Closer Look

Stripping the case naked from both front and side panels shows the steel structure of the chassis. The motherboard tray comes with opening holes for better cable management. Such holes allow the user to hide the cables behind the chassis’ tray. Taking the front panel off reveals the two additional 120 mm fans. Those blowers come with easy to remove filters. If you feel you’re lacking space, you can remove the hard drive cages along with the fans.


Here, we’re facing the internal part of the chassis. The case comes with two hard drive cages which are easily removed (screwdriver required). Each cage has its own 120 mm fan and plastic rails to attach a device to. With both cages inside, you can use no more than three 5.25” devices like optical drives. If you need more, you have to trade in one of the cages for an extra three slots. Note that the NZXT Tempest comes standard with one 5.25” to 3.5” bracket attached to the inside of the top bay.


The rear 120 mm is what enthusiasts will appreciate as it is a nice addition to the whole package. Also note that all fans have Molex as well motherboard connectors. Just below it we have expansion slots. They are not tool-free, but that shouldn't bother most of the users. In the end it all comes down to preference. In my opinion regular screws are safer and less of a hassle so it’s not a big loss for me at least. The inside compartment is pretty big. Fitting a large HSF and a long graphic card doesn’t seem to be an issue. Another feature that comes with the Tempest is the inclusion of a tool-free 5.25” mounting mechanism. Those are basically plastic clips that lock the device in place. Additionally you can use screws if you feel your drives are not firmly secured.