NZXT Sentry 3 Touch Screen Fan Controller Review

Few things are worse than having an excessively loud computer. Not only does it detract from the overall style of the computer, but it can be a serious nuisance to anyone in the same room as the machine. There are a few things one can do to prevent having an overly loud PC. You could either buy slow, quiet fans or you could purchase a fan controller. The second choice is probably best, as it allows you to ramp your fans up and get that much needed cooling power when you have a reason to use it, or keep your fans quiet when it’s not needed.

[sc:sponsor sponsor=”NZXT” product_link=”http://www.nzxt.com/product/detail/144-sentry-3-fan-controller.html” product_name=”Sentry 3″ product_price_link=”http://store.nzxt.com/SENTRY-3-FAN-CONTROLLER-p/ac-sen-3-b1.htm” product_price=”34.99″ ]

The Sentry 3 comes in a small cardboard box which is wrapped in clear cellophane. The front of the packaging features an image of the Sentry 3 in action. As you can see from the front of the packaging there are 5 channels with up to 15 watts per channel available to control your fans. In case you hadn’t figured it out, the Sentry 3 fits into an empty 5.25″ drive bay.

Spinning the box around, there are two graphics of the fan controller itself as well as a text blurb that outlines some of the features of the Sentry 3.

Lastly, the sides of the box have a specifications chart. One thing you’ll notice is that NZXT has decided to put a 2 year warranty on the Sentry 3. That’s a pretty lengthy warranty, so it should provide some peace of mind that you’ll have this fan controller for some time to come.

The Sentry 3 comes with a user manual, and an extra temperature sensor. The Sentry 3 comes with 5 pre-attached PWM fan connectors, which are removable when not needed.

Specifications

Model Number	AC-SEN-3-B1
Dimensions	129mm x 31mm
Material	Steel, ABS Plastic, Capacitive Touchscreen, PCB
Fan Connector	3-Pin or 4-Pin
Finish	Textured Injected Plastic
Included Accessories	4x M3 Screws
Form Factor	Single Bay 5.25″
UPC	15671011923
EAN	5060301691173
Connections	1x Molex, 1x Temperature Sensor, 5x PWM Male Fan Connectors
Maximum Combined Wattage	75 Watts
Brightness Levels	On / Off
Control Modes	Manual / Performance / Quiet
Fan Channel Quantity	5 Channels
Fan Channel Wattage	15 Watts
Temperature Range	0 to 120°C
Minimum Power To Fans	0%
Screen Size	5.4 Inches
Screen Type	Capacitive Touch
Fan Control Method	Voltage
Warranty	2 Years