Case Reviews

We reviewed our first NZXT case back in June. At the time, we liked the Tempest EVO the folks at NZXT sent our way, and their Hades case also recieved high marks as a value case that really brought on the heat. However, with all those mid-range offerings, NZXT's high end lineup has rather stagnated. Aside from their ancient Zero full-tower case (the specs still claim 8800 compatibility), they have their also-aging Khaos ultra high-end full-tower case. However, that case costs a full $300. Apparently, NZXT also saw the gap in their lineup and moved to release a product to fill that space. That product is their highly anticipated Phantom full-tower case. As NZXT says it, "designed with sleek, pristine contours, the Phantom radiates personality and quality." So how does this shiny new case stack up to the hype NZXT has stirred up? Time to find out.

There comes a point in every young man's life when his voice deepens, his hair gets thicker, and his muscles grow bigger (settle down, ladies).  Similarly, PC repair techs, hardware reviewers, and many computer enthusiasts also hit a point of maturity where we feel confident enough to venture out from the confines of a traditional enclosure. Before reaching this point, many of us are either scraping knuckles doing hardware quick-swaps in a generic case, or letting the hardware and wires hang out all over the desk in a configuration our local fire department likes to call a "safety hazard," whatever that means. But you know you reach a new level of geekdom when you pick up a test bench like HSPC's Tech Station. We're talking about a true workstation for true geeks, the ones who are always swapping components in and out. We're not saying this is a must-have in order to be a hardcore enthusiast, but when it arrives you can certainly feel your nuggets drop as you reach a new point of tech-maturity. No more tea parties with the neighbor girl, you've become a man!

Or maybe it's just a case. Either way, we greatly appreciate the benefits that come along with this new hardware. Now that we have it, where do we go from here? Let's just see what makes the Tech Station so special.

Here we have an excellent opportunity to be somewhat narcissistic. Heck, with a review product titled Hades and the site name of BURNED iN, it will be hard not to do a little self promoting, like mentioning just how hot it is around here. But this summer LeBron James set such a new low in self-love that we are all still sick to our stomachs. So, we promise not to refer to ourselves in third person or do some self-promoting under the guise of helping a non-profit organization. We'll stick with what we do best, giving everyone a no-nonsense review of the NZXT Hades case. Of course we won't shy away from the occasional wacky comments, because that's embedded in us. All we need to know is whether the Hades enclosure is hot or not. Let's find out, shall we?

SilverStone is a seasoned player in the computer case market. A heavy-hitter in the high-end range, their budget cases are few and far between. However, lately SilverStone seems to have added several specialty cases to their lineup, one of which we have here: The microATX Sugo SG-04-FH. This SFF case isn't at the top range of pricing, but it is by no means a budget enclosure. So the question here is: can SilverStone make this little SFF enclosure worth the high price of admission? We can tell you one thing about this: It sure looks like a million bucks.

The Scout enclosure, from Cooler Master, is one of their mid-tower releases in the Storm line of products. As with most of the products in this line, dark paint and/or a brushed metal look is the norm. But, unlike many of them, the Scout doesn't have that out-of-the-box flare that we are familiar with. Does that mean Cooler Master is hiding something underneath the hood? We intend to find out - join us as we take a closer look at Cooler Master's Storm Scout.

The "Airflow King Reborn!" At least that is how NZXT is touting the Tempest EVO case. It's an upgrade from the original Tempest that was released in 2008. Back then the original was competing directly with Antec's Nine Hundred, as well as other reasonably priced enthusiast enclosures. The new version, with three added letters (EVO), goes head-to-head with Antec's Nine Hundred Two and Cooler Master's Storm Scout, among others.

Maintaining the focus on airflow, the Tempest EVO claims to utilize more efficient fans than the original Tempest, as well as other small improvements. But NZXT already had a dominating airflow design in the original Tempest, right? So, what does the Tempest EVO bring to the table? Did NZXT really make some upgrades to the airflow and overall design, or did they just repackage the same ol' case to make a few bucks? The key will be to take a close look and pay attention to the details. Don't worry, we aren't going to be playing a twisted version of Where's Waldo, and undoubtedly we'll have more fun.