[nextpage title=”Introduction”]
The NZXT S340 is a really clean mid-tower case, with no external drive bays and where the power supply and hard disk drives are placed hidden from the user’s view. It has a big transparent windows at the left panel, where only the motherboard area is visible. Let’s take a look at this very unique case.
The S340 comes in white or black; we analyzed the white model. Figures 1 and 2 show the case.
Figure 1: NZXT S340 case
Figure 2: NZXT S340 case
Let’s take a closer look at the case in the next pages.
[nextpage title=”The Front Panel”]
The most unique feature of the NZXT S340 is its front panel, which is completely plain. It is made out of a steel plate with no openings, buttons or LEDs, as you can see in Figure 1.
Figure 3: front panel
The front panel can be easily removed by just pulling it. Behind it, you will find a huge removable air filter in front of the openings for two 120/140 mm fans. The case also supports a radiator up to 280 mm long here, as we will show you later.
Figure 4: front panel removed
[nextpage title=”The Top Panel”]
The top panel is also plain, except for the opening for a 120/140 mm fan (the case comes with a FN-V2 120 mm fan installed, model RF-FN122-RB, 1,200 rpm, 21 dBA, 45 cfm, 3.6 W) and for the HDD activity LED, the audio jacks, the USB 3.0 ports, and the power button, which includes a power LED around it. You can see them in more detail in Figure 6.
Figure 5: top panel
Figure 6: HDD activity LED, audio connectors, USB 3.0 ports, and the power button
[nextpage title=”The Bottom and Rear Panels”]
The bottom panel of the NZXT S340 has no openings for additional fans. However, it has a removable air filter for the power supply fan.
Figure 7: bottom panel
The rear panel of the NZXT S340 is painted in white in the version we analyzed. The power supply is installed at the bottom of the case, screwed to a frame that is attached to the case with four captive (i.e., which stay in place even when unscrewed) thumbscrews.
This case has seven expansion slots with removable vented covers.
The product comes with a FN-V2 120 mm fan installed on its rear panel (model RF-FN122-RB, 1,200 rpm, 21 dBA, 45 cfm, 3.6 W).
Figure 8: rear panel
Let’s now take a look inside the NZXT S340.
[nextpage title=”Inside the NZXT S340″]
Each panel is attached to the chassis using two black, metallic, captive thumbscrews.
The first thing that catches the eye is that there are no apparent drive bays. Also, the power supply area is covered by a black cover that separates it from the motherboard area, with openings to route cables to the motherboard.
The motherboard tray has a huge cutout for you to access the backplate of the CPU coolers without having to remove the motherboard from the case. The case supports ATX and smaller form factor motherboards.
Figure 9: overall look
Behind the motherboard tray, you can see the cables for the top panel and the fans. The white plate is intended to hide the other cables behind it, and here you have access to the power supply compartment.
Figure 10: a view behind the motherboard tray
In Figure 11, we have another overall look inside the case. Notice that the top panel supports the installation of one 120 mm or 140 mm fans, and also 120/140 mm radiators, while the rear pannel supports only 120 mm fans and radiators.
Expansion cards are fastened using thumbscrews. You can install CPU coolers up to 6.3” (161 mm) tall.
Figure 11: overall look
Figure 12 shows the front of the case, where you can install one or two 120 mm or 140 mm fans, or a radiator up to 280 mm long.
The NZXT S340 supports video cards up to 14.4” (364 mm) long if the front panel is unused, or up to 13.1” (334 mm) long if there is a radiator installed there.
Figure 12: front area
The power supply is installed at the bottom of the case, under the protection that hides it and its cables. It must be installed with its fan facing down, pulling air from outside the case. As shown before, there is an air filter for the power supply fan.
You will be able to fit power supplies up to 11” (280 mm) deep, which is more than enough to accommodate most power supplies available on the market.
There is no support for additional fans on the bottom panel of the case.
Figure 13: power supply compartment
[nextpage title=”The Disk Drive Bays”]
As we mentioned before, the NZXT S340 has no external bays. There are two internal 3.5” bays in a cage at the bottom area of the case, near the power supply. There is also room for installing one 3.5” or 2.5” drive at the bottom of the case, as shown in Figure 14. The drives must be installed with regular screws and there is no anti-vibration mechanisms for them.
Figure 14: disk drive bays
At the bottom of the motherboard compartment there are two drawers for 2.5” drives.
Figure 15: two 2.5” bays
[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]
The main specifications for the NZXT S340 include:
- Style: mid-tower
- Application: ATX and smaller form factors
- Material: zinc-coated steel (SECC) body
- Power supply: does not come with the product
- Available colors: white, black
- Side panel: transparent window at the left panel
- Dimensions: 17.5 x 7.9 x 17.0 inches (445 x 200 x 432 mm) (H x W x D)
- Net weight: 11.5 lbs (7.05 kg)
- Bays: two internal 3.5” bays, one internal 3.5”/2.5” bay, and two internal 2.5” bays
- Expansion slots: seven
- Maximum video card length: 14.3” (364 mm)
- Maximum CPU cooler height: 6.3” (161 mm)
- Fans: one 120 mm fan on the rear panel, one 120 mm fan in the top panel
- Optional fans: two 120 mm or 140 mm fans on the front panel
- Extra Features: air filters for front and power supply fans
- More Information: https://www.nzxt.com
- Average Price in the U.S.*: USD 70.00
* Researched at Newegg.com on the day we published this review.
[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]
The NZXT S340 is clearly targeted to users looking for a case with a clean design and who love to keep things tidy and organized inside the computer. If you are looking for a case with a clean design, where you can hide the hard disk drives, power supply, and cables, showing only the motherboard and the components that are installed on it, the S340 is an excellent choice.
Strong Points
- Great, clean design
- Excellent construction quality
- Good ventilation
- Excellent cable menagement features
- Air filter for the power supply and front fans
- A huge cutout in the motherboard tray for accessing the backplate of the CPU cooler
- Good price point
Weak Points
- Does not support 5.25” devices
- Supports only three 3.5” and three 2.5” drives, which may be a limitation for some hard-core users
- Has no anti-vibration mechanism for hard disk drives
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