Completed Build, Performance, and Final Thoughts
Completed Build
A clean looking system
The S340 has enough room behind the motherboard to make cable routing easy, and it only took a few minutes to clean things up before taking these photos.
Temperatures and Noise
| Test Platform | |
|---|---|
| Processor | AMD FX 8350 |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte 970A-DS3P |
| Memory | Samsung 4GB 1600MHz DDR3 (OEM) |
| Graphics Card | MSI AMD Radeon R9 290X Lightning |
| Storage | Plextor M6 Pro 128GB SSD |
| Cooling | Corsair Hydro Series H75 Liquid CPU Cooler | Stock AMD HSF |
| Power Supply | SilverStone Strider ST-1000P 1000W Modular PSU |
| OS | Windows 8.1 64-bit |
For testing CPU load temps I use Prime95 and HWMonitor software with this AMD system. To measure GPU load temps I use the Unigine Valley graphics benchmark to load the card, monitoring temps with GPUZ. Room temperature was 18 C with a noise floor of 34 dB.
I have only tested three cases with the AMD system I’m using here, but considering the comparison to a pair of SilverStone cases with 90° motherboard layouts and dual 180mm intake fans, the S340 came out looking very good.
I’m using a very efficient Corsair H75 liquid CPU cooler that doesn’t produce a lot of noise under load, and while the R9 290X is a very warm GPU the MSI cooler on the Lightning edition of the card is also quiet under load. Load noise was minimal, and the S340 ended up being a really good performer for a conventional case here - and the lowest of the three tested with this hardware configuration.
Final Thoughts
NZXT has hit it out of the park with the S340. Nitpicking on 3.5” storage installation aside, there are all of the trappings of a premium case here without the premium price. At its price this is one of the most impressive enclosures I’ve ever reviewed, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it for anyone who doesn’t need more room for storage. That drive limitation aside (a growing trend with PC enclosures), the S340 has the ideal combination of solid construction, ease of installation, and attractive appearance. Add to these a full MSRP just under $70 and we have a tremendous value that makes this a compelling choice for a variety of builds.
Strengths
- High quality materials and construction
- Excellent fit and finish
- Roomy interior, effortless build
- Good cable management
- Removable screens for front and PSU fans
Weaknesses
- Would like to see HDD trays for 3.5” mounts
Bottom line, if you’re looking for an affordable enclosure with good flexibility, high-quality construction, and stylish appearance, you can do no better than the NZXT S340.
Excellent writeup. Fully
Excellent writeup. Fully comprehend the capabilities of this case, and easy to parse with lovely macro photos. Nicely done Seb.
Thanks! I do like that macro
Thanks! I do like that macro lens…
Not a terrible deal but I
Not a terrible deal but I would still rather pay 40 more dollars for the H440. Just a lot bigger and better cooling.
Nice review, form factor is
Nice review, form factor is very appealing and the case looks quality inside and out. Liquid cooler is a nice inclusion to the system.
Nice review!
Maybe if you
Nice review!
Maybe if you would have used the other included 120mm fan as an intake fan you could have achieved better thermal results!
Agreed, it isn’t always ideal
Agreed, it isn’t always ideal but I do try to keep things as close to default as possible for thermal testing. It ships with the top and rear exhaust fans in place and I didn’t want to modify that when comparing it to the other cases.
is it me or is that msi
is it me or is that msi Lightning extremely bent ….
It did sag noticeably – but
It did sag noticeably – but this one always does in standard ATX orientation due to weight. The card itself is straight on my testbench
Heeey, another Sebastian’s
Heeey, another Sebastian’s chassis review. (^o^)/ Nice one, man.
You said that your pet subject is the side panel. Give us more photos of it, not just the corner… full perspective inside and outside, and do scrutinize it more. Weigh it. Lol :D. I think I know why it slides easier than H440. It has a lighter material and no dampening foam on the right side, less weight less friction.
Some insights for case manufacturers, if you can pass on to them Sebastian, would be awesome:
Look at that drooping, slanting of the GPU’s PCB with its massive heatsink. Why won’t chassis makers be creative about air-cooled GPU support. Yes, water-cooled is still a small percentage of the crowd. Actually, this S340 actually has that vertical panel that could be a potential for a GPU support’s mod… or a velcro, lmao 😉
Also, SSDs’ form factor which is 2.5″ should be more prioritized than 3.5″ nowaday. They should add more options to it. A simple piece of metal, two of them in each side with holes to attach the SSDs, stacked up with a bit of space between is a simple solution on this particular chassis. SSDs don’t vibrate anyway. That would be 2×2 or an option for 2×3, etc etc.
Err, thanks for reading the rambling of a chassis enthusiast. Keep up the good work! 🙂
Thanks! Nice to know there
Thanks! Nice to know there are more case enthusiasts out there. I thought about the SSD bracket idea, and I have the feeling it’s kind of tied to price, however unfairly. A $69 case isn’t intended for the person who’d buy 4 SSD’s…BUT with the lower cost of the case there would be more $$$ to buy more SSD’s. It seems like it would be a simple matter to have them stacked with a side bracket, so maybe we’ll see that more going forward. This design is based on the H440 so we’ll probably have to wait for a totally new chassis to see more SSD options.
Also, I am torn on the GPU support problem. I don’t like the cards to sag, but I don’t like support brackets. If they had a way to attach an arm to the back that helped hold it from that direction I’d like it. The front-mounted supports are harder to work with. Let’s go with the Velcro idea 🙂