NZXT Sentry 2 Performance Touch Screen Fan Controller Review

Final Thoughts & Conclusion

The Sentry 2 is one of the least expensive single drive bay 5.25-inch fan controllers on the market right now and it worked well in all my test situations. The Sentry 2 is easy to install and took under 15 minutes to completely setup. The LCD display is easy to read in normal lighting and looks really cool in the dark. The NZXT Sentry 2 gives you critical system temperature readings and the ability to adjust your fan speeds with a touch of your fingers. This is something that seems natural and it is likely that you will find yourself using this fan controller often. With summer coming up your house, dorm or office will be warmer and keeping your PC cool is critical in making sure you don’t have a system or component failure. You can find the Sentry 2 for $29.99 at online e-tailors like Newegg.com.

Although I like the Sentry 2, I do have two issues with this fan controller. One issue is that it does not have the ability to display the RPMs or make fine tune adjustments of the attached fans. Most of the people I know who are PC enthusiasts like to be able to see how fast the fans are turning in RPMs and to be able to adjust to their desired setting. Adjusting the fan speed in percentages does not get the same effect, especially since the Sentry 2 can only adjust up and down by 10%. This doesnt allow for fine tuning which is on the mind of every overclocker.

The other issue involves the sixth position when cycling though the different fan and temperature displays. The sixth position, according to the instructions, displays all the fans at once which is impossible. What it does show is the fan with the highest fan speed and no temperature at all. A better solution for this position is to automatically cycle through the fans at a defined interval. That way an operator can view each temperature and fan speed without touching the fan controller much like security cameras cycle through each camera.

Aside from my minor issues, I think the Sentry 2 from NZXT is a good value and does a good job of monitoring my system and keeping it cool.

Legit Bottom Line: The Sentry 2 fan controller offers temperature monitoring, fan speed control and touch screen capability in a compact size for an extremely low price.