NZXT Switch 810 Case Review

In the end, there’s not much we would change about the NZXT Switch 810. Other than the issue of the CPU cutout on the motherboard tray not accommodating our particular CPU cooler's backplate, the use of a valuable SATA power connector to power two LEDs, and the substantial weight of the empty chassis, we didn’t find any objectionable features. One could carp about the lack of a FireWire port on the front panel, we suppose, but it’s a dying interface; we’ll take the four USB ports and card reader over FireWire any day.

The fact that NZXT used a mix of materials for the exterior of the case isn’t necessarily ideal either, as we wonder about how the aging of the different materials might mar the overall look of the exterior over time, but that’s hardly anything worth more than a moment’s thought. If anything, the primary concern is that the many exterior plastic pieces being removed and replaced too often invites damage, either to the pieces themselves or to their mechanisms. We didn't have any trouble with them during testing, however. And of course, there’s the long-running pro / con of glossy black finishes on products--yes, it looks gorgeous, until someone touches it with a greasy finger or a speck of dust lands on it.

Really, though, we’re just splitting hairs with the above criticisms. This case is exquisite. Every inch of its construction is solid, and it’s peppered with extra details that make working with it a pleasant experience.

NZXT bills this as a hybrid chassis that allows you to configure (and reconfigure it) in a variety of ways, and they nailed it. You can set up your fans to create airflow that moves in a number of different directions and angles, and you can go all-out with ten fans loaded up or make do with four or so well-placed ones. There are multiple options for water cooling setups, as well, which then gives you more options for what type, where, and how many other components you want to put in your rig. 

Even with the four fans running, there was very little in the way of extra noise; primarily, any noise was just from the air moving, as opposed to mechanical sounds emitted by the fans. Indeed, our dual CPU fans were far louder than the case fans. Additionally, when under load, the fan noise did not increase whatsoever.

The NZXT Switch 810 is a fun, attractive, well-designed case with enough features to keep even the most fickle tinkerer happy through multiple system updates and variations, and it’s worth every penny of its $169.99 asking price.