14 DAY TRIAL // Even though it may not necessarily be as good or feature-packed as one of its predecessors, a new product usually catches consumer attention easily through the sheer quality of being new. Other times, however, a hardware maker will not shrink from turning said product into one of the best of its type. This seems to be what NZXT tried to accomplish when it created the compact Vulcan.
The Vulcan was previewed back in April and described as an excellent choice for those that like to frequent LAN parties. LAN party PCs need to be small (easy to carry) but also more than capable of running most, if not all, recent games.
As such, a compact chassis needs to have enough space for the micro-ATX motherboard, as well as for enough memory, a long, high-end graphics card and a powerful PSU.
The Vulcan measures 180 (W) x 422.5 (H) x 406 (D) mm, has a pair of 5.25-inch HDD bays and a top I/O panel with USB 2.0 ports, audio outputs and eSATA connectivity. Cooling is handled by two 120mm fans, one at the front and one at the back. Three extra fans can be installed, namely a 200mm spinner on the side, a 120mm fan on top and an 80/92mm fan at the back. The case also boasts a tool-free design and a detachable handle.
Other specifications include wire routing holes and extruded side panel, which provides extra space for cable management, dual 8W channel fan control and room for 350mm cards (like ATI Radeon HD 5970). Furthermore, NZXT implemented support for an ATX PSU with removable filter and anti-vibration rubber and extra large mesh holes for optimal airflow. Gamers may also choose to install watercooling via dual external watercooling cutouts.
NZXT's Vulcan will start shipping on May 20 in the United States, for $69.99. Availability in Europe is scheduled for May 25.