NZXT Launches Updated GRID+ Fan Controller

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NZXT, known for its innovative and modder friendly cases and accessories, has launched the second edition of its award-winning GRID+ fan controller. The GRID+ V2 from NZXT is a software-controlled fan controller with the ability to manage up to six individual fans, with a combined power draw of up to 30W. The six fan headers inside the GRID+ V2 can accommodate 3-pin and 4-pin fans, but 4-pin PWM fans will be controlled by voltage regulation in the included software.

The included software, which NZXT has named CAM, offers real-time monitoring of your hardware. It shows temperatures and load for the GPU and CPU, along with the fan control settings for the GRID+ V2. The software also lets you manage Kraken water cooling units if you have one installed. From within the CAM software, you can adjust the speeds for individual fans to create your own profile, or load one of the pre-installed profiles for silence or performance. CAM also lets you assign a name to each fan, making it easier to keep track of which fan is controlled by which header.

The physical design of the GRID+ V2 doesn't appear to have changed. It is still a compact unit designed to be installed behind your motherboard tray, keeping the wire management tidy up front. Fan controllers used to occupy a drive bay have dials to adjust fan speeds, but with the software control, NZXT was able to make the GRID+ much more discreet.   

The GRID+ V2 will set you back $29.99 and is available now from NZXT's website. 

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Kevin Carbotte

 Kevin Carbotte is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware who primarily covers VR and AR hardware. He has been writing for us for more than four years. 

4 Comments Comment from the forums
  • getochkn
    Might be worth getting now. I didn't like how the other one was tied only to a single CPU or GPU temp and would ramp up fans on that. I use a closed loop for my CPU and one for my GPU. Some rendering I do is CPU or GPU mostly, so I'd like only those fans to ramp up and not my whole system, so maybe this is finally something to address that.
    Reply
  • thundervore
    Still a failure!

    All fans are still controlled on by the same fan curve. Meaning all fans run at the same speed.

    They still use a barrel plug for power instead of a SATA connection

    PWM fans are still voltage controlled instead of PWM controlled.....

    I for one like my intake fans running faster that my exhaust fans for positive pressure.
    Reply
  • getochkn
    16453114 said:
    Still a failure!

    All fans are still controlled on by the same fan curve. Meaning all fans run at the same speed.

    They still use a barrel plug for power instead of a SATA connection

    PWM fans are still voltage controlled instead of PWM controlled.....

    I for one like my intake fans running faster that my exhaust fans for positive pressure.

    From within the CAM software, you can adjust the speeds for individual fans to create your own profile

    Reply
  • sephirotic
    Original grid controller was a real disappointment control wise. You could´t control fans individually and couldn´t use both CPU and GPU temps for control. The concept was good, features were terrible. I was looking at its homepage and it still seems to be very limited. Even if it now has independent channel control, it still doesn´t seem to allow to switch off fans which is a completely bummer for semi-passive enthusiasts. like me. And it also have a limited temperature scan for a software based device. No HD? No VRM? I'm not even asking for a wired probe. Anyway, I'll still keep using my MB with splitters and a digital thermostat with customization hysteresis bought from DX from 5 usd. Adjusting case fan curvers is the less importante feature for a fully optimized semi-passive build: Switching off fans and temperature scans by probes and different components is the most important.
    Reply