NZXT Sentry LX Review
The NZXT Sentry LX is a fan controller that provides an easy and effective way to control your PC’s cooling system. With its large touchscreen display, users can easily monitor and adjust fan speeds.
Take a Closer Look at NZXT Sentry LX
Today we will be looking at one of NZ XT’s fan controllers, the Sentry LXE. The LXE is unique because it isn’t mounted in your chassis like most other fan controllers. The LXE sits on your desktop for ease of access and displays a considerable amount of information.
The Xtreme 850W unit is finished in a charcoal color. There are two blue LED fans that give it some flash. It does sport a relatively neutral finish, so it should fit in and look good in just about any case setup. The finish on the Xtreme 850W is relatively smooth and isn’t really textured much at all. But with the mirror finish, you will have an issue with fingerprints.
Additionally, the finish isn’t very scratch-resistant. It did scratch relatively quickly, so handle it with care. Overall, the Xtreme 850W looks quite lovely but is reasonably weighty.
To know more about the LCD display read this article about ColdTears Electronics GOverlay LCD Display Review.
Overall features
The most noticeable visual and functional features here are the dual fans on the front and back of the power supply. Most units on the market today have made the move to a single, large fan (usually 135mm or more), but Rosewill has chosen to go with 2 fans instead, each of which is 80mm in diameter. This is a rather perplexing decision in our opinion, as it’s been our experience that a 2-fan setup is usually considerably noisier than a 1-fan design.
While the second fan is supposed to aid in cooling, we’re not entirely convinced. So we’ll be sure to note the unit’s noise during testing. Interestingly, when we checked Rosewill’s website, we did notice that Rosewill also offers a single-fan version of the Xtreme 850W. This is quite impressive to have the option available. Our test model is the dual fan configuration. But if you order the Xtreme, be sure you specify a single or double-fan model. Otherwise, you may end up with the version you hadn’t anticipated.
Specifications
The Xtreme 850W is not modular, instead going with a more traditional setup with all the cables attached directly to the unit. While this is a bit surprising for a unit in the 800-900W market segment. Depending on your perspective, spending 10 minutes to hide a few extra cables could well be worth saving $50 in return. Can’t complain on that front.
Looking at the specifications, we see that the Xtreme 850W has 4 +12V rails, each rated at 20A, for a total of 768W (64A) available. This should be more than adequate for most enthusiasts unless you’re going with a quad SLI or CrossFire setup. The rear of the unit doesn’t feature any honeycomb perforations that we usually see with single-fan designs. So all the airflow must be forced through the 80mm fan only and out the rear of your case.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the NZXT Sentry LX is a top-notch fan controller. It provides a wealth of features and customization options for users looking to control their PC’s cooling system. With its large touchscreen display, compatibility with a wide range of fans, and customizable settings, the Sentry LX is a must-have for any PC enthusiast.
