NZXT Still Offers Something New In Mid-Tower Case Design

If you thought there wasn't much innovation left to do in PC cabinet making, you'd be right. But what little remains is being dreamed up by NZXT, whose latest mid-tower enclosure began shipping on Thursday with more than a few new tricks.

Of course, the Tempest 410 and Tempest 410 Elite (with see-through side panel) offer superb styling and the superior fit, finish and functionality we've come to expect from the company, whose Phantom cabinet adorned CRN's 2010 Ultimate PC package.

You won't need a teapot to be up all night with Tempest. You'll lose sleep thinking up ways to use its eight internal drive bays to improve system performance. Eight included drive carriers can accept either 3.5- or 2.5-inch drives, and screw holes exist for either size drive if more security is desired beyond the grommet-clad pins supplied. For additional security, each drive carrier can be secured to the chassis with one of the thumbscrews that sit astride each bay.

Assuring that these bays are comforted by a constant breeze is a pair of 120-mm modular fans. Held in place on the cabinet's front panel with spring-loaded clips, these fans are removed without touching a single wire. That feature alone will pay for itself in reduced IT support costs. A built-in filter traps dust that would otherwise clog up the innards.

The front panel also is home to three, 5.25-inch external drive bays with spring-loaded, filter-equipped covers. Drives slide in without rails and are held in place with two pin that retract on a lockable rubber rocker. Along the right edge is the power switch, LEDs, mic and headphone jacks, and four USB ports, one of which is marked blue to indicate its SuperSpeed USB 3.0 pedigree. The power switch bends around the front corner of the cabinet and along the top for about a half-inch, behind which is the reset switch. There's no mistaking these two controls. A "secret" compartment at the top of the cabinet could holds about 10 optical discs, or any number of USB thumb drives.

Next: Under The Hood

As with all NZXT cases we've looked at, the Tempest 410 simplifies motherboard stand-off installation by stamping codes near each threaded hole, indicating which holes get stand-offs for the type of board you're putting in. There's also a key to the one-letter codes stamped inside. Though not as roomy as the Phantom, the Tempest still has plenty of room for hands and drives, and sharp edges appear to have gone the way of the audio cassette. An additional 120-mm (non-modular) fan is pre-mounted in the rear and the top panel has room for two more, for a total of five fans.

Below the rear fan are its seven expansion slot covers, each with a ventilated cover that's secured with individual thumbscrews. Next to that are rubber grommets for a water-cooling system. Wiring pass-throughs also are encased in grommets to prevent nicks and help improve air flow. Like the front fans, the power-supply intake also comes equipped with a removable filter.

The Tempest 410 lists for $80; the Tempest 410 Elite with see-through side panel lists for $90. These sturdy steel and plastic cabinets measure 19.5 x 18.5 x 8.5 inches and can accept ATX, Flex-ATX, Mini-ATX, Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX motherboards. They were designed with gamers and PC enthusiasts in mind, but would fit just as nicely in the enterprise. Designed in Los Angeles, Tempest cases include a two-year warranty. Both are recommended products by the CRN Test Center.