Understanding Nvidia ESA / Software Fan Control

Looking up the NZXT fan control panel, my research thus far has not been very flattering. Apparently they have a tendency to be very sensitive to how the temperature detection works (e.g. do it even slightly wrong and you might as well not have it) and there have been some reports of the panel just "going out" after a while.

While logic would tell me that a certain percentage of such reports on the interwebs are to be expected (component failure rate / poor installation), im seeing enough of them with enough explanation consistency that it makes me nervous.

I am going to be running windows 7 when James FINALLY gets back to me (im STILL waiting to hear back about the 240mm version of the asetek cooler) and i move forward with my computer order. What software is out there that will actively manage my fan speeds to keep my computer within appropriate margins and spin them down when my computer is not under load?

As I understand it, NVidia ESA should do that and also actively manage the clocking and power going to various components. After its release in 2008-ish, did it ever catch on? Would it be worth anything on my DSO PC? Can you explain how it interacts with my PC components?

Thanks!

Edited by Clocks - 22 Sep 2009 at 11:06pm