Things seem to get smaller every time I go to an electronics store. I remember when I was a kid and would be at the electronics section of a supermarket, wishing I had one of those big, bulky portable black and white televisions that only picked up analog signals. But the thought of actually getting to watch the Simpsons without being told to turn the channel was awesome. And I eventually got one. And at the time, it was awesome. Not because I had a tube of my own, but because if I had enough batteries I could take it anywhere and watch it anytime.
I’m still a boobtube nut, only I watch stuff at home on a high-def and load up my PSP for on-the-go viewing. Sometimes, and I emphasize that word, smaller is better. So when I got a chance to review the NZXT Vulcan, I was excited. I mean, it’s tiny. It has a handle, so I should be able to just lug that thing anywhere I want it. Here are a few details on this case before I get down and dirty:
Features
- Durable Non-slip finished top handle for portability
- Black Interior
- Dual 5.25″ slots and four 3.5″ slots (internal and external)
- Wire routing holes + extruded side panel provides extra space for cable management
- Dual 8W channel fan control
- Fits at least 350mm video cards like the ATI 5970
- ATX PSU with removable filter + anti-vibration rubber support
- Dual external watercooling cutouts
- Dual top 120mm exhaust for optimal cooling
- Top mounted (2x)USB, E SATA, External HD Audio + Mic
- Fan LED on/off function: Turn off lights during night time use
- CPU heatsink cut-out + 170mm heatsink support
- Supports 200mm fan intake on side mesh (NZXT only guarantees fitment with NZXT’s FN-200)
- Extra large mesh holes for optimal airflow
- Removable Hard drive cage
- Included thumbscrews for all drives
Introducing NZXT’s new VULCAN Micro ATX gaming case, the ideal bring-your-own-computer option for professional gaming LAN parties. The Vulcan maximizes power in a compact 16” x 7” x 16.6” body, which is approximately 40% smaller than the typical super full tower. Indulge in the ample space that includes advanced cooling capabilities with 2 x 120mm (one included), 1 x 200mm, 1 x 80mm, a front 120mm intake fan (included), and more space to fit up to two 350mm cards in SLI and Crossfire configurations. The durable non-slip top handle and anti-vibration rubber support idealizes portability, enabling you to easily transport your ultimate gaming machine anywhere.
| MODEL |
Vulcan Series |
| CASE TYPE |
Gaming mATX Chassis |
| LED Color | Orange |
| Front panel connectors | 1 x HD Audio/Mic, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x eSATA |
| FRONT PANEL MATERIAL |
Plastic / Steel Mesh |
| DIMENSIONS (W x H x D) |
180mm (W) x 422.5mm (H) x 406mm (D) / 7” x 16.6” x 16” |
| Dimensions w/o Handle | 180mm (W) x 380mm (H) x 406mm (D) / 7” x 14.9” x 16” |
| VGA Clearance Maximum | 350mm |
| CPU heatsink height support | 165mm (without 35mm thick side 200mm fan) |
| COOLING SYSTEM | FRONT, 1 X 120mm (included) REAR, 1 X 92/80mm TOP, 2 x 120mm (1 x Orange LED fan included) SIDE, 1 x 200mm |
| DRIVE BAYS | 6 DRIVE BAYS 2 EXTERNAL 5.25″ DRIVE BAYS 2 EXTERNAL 3.5″ DRIVE BAYS 2 INTERNAL 3.5″ DRIVE BAYS Screwless Rail Design |
| MATERIAL(S) |
Steel with powder black coating inside |
| EXPANSION SLOTS |
4 |
| WEIGHT |
5.80 kg / 12.8 lbs |
| MOTHERBOARD SUPPORT |
MICRO-ATX, ITX |
You can download the product pdf here.
On the next page we take a detailed look at the case.
First, as always, let’s get down to aesthetics. The box that it was shipped in is also the product packaging. It’s in true NZXT style, a brown box with faint pictures of what’s inside plastered here and yonder. I have grown to love these boxes. It usually means good things wait inside. I get that infernal boxing tape cut off and pull out the case, with about six inches of Styrofoam packing.
Once I got it all uncovered, I got a good look at this thing. It’s a matte black, which is something I’m fond of in my chassis, and it has that aggressive look that most case companies have been moving toward. Straight edges, sharp corners, and recesses that house buttons and ports that as a whole looks like it could be a cousin to that box from Hellraiser.
