![]() ![]() NZXT Noctis 450 Build Quality & Cable Management With respect to the hard drive mount, we're big fans of the under-side cage (also found on the S340) and think that it's a clever solution for hiding away a 3.5” drive. Mount the motherboard, PSU, video card, and a hard drive or SSDs, and then move on. The instant a push-configured cooler has to be mounted under the steel, it's possible that you'll run into issues with the radiator/fan impeding access to the EPS12V connector.įor the most part, installation is trivial. The Asetek-compliance makes sense, given NZXT's current lineup of CLCs (the Kraken X41 and X61 are both Asetek devices). Even using the Seidon, which underwent a legal thrashing by Asetek, seems to have mounting issues in the top of the N450. This isn't something we necessarily knock NZXT for, but users should be aware that it's best to buy an Asetek-supplied CLC for use in the N450. Larger top-mounted radiators, like Antec's 1250, will understandably not be able to make use of NZXT's compartmentalized space above the steel. NZXT is aware of the matter and tells us that retail samples should be easier to work with. Novice builders need all the help they can get to avoid inadvertently stripping a component in the mad fervor to build a new PC. It's a small issue, but it should be fixed. We also ran into this problem with one of the standoffs, something that was complained about in our S340 review by Patrick Lathan. Once we've reached that point, the case may as well use normal screws instead. Unfortunately, the screws are over-torqued to the extent that they require some strength behind a screwdriver to remove. The same goes for the expansion card slots, all of which rely on thumbscrews for VGA mounting. NZXT uses thumbscrews in all of these locations, theoretically allowing for a tool-less exterior. The first step of system building is to remove the panel screws, and with the H440/N450/S340, the PSU mount screws also must be removed. The big picture obfuscates some of these details and makes them inconsequential after the system has been built (and, really, most users only build it once), but we list them because we want to see improvement. We've had a long history of complaints with very small, seemingly-minor complaints on NZXT's enclosures. Installation is trivial, if annoying at times. It's still a lot of plastic – and the look is still very “gamer” – but, in the least, it at least pretends to be artistic in its implementation. Regarding the aesthetic, the Noctis 450 plays the part of the Phantom, but does so with less offensively plastic-intensive paneling. The sheets hover over the large intake mesh and cross paths, something that wouldn't be possible with a front-facing 5.25” bay. The faceplate, as we learned from NZXT's N450 designer, uses interwoven, thin sheets of plastic to create an almost X-Men-like appearance. This dismissal of space-consuming bays allows a few important items for the N450: The faceplate design and the use of shrouded hard drive slots. The top panel allows radiators of ~25mm in the compartmentalized over-chassis chamber fans accompanying the radiators would need to be mounted internally.Īs with previous iterations of the chassis, the N450 adheres to NZXT's decision to abandon 5.25” drive bays in some enclosures. Mount points exist in the top of the case for 2x140 or 3x120mm fans, which can be exchanged for a number of radiator sizes, including 240, 280, and 360mm units. The N450 ships for $140, a $20 bump over the H440.Īmong major items to note, the N450's fan spec sees the inclusion of 3x120mm front fans (intake) and a single 1x140mm rear exhaust fan. Fans of the H440 will be inherently pleased with the N450 chassis and interior. NZXT has issued the H440 interior for a repeat deployment in the N450, making effectively zero changes to the chassis that has gained grip in the enclosure market. Rear: 1x 140/120mm (1 x 140mm FN V2 Fan Included)Ĭable Management: Lowest Point - 17.7mm Highest Point 32.5mm NZXT Noctis 450 Video Hands-On & Airflow Smoke TestĬA-N450W-M1 (Matte Black and Red LED Accents)įront: 2x 140/3x120mm (3 x 120mm FN V2 Fans Included) ![]()
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