NZXT Switch 810: When Too Much Isn't Enough
by Dustin Sklavos on February 1, 2012 7:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- NZXT
- Full-Tower
- Switch
Conclusion: Jack of All Trades, Master of None
NZXT's Switch 810 is, at least on paper, a pretty awesome enclosure. During assembly there were times when I seriously considered moving my personal desktop out of my SilverStone FT02 and into the Switch 810 just because of how much I appreciated both the look and the features. The FT02 is a fantastic case but even SilverStone will tell you it isn't exactly easy to service. Theoretically the directable internal fans should've been fantastic, and I wish more case designers would include an SD card reader as a standard feature (thus allowing them to dispense with 3.5" external bays entirely). I can also see the togglable LEDs for the I/O cluster and expansion slots in the back being incredibly useful. So what's the problem?
The problem is that the Switch 810 doesn't really perform. Thermally it definitely ranked at or below its chief competition when it came to the problem parts, the CPU and GPU. Those GPU temperatures were especially poor given a solution that really should've improved them, not made them worse. The adequate temperatures would've been excusable if the Switch 810 were at least silent, but it loses on that front as well, offering the highest idle noise I've ever tested in both our stock and overclocked configurations. There's no way around it: NZXT should've included a fan controller (and perhaps better/quieter fans as well). While I'm sure they would be happy to sell you one of their own fan controllers, the Switch 810 is already selling for an MSRP of $169.
I think there's ultimately a market for the Switch 810 for users that can take advantage of all of its customizability, as well as users who want to employ a tremendous amount of custom watercooling. For them it's going to be worth checking out. If you don't need to install a 360mm radiator, though, Rosewill's Thor v2 remains the superior buy. It performs better, costs less, and is quieter to boot. NZXT's case is a good one, but not great, and definitely not competitive at $169.
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Margalus - Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - link
I think it's probably the psu makers that have told the case makers to do this. that way the psu's burn out from dust long before they would if they were mounted at the top of the case. That way the psu makers can sell a lot more psu's than they would otherwise.seriously though, I agree 110%. I would never buy a case with a bottem mount psu, it is just not practical. Everytime I open my case I have to vacuum out a 1/4 inch of dust and fuzz off of the bottom of the case where it gets sucked in and settles. If a psu was on the bottom it would suck all that in which would not be good.
themossie - Thursday, February 2, 2012 - link
On a bottom-mounted PSU, the PSU does not either intake or exhaust into the case. (see gallery - the fan points down, not up into the case.)Any dust that gets into the case will not get into the PSU. Just make sure there is reasonable clearance under the case, so you get decent airflow...
Alecthar - Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - link
I generally find cable management to be (at best) a wash, when deciding based on PSU mounting. There are difficulties either way.As for the bottom PSU mounting, if you purchase a case with a filtered PSU vent (almost all cases with bottom mounted PSUs feature some kind of filter) and clean it regularly (as you should any PC, to keep dust buildup to a minimum) then you should experience no adverse effects on PSU lifespan. And it's not like having it constantly sucking in hot air (when it's intake fan is inside the case at the top) is somehow better for it than taking some time every few weeks to dust off a filter.
danacee - Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - link
I have it in my desk a few inches off the ground with filters everywhere that actually mounts it off the ground, but still despite diligently cleaning out the filter my Corsair HX1050 has dust in places no PSU should have ever. I am not a smoker, clean diligently and have filters over every intake in the computer, yet the machine gets soo fricken dirty so fast.These up and out case designs are just really bad, I love the way this NZXT looks, but just know it will be just as bad as my Corsair Obsidian. I really think there is a 3 inch no fly zone where dust hovers and gets kicked up from movement and the major flaw with these trendy up and out cases; is they tap directly into it. Would make a great design for an actual Air Filter, but not for cases.
bigboxes - Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - link
Maybe you need to vacuum/sweep your floor more often. And yes, I have a bottom mount psu case, filters and have my case under my desk on the floor in a computer stand that gives it an inch of clearance off the rug. I clean the filters regularly and vacuum out the case periodically.danacee - Thursday, February 2, 2012 - link
that is always what people say when some new trend is found inadequate, never considering how much is too much.But yes I do weekly(I am a female and am sensitive to dust) and no, my case does not get stuffed full of dirt. The problem is how much more I need to clean out the fricken thing because some idiot thought it was a good idea to give it the airflow of an upright Hoover.
FYI I had an older front back out based airflow case and the thing in the very same stop and despite heavier use, never collected dust at the same rate. Also my primary work machine is a Mac Pro, same story.
another voice - Thursday, February 2, 2012 - link
i have bottom mount psu - i just installed it fan side up so it sucks air out case and out back of psu. surely thats the ideal situation...and to the tin foil hat guy who think its conspiracy to break your psu - lol enjoy life.
Death666Angel - Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - link
Is there a reason you don't just flip the PSU around so that it draws the intake air from inside the case? To me it seems like up or down don't really matter in most situations, for most people. In the few where it matters, it matters for people smart enough to know which way to go.zero2dash - Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - link
Funny, I've never heard of a bottom mounted PSU "blowing up". In fact, any time a PSU "blows up" it's because it inherently is flawed; not because of how it was mounted in a case.Either turn the PSU upside down, take your case off the floor, or buy one of the dozens of top mounted PSU cases still widely available.
DanNeely - Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - link
As massive as some PSUs have gotten I think mechanical constraints are part of it. You need solid support to hold it in place on the top now on the bottom you can just use the existing metal.A case this huge could have it mounted sideways on the bottom though and avoid the carpet clogging and worst of the dust sucking problems in the process.