The NZXT Switch 810 is a great case and the price makes it an incredibly formidable competitor in this sector of the case market. Keep reading to find out more!

Introduction

Computer cases are an important part of any PC build, as they not only provide cooling for the computer, they are also what users look at every single day. Unfortunately this is exactly why so many manufacturers have trouble making a good computer case: it is remarkably difficult to balance performance and looks without making a case incredibly expensive.

NZXT has come out with a new line of cases that they claim should be a great mix of all the best features and requirements including cooling, noise, and appearance. The Switch 810 from NZXT is one of those new cases and today we will be seeing how well it does in each of these categories. The Switch 810 currently retails for $170 on Newegg.

Features

Specifications

A closer look: External

The outer box design from NZXT is about what would be expected from any case of this caliber. The package shows all of the important information as well as multiple pictures of the case itself. Of course there is plenty of information about the various features of the Switch 810 as well. The downside is, the case box is somewhat thin and as you can see in the pictures, it got pretty beat up in shipping. The cardboard itself did not stand up well to even a little abuse but hopefully the case itself did better.

Fortunately NZXT did a great job with package protection as we see here. The foam surrounding the case is solid and thick so it should keep the case from experiencing any major damage in shipment. NZXT also covered nearly all of the edges and sides of the case with the standard plastic covering which prevents scratches and finish damage and we can say it definitely did work.

Here is the front panel of the case in both open and closed configuration. Obviously when closed the front panel looks very sleek thanks to NZXT’s hidden design for optical drives. The front panel includes 2 USB ports, 2 USB 3.0 ports, audio connections, power/reset switches, and even a built in SD card reader. The SD card reader is a nice addition to the case, as is the included USB 3.0 connections. Once again it is possible to see just how many fingerprints show up on this case.

Click Image to Enlarge

Here is the all important back panel. There is obviously plenty of choices when it comes to expansion cards and of course there is a large fan near the top to exhaust the heated air from the CPU. On the right side of the case there are also 4 water cooling grommets which are large enough for even the largest water cooling lines, so this case is definitely water cooling ready.

Closer Look: Internal

TESTING METHODOLOGY

Our testing methodology is rather simple for cases. We let the system idle for 30 minutes and we measure temperatures. Then we turn on OCCT to load the video cards and the processor to 100%. After 20 minutes of 100% load, we measure the overall temperatures. If there are multiple fan settings available, we test the lowest and highest fan settings.

Test Rig

Results

Overall these temperatures are very good, especially given just how hot the components being used could be. Opening the top vents does make a slight difference at idle, but under load it really shows as the CPU temperatures were noticeably lower. This comes in very handy in a lot of cases but the extra noise is also a factor. That is precisely why it is very nice that NZXT made it so simple to quickly and easily switch from open to closed.

It is also important to remember the overall noise of the case. Obviously it depends a lot on CPU cooler and GPU fans, but in most cases it seems like the NZXT Switch 810 will be a relatively quiet case. With the top vents closed it is almost silent, but with the top vents open that noise is definitely more noticeable.

Conclusion

Overall the NZXT Switch 810 is a very solid case in a number of ways. Of course it is not perfect, there are small flaws here and there, but overall it really does quite a good job. Cooling is more than sufficient from this case and the easy to remove panels are a very nice touch. The addition of a built in panel for fan connections is nice, and it is also nice to have a hidden USB panel on the front that includes plenty of USB connections as well as USB 3.0.

On top of cooling, this case also has a uniquely attractive design style as well as plenty of sound dampening which keeps it from being too loud. If you need more cooling and care less about the sound then feel free to open the easily accessible top panel for additional air flow through the case. One of the best things about this case is that it is only $170; for the size and quality of this case that is quite a good deal which makes it an even more attractive product.