NZXT Panzerbox Mid Tower Case Review

Interior Impressions pg.2


From the other side of the case, there really isn’t a whole lot to see. NZXT does not intend for the rear of the motherboard tray to be used for cable management, aside from a couple of notches along the side of the tray that may be handy for zip-ties.


We were disappointed to see that one of the little brackets used to hold the motherboard tray securely in place actually snapped right off at the weld joint. Considering this was done simply by reinserting the tray, we can only assume that this was a manufacturer’s defect. The other bracket appeared to be securely in place. Thankfully, this bracket only stabilizes the tray and is not essential.


One great – and increasingly rare – feature that the Panzerbox brings to the table is a removable motherboard tray. This a feature often desired by PC enthusiasts. Four thumb screws hold the tray in place, and it slides out on rails on simple rails. As you’ll see in the “Installation” section, the removable tray makes motherboard and video card installation a breeze.

Care must be taken when removing the tray, as it’s a little on the flimsy side unfortunately.


The 190mm fan used in the Panzerbox is a much heavier-duty fan than what we’re used to seeing. Many oversize fans tend to be flimsy and lack overall structural strength, but this is definitely not the case with the 190mm fan included with the Panzerbox. The fan bears the marking “DF2003012SEHN”, which is a Sleeve Bearing model rated for 0.7 amps, or 8.4W at 12V. At 150CFM and 1100 RPM – a higher RPM than most oversize fans - this 190mm fan can certainly move a healthy amount of air. Both the intake and exhaust 190mm fans are identical.

The 120mm exhaust fan is also a sleeve bearing fan. Its model number is DF1202512SELN, and a quick google search reveals that this is a rebranded fan used in several Cooler Master cases as well. Rated for around 2W at 12V and somewhere around 45CFM, it’s a much more pedestrian fan than the behemoths in the front and top of the case. Because the fan is a simple 120x25mm model, buyers can swap it out for a different model if they’d like some stronger exhaust flow.


Once we got the large 190mm exhaust fan out of the Panzerbox, we were greeted by a large mesh opening at the top of the case. NZXT includes a set of brackets that can be used to easily mount a 120mm or dual 120mm radiator into the Panzerbox. Simply remove the 190mm fan, screw the brackets to the radiator and then screw the radiator to the existing fan mounting holes. There are several different screw locations on the bracket to allow for some back to front adjustment of the radiator if necessary as well.

Image Courtesy of NZXT

Installing a dual 120mm radiator should be a piece of cake thanks to the included brackets. With over 3.5 inches of clearance between the top of the case and the motherboard, even thick radiators and potentially 38mm thick fans could be mounted in the Panzerbox.