NZXT Lexa Blackline Case

Introduction:

NZXT has become well known due to their lineup of well-designed and sleek cases with equally crafty names such as "Zero" and "Nemesis Elite". When the original Lexa came out, it received praise for its innovative design, a break from the traditional boxy design of most cases - thus it was both attractive and functional. The original was made of aluminum, making it not only lightweight but also a little pricey. This new version, the Lexa Blackline, features a steel instead of an aluminum chassis, but is priced lower as a result. Can it live up to the expectations set by the original Lexa?

Specifications:

At first glance, the Lexa Blackline, though a mid tower, appears larger than most. This is because of its outer shell, which I like to call its "exoskeleton". This exoskeleton, comprised mostly of the front bezel and a rear cable guide, is mostly made of black plastic and gives the case its extra height and symmetrical curved shape. Its dimensions are approximately 8"x20.5"x21" (WxHxD) at the longest points. A nice window along with a 120mm LED case fan adorns the side panel, and a door covers all the front drive bays, keeping the look clean. While the plastic parts have a nice black gloss finish, the metal sides and top have more of a matte finish. Nonetheless, if you're used to regular cases, the Lexa Blackline definitely makes a good first impression with its looks.

The other notable feature is an integrated temperature monitor. The display for this sits at the top of the case, and it can show up to three temperatures inside your case; separate probes are included so that you can decide what parts of your case to monitor for thermal needs.

• Full specifications

The case comes with a total of 11 drive bays. There are four 5.25" bays, two external 3.5" bays and five internal 3.5" bays, which makes the capacity about average for a mid tower case. Most people shouldn't have trouble fitting their system's components inside this case. An optional 500 W PSU is available but was not included in the review unit. Basically, this new Lexa Blackline is almost the same as the original, except that it's now made of 1.0mm steel instead of aluminum, making it sturdier and lower-cost but also heavier.

The Lexa Blackline came well-packaged, which was good for a case that looks so nice. It would a tragedy to see it get damaged in transit. It's about average for a steel mid tower, weighing 11.5 kg (about 25 lbs) without the power supply. Thankfully it's fairly easy to carry since the feet prop the bottom off the ground and you can easily get a grip.

The Lexa Blackline.

Well packaged.

Symmetrical form.

The first thing you notice is the shape - the addition of the "exoskeleton" gives it a symmetrical form sort of resembling a TIE fighter. This is a nice design departure from most cases, and gives the Lexa Blackline a great appearance. The side window and 120mm LED case fan also help. The exterior of the case is a black matte, except for the plastic front parts which are glossy black. The glossy black tends to attract fingerprints as seen in some of the pictures.

The front features a door to cover up drives to keep the flowing look of the case going. The power and HDD activity LEDs run down the center of the front of the door, and there's also a built-in temperature monitor that sits at the top - though it's hard to see when it's off. Opening up the door, you'll see the four 5.25" and two 3.5" external drive bays, along with the reset button. (The power button is outside of the door) The door opens up to just past 90 degrees, which may be a problem if the case is to the left of you, since the door opens toward the right. It shuts nicely using a magnetic latch and cannot be locked.

Front - LEDs are center.

Drive bays.

5.25" drives.

The left side panel features a nice window to showcase your prized hardware. The 120mm LED case fan here also has a mesh grill on it, which should filter out some dust, keeping your system somewhat cleaner. At the front of the sides, you'll notice some vent holes - these are for the front 120mm intake fan. On the right hand side near the bottom are the USB, Firewire and audio ports - the audio ports support HD as well as AC'97. By putting the ports on this side of the case, NZXT assumes that the case will be to the left of you - but the door opens from the other side! This is a minor problem that was overlooked.

3.5" ext. drives.

Side window panel.

USB, Firewire, audio ports.

The left side panel can be locked. While the right panel can't, literally all installation is done through the left side anyways, so removing the right side won't help. This provides a nice deterrent. The side panel also has a nice handle/latch system similar to some Antec cases; it's a simple latch that you push forward to remove the panel.

At the back, you'll notice the part of the "exoskeleton" that is dubbed as a cable guide. To me, it's more of an impediment than something that'll help, but the reason it's there is to keep the shape of the case symmetrical and curved. It's definitely not a handle, as the plastic isn't too strong here. Additionally, if you remove the screws holding the side panels in place, the plastic cable guide pops off quite easily. You can also see another 120mm LED case fan at the back along with ports for a water cooling kit, something I've been seeing on almost every case nowadays. The original Lexa did not have these, so it's nice to see NZXT is keeping up with trends.

Side intake vents.

Side panel with lockable latch.

Rear of case.

The top features an 80mm blowhole exhaust fan. You can also see how far the front and back parts extend upwards here. Without any vent covers for the top fan, you'll want to be extra sure you don't spill liquids on this case! The bottom of the case looks very similar, and also has an 80mm vent hole - however, there's no fan here. It's merely for intake of air caused by exhaust fans, though there is a filter over this vent. The bottom vent is viable because of the tall feet on the case, which prop it up almost 2" off the ground. You can also see that the front has a gap for a vent hole to provide some more intake for the front fan. The feet do have rubber pads to prevent slippage.

Top.

Bottom.

Overall, the Lexa Blackline looks very nice from the outside, albeit with some strange quirks here and there.

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