NZXT Hades
Weighing in at only 16 lbs. with the installation kit, the Hades is a true lightweight from NZXT. One might expect such a diet to include the use of aluminum, but we instead find painted steel and plastic throughout.
Even at only 16 lbs., much of the Hades’ weight comes from its plastic drive door, a reinforced member containing the power switch and LED, plus a three-component temperature display. Opening that door reveals four 5.25” external bays, the reset button, and two knobs for controlling front and side 200mm fans.
NZXT reflects the style of its side panels, while the added space on the right panel provides extra room for stuffing cables behind the motherboard tray. Two rubber grommets for external liquid-cooling components can also be seen from this angle.
A quick look at the top reveals sets of mounting holes that support up to two 140mm or 120mm fans. A third set of less-apparent holes can be used to install a 2x120mm radiator inside, offset 1.25” from the motherboard (click the photo to enlarge).
Mesh covers over inlets reduce dust and NZXT even makes the one over the power supply removable for easy cleaning.
Top-panel connections include headset jacks, eSATA connectivity, and two USB ports. The lack of any FireWire port is suitable for low-cost builds, though the case’s $100 price might not be.
