| NZXT HUSH Silent Mid-Tower ATX Case |  |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Cases | ||||||||
| Written by Olin Coles | ||||||||
| Tuesday, 10 July 2007 | ||||||||
Page 6 of 6
Final Thoughts: NZXT HUSH
Throughout this entire review I found myself wondering why NZXT didn't include liquid cooling grommets or simple knock-out holes on the rear panel of the HUSH. After all, nobody does silent better than liquid cooling. This may not be the norm for manufacturers, yet, but ever since the Antec P182 Performance One ATX Case included them it has proven that for next to no additional cost they can be implemented; which allows a whole new range of users. Conversely, NZXT has done silent the way it should be done. Other have tried, and for some reason we as consumers let them give us half-hearted effort. But it took the NZXT HUSH to show me that they could do it better, and do it right. The noise dampening effects of the HUSH are truly second to absolutely none, but there is still some room for improvement in future industry design. Features like rubber fan mounting plugs and fan offset boxed to keep noise more distant from the outside of the case. The list can grow if you let the imagination run with the idea, and eventually someone will include every feature possible to build an absolutely noise-free case. Perhaps this could be the mid-level platform for NZXT to come back and offer a high-level premium release. Imagine an all-aluminum case with a few extra features (like those mentioned above) and a redesigned bezel, and there you have the perfectly silent case. For now though, the NZXT HUSH meets the critical demands of a price-conscious consumer segment who still insist on good looks in an affordable, yet silent computer case. ConclusionNZXT is all about the look. It takes a case like the HUSH to prove that they can also be all about the functionality, too. Just as with past NZXT products, the packaging is more then enough to tempt you towards the HUSH. The presentation is better than most, which helps to add interest to an already appealing price tag. The HUSH isn't all function and no fashion. NZXT took the time to give the HUSH a solid front bezel and gloss black aluminum panels. There isn't a window since the sound dampening efforts would be wasted, but nobody wants to look at foam and steel anyway. It turns out that the HUSH carries its own in terms of appearance, and the wow factor is saved for functionality. With a SECC construction the HUSH is solid and strong. Thankfully a plastic bezel and aluminum panels help to lighten the load, which actually makes the case surprisingly lighter than expected. Fully-covered interior panels have sound dampening foam to ensure noise is kept to a minimum, and extra efforts such as the backside of the front bezel receiving the same treatment only ensure that HUSH means keep quiet. So was it silent? You better believe it. With proper planning, a system builder could easily design a perfectly silent case with no audible noise. Just choose power supplies like the Thermaltake Toughpower W0133RU 1200W which uses a silent 140mm cooling fan and perhaps a silent running 120mm fan to sit atop a Thermalright SI-128 CPU Cooler and you will have nothing to distract you when quite time matters most. NZXT has focused on delivering value, in addition to the long list of features I have previously mentioned. You might try to compare this case to others, but before you do just remember that the NZXT HUSH is priced for mid-level consumers. Although still new to the market, NewEgg.com has begun to list the HUSH for $89.99. There were very few items I could find serious fault with, and quite to my surprise the NZXT HUSH turned out to offer a lot more features than I initially thought. More than just an attractive mid-level case, this is a fully rounded building block for everyone from system builders to gamers. Certainly even the hardware enthusiasts and case-modders can see great potential in the HUSH, without coming out of pocket too much. Pros:
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