BitFenix Redefines Budget-Class Chassis with new $40 NOVA Case
BitFenix has solidified their corner of the market as provider of unique and feature-rich chassis and case accessories at reasonable prices, offering such gems as the Bitfenix Aegis case reviewed here at Modders-Inc. Their latest product launch involves a budget-friendly case named NOVA and it certainly does not look like a typical budget case. Available in either black or white, the NOVA supports CPU coolers up to 160mm tall and video cards up to 320mm with large viewing window to show-off the system components installed. One 120mm fan is bundled as exhaust and two more can be placed in front for intake (pulling from the side mesh strip on the bezel). Expansion slots include 1 x 5.25″ external bay, 4 x 3.5″ HDD slots and 2 x 2.5″ HDD/SSD slots. Price is a stunningly low £23.99 for the non-window side and £26.99 for the windowed version. This converts to around ~$35 USD and ~$40 USD respectively which is why BitFenix call this launch the next evolution of the budget PC chassis.
Specifications:
| Colors | Black – White |
| Motherboard | ATX, Micro ATX, Mini-ITX (7 expansion slots) |
| CPU Cooler | up to 160mm tall |
| VGA | up to 320mm long and up to 140mm tall |
| Power Supply | up to 220mm long |
| 5.25” ODD Slots | 1 |
| 3.5” HDD Slots | 4 |
| 2.5” SSD Slots | 2 |
| Dust Filter Bottom | slide-out PSU Dust Filter |
| Cooling Front | 120mm x 2 |
| Cooling Rear | 120mm x 1 (included) |
| Radiator Rear | 120mm |
| I/O | USB 3.0 x 1, USB 2.0 x 1, HD Audio MIC & Headphone, Power LED (white), HDD LED (red) |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 183 x 437 x 465 mm – 7.20 x 17.20 x 18.30 inch |
| Materials | Steel, Plastic |
| Weight | 4.8Kg – 10.6lbs |
| Special Features | Closed Frontpanel to block noise, Frontpanel sidevents for good airflow, Large window sidepanel, pre-installed mainboard stand-offs, ruberized anti-slip casefeet, PSU dust filter |
NOVA – Budget Evolved
Bitfenix Nova delivers style, performance and silence at an incredibly competitive price. Whether you plan to build a basic office, home or gaming system, Novas simplistic design, aluminum badge, color options and optional window side panel mean it will blend in perfectly. Long air vents running along the sides of its front, hidden behind sleek mesh strips, provide plenty of airflow to cool the system. And as a result allowed us to keep Novas Top and Front panel completely closed to block fan-noise from escaping the enclosure, and dust from building up inside.
Noise Shielded
To seal fan noise inside the chassis, we developed a closed front panel for NOVA. Concealed behind a our signature mesh strips running along the sides of the front panel, lie a series of 134 air vents, that let fresh air stream into the case effortlessly. Thanks to this noise-shield design of a raised, closed front panel with side vents, NOVA is capable of keeping even powerful components supplied with the airflow required to keep them cooled adequately, all the while confining the fan-noise to the interior of the chassis.
Cool Breeze
NOVA offers a dual 120mm fan intake in the front, and a single 120mm exhaust in the rear, which when fully equipped results in excellent cooling performance, and a net positive air pressure inside the chassis, greatly reducing the buildup of dust. The frontal fan vents are positioned to channel fresh air directly over the storage drives, and onto the GPU and CPU, while the rear fan vent is positioned right above the CPU and supports even high-performance closed water-cooling systems.
Black & white
NOVA is available in pitch black and pure white to match your environment and perfectly blend in – whether you plan a stealthy, dark, classy build or a modern, clean, pure looking white system.
Nothing to hide
While purists probably opt for the solid steel side panel version of NOVA to create a completely closed, monolithic build, we created an optional window side panel to let you and others have a look at all the nice parts, while conveniently hiding the less interesting and appeasing looking ones. Combined with color matched components and LED fans and light strips NOVAs large window allows you to create a truly unique and impressive looking system.
Storage aplenty
NOVA supports up to four full size 3.5″ hard drives, two 2.5″ compact hard drives or SSDs and features a full size 5.25″ optical disc drive slot. More than enough for a brand new build, and plenty of space to migrate over older drives from an existing system.
Front Panel Interface
The angled front panel Interface of NOVA makes it easy to reach and use whether its on the floor, raised, or even standing on your desk. The large round power button is easy to find without even looking, while the reset button is purposely kept small and at the side of the panel. Two High Definition audio ports let you quickly connect a headset for a Skype call or to listen to your favorite music.
Dust proof
To prevent dust from building up inside your power supply, causing its fan to spin at unnecessarily high speeds or even overheat and shut down, NOVA comes bundled with a dust filter you can quickly rinse and slide back. This not only reduces noise, but increases the lifetime of your power supply and keeps your system running reliably for years on-end.
Assembly in 1-2-3
All the mainboard stand-offs come pre-installed, cutting down the time and effort of installing a system inside NOVA significantly.
High Performance Cooling
NOVA supports High Performance 120mm closed loop water coolers and CPU Heatsinks with a height of up to 160mm. And thanks to a large cut-out on the mainboard tray, installing optional metal brackets to support the additional weight of performance coolers is as easy as sliding off the rear side-panel to access the mainboards backside.
Gaming Powerhouse
With 7 expansion slots and a supported graphics card height of over 140mm, NOVA is ready for modern GPUs with a raised PCBs and larger, quieter heatsinks that extend beyond the traditional 110mm expansion card height.
