NZXT Khaos

NXKT Khaos
There was a time when NZXT's cases were known more for their outlandish front bezels than anything else. But in the last year or so, the company seems to have turned over a new leaf, introducing a handful of products with more subdued aesthetics. The latest addition to NZXT's product lineup for example, the Khaos, features a near-symetrical design with what is essentially a perfectly flat front bezel save for curved, protruding fins at its top and bottom.
The Khaos'main appeal isn't its more subdued look, however. It's the case's extremely high-quality construction and enthusiast class features. Although there are myriad of aluminium full towers on the market, few are quite as sturdy as the Khaos, thanks to the 2mm and 3mm thick panels used throughout its construction. Many of the seams on the Khaos are also welded, which further adds to the case's strength.
In addition to its relatively high-quality build, the Khaos also features provitions for two bottom-mounted power supplies (a secondary PSU triger is included) and seven 120mm cooling fans. Four fans (two intake, two exhaust) are included, and there's a bracket that can accommodate three more for additional motherboard and video card cooling.
On its exterior, the Khaos'top and bottom panels sport a finned heatsink-like design, presumably to aid in cooling. There are wheels and a handle affixed to the case, as well, which make it relatively easy to move around for such a large enclosure. Its back panel has two holes with rubber grommets to accommodate tubing from a liquid-cooling kit. An I/O panel with USB, audio, FireWire, and eSATA ports resides on the top panel, adjacent to the power and reset switches. And the case's side panels have horizontal vents running down the middle. Finally, a pair of hinged, 5.25-inch drive bay covers to "stealth" any mounted optical drives are also included.
The Khaos isn't a tool-less case, but its large size and open design make it easy to work with. It may not be quite as refined as products from Silverstone or Lian-Li, but the NZXT Khaos deserves a mention among ultra premium brands such as these, and its price is a reflection of this status.
by Marco Chiappetta

Specs: ATX Full Tower; Material: Aluminium; Motherboard compatibility: ATX, Micro ATX, Baby AT; Bays: 5 external 5.25-inch, 8 internal 3.5-inch, 1 external 3.5-inch; Expansion slots:7.

source: Computer Power User October 2008.
www.nzxt.com