NZXT Tempest

Examination:

From the front of the chassis, the Tempest doesn't look special or possess any signs of being an "airflow king", but is just made up of a number of 5.25" drive bays with mesh covers. When it comes to installing 5.25" drives, one disadvantage about this case is that the entire front bezel needs to be removed in order to remove the 5.25" mesh covers. On the top of the case are two USB 2.0 ports, audio, eSATA, and the reset/power buttons. The eSATA addition is certainly nice as not all manufacturers have yet standardized on providing a front-panel eSATA port. Unfortunately, with the eSATA port, this has displaced the IEEE-1394 Firewire. At the top of the case are two 140mm fans with room for a water-cooling radiator to be top-mounted. The NZXT Tempest is a steel-body chassis, but there is (unfortunately) quite a bit of plastic along the edges and in other areas.

On the side of the NZXT Tempest is an acrylic side window. For additional ventilation and primarily cooling installed graphics card(s), on this side window is a 120mm intake fan positioned near the expansion slots.

At the rear of the Tempest case is a 120mm exhaust fan, seven expansion slots, I/O panel, and the power supply mount. The power supply mount is located at the bottom of the case instead of the top, which has become more common recently with a number of performance-oriented cases. Further reinforcing the Tempest as being water-cooling friendly, there are two pre-drilled holes next to the expansion slots. At the bottom of the Tempest are four rubber feet, but there isn't anything special about them.