Test – NZXT Grid+ V2 : |Specs | CPU | Hashrate | Review | Config

Hi all!

It was only a few months ago that I was testing the Grid + (test that you can read here) which, even if very interesting, was not provided with all the features that would have made it essential for fans of customization of the ventilation / silence. It did not take long for NZXT to replicate with the V2 of this small accessory, thus erasing the shortcomings of its big brother, namely the possibility of connecting only 3-pin fans and the inability to adjust the fans independently. on the temperature of the CPU or GPU.
The price of around € 30 does not move so it’s a safe bet that this little Grid + V2 will be the ideal companion and erase the imperfections of its predecessor, but let’s not jump to the conclusion right away, let’s see this that the beast has in the belly!

The box changes completely compared to the first version, indeed goodbye black / yellow and hello white / blue like the CAM software which will allow all these little people to configure. However, sobriety is essential here with only the photo of the product, the brand and the model.

At the back a small photo showing the CAM software in action, a profile photo of the product with a listing of the strengths of the Grid + V2, namely anti short-circuit protection, control of 6 fans, easy installation etc.

Inside the box a plastic mold in which are the bundle as well as the small Grid + v2 box, nothing very exceptional here!

The bundle consists of:

• The Grid + V2 box
• 1 USB 2.0 cable
• 1 molex power cable
• 2 4-pin extension cords
• Some cable ties
• 2 pieces of double-sided tape
• Installation manual

As you can see the bundle has everything you need to plug in and run the Grid + V2, plus a few cable ties and 3-pin extension cords. The pieces of adhesive will be useful for placing the Grid + V2 without it moving in the tower when traveling. In fact, the bundle is completely identical to the first version, there was no real need for more anyway.

The Grid + V2 remains a small black case 7.3cm per side and 1.8cm thick, the plastic is of very good quality and we only see a Grid + engraved in its center. At the back 3 screws close the case.

Ah! First notable change, it is now possible to connect 4-pin fans, 3 on each side for a total of 6 fans. A good point compared to its elder.

The small ventilation grid is still present, allowing any heat to escape from the internal components.

On the last side the USB connector which will allow the CAM software to pilot the beast, and the power connector which will be connected to a molex socket (as for the Sata connector however, on a modular power supply you will have to connect a Molex cable just for the Grid +!).

The PCB of the Grid + V2 has been completely revised and is completely different from the original version. There are many more capacitors and chips.

Even the rear is loaded! NZXT kept the PCB white and the build quality is still high level.

As we can see the NZXT Grid + V2 is a very discreet case with 7.3cm sides and 1.8cm thick for a weight of 94.2g (10g less than its big brother), which means that it will not weigh down your turn nor will spoil the view!
6 channels are available for as many fans in 4-pin, it will be possible to control the voltage from 0 to 12V, i.e. the fans can be stopped if the temperatures set in the software are not reached, fine for a quiet PC!
The NZXT Grid + V2 is available at a price of around 30 €, which could be interesting for those who do not want to invest in a 5.25 ″ or 3.5 ″ rheobus and who prefer to manage the ventilation via the operating system, by the CAM software in our case.

I will not give you a complete presentation of the CAM software again, given that I made it for the Kraken X41 (you can see for yourself here) but rather a small zoom on the part reserved for Grid + V2. As we can see when opening the CAM software a small insert is reserved for the Grid +, it will be possible to change the mode among the predefined settings (silent, performance, manual) or even custom profiles that will be possible to make in the Grid + tab, for each of the individually connected fans.

This is where the difference is really felt, in fact instead of the single ventilation control of all the connected fans that there was in the V1 we have a view of the ventilation curve of each fan as well as its connection temperature (CPU or GPU). To configure all this just click on “Chage Fan Modes”:

Here we choose each fan one by one, we assign it either the CPU or the GPU and we decide on its ventilation curve, either manually (at a constant percentage), or in “Silent” or “Performance” mode, or again (and the best) with a custom profile, like this:

Fan 3 for example (which can be renamed) is set to the GPU temperature, when this is below 60 ° then the fan remains off, as soon as 60 ° is exceeded then it starts up to 40% and continues to rise until reaching 100%. Note of course that as soon as the temperature of the graphics card drops below 60 °, the fan cuts in!
This opens up a number of ventilation possibilities for those who really like to take care of the airflow of their PC, in the context of a silent-oriented configuration for example we could have only 2 fans that turn slowly at rest and as soon as the processor and / or the graphics card start to heat up then one or more fans will start up (with identical or different fan profiles).

Here we are at the end of this test, what about the NZXT Grid + V2?
After a very basic Grid, a more evolved Grid + but which lacked a few small features to be really an essential NZXT returns with the V2 of the Grid + completely erasing the imperfections of its big brother. Indeed thanks to this small box it will be possible to connect 6 fans (3-pin or 4-pin) to it and to customize the ventilation curve of each individually and in relation to the temperature of the CPU. or of the GPU, unlike the first of the name which only had control of 6 fans simultaneously and in relation to only one of the two temperatures.
The CAM software is intuitive, easily configurable and will allow you to configure your fans very well, whether you want to make our configuration a model of silence or, on the contrary, a blower.
As nothing is perfect I would only make a small request, gentlemen from NZXT change the Molex connector for a Sata please!

Offered at a price of around € 30, the Grid + V2 is a very nice little accessory that will be forgotten inside the tower and will be able to take care of the ventilation of your configuration, whether for an office PC or a gamer config, a must have for fans of silence (which will also be included in my next report on the assembly of a silent configuration from A to Z).

Many thanks to NZXT for allowing me to do this test.