resolves to true
you = geek

[GGG Posted Jul 2nd 2010 6:00AM]

@cashclientel

i would disagree, anybody who cares about their computer's fans enough to buy this is a real geek.

[GGG Posted Jul 2nd 2010 6:01AM]

@cashclientel

ah sorry, you meant to say that i would be a geek if i wanted to buy something like this. then i completely agree :)

[Sammy3 Posted Jul 2nd 2010 8:00AM]

Breaking news - Liquid cooling systems require fans too !!!(if not more fans than an air cooled system)

These fan controllers will most likely appeal to people with high end liquid cooling systems with big rads and lots of fans.

[TehSilentWolf Posted Jul 2nd 2010 8:05AM]

@GGG

Most motherboards even high end ones have a maximum of 4 fan headers on the motherboard (which means 4 fans they can control the speed of). Otherwise they have to plug them directly into the power supply.

With this it gives you an extra 5 fans you can directly control, and a lot of cases have around 7 or 8 fans

[NikAmi Posted Jul 2nd 2010 8:22AM]

@cashclientel I'm gonna apologize in advance if I'm wrong about this because it's been years since I've programmed anything, but doesn't an evaluation statement require two equal signs. It seems you've made him a dork instead of determining whether he already was one

if (you == dork) {
buy(weirdButAwesomeFanControlDoohicky);
}
else {
printf("Look at all the nerds nerdgasming all over this. I'm too cool for this crap.");
}

[Lowest Ranks Posted Jul 2nd 2010 9:00AM]

@GGG if you have powerful fans(Delta fans) this is very inadequate since it probably can accommodate 5 watts and below fans. I'll stick to my Lamptron Fan-atic, 60 watts per channel FTW!!!!!!

[GGG Posted Jul 2nd 2010 9:36AM]

@NikAmi

Yep, i guess that's whet confused me a bit :)

[forty5cal Posted Jul 2nd 2010 3:42PM]

@NikAmi you made me very happy just now.
I would totally buy one of these if I wasn't running old parts (good at the time) in my computer and if my fans would actually get recognized. I have 6 in my case but SpeedFan only sees 2 and wont let me adjust either of them...

[NikAmi Posted Jul 4th 2010 11:43AM]

@forty5cal I don't know if you'll ever read this, but I could use the good karma so here goes:

SpeedFan is a software program and so it requires separate hardware, mobo sensors to be specific, to get its readings and control fan speeds. This product is based on its own hardware so it is guaranteed to work on all hardware as long as the power interfaces are compatible, which they should be.

[EvanSei Posted Jul 2nd 2010 5:01AM]

interesting lookin thing lots of lights at least

[Blackstar Posted Jul 2nd 2010 10:30AM]

@EvanSei

I wish I could tell, the camera seems to be held by a man suffering from Tourette's syndrome. O.o

HOLD IT STEADY FOR 3 F$%^ING SECONDS YA F#$K!

[lexitu Posted Jul 2nd 2010 5:05AM]

Inspired by the Sony Dash.

[liamrickerby Posted Jul 2nd 2010 5:06AM]

This is great news I was going to use their previous fan control system but this will be much better. Although it's not going in a pc, it's going inside a bespoke av unit with modular compartments cooled individually by the this unit.

[satn Posted Jul 2nd 2010 5:14AM]

nzxt keeps making some sweet, yet not cheesy looking, custom PC accesories.

I use their panzerbox and have been drooling at their LCD fan controllers.

Now if only my desk wasn't such a huge mess that I could use this.

[U238Shell Posted Jul 2nd 2010 5:27AM]

The fan controller looks good but, Engadget, please stop making PC component articles.

This is great for liquid cooling, liquid cooling requires fans and greater fan control for any application is good.

NZXT also makes ONE peripheral from my understanding and that's a mouse. Saying they're taking a break from mouse and keyboard routine is a bit misleading as they're more well known for making computer cases.

[InfernoZeus Posted Jul 2nd 2010 5:30AM]

Most "swank liquid cooling solution(s)" still use fans.. They just use the water to conduct the heat as it does a better job than a big block of copper..

[timmy2000 Posted Jul 2nd 2010 8:57AM]

@InfernoZeus they still the block of copper, they just mount the water containment stuff to the back of it.

[InfernoZeus Posted Jul 2nd 2010 9:19AM]

@timmy2000 Yeh, I realise that, but the copper is a much smaller part of the system, and because of the intricate design of the block, more heat can be removed from the CPU quicker.

[YpoCaramel Posted Jul 2nd 2010 6:01AM]

I kind of liked it more when it was still case bling.

[Viper007Bond Posted Jul 2nd 2010 6:24AM]

It's also available as an internal unit (two 5.25" bays): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811992004

[Digi Posted Jul 2nd 2010 8:37AM]

@Viper007Bond That model isn't a touchscreen. But I can easily say it is friggin awesome sauce. I have it in my NZXT Arctic case.

[Mr Itcher Posted Jul 2nd 2010 9:16AM]

There must be some way out of here...

[A25i Posted Jul 2nd 2010 9:18AM]

Or download Speedfan for free, and not have that fugly looking piece of crap on ur desk.
Oh, and a shit load of other features this thing could never do.

Did I mention it was free?
http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

[fel Posted Jul 3rd 2010 2:35AM]

@A25i
yeah because speedfan has hardware temp monitors, and lets you control more fans.

It doesnt.

[A25i Posted Jul 4th 2010 2:27AM]

@fel
Yes it does.

[fel Posted Jul 4th 2010 1:46PM]

@A25i
speedfan is SOFTWARE, it does have HARDWARE temp sensors.

[JosephSGrace Posted Jul 2nd 2010 12:38PM]

Wait, is this awesome controller PCI? Didn't anybody tell them that Intel is phasing out PCI?

[smakus Posted Jul 2nd 2010 12:39PM]

The title surpasses my reading comprehension abilities. Either that, or it sucks.

[DeAthWaGer Posted Jul 2nd 2010 1:06PM]

It looks a lot brighter and more Star Trek TNG in the photo.

[darok3k Posted Jul 2nd 2010 1:48PM]

this reminds me of that one Superman TAS (90's) when all the bars are full up, it explodes...