The Silenx IXA-FCEX in action.

The Silenx IXA-FCEX is a four channel, 6 watt per channel manual external fan controller. Unlike the NZXT Sentry LXE (Amazon), another external fan controller reviewed on this site, the IXA-FCEX is a much more basic controller. It does have one feature the Sentry LXE does not have: you can use this controller as a standalone device by plugging it into the included AC/DC adapter. Thus, without connecting the controller to a computer, the Silenx IXA-FCEX could be used, for example, to cool AV equipment or aquarium lighting. If you want to use it with your computer, simply connect the Molex connector to the power supply and plug in the fans. The controller has an LED light for each channel indicating when a fan is powered up. It sells for $19.99 (plus $5.50 shipping) on Amazon.

One caveat that should be made is that the power supplied when the Silenx IXA-FCEX is plugged into the adapter is only 20 watts (5 watts per channel). Thus, if you have fans with more substantial power requirements, you may want to check to make sure that this unit supplies enough power. In addition, the fans will not shut off completely, nor will the LEDs shut off. This product is designed to work with 3-pin fans; if a 4-pin fan is plugged into it, the LED light for that channel will not light up. In addition, quality control issues have been reported with some units, and some of the controllers have lost their ability to control fan speeds over time.

Nevertheless, the Silenx IXA-FCEX offers a great deal of functionality at a relatively low price, and if your power requirements are not that great, this is a product you might consider buying.

Silenx IXA-FCEX Specifications:

SKU: IXA-FCEX
Dimensions: 130x37x28mm
Channels: 4
Cable length: 500mm
input voltage: 12v
output voltage: 4-12v
power capacity: 6w max per channel
power capacity powered from computer: 24w
adapter input voltage: 100~240v
adapter output voltage: 12v
adapter cable length: 1700mm
power capacity powered from adapter: 20w

External Links:

Silenx’s product page for the IXZ-FCEX
Silenx IXAFCEX Four Channel External Fan Controller on Amazon