Introduction
Every PC enthusiast is constantly on the lookout for a better case. Whether it is for greater functionality, a more impressive look, or both, the search is always on. Being a hardware reviewer I have gone through more than my fair share of cases. My first true enthusiast case was the Coolerguys Windtunnel 4. The Windtunnel 4 was functional, but it lacked the expansion I needed. That is when I bought a modified Antec SX1030.
If you were to take a survey of the case that most DIY PC users own I am sure that the Antec SX1030 would be near the top of the list. The sheer functionality and size of the case make it the perfect enclosure for pretty much any system. A well-known fact is that Antec isn't the manufacturer of these cases, Chenming is. Antec, along with several other companies have branded the SX1030 as their own product.
The Nitro Elite case is an aluminum version of the SX1030 that comes with a window preinstalled. Aluminum is a lighter, and more attractive material than steel. Aluminum also draws heat away from components, making it a more practical material for computer cases.
Windowed cases are becoming more and more popular among PC enthusiasts. Being able to see your hardware in action is very nice, although it is not as important as functionality.
Let's take a close look at the features of the Nitro Elite.
The Nitro Elite came in a box marked Turbo Gamer. The text on the lower left portion of the box explains the important features and specifications of the case. The box weighed in at 18 pounds, but the case only weighs about 14. The case was packaged quite nicely, although there was some slight damage to the rear of the case, which I will explain later.
Rather than a Lian-Li like chrome finish, the Nitro Elite has been painted silver. I think that the silver paint job on the Nitro Elite looks great, and the paint won't smudge or scratch as easy as chrome. The only external parts of the case that haven't been painted silver are the case feet and side door latch, which both have been painted black. This case would be perfect for any Oakland Raider fans out there, since it is indeed silver and black.
The front bezel is very nicely designed. There is a row of curved lines going from the bottom to the middle. The front bezel is not made of aluminum; rather it is made of extremely strong plastic. The lockable door covers your drives and power button, making it impossible for anybody to turn on your PC or tamper with your CD-ROM drives unless they unlock or break the door. The door isn't a full-proof way to deter people from tampering with your PC, since it can be broken if somebody really wants to turn on your computer, but it will stop your kids or room mate from messing with your system when you are at work.
The side left side panel of the Nitro Elite comes with a lexan window preinstalled. Both sides of the window were covered by thick tape that protects the window from scratching during shipping. The window hole has been cut perfectly and the window sits in the panel nicely and doesn't vibrate. Rather than use rubber moulding, the window is attached to the panel by fifteen small black push-button screws. The window itself didn't have any scratches and is very sturdy.
The side panel can be locked to prevent it from being removed. Rather than sliding backwards the door pulls outward when you remove it. This proves to make installing and removing components a lot easier. Since a latch holds on the panel there are no screws needed to hold it on during transportation, although it comes with two thumbscrews.
The right case panel can be removed, although since the case uses drive rails and comes with removable hard/floppy drive cages I don't see any reason to remove the right panel. The top panel is riveted onto the case, making it nearly impossible to remove by conventional means. Once again, there shouldn't be any reason to remove the panel, so there shouldn't be any issues.
I explained earlier that there was some slight damage to the rear of the case, which was most likely due to UPS throwing my package around or something. The portion of the case that the power supply screws into was completely bent in on the left side as you can see. The bend caused the power supply to sit in the case improperly, so I used a hammer and gently pulled the case outward. I asked my UPS guy to drive a little slower when he came over today, so hopefully anything he delivers in the future will arrive without damage.
I was actually surprised that the case dinged because it is quite sturdy. It didn't flex at all during a shakedown test and it had an overall sturdy feeling that is hard to describe. While I wouldn't stand on the case, I wouldn't worry about it getting damaged during transport to LAN parties.
The feet on the bottom of the case are very stiff and don't move around unless you want them to. You can position them so that they stick out from under the case, which would keep the case from falling on its side during an earthquake, or you may keep the feet positioned under the case so that they aren't sticking out, which may be more aesthetically pleasing to you.
The power supply doesn't screw directly into the Nitro Elite; it screws into a bracket that screws directly into the case. The bracket wasn't flimsy, but at the same time it wasn't very stiff. The power supply didn't vibrate unnecessarily as a result of the bracket being used. I am not sure why the case uses the bracket instead of just having the power supply screw directly into the case.
Now that we have closely examined the cases very impressive shell, let's take a look at what really counts, the internal features and functionality.
The Nitro Elite has more than enough drive bays to suit your needs. There are four 5 ¼" bays, three external 3.5" bays, and five internal 3.5" bays. If you need more drive bays then I would like to know what the heck you are doing with your computer.
