NZXT Noctis 450

Product: NZXT Noctis 450 "Concept" Mid-Tower Chassis
Provided By: NZXT
Price: $139.99 MSRP at time of publication

Introduction:

If you love having a clean looking build with great cable management, you should definitely take a look at the NZXT Noctis 450. Built around the same chassis as the NZXT H440, this case is not only a neat freaks dream, it is a solid product that you won't have to replace if you haul your computer around to LAN parties. 

(Click for hi-res)

First Impressions:

Is that metal? The first thing I noticed when I pulled the Noctis 450 out of its shipping box is that even without any other components in it yet, this thing is solid. There is no flimsy aluminum here. The sharp angled design of the top and front panels immediately draws your eye, while the integrated side panel window practically begs you to take a peek inside. This case is sharp looking and draws attention to itself. I hadn't even lit the integrated LED's up yet and I wanted to run it to my nearest LAN party and show it off. 

(Click for hi-res)

Case Design - Exterior:

The smooth white powder coat finish on this case matches so well with the minimalistic, sharp angled 1/8th inch thick white plastic top and front panel that is finished so well, and this makes it hard to tell where metal ends and plastic begins. If it weren't for the difference in noise when tapping on it, you would think that this case is made of 100% metal. The white panels hovering over the black wire mesh underneath gives this case depth and a sense of high quality engineering. You might expect to see a design like this on the exterior of a ship in the upcoming game Star Citizen.

There are no swinging or removable front panels to access your optical drives in this case. Part of what makes this case look and feel so solid is the fact that NZXT has done away with 5.25-inch drive bays all together in this model. With online distribution of software becoming the norm, physical disc media is on its way out, and NZXT knows it. The only ports on the front and top of the case are located beside the power button at the top right front of the case. Four USB ports (2 x USB 2, 2 x USB 3) along with a headphone and microphone jack are all you need for front access. In my mind, this keeps the clean lines and minimalistic look of the case at a 10/10.

If you are a fan of custom lighting your case, you will really enjoy the features on the Noctis 450. Two built in LED strips on the bottom of the case provides a great under-glow effect, while the NZXT logo inside the case is also backlit. A really great added feature is an LED on the back of the case that you can turn on to see what you are doing when plugging new cables into the back of the computer. There is a button on the back of the case that toggles through five lighting settings ranging from completely on, to completely off.

The only potential downside, which for me is a plus, is the fact that there is no lighting shining directly on the motherboard, leaving your build looking dark. As we will discuss in the interior design section of this review, there is plenty of room to add whatever type of lighting and it’s wiring to your case if you so choose. 

On the next page, we'll continue looking at this case as we dive inside and cover some of the sweet things inside this case.