The port/button panel on the top front houses the eSata, USB 2.0 and audio ports. Beside that is the brushed aluminum power and reset button set. I always get a little disappointed when they don’t put a firewire port on these, right up front. I hate having to search for mine amid the wires sticking out of the back. The side that comes off sports a mostly mesh makeup, designed to hold a 200mm fan that will probably sound like an airliner touching down.
I’m not a huge fan of cases that have a ton of mesh on the sides. To properly cool, chassis use a kind of vacuum, with air flowing from the front to the back and then out through the rear or top. Putting a fan directly over the CPU and VGA area is okay; it’s just adding to the airflow and introducing cooler air. But when the whole side is made up of holes, you’re losing something somewhere. What’s keeping the air from just moving on out? Not that big 200mm fan. It’s sending some back in, but about 50% of your air has already escaped by now.
Now that I got that whole bit out of the way, and wasted some time complaining, we can move to the inside of the case. The only motherboards that you are going to find that will fit in something this small are the micro-ATX boards. You’re pretty much S.O.L. on finding anything else that will do the job. But since that’s where the industry is now, you need to catch up. Get rid of that hug bulky computer sitting under your desk. Let’s get freaking tiny here people. The inside of the Vulcan can hold up to two of the biggest, longest video cards out there. That should set some of your brains at ease.
It has six drive bays, two external 5.25” bays for your Blu-ray and DVD drives, two external 3.5” bays for whatever your heart desires. Card readers, HD audio ports, more USB ports… these are all good things. Lovely things. If you still have a floppy drive you need to be drawn and quartered and thrown to the hounds.
The cooling system isn’t too bad. It has that whole “air escaping out the side” drawback, but other than that it should do a fairly decent job of keeping those expensive components cool. The front and top each sport a 120mm fan, the latter one is actually included. An orange LED one, at that. Sweet, huh? And then there is room for an 80mm fan for the front. That’s a nice little chunk of airflow for such a small case. Throw in that big 200mm on the side and you just might keep things cool while you burn up the information superhighway.
The rear fan can also be taken out and replaced with a smaller water-cooling unit that fits right into the fan’s slot. A very nice touch, if only this thing had actually come with one to test.
Altogether, this case is very nice and its portability makes up for any short-comings that the ridiculous mesh side brings. I can see many uses for it and will build a custom rig out of it myself. I was pleased with the addition of a handle, rather than it being something that could be bought separately, and I like that it can support many of the higher-end video cards that seem to take up so much space in even a mid-size rig. All in all, this case is worth the money, as long as you’re willing to go all in and go micro.
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Now that I got that whole bit out of the way, and wasted some time complaining, we can move to the inside of the case. The only motherboards that you are going to find that will fit in something this small are the micro-ATX boards. You’re pretty much S.O.L. on finding anything else that will do the job. But since that’s where the industry is now, you need to catch up. Get rid of that hug bulky computer sitting under your desk. Let’s get freaking tiny here people. The inside of the Vulcan can hold up to two of the biggest, longest video cards out there. That should set some of your brains at ease.
It has six drive bays, two external 5.25” bays for your Blu-ray and DVD drives, two external 3.5” bays for whatever your heart desires. Card readers, HD audio ports, more USB ports… these are all good things. Lovely things. If you still have a floppy drive you need to be drawn and quartered and thrown to the hounds.
The cooling system isn’t too bad. It has that whole “air escaping out the side” drawback, but other than that it should do a fairly decent job of keeping those expensive components cool. The front and top each sport a 120mm fan, the latter one is actually included. An orange LED one, at that. Sweet, huh? And then there is room for an 80mm fan for the front. That’s a nice little chunk of airflow for such a small case. Throw in that big 200mm on the side and you just might keep things cool while you burn up the information superhighway.
The rear fan can also be taken out and replaced with a smaller water-cooling unit that fits right into the fan’s slot. A very nice touch, if only this thing had actually come with one to test.
Altogether, this case is very nice and its portability makes up for any short-comings that the ridiculous mesh side brings. I can see many uses for it and will build a custom rig out of it myself. I was pleased with the addition of a handle, rather than it being something that could be bought separately, and I like that it can support many of the higher-end video cards that seem to take up so much space in even a mid-size rig. All in all, this case is worth the money, as long as you’re willing to go all in and go micro.
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