NZXT Source 210 Elite Computer Case Review

Manufacturer: NZXT
Product Name: Elite Source 210
Model Number: 8C-S2NL2-WWB
Price As Tested: $49.99

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by NZXT.

When buying a case enthusiasts must balance between cost, aesthetics, and build quality. Normally you can only have two of these three things but on rare occasions companies produce a case that has all three properties in one case. NZXT has given enthusiast one of these rare cases with the NZXT Source 210 Elite which at $50 combines all three of these traits into one case. Benchmark Reviews will see if the Source 210 Elite is really the holy grail of mainstream cases or will this perfect looking case fall apart when scrutinized?

Although a majority of the spotlight falls on cases like the Corsair 800D, Thermaltake Level 10, and the Silverstone TJ11 at $300 or more these cases are out of the reach of a majority of consumers. The real market for cases is in the sub $100 range and unfortunately at this price point quality, and features range drastically from case to case. NZXT has brought out the Source 210 Elite as the computer enthusiasts answer to all of this. It has everything an enthusiast could need in a case, including a full steel construction with a beautifully finished interior and exterior, USB 3.0 on the front panel, eight 3.5" toolless drive bays, and great expandability for cooling should the need arise. So without further ado let us take an in-depth look at the NZXT Source 210 Elite case.

When reviewing a case you have four major things you need to look at. First, you need to look at build quality because no one wants to spend hours putting hardware in a case only to find defects or to have parts that will fail months later. Secondly, you need to look at cooling because as the heat output of components goes up, so do cooling needs. Third, you need to look at the acoustics of your new case because as anyone who has worked on or near servers knows adequate cooling can come at an acoustic cost unless a company put expenses into preventing this. Lastly, you need to look at the ease of build, which depending on your system may or may not play a big role in your choice of case. If you like, I spend lots of time inside of your case modifying parts then you want a system that you can easily move around in while making modifications. On the other hand if you want to setup your system and leave it then this becomes less of an importance and therefore can be moved lower on the requirements for your case.

NZXT Source 210 Elite Features

• 5.25" and 3.5" Screwless Design - Allows easy setup or removal of optical and hard drives.
• USB 3.0 - Provides the most up to date high speed data transfer.
• 140mm top fan included - Maximizes cooling potential. Bottom Mounted PSU - Positioned for the most effective PSU ventilation
• Wire Management Support - 20mm space for a neat and easy build
• Aluminum Textured Panel - Accents the chassis for a clean, modern look and feel
• Dual 120mm Front Intake - Takes advantage of front facing HDD bays for excellent airflow
• Maximum Cooling Potential - Eliminate heat by installing up to seven 120mm fans

NZXT Source 210 Elite Specifications

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