Final Thoughts and Conclusion
The NZXT Tempest Midtower Case is definitely one nice looking case. This is something that NZXT tends to excel at. Whether you are looking for an enclosure to make your computer look something out of a mecha anime series, or something that looks good in an office environment, Johnny and the guys at NZXT have your aesthetic desires covered. And that’s the main issue with case reviews; the looks are completely subjective. All you are left with is the numbers. So where does that leave the NZXT Tempest?
When we look at the thermal and noise level number posted in our tests, I would say the NZXT Tempest is sitting in a pretty nice position. Though it’s not quite as good a performer as the last case I reviewed – the Antec P182 – it’s close enough. When you factor in the price difference, the Tempest becomes that much more attractive.
Though it can be subjective, there are still some objective areas of the case design that are both praise worthy and worrisome. Placing the front panel on top rather than upfront is quite convenient for those of us that place our systems on the floor. The forethought put into making this case water cooling ready is also much appreciated. But as I alluded to, the Tempest isn’t without it’s faults.
The big issue I have with this case is it’s cable management. The rear of the motherboard tray needs to be opened up more to allow thicker cables to flow from bottom to top out of sight. The noise levels are a also a little higher than I would have liked, but they aren’t horrible. NZXT does concentrate on gaming cases and a little extra noise is to be expected, but less noise is very welcome.
In the end, the NZXT Tempest is a good value. It offers many of the features found on higher priced cases, is sturdy, and easy to work with. I would recommend this to any power user on a budget, looking for an inexpensive case that looks awesome enough to house all of their components.
Pros
- Great looks and good durability
- Top notch airflow
- Decent noise levels
- Water-cooling ready
- Excellent value for the price
Cons
- A little loud
- Some fit issues with EATX boards
- Mediocre cable management
Overall Rating: 8.5/10.
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