Der Panzerguts
The Panzerbox sans side panels and mobo tray.
Installing our AM3 system in the Panzerbox was a straightforward affair for the most part. The removable motherboard tray makes getting all the important bits mounted prior to installation super easy, but we found the Noctua NH-U12P and its 120mm fan to be 1/8″ too wide to fit through the space allowed by the removable motherboard tray. It installed easily with the motherboard tray in place, but users with wide heatsinks may not be able to make full use of the removable motherboard tray feature.
All of our hardware mounted on the removable tray.
The left edge of the HSF fan tags the edge of the case.
There are a couple tips you should keep in mind when working with the Panzerbox. First and foremost, install the PSU last. It blocks your video card slots and makes working in the box tougher than needed. The space between the PSU and cards is ample but some aftermarket card coolers will not fit. Our Thermalright TRad2 fit with dual 92mm fans but it touches the PSU. We opted to remove the cooler and replace the video card’s stock cooler as a preemptive strike to combat vibration. The 120mm fan option would have been a complete no-go, but new video cards with 3x80mm Accelero fans would pose no problem fitting in the Panzerbox.
The mess of wires is also known as the Birds Nest. (Ed note: That HSF is lip-synching!)
When using the top 5.25″ bay, the cables for the front panel connections can’t be easily removed or routed. Be sure to run power, SATA, and audio cables before installing drives. The case offers plenty of ways to manage cables and keep things clean but it requires some careful planning to get it all working. With the case’s added width, there’s ample space behind the motherboard tray and on either side of the drive bays to route cables. We also liked finding that excess PSU cables will tuck under the PSU’s support mount between the PSU and bottom of the case.
Finally, when using the removable hard drive mount, don’t slide the drive all the way in. The rubber anti-vibration mounts require some room, which will make the drive stick out more than some other systems. Once everything is installed, it’s a solid setup. It’s getting there that’s a little awkward.
German Engineering Made in China
Lets talk overall fit and finish. The Panzerbox, being aluminum, is light. All the panels — excepting the drive bay covers — are thin stampings. The chassis’ individual parts seem about as sturdy as aluminum can seem. The aluminum frame’s spot welds look like they came from a hot glue gun and material thickness varies. It’s thin in unstressed areas, but quite thick where the PSU hangs off the back of the case. Thankfully, all the screw bosses are excellent and well threaded, and all edges are rounded so you won’t cut yourself. When you assemble everything, the case becomes much more rigid. In the end, it’s not too bad. I wouldn’t rate it as highly as some of the Lian Li cases we’ve had pass through our lab, but the Panzerbox is good.
The only other hitch we could find with the Panzerbox is the reset button. The switch is really loose. It won’t come loose; it just jiggles like mad when I poke it.
Everything all installed and happy.
With everything all installed, we fired up the Panzerbox to see how it rolls. The two 190mm fans move a combined 300cfm just by themselves. This case, needless to say, roars. Our OCZ PSU and HD 3870 aren’t exactly whisper quiet, but the case was by far the loudest item. Compared to the Antec Nine Hundred with its fans set on high, the Panzerbox is roughly as noisy. What the Panzerbox lacks is adjustable speed fans like the Antec has. It could use a fan controller.
With no glowing fans or cold cathodes, the Panzerbox is pretty demure. Only the power and hard drive LEDS, tucked in the ribbed side rails under the power and reset buttons, cast any light. We found, however, that LEDs on components inside the case are noticeable thanks to all the venting. If your motherboard lights up like the Vegas Strip, everyone will see it even though the case lacks windowed side panels.
In the end, we found the Panzerbox to be a really good case. It has its faults but none of them are severe enough to dock it. It’s certainly functional, well appointed for containing a multitude of cooling systems, and its look is certainly unique. The case includes gobs of thumbscrews and a slick radiator mount setup, but we hope NZXT will include more motherboard standoffs in future shipments.
Other cases offer big fans moving big air, but all the ones we’ve seen don’t have the host of other features the Panzerbox has. We recommend it, especially when the retail cost is only $120. It’ll be money well spent.
Pros
- Big fans move big air
- Semi-toolless design
- Removable motherboard tray
- Excellent cable management options
Cons
- Loud
- Lacks enough motherboard standoffs
Pages: 1 2
Articles RSS