The Nitro Elite comes with everything you need to install your hardware. There are screws, standoffs, drive rails and two sets of keys. While one key works for on both locks, the Nitro Elite comes with four keys. I found this to be very nice, because you can keep a spare set in a safe or in a drawer, should you happen to lose the first set.
The two rear-mounted fans are very quite and run on a 4-pin Molex connector. They fans are snapped into a purple enclosure, which allows for easy installation and removal. While the two fans are a nice feature, they may cause a problem. Since there are no front-mounted fans in the case, minimal cool air can be drawn in from the outside of the case. Thankfully the case was designed to accommodate two front-mounted fans. One fan sits below the lower hard drive cage, with the other fan pushing air across the hard drives. If you do not have any other 60 MM fans I recommend taking one of the rear-mounted fans and installing it as an intake fan.
The Nitro Elite comes with removable hard drive cages that allow you to install your hard drive without removing your side panels. The cages were somewhat stubborn to remove and reinstall in the case, but they didn't cause me any headaches, just slight frustration.
Drive rails are hated by some people and liked by others. I happen to be a huge fan of drive rails since they make swapping and removing CD-ROM drives so much easier. The drive rails here screw into your drives and snap into place letting you know that the drive is properly installed. I didn't notice any vibration caused by the use of drive rails in lieu of screws, which can be attributed to proper design.
If there is one thing that this case is sorely missing it is a removable motherboard tray. Removable motherboard trays have become almost a necessity for PC enthusiasts. The size of the Nitro Elite allows for you to install components pretty easily, but a removable tray would have made things a lot easier. The inside of the case was very smooth, and all of the would-be sharp edges have been folded. Not once did I cut my finger when working with the Nitro Elite.
While we are on the topic of power supplies, the 420-Watt Turbolink power supply that comes with the Nitro Elite is merely okay. While the included power supply didn't appear to cause any stability issues, there were occasional voltage spikes, especially on the +5 volt line. I didn't trust the power supply to run my machine and promptly swapped it out for a Fortron Source unit provided by . That isn't to say that the included power supply won't work for you, but the voltage spikes indicate that the included unit may not be the best solution when it comes to powering your machine.
So far we have seen that the Nitro Elite has a lot to offer aesthetically and functionality-wise. Now let's see if it can keep your system cool during this extremely hot summer.
Using MSI PC Doctor, we monitor CPU and Chassis temperature. We monitor our hard drive temperature using a Mac Power Digital Doc 5.
Test System and Conditions
Nitro Elite Case
Maxtor ATA133 HD
2 x Athlon XP 1700+ processors
Ambient room temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 26 degrees Celsius
First we will be monitoring the system, CPU and hard drive temperatures without the front and rear cooling fans running. I let the system run Sandra CPU and Hard Drive tests for ten minutes before recording the results.
The chassis and CPU temperatures are within normal operating conditions when the fans are turned off. I am, however, concerned with the hard drive temperature. When the front intake fan is not running, the hard drive overheats. Once we place one of the rear fans in the front so that it blows over the hard drive, the hard drive runs at a comfortable 99 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately the way that the fans are installed when they come from the factory does not promote optimal airflow. As I stated before, it would be best to position one of the rear fans as a front-intake fan. While the aluminum material that the case is made of draws heat away, intake fans are the only was to draw cool air from outside of the case.
Overall, the Nitro Elite did a decent job of cooling my system once I repositioned one of the fans to an intake position. If this were done at the factory I wouldn't have any qualms.
Conclusion
If you have yet to purchase an aluminum case for cost reasons, then this may be the perfect time. The Nitro Elite is inexpensive, offers tons of expansion, and looks great. The only problems that stick out were the stubborn hard drive cages and the fan positioning. The power supply unit wasn't the greatest, but at the price of the case, you can't really complain. The thing that really impresses me about this case was the window. I have never seen a better window installation, whether it was from a factory or custom case store. Whether you are a fan of the Antec SX1030 or if you are searching for a case that looks great while offering impressive functionality, the Nitro Elite is for you. I think it also important to note that the Nitro Elite has replaced the Antec SX1030B as my primary case.
PROS
Inexpensive
High Quality Window
Tons of expansion capability
Lockable doors
Looks great
CONS
Low quality PSU included
Fan placement not optimal
Stubborn hard drive cages
NOT THEIR FAULT
My UPS driver goes on rallies with his truck before he delivers my packages, so when they get here they are damaged. I told him to take it easy, but we all know how rallies are.
BOTTOM LINE
If you are in the market for a new case take a very close look at The Nitro Elite from Silver Bullet PC. If you decide to order it from them they will throw in a Cold Cathode for $5. Just call them up, tell them Viper's Lair sent you, and you're set.
If you have any comments, be sure to hit us up in our forums.
