Installation:

There's no removable motherboard tray in the Lexa Blackline, so you'll have to install the motherboard directly into the case. Because of this, you'll probably want to install the PSU first, since it might be more difficult to put it in with other hardware in place. The PSU slides in from inside the case, and screws into place as with most cases.

PSU installation.

Screwed in.

Standoffs installed.

Standoffs have to be screwed into place, but the holes on the tray are clearly labeled (eg. A1-A9 for ATX boards) so this is fairly simple. After that you can screw down the motherboard. With the room about average for a mid tower case, placing the motherboard inside is fairly easy, though you might need to twist it a little to get it into place properly.

Motherboard installed.

Fastener.

Opened fastener.

Expansion card installation is a breeze. You simply lift the latch and open the card fastener. After installing the card, you lock down the fastener - this provides a fairly secure tool-free approach to installing expansion cards. Though it appears there are screw holes along the fastener, you cannot use screws as a secondary method of securing expansion cards. The slot covers on the case are replaceable.

Installation of drives/devices is similarly a tool-free process. For HDDs, the drive rails just have metal pegs that insert into the screw holes on the drive. You then slide the drive and rails into the HDD cage where it locks into place via the plastic tabs on the side. It's secure solution that's easy to use. One thing to note is that the connector side of the drive will have to face the left side of the case, since there's opening on the other side of the HDD cage. You will thus have to run cables out in front.

Card installed and fastener shut.

HDD rails.

HDD installed.

The process is similar for 5.25" and 3.5" external drives, as the rails for them also have metal pegs that go into the drive screw holes. However, because some drives may have the screw holes in different locations, the pegs can be removed and repositioned in order to get the drives to line up flush with the front bezel. For my optical drive, I did not have to reposition the pegs as the drive lined up correctly. If you have a device that doesn't work with the pegs, you can remove them and instead use screws to attach the rails to it, like you would with traditional drive rails. The flexibility to work with different types of devices and yet still support tool-free installation is a nice feature.

Before external drives are removed, you must tear out the EMI shields. Be careful, as the metal's sharp. You don't need to remove the front panel to remove the 5.25" shields since the 5.25" drive covers can be popped off from the front. However, to install external 3.5" drives, you must pop off the front panel because you can't remove these drive covers directly from the front.

Overall, installation is fairly straightforward, though things would have been easier with a removable motherboard tray or thumbscrews on the side panel. However, not many mid towers support a removable motherboard tray, so this isn't a deal breaker.

Conclusion:

The Lexa Blackline maintains the same features as the original Lexa, except that it's made out of steel, providing a lower cost and more strength at the expense of weight. The case looks great, and provides all the necessary features of a mid tower case. Additionally, the inclusion of four case fans, two of which are LED units, makes the case feel very complete. Filters for intake vents also help define this case.

The included temperature monitor provides a feature that is useful for many people. Indeed, its inclusion saves you a 5.25" drive bay, since there are 5.25" devices out there that perform this same function. This is an attractive feature to those enthusiasts always concerned about temperature. The tool-free features of the case, including drive and expansion card installation, were also top-notch.

Some things I did not like were the plastic cable guide at the back, which felt somewhat flimsy. The front panel was also a bit tricky to remove and it would be nice if the door opened a little more past 90 degrees, so that the drives would be easy to access no matter what side you placed the case on. Other than that, the Lexa Blackline is a solid, good-looking choice for a mid tower case.

Pros:

• Unique and sleek symmetrical look

• Side window

• Four included case fans, three of which are 120mm units

• Nice lights and LED fans included

• Three sensor temperature monitor

• Tool-free drive and card installation

• Filters on intake fans

Cons:

• Plastic exterior not sturdy in some places

• Door only opens about 90 degrees

• Front bezel tricky to remove and wires attached to it

• No removable motherboard tray

Many thanks go out to NZXT for making this review possible.

Got News? Send 'em in!