NZXT S5 RGB Review: The Most Affordable NZXT Case Is Here

NZXT S5 RGB in Detail

NZXT is best known for the premium segment and has consistently impressed with its design and sophisticated features. This new release takes a noticeably different approach, as the S5 RGB and S5 RGB Deluxe models are priced well below the €100 mark. In doing so, the company has cut back on more than we expected.

Even though a glance at the design reveals the familiar shapes and large panoramic glass panel—which serve as recognizable hallmarks—when paired with a large, colorful 360mm single frame fan, the case is unexpectedly compact. With dimensions of 210 x 482 x 423 mm, it is, however, 82 mm narrower, 3 mm longer, and 34 mm taller than the NZXT H6 RGB+. A major difference can be seen in the construction and implementation, as the dual-chamber design isn’t quite present here—the power supply is installed at the bottom, and there’s very little space behind the motherboard tray. What stands out, however, is the space reserved for a fan rotated approximately 40° on the lower front panel next to the glass. This fan is oriented toward the graphics card and CPU.

The S5 RGB is thus intended to serve as an entry-level option in the NZXT portfolio for those on a tighter budget of €59. As a result, the sheet metal used is thinner; the rubber covers on the cable openings are missing; the usual cable channels and Velcro straps are absent; and we only get five cable ties for securing cables. Of course, at this price point, there’s no Cam Hub either, so the pre-installed single-frame 360mm fan is connected to the motherboard via a 4-pin PWM ARGB cable. The S5 thus offers the bare minimum and provides for upgrade options, as up to 10 fans—or radiators, if needed—can be installed.

The case has an internal volume of about 43 liters, and NZXT really makes the most of that space. When choosing a graphics card, you can select models with a maximum length of 415 mm, and CPU air coolers with a height of up to 162 mm. The bottom-mounted power supply slot allows for the installation of units with a maximum length of 200 mm. As for motherboards, ATX or mATX models will likely be the primary choice, even though the mini-ITX form factor is supported; however, mini-ITX boards are significantly more expensive and therefore not a practical option.

AIO water cooling radiators can be installed at the top of the case, but there is a major limitation here: even though the case has openings for 140mm and 120mm mounting holes, 280mm and 420mm radiators will not fit because they will interfere with most motherboards.

Unfortunately, the clearance from the top to the motherboard is too small, which is why we couldn’t install the NZXT Kraken PLUS 280 and had to switch to a 360.

At the bottom, we find a dust filter, just as we did at the top. The lower section features numerous holes for airflow, allowing for airflow from two or three fans on the inner cover.

There is no fan on the back, and we find seven slot bezels. The design is very simple.

The screws for the bezels are secured by a cover. The cover is fastened with a single screw—not a knurled screw, but a standard Phillips-head screw.

Build Quality

Weighing approximately 6.1 kg and featuring a lightweight design, the S5 RGB unfortunately doesn’t feel as high-quality as NZXT’s other cases, though that was to be expected at this price point. We only found residue on the inside of one side panel, caused by friction from the I/O panel cables, which couldn’t be removed.

Otherwise, the build quality seemed acceptable to us for this price.

Fishbowl Design with Single-Frame Fan

Thanks to its two glass panels, the S5 RGB essentially features a fishbowl design, so we find the usual fans on the sides, which are intended to facilitate horizontal airflow. NZXT relies on its own F360 RGB Reverse Single-Frame fans and installs them right next to the front glass panel on the side. These are reverse-blade models, meaning the fan blades are oriented in the opposite direction. NZXT has included a subtle sticker on the visible side that otherwise matches the fans. Since the fans feature ARGB lighting, the fan blades are made of white plastic and serve as the light sources. They connect to the motherboard via a 4-pin PWM cable and a 5V ARGB cable, as there is no dedicated controller here.

These fans differ significantly from those we found in the NZXT H6 RGB+. Instead of operating at a maximum of 2,200 RPM, they reach a maximum of 1,500 RPM. In addition, the minimum speed is just under 200 RPM, which is surprisingly slow—most fans would already shut off at that speed!

It’s unclear at what distance and speed the specified 30.1 dBA was measured, but the fans are far too loud above 1,400 RPM. The airflow is specified at 50.46 CFM per fan at 0.76 mmH₂O.

Sound Level Measurement

We measured the sound level of the fans individually inside the closed case at a distance of 20 cm. The single-frame fans then had to be evaluated as a whole. The following chart visually represents the measurements, and the individual measurements are listed below.

Measurement Data and Noise Level of the Front Single-Frame Fan

Measured with the glass panel and side panels closed.

• 100% PWM signal: 1,503 RPM, 50.1 dB(A), very loud
• 90% PWM signal: 1,410 RPM, 48.3 dB(A), very loud
• 80% PWM signal: 1,310 RPM, 46.3 dB(A), loud
• 70% PWM signal: 1,195 RPM, 43.5 dB(A), loud
• 60% PWM signal: 1,064 rpm, 40.4 dB(A), loud
• 50% PWM signal: 940 rpm, 37.9 dB(A), audible
• 40% PWM signal: 774 rpm, 35.2 dB(A), audible
• 30% PWM signal: 616 rpm, 33.8 dB(A), barely audible, room volume (office)
• 20% PWM signal: 417 rpm, 33.4 dB(A), quiet, room volume (office)
• 10% PWM signal: 232 RPM, 33.1 dB(A), quiet, normal room volume (office)
• Floor: 32.9 dB(A) (Ambient noise level with the PC turned off)

IO Panel

On the S5 RGB, the I/O panel is located at the bottom of the front panel. The power button is particularly striking, as it is surprisingly large. The panel is set back slightly in this area.

Right next to the power button, there are two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (5 Gbps) ports and a modern USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port (20 Gbps) for connecting storage devices and peripherals. On the far right, there is a headphone combo jack. The included cables inside the case have black sheathing and can be easily routed to the motherboard.

Packaging & Contents

We definitely have to give NZXT credit for the packaging, as the outer box is sturdy and features minimalist printing. Inside, we find a thick protective layer that adequately protects the case.

All the accessories are contained in a small cardboard box attached to the bottom of the case. Inside, you’ll find the necessary screws, just 5 cable ties, and a manual. Unfortunately, that’s all there is.

Technical Specifications

Test Setup

We are using the following components for our test system. The setup is as follows:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
• CPU Cooler: Corsair Nautilus 360 RS LCD - Motherboard: ASUS ROG STRIX B850-A GAMING WIFI7 NEO
• RAM: Corsair Dominator Titanium RGB 48 GB Kit DDR5-6000
• SSD: 2 x NVMe SSDs
• Graphics Card: PNY GeForce RTX 5080 Slim OC
• Power Supply: NZXT C850 Core

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