Conclusion:
The
NZXT Rogue Small Form Factor Gaming Chassis puts an interesting twist on the concept of a small form factor design. The stylish Aluminum chassis is well made, and includes a variety of interesting features such as a removable motherboard tray, a custom carrying strap for greater mobility, and excellent cooling potential thanks to five 120mm fan mounts.
While you are limited to a Micro ATX motherboard, there is little else that is small about the Rogue. The volume of this case is greater than some ATX mid-tower cases, and it weighs just as much, too. While the carrying strap helps, portability doesn't seem to be a key selling point of this case.
The main issue I have with the Rogue is with the installation. It took way too long and involved far too many issues (I won't list all of them here, but they can be found in the review and the main ones are listed with the "Cons" below). While instructions are generally not required for a case, this one could actually use a more detailed manual. I turned to it for help several times only to find the information provided was inaccurate or incomplete. There are a few tool-less features, but not all that many considering the general design of most NZXT cases. Given all of the snags and time spent on the process, I was glad when the installation was finally complete.
PriceGrabber has a page dedicated to the NZXT Rogue Small Form Factor Gaming Chassis, but there are no sellers listed. Digging around the Internet finds that
Newegg.com has it in stock for $149.99 plus $19.59 shipping and any applicable taxes. While it is definitely an attractive case made of quality materials, $170 seems a bit high for a Micro ATX case. You can choose from a wide array of cases for less than this, and many may be more portable, easier to install a system into, and even support a full ATX motherboard.
Pros:
» Aluminum housing is well made and attractive
» Unique styling
» Removable motherboard tray
» All hardware is packed separately and labeled for easy selection
» Excellent cooling potential with five 120mm fan mounts (three fans included)
Cons:
» Way too big to be called a "small form factor" case
» Installation is very involved and time consuming
» Motherboard tray can not be removed with many CPU coolers or large expansion cards installed
» Minimal tool-less features
» Manual is inaccurate and incomplete
» Tool-less 5.25" drive rails didn't work and got drive stuck in the case
Special thanks to
NZXT for providing the NZXT Rogue Small Form Factor Gaming Chassis to Bigbruin.com for review!
