Case & cooler manufacturer NZXT just announced its new Noctis 450 ($140) mid-tower enclosure, an amalgamation of aggressive, quality-driven design and the trusted H440 chassis . NZXT's product page went live earlier tonight , finally unveiling its new design approach to the public. The case makes use of NZXT's H440 interior, but applies a new outward-facing aesthetic that aims to bring high build quality to the “gamer” appearance.

In an exclusive interview with the Noctis 450's designer, Chung Tai, GamersNexus explored differentiating design elements of the N450 enclosure. Tai, who worked on the case through several iterations, noted that “there's no comparison out there,” telling me the N450 doesn't necessarily respond to anything presently on the market. The N450, he emphasized is unique in its appearance and structure, combining simple-but-superior build quality with flashy aesthetics. Listen to that interview below for more insights as to the case's design:

NZXT N450 (Noctis) Specs

Model Number CA-N450W-M1 (Matte Black and Red LED Accents) Drive Bays External 5.25": 0

Internal 3.5"/2.5": 6+2 Cooling System Front: 2x 140/3x120mm (3 x 120mm FN V2 Fans Included)

Top: 2x 140/3x120mm

Rear: 1x 140/120mm (1 x 140mm FN V2 Fan Included) Filters Front (Included)

Bottom Rear(Included) Radiator Support Front 2 x 140 or 3 x 120mm

Top 2 x 140 or 3 x 120mm

Rear 1 x 140/120mm Clearance GPU Clearance With HDD Cage: 294mm

GPU Clearance Without HDD Cage: 406.2mm

CPU Cooler: 180mm

Cable Management: Lowest Point - 17.7mm; Highest Point 32.5mm Dimensions 220mm x 567mm x 544mm (WxHxD) Material SECC Steel, ABS Plastic Motherboard Support Mini-ITX, MicroATX, ATX Expansion Slots 7 External Electronics 1 x Audio/Mic

I/O Panel LED On/Off Product Weight 9.75 kg UPC 815671012418 (Black/Red) EAN 5060301692705 (Black/Red) USB 3.0 Ports 2 USB 2.0 Ports 2 Warranty 2 Years

The N450 is a departure from NZXT's recent design philosophy, which has primarily sought to deliver discreet, quality cases to market while largely abolishing plastic paneling. The N450 uses multi-layered plastic paneling to create a sort of interlaced “X” design on the front panel, applying generous mesh to all exposed surfaces for improved cooling performance.

“[We wanted] a really aggressive design – something that I would say is heavily inspired by concept art, conceptual cars, stuff like that,” Tai told me, furthering that the case isn't necessarily a response to any existing competitors on the market. “This is a premium mid-tower case. Style-wise, there's no comparison out there right now. The chassis – it's been there, people like how the H440 is, and so I think that [structurally], it's all very solid.”

We took the opportunity to inquire as to the interlocking paneling layers present on the front and top of the case, which Tai called “the big, main idea of the Noctis.” Tai exlaborated that “we're trying to have this layering design. Most cases out there are a solid block wrapping around the chassis; we're trying to have different layers [overlapping one another]. It also enhances strength of the panels.”

Cooling support of the N450 is similar to the H440 in almost every respect. The unit ships with four pre-installed fans – three in the front (intake) and one in the rear (exhaust) – with room for add-ons or radiators. System installation and mount points are effectively identical to the H440.

The PWM-enabled fan hub is worth noting. Unlike most fan hubs, the N450's hub routes the CPU's pulse-width modulation control through on-board logic that manages all hub-connected case fans. The unit has over-voltage and other protections built into it, ensuring one of the most impressive on-case fan hubs we've yet discovered.

More on the N450 in our full review, coming shortly.

Official product page, which went live just a few hours ago:

Expected Newegg lander once live.

Full gallery follows.

- Steve "Lelldorianx" Burke.