Conclusion:

I had hoped that by using larger fans that the NZXT Panzerbox would have given us superior cooling. This was only partially the case. While the overall design is great, it may be that very design that holds it back thermally.

Overall, the Panzerbox is a very well made and attractive case that is priced on par with other "mid-level" enthusiast cases. After lugging it around for a few weeks I can also say that while it is not the lightest gaming case I've ever had, it is certainly not akin to lugging around a boat anchor.



If you are one of those people who are obsessive about cable management, the Panzerbox may give you fits. Because of its open design, routing cables can be tricky, as there are few places to tie them to and very few structural members to route cables around. I found after a few days, I pretty much gave up and just zipped them up as best I could without them rubbing against the fans. Since there is no side window, no one will really notice.

Shopping around the web, one can find the Panzerbox for around $120.00 at places like Newegg.com, where there is currently a mail in rebate that brings the final price down to $100. While this is not cheap for a midtower case, it is well priced for a unit that offers so many user friendly features and refined touches.

Overall, the NZXT Panzerbox earns the Bigbruin.com "Gaming Approved" award for its gamer friendly features.



Pros:

» Solid aluminum construction, lightweight for its size
» Fans are very quiet even at full speed
» Truly tool-less
» Removable motherboard tray
» Included hardware for radiator mounting

Cons:

» Cable management can be tricky
» Hard drive cage can be difficult to remove/install
» No external 3.5" bay for card reader/fan controller

Please drop by the Bigbruin.com Forum and feel free to post any comments or questions.