Choosing the right case for your performance PC can be a difficult decision.  Trying to balance performance, looks and price may seem like a loosing battle.  Today we will be looking at the latest case from NZXT's Crafted Series; the Tempest.  With the Tempest, NZXT hopes to bring you good looks and unprecedented cooling with a target price under $100.  We put the Tempest under the knife to find out just how well it will live up to the lofty title: The Airflow King!

   Since 2004, NZXT has been designing striking cases and the Tempest packaging lets the product do the talking.  The Tempest is only offered in this black color accented with blue lighting.  The back and sides of the box provide the product specifications and echo NZXT's commitment to quality and performance.  The Tempest can be purchased with an optional 500W power supply.

   Out of the box the Tempest is a good looking case.  Plastic accents are used to soften the traditional steel mid-tower shape and an oversize beveled window opens up to the inside.  NZXT defines this design as the "Enthusiast Steel Mid Tower."  Lets take a look at those specifications.

Features:

• Airflow King: Dual 120mm intake, Dual 140mm Exhaust with an additional side 120mm fan and rear 120mm fan all included.
• Maximize Expandability: E-ATX support allows more compatibility with high end components including large graphics cards
• Easier accessibility & cable management: Cable routing is pre-drilled on the motherboard so users can hide cables behind the motherboard tray, allowing more a cleaning look and better airflow. Power, E-SATA, USB and Reset buttons are mounted at the top to give better accessibility.
• Bottom mounted PSU: PSU mounting at the bottom allows for more security and separation of heat from the CPU
• Server-like HDD space: Dual 120mm fans cool cages that hold up to 8 HDDs allowing for large capacity systems while maintaining cool temperatures

Specifications:

  The Tempest comes with all of the screws and fasteners you will need divided nicely into labeled zip lock bags.  This is a practice even PC building veterans will find appealing.  The accessories box also includes: A motherboard speaker, two wire guides and mounting hardware for the three 5.25 inch external drive bays. 

   Lets take a closer look at the outside of the Tempest starting with the front.  The entire front surface is divided into mesh panels that match the top three drive bay covers.  Each of these panels is backed by a removable filter for easy cleaning.  The third panel from the top conceals an optional 3.5 inch drive adapter as well for those smaller external devices.

    The left side is dominated by the oversize plastic window.  The window also houses a clear 120 mm fan with a protective mesh cover.  This fan is lit by 4 blue LED lights and like all of the fans, this fan can be controlled by a 3 pin fan adaptor or powered by a 12V pass through. 

   The back of the case reveals the power supply mounts at the bottom of the case to support the larger E-ATX motherboards in a traditional ATX orientation.  The power supply mounts upside down to allow the power supply fan to pull hot air down and out of the back.  You may also note the two pre-drilled sockets for an external water-cooling radiator setup.

   The top of the Tempest is dominated by the two 140mm exhaust fans behind a black mesh.  These fans are a large part of how much air this case can move.