NZXT Panzerbox Aluminum Mid-Tower ATX Case Review

A Detailed Look – At the Outside

Here’s the NZXT Panzerbox and our initial thoughts about this case are extremely positive . The minimalistic design approach real works well with every exterior element NZXT has incorporated and there really isn’t one thing that detracts us from the overall design of the case. The black mesh is quite flattering as well as the full metal optical bay covers that I think will be well received by enthusiasts and gamers.

The top panel houses a subtle panel that includes two USB 2.0 ports, eSATA port, and microphone and audio out jacks. This panel is place right between lots of black metal mesh that will provide great heat dissipation properties as well as look very stylish at any LAN party.

The front panel includes a massive 190mm fan and three 3.5″ optical bays, which is more than adequate for most PC user’s needs. The fan runs at 1,100 RPM, which could get a bit loud when used in tandem with the other two 190mm and 120mm fans that NZXT included with the Panzerbox. All the fans do not have LEDs, which I think was a smart move and kept everything consistent in regards to the design of the case itself.

The power and reset buttons are very minimalistic in nature and don’t draw to much attention to themselves.

Here’s a close-up shot of the 190mm fan on the front panel of the case. I would have added a removable filter for this fan because does pull in a lot of air, which could lead to some good-sized dust bunnies after extended use.

The left panel on the Panzerbox includes a small mesh-covered window at the bottom of the case to showcase the graphics cards that users install in their systems. The entire side panel is flush with the chassis, which makes everything look seamless.

The back panel shows how NZXT fit everything into this case, and the new design also brought with it some sacrifices like inverting the power supply. This means the PSU is right in front of the graphics cards and other PCI expansion slot devices, which could hamper air flow and causes heat issues down the road. The included 120mm exhaust fan is a nice touch and it is embedded into the removable motherboard tray.

The right panel is exactly the same in every way to the left panel. They even included a mesh-covered window at the bottom, but unfortunately will be covered by the motherboard tray.

The top of the case is completely covered in black mesh and includes another 190mm fan and the front panel ports for USB 2.0, audio, and eSATA.

Lastly, I wanted to show you how each side panel is secured to the chassis on the Panzerbox. NZXT developed this clip system you see above that is a little hard to use at first, but once you figure it out, it’s pretty easy to take off and put back the panel.