LABSTEST/ AT XC A S E S
T
hemostexpensivecaseontestis
NZXT’s 510 Elite,butwe’refairly
sure you’ll agree that it also the
best-looking case in the Labs too. This
stunning PC case is glass-clad on its front
and side panels, which sit seamlessly on a
lower metal chassis, for a super-clean look.
This is complemented by a pair of AER
RGB 2 140mm fans that shine vividly
through the front glass panel, and can be
controlled in both speed and lighting using
NZXT’s CAM software, via a free USB 2
header. Also plugged into this is an RGB LED
strip in the roof of the case for some added
pizzazz inside and you get USB 3.1 Type-C
support on the front panel too.
The price is certainly high for what is a
diminutive case, though, at just 21cm wide
and 43cm deep. However, you get further
140mm and 120mm fans, making the 510
Elite one of the best-equipped cases out
of the box in terms of cooling potential. Of
course, there's one small snag, which is that
the case is nearly sealed.
The front fans only have a small opening
in the base of the case and a slim side vent
through which to breath, which is a far cry
from the large vents in the likes of the Be
Quiet! 500DX and the Phanteks P600S’s
open configuration.
ZXT 510 ELITE
150 inc VAT
LIERoverclockers.co.ukThefanswerealsoverynoisy at full speed
too,despitethecase’slackof vents and even
setting the software’s silent mode didn’t
improve things when the CPU was under full
load, but it was pleasant to sit next to at low to
medium speeds, and you can customise the
fan response curve in the software.
It’s worth noting that if you prefer your
motherboard to take control of the fans, they
do use standard 3-pin headers rather than
proprietary connectors. The compact size
means there’s limited liquid-cooling potential,
especially for custom loops, but there’s space
for a 280mm radiator up front.
While we have our concerns over noise
and cooling, the 510 Elite scores highly when
it comes to features. You get three hard disk
mounts, which is one more than several other
cases on test in addition to two dedicated 2.5in
SSD mounts. Cable routing is also excellent,
with channels for cables as well as Velcro
straps and an extra-large CPU area cut out.
All cables are tidied as standard too and
there’s plenty of room for PSUs, even without
moving the adjustable drive cage.
Despite our concerns over the cooling, the
powerful, numerous fans achieved the best
results on test, with a CPU delta T of 49°C and
GPU delta T of 41°C, with the Phanteks Eclipse
P600S a close second. However, the P600S
was far quieter despite sitting close in the
cooling graphs.Conclusion
If aesthetics are your primary concern,
we won’t argue that the 510 Elite is a
very pretty case indeed. Its price tag isn't
unreasonable given the specification, whichincludes software fan and lighting control,
four premium fans and USB 3.1 Type-C
support. However, it's noisy at full speed and
cooling trails off quickly at lower speeds.
The Phanteks Eclipse P600S is a much better
home for a high-end PC, and the be quiet!
500DX costs £60 less and looks dishy too.VERDICT
A stunning case with surprisingly good
cooling and features, but it’s expensive,
noisy and a little cramped.
GOLD
Good cooling
Software-controlled
lighting and fans
Looks fantastic
I RON PYRITE- Fans are noisy
- Limited space for
liquid cooling - Not enough space for
larger air coolers
SPEC
Dimensions (mm) 210 x 428 x 460 (W x D x H)
Material Steel, plastic, glass
Available colours Black, white
Weight 7.5kg
Front panel Power, reset, 1 x USB 3, 1
x USB 3.1 Type-C 1 x stereo/mic
Drive bays 2 x 2.5/3.5in, 2 x 2.5in
Form factor(s) ATX, Micro-ATX
Cooling 2 x 120mm/ 2 x 140mm front fan mounts
(2 x 140mm fans included), 1 x 120mm rear fan
mount (fan included), 1 x 120mm/1 x 140mm
roof fan mounts (1 x 140mm fan included)
CPU cooler clearance 165mm
Maximum graphics card length 369mmCOOLING
29 / 30
DESIGN
20 / 30FEATURES
16 / 20
VALUE
12 / 20OVERALLSCORE
77 %
LABSTEST/AT X CASES
he most expensive case on test is/£1
SUPPLThefanswerealsover