Review – NZXT Guardian 921
Today I’m going to kick off the first of many reviews here at GamerFront with the Guardian 921 case from NZXT. These guys probably aren’t the first people you think of when it comes to PC cases, but they’re definitely worth a look. This Guardian 921 case isn’t one of their high-end models, but still has the looks and features that will make most gamers happy. Hit the jump for my full review.
The first thing you notice about this case is the looks. The front of the case draws your eye with it’s shield-like plastic plate which covers your optical drives. When the system is on, you can see three blue neon bars that form a “Y”. It tends to make me think of the flux capacitor from Back to the Future, which scores it a few extra points in my book.
Also on the front, above the shield is a cool blue temp gauge. This shows you three sets of temperatures, one for the CPU, HDD and general system temp. I’ve always thought that a temp gauge is a must-have for any serious PC gamer, so if you’re not wanting to invest in another peripheral for your system, the Guardian will save you some cash. On the side you’ll find a unique clear panel which is illuminated by the neon blue 120mm fan. Also you have access to two USB 2.0, 1 E-SATA, and headphone/mic jacks. On the back you will find that the case is ready for a liquid cooling setup if you wish to install one.
The bulk of the case is crafted from .88mm and 1.00mm steel, which means not only does it look good, but it’s sturdy too. The front of the case is comprised mostly of plastic, which while it can attract fingerprints, it looks great.
Inside you will find 3 external 5.25” drive bays, two external 3.5” bays and 4 internal 3.5” bays. Two of the internal 3.5” bays are conveniently positioned so that they face the side of the case, rather than the back. This makes it easier to install and swap out drives. All of the drive bays are screwless, which is always nice. The PCI slots are all screwless as well, but unlike some other designs I have seen, installing graphics cards that take up more than one slot won’t be an issue. There are a total of 3 120mm fans which seem to do a good job of keeping things cool without making much noise.
Overall, I’m pleased with this case, which offers plenty of space, features and good looks that will appeal to most gamers. The $99 MSRP is worth every penny. I’m going to give the NZXT Guardian 921 a solid 9.0
