NZXT Tempest 410 Elite: Jack of All Trades
by Dustin Sklavos on September 1, 2011 3:20 PM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- mid-tower
- NZXT
Noise and Thermal Testing, Overclocked
Introducing the NZXT Tempest 410 Elite to our overclocked testbed is cause for some concern. The Zalman CNPS9900 MAX cooler that we use on our processor can get fairly noisy under these circumstances, and the Tempest 410 Elite doesn't look like it'll be able to do much to mask it. At this point it's best just to hope the airflow of the enclosure itself is enough to keep the cooler in check.
Unfortunately, once we overclock, the Tempest 410 Elite loses a great deal of its lead on the processor. The In-Win BUC, priced just $10 more, delivers appreciably better thermal performance and as you'll see below, does so more quietly as well.
At idle, the Tempest 410 Elite is the loudest case we've tested, while under load it acquits itself nearly as poorly. It has some trouble handling the increased thermal load, but more than that, it's just unable to handle that load efficiently and quietly. Meanwhile, enclosures like SilverStone's FT02 and Thermaltake's Level 10 GT may be three times as expensive, but they also show an appreciable benefit to spending up. Even Rosewill's Thor v2, at $149, makes a reasonable argument for spending an extra $60 for a better enclosure.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
14 Comments
View All Comments
Shinobisan - Thursday, September 1, 2011 - link
I'm seriously looking at the Corsair Special Edition White Graphite Series 600T case.Seems to have everything I want, but I would really like to see a good review on it before buying. Any chance y'all could get your hands on one?
bobbozzo - Thursday, September 1, 2011 - link
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4028/corsair-graphit...I think the only difference with the Special Edition is the window and possibly the fan controller.
BTW, I helped my friend build a system with the Corsair 600T, and I have an Antec P182.
The Corsair is much wider, but I'm not sure that it has any functional advantages over the Antec, other than bigger fans.
Shinobisan - Thursday, September 1, 2011 - link
Yep, that works.Malih - Thursday, September 1, 2011 - link
the way front USB ports is laid out on 600T makes it easier to use multiple ports in case you plug something.bigger backplate opening.
easily removable front+top dust filter.
Although I kindof wish the fan RPM on 600T control is a volume control instead.
There's also the P183.
Dustin Sklavos - Thursday, September 1, 2011 - link
I like the looks of the Corsair 600T, but for performance and acoustics I actually still have to give the nod to Rosewill's Thor v2 at roughly the same price (if not a bit cheaper). If you don't mind the aesthetics, the Thor v2 will run cooler at roughly the same noise level.ckryan - Thursday, September 1, 2011 - link
Samsung's BD drives - they seriously make any case look good with their mirrored tray and a piano-finished glossy black which looks anything but chintzy. Optical drives are largely forgettable affairs, but its hard to ignore the aesthetics. I could get by with a $20 DVD combo, but I'm not ashamed to admit that I paid several times as much just for a better looking BD drive. It looks especially good with black aluminum enclosures, but does seem to class up cheaper plastic cases as well.
I actually broke the sata connector on mine, buy RMAing it was painless as well, which always counts for something in my book.
Dustin's reviews are some of the best anywhere, and I like the commitment to cases in a world where work a day component coverage is getting squeezed by so much other gear.
Dustin Sklavos - Thursday, September 1, 2011 - link
That comment just made my day. Thank you!ckryan - Thursday, September 1, 2011 - link
You've been on a tear recently.arswihart - Thursday, September 1, 2011 - link
Looks like well cooled, quiet cases are finally becoming the norm. But, an ATX motherboard is overkill most of the time these days. I guess the case makers are just stuck in the past.stm1185 - Thursday, September 1, 2011 - link
That pretty much sums up my thoughts on this case. I was thinking NZXT had the best designers with the Phantom, then the H2, but then they put out this thing and its just so ugly in comparison.