NZXT Gamma Review

Testing:

For testing, I put the system through the usual gauntlet of tests. For idle values, I just simply allowed the computer to idle for one hour and then I recorded the resulting temperatures using both RealTemp and HWMonitor. For load temperature values, with the CPU and chipset, I applied the load using Prime95 in blend mode. For the HDD load, I used HDTune. For the GPU load, I used Folding@Home GPU client. For all load tests, I allowed the tests to run for one hour, after which I recorded the resulting temperatures.

Testing System:

• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale @ 3.00GHz
• Motherboard: DFI Lanparty UT P45-T2RS
• Memory: OCZ Reaper HPC DDR2-1066 2x2GB
• Graphics Card: VisionTek HD 4870 512MB
• Power Supply: OCZ GameXStream 600W
• Hard Drive: 1 x Seagate 320GB SATA 7200.10
• OS: Windows Vista Ultimate

Comparison Cases:

• ThermalTake Element T
• ThermalTake Element G
• NZXT M59 - 001BK
• CoolerMaster Storm Sniper Black Edition
• ThermalTake Element V

I wasn't surprised to see the Gamma not perform as well as many of the other cases. Its lack of fans handicapped its ability to remove the hot air from inside the case. Performance isn't necessarily everything, though, and I'm sure if you had more fans in it, then you would see way more promising results than this. Again, adding fans to the case will move the overall price point up and out of the sub $50 range.