Computex 2014 - Day 3

Computex 2014 - NZXT

NZXT only had three products to show us this year at Computex, and surprisingly not one of them was a case. The company is still heavily promoting its H440 chassis, and we've now finally been promised a sample soon – we've been itching to get our hands on it since it was announced in January.


You may have read recently that NZXT has just released its CAM hardware monitoring software for Windows, and all three new products were linked to this in some way. First up is the Grid+ fan controller. It's capable of powering up to six fans on its single 30W channel (4-pin PWM connections aren't supported). It's fairly slim at 18mm deep, and thanks to a simple dual lock Velcro mounting system it can be stuck anywhere in a chassis where there's room for it, with the optimal position in most cases likely to be behind the motherboard tray. A USB connection provides compatibility with the CAM software and the unit requires one spare molex connection for power. Pricing is set at $30, with UK pricing yet to be confirmed.


We were then shown the CAM-compatible versions of the Kraken X40 and Kraken X60 AIO wat-coolers, which have been christened Kraken X41 and Kraken X61. The former uses a 140mm radiator and a single fan while the latter uses a 280mm one with dual fans. They are built using what NZXT refers to as Asetek's generation 4.5 design, and as such are equipped with automatic variable speed pumps. This means the pump will run at a slower speed when the system is cool enough (i.e. when idle), so gurgling pump noises should be less apparent. The Kraken X41 uses a 36mm deep radiator, which is 24 percent thicker than the X40's, though the X61 and X60 have the same depth. Furthermore, the fans have been upgraded to FX140 V2 models, which have been tweaked to provide better radiator cooling and are PWM compatible. The CAM software can be used to control the pump unit's onboard Hue lighting as well as fan speeds. Pricing for the EU market is set at 99 and 124 Euros.


While these were the only new products on show, NZXT also said that it is working on Hue LED strips that can also be controlled through the CAM app. Finally, when we asked what chassis plans it had, it said that a new mid-tower case is on the way that's set to blow everything else away. Technically it is to be part of an existing NZXT case range, though the company did say that it had trouble naming it because it was so different to everything else – colour us intrigued!