NZXT Adamas Case

Manufacturer: NZXT
Supplied by: NZXT
Street price: $175.00

by Brian Tiller (11/2/2006)

Introduction

We have quite a treat here for you today. Not only do we have a review popping but if you can hang on until the end there's a surprise waiting for you.  Thanks to the generosity of NZXT, we have their latest case in the house. We've reviewed three cases previously from NZXT, the Lexa, the Apollo and most recently, the Zero.  Each of these cases showed us that while NZXT can be considered one of the new kids on the block of case design they know what they're doing. What we have today is the Adamas case. It's a completely new design that they are touting as a "Structural Masterpiece". So let's take a look at the specs of this case and see what it has to offer.

Specifications:

• Observed Dimensions: 499mm (L) x 444.5mm (H) x 190.5mm (W)

• Observed Weight: 8.6kg

• Construction: Aluminum (3mm Aluminum frame and 2mm Aluminum interior)

• Drive Bays: (4) 5.25" External
                  (5) 3.5" Internal
                  (1) 3.5" External

• Hidden front access ports for USB/FireWire/Audio

• (4) Included 120mm fans

• Expansion slots: 7

• Motherboard support: ATX, Micro ATX

• Screw-less rail design

• Optional 500w power supply

• Removable front bezel

• Colors: Silver or Black

The Rig

Considering the size of this case, it is abnormally heavy for an aluminum chassis but that's due to the fact that NZXT has reinforced the structure of this case by using a very thick aluminum. It's small, but beefy. The case is solid black with the front bezel trimmed out in silver. The paint job isn't a shiny black, but more muted and it seems to just absorb the light. Getting good pictures of this case was quite a challenge.

There are four external 5.25" drive bays and NZXT has incorporated the top drive bay cover with a stealth door.

  

Moving a bit lower, we take in the two 3.5" drive bay covers. Now I'll bet you're saying the same thing I did when I first saw this.... "But the specs say there is only one external 3.5" bay." Guess what? There is. The other cover does a brilliant job of hiding the external access ports for the USB, Firewire and audio.

  

The final touch on the front bezel of this case is the grill for the front intake fan. Unlike some cases that I've seen, NZXT has done a nice job of blending this in with the case. The grill is a molded part of the front bezel and looks like nothing more than part of the design aesthetics of the case.

 

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