Completed Build, Performance, Conclusion
If you are going to build in a case that features a full glass side panel, you want things to look neat and orderly inside. This is certainly the case with the S340 Elite, and the shroud to the right of the motherboard helped streamline the look slightly. As you can see the SSD can be displayed up front if desired, and this will show up through the glass.
The completed build from behind the motherboard tray is very orderly, and the integrated cable clips worked well. They felt a little flimsy to me at first, but they surprised me by staying in place even after I crammed in the extra PSU cabling. Note the HDMI cable which connects to the graphics card through an opening in the edge of the enclosure.
Performance
The S340 Elite was in the middle of the pack for CPU temps, but this is still a good effort with many high performance options in this group.
GPU temps were near the middle of the pack as well, though a bit higher than some other ATX enclosures that have more internal volume.
Next we look at noise output:
Here the S340 Elite really shines, placing second overall in the group! The thick construction and solid front panel make a big difference, and overall noise levels were excellent across the board. Very impressive!
Conclusion
The Source S340 is an outstanding enclosure with a high-end appearance thanks to the tempered glass side panel. Like the original S340, it offers a solid build and good cable management, and the new Elite version adds VR compatibility from its front HDMI port and magnetic headset puck. The MSRP of $99.99 is very reasonable for a tempered glass case, and the performance of the S340 Elite was enough to keep up with our standard gaming build – and very quietly, at that!
Strengths
- High-class look with understated style and tempered glass side panel
- Excellent build quality
- Compact size for an ATX enclosure
- External HDMI port and magnetic puck a plus for VR enthusiasts
- Very quiet performance
Minor weaknesses
- Limited space for some larger coolers due to compact size
- Plenty of competition at $99 price point
The Source S340 Elite is a welcome followup to the outstanding original, which was my pick for best budget enclosure last year. Adding (among other things) tempered glass, a front HDMI port, extra SSD mount, and better cable management for just $20 more than the standard version makes the Elite a relative bargain, making this newest version an excellent choice for a compact (and stylish) VR-ready build.
Brilliant review & photos.
Brilliant review & photos. Thanks, Sebastian.
I find that fan vent on the
I find that fan vent on the top very unattractive, but I never buy cases with windows, so I’m probably not the target audience.
That cable management puck might work well for headphones too.
“… The S340 Elite also
“… The S340 Elite also includes a magnetic “puck”, which doubles as both a VR headset hanger and cable management solution. This can be placed anywhere (metal) on the case …”
If it can hold a VR headset, then it can hold a pair of headphones.
Is all of the EMI safe for
Is all of the EMI safe for pregnant woman?
Thanks for the excellent
Thanks for the excellent review. I read it despite being a aluminium snob. Still hoping you can review some aluminium cases. Certainly the high end cpu’s, gpu’s, storage products, monitors, and even racing wheels (ie Josh’s did recently) are reviewed. It seems that plenty of readers would be interested to read reviews of high end cases too, but maybe I am one of a few.
That magnetic headset holder
That magnetic headset holder is a neat idea. wish more case makers provided that feature with their cases.
How does it stack up with
How does it stack up with Fractal Define C?
Is the paint finish any
Is the paint finish any better?
The original matte finish was just too easy to scratch.
You didn’t even feed the GPU
You didn’t even feed the GPU Power cables through the right path lol.