NZXT Trinity
Introduction Computer cases have evolved over the years. They have gone from simple beige and white cases made only to house your system to objects of beauty and style. Computer owners can have a case that embodies their personality and interests, whether it's conventional or cutting edge. Established last year, NZXT has received rave reviews for the build and design quality of their cases. They tailor the form and appearance of the cases for gamers. The theme was "gaming armor", creating cases adorned with large plates that could be worn by a medieval knight. With their latest case in the Classis Series, the Trinity, NZXT has chosen a different direction. The case is designed with elegance in mind, rather than brawn. NZXT's tag line for the Trinity is "just sexy". We'll find out if sexy is enough. NZXT Trinity Exterior The Trinity comes shipped in a very nice black box. On the box are photos of the case and text describing its features and specifications. Our sample's box didn't fare too well in shipping, but the case was protected by Styrofoam and a plastic bagging. For further protection, the front panel and side window of the Trinity have a sheet of plastic adhered to them. After removing the plastic from the front of the case, I noticed a gross discoloring on the ultra reflective panel. The plastic had left a residue that seems to have stained the panel. I tried using alcohol and cotton balls, but I still couldn't get the residue off. Hopefully, this is just an unlucky occurrence of this sort. The box indicates inclusion of a power supply, but I didn't receive one. However, a power outlet cable was included in the case. The Trinity is a mid tower case, so it's not as roomy as a full tower. Yet, the case has most of the same expandability options, supporting ATX, Micro ATX, and Baby AT motherboards. The Trinity is constructed of steel and weighs in at about 14.5 pounds. The paint job on the Trinity is just fantastic. It's like one giant black mirror. The front of the case has steel plating with a "black chrome" finish, which is more reflective than the rest of the case. The Trinity has a monitor on the front of the case for measuring the temperature of whatever the probe is applied to. The Trinity's power button is located below the door panel and has a pentagonal shape that blends in with the design of the case. The reset button is placed behind the door panel, along with the external 5.25" and 3.5" bays. The Trinity has room for five 5.25" devices, yet only one 3.5" bay. I would prefer one less 5.25" bay to make room for another external 3.5" bay. People still use floppy drives. Other devices, like fan controllers, can't be used with that one bay occupied. NZXT Trinity Exterior Continued The Trinity's side panel window is quite thick and durable. The metallic edges blend very well with the front of the case. Thumbscrews are used to hold the door to the case. The Trinity also includes two 80mm fans; one blue LED fan in the door panel and a regular black fan for the rear exhaust. On the opposite side of the case, slits aid in cooling the hard drives. There are also two USB ports, a microphone jack, and a headphone jack. Like the majority of mid-towers, the Trinity has seven PCI slots. The rear of the case also has plenty of ventilation from the perforations and exhaust fan. The Trinity can utilize an 80, 92, or 120 millimeter fan. The Trinity is supported by four cream-colored rubber feet. The rubber feet should help dampen any vibrations caused by fans and drives. NZXT Trinity Interior The interior has enough room for any standard ATX motherboard to fit. In the third photo, you can see the space for the 5.25" and 3.5" external bays. Notice the external 3.5" bays. There are two bays, yet NZXT only allows access to one bay from the front of the case. Below that is the hard drive cage, with room for four hard drives. To remove the cage, you must unscrew the thumbscrew at the bottom of the cage and press down on the clip at the top of the cage. After removing the cage, you can see two places to mount a fan. The intake of the case is just like the exhaust, allowing mounting of an 80, 92, or 120 millimeter fan. The intake fan is directly in front of the hard drive cage and will aid in cooling. The side intake accommodates an 80mm or 92mm fan. This black tab looks to be for cable management. The second picture shows the cables for power and restart buttons, along with the USB and audio cables which plug into your motherboard. The temperature monitor is powered by a Molex connection. The wiring with the yellow sleeving is the temperature probe. NZXT Trinity Interior Continued Power supplies are supported by the two flaps in the first picture, rather than the usual bars that are attached to the chassis. This ensures nothing obstructs the view into the case. The PCI slot covers pop out of the slots, so there is no need to unscrew. However, you will need to screw your PCI device into the slot. In the accessory box, you'll find screws, motherboard standoffs, a speaker that plugs into a motherboard header, and the drive mounts. To keep the drive mounting screwless, NZXT utilizes a system that uses plastic rails that clip into the drives. The blue LED fan illuminates the case, giving off a glow to the panel. The temperature display also lights up. The blue lighting matches great with the black and chrome. Conclusion and Thoughts
NZXT's attempt at a contemporary style has been a success. The Trinity is aesthetically pleasing and has great features. The ability to use a wide range of fans is a huge plus for me. The temperature display is a great feature and will allow you to monitor the temperature of your video card, memory, or other critical components. The Trinity has no real flaws, but I do wonder about the 3.5" drive bays. Why build two external 3.5" bays into the chassis, yet only allow one to be accessed through the front of the case? With this conservative styling, the NZXT Trinity should go over well with both gamers and regular users. Coming in at around $75, there is no reason the Trinity should not be a valid option.
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We would like to thank NZXT for providing us the sample. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit us up in the forums. You can also check out more of our latest reviews on the front page.
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