NZXT Source 340 – S340 Review
Introduction
All of us at OC3D respected the bravery of NZXT when the H440 was launched without any optical bays what so ever. We actually don’t use internal opticals at all anymore, the rare occasion we are testing something so new that there isn’t a webpage for drivers available yet we just use an old external CD drive. It split the industry though with the people married to their gaming CD’s or blue rays on one side with the rebellious group that have rapid internet, use steam and certain ways to acquire all their films via other sources on the other side…..
The H440 was hardly expensive at £95 but NZXT decided their should be another version available for those of you that are on a tight budget and the S340 is what they have to offer for the very accessible price of £55.
Specifications
| Model Number | CA-S340W-W1 (White)Â CA-S340W-B1 (Black) |
| Drive Bays | External 5.25″: 0Â Internal 3.5″: 2+1Â Internal 2.5″: 2 |
| Cooling System | Front: 2x 140/2x120mm Top: 1x 140/120mm (1 x 120mm FN V2 Fans Included) Rear: 1x 120mm (1 x 120mm FN V2 Fan Included) |
| Filters | Front (Included)Â Bottom Rear(Included) |
| Radiator Support | Front 2 x 140 or 2 x 120mm Rear 1 x 120mm |
| Clearance | GPU Clearance With Radiator: 334mm GPU Clearance Without Radiator: 364mm CPU Cooler: 161mm Cable Management: Lowest Point – 17mm; Highest Point 168mm |
| Dimensions | 200mm x 445mm x 432mm |
| Material | SECC Steel, ABS Plastic |
| Motherboard Support | Mini-ITX, MicroATX, ATX |
| Expansion Slots | 7 |
| External Electronics | 1 x Audio/Mic 2x USB 3.0 |
| Product Weight | 7.05 kg |
| UPC | 15671012111 (White)Â 15671012128 (Black) |
| USB 3.0 Ports | 2 |
| Warranty | 2 Years |
Video Review
Conclusion
The long and short of it is this is a truly epic case for £55. 240mm or 280mm AIO support in the front, PSU and lower section cover, a cable cover at the side of the motherboard rather than the usual grommets, huge window, sleek simple lines thanks to the lack of well anything at the front of the case. Some many not like its simplicity and prefer something more extrovert, if that’s you just take a look at our NZXT Phantom 240 Review.Â
The case will frame your hardware well and help even the laziest of you create something that will look extra tidy, we would advise that if you’re not mounting an AIO in the front to air intake that you do fit at least one fan in the front to help let the case breathe. Talking of breathing the front panel is offset quite a bit so we didn’t at all feel like the H100i we had fitted in our test system was at all being restricted, if anything the design on this is less restrictive that the H440.
NZXT has come a long was over the last couple of years and the case designs have gone from strength to strength. The S340 does so much and costs so little that its not only won our Gold award but we have decided to give it our Value For Money award too. We would go as far as saying this is probably the best case under the £80 mark on the market at this moment in time and definitely the sleekest. Could this be the ultimate budget gaming case? Why not tell us your thoughts in the OC3D Forum thread.
     