Our Verdict
Pros
- Value
- Performance
- Included fans
- Expandability
Cons
- Limited storage capacity
Should you buy it?
Introduction, Specifications, and Pricing
The NZXT S5 ARGB launches with one thing in mind: the consumer. Primarily targeted at the entry-and value-oriented end of the spectrum, this is a mid-tower ATX case that uses steel and tempered glass, offering newcomers, or those looking for a budget-oriented case, the looks and feel of something far more premium.
The mid-tower S5 opens the door to the NZXT ecosystem and comes in two versions: the S5 RGB and the S5 RGB Deluxe. The first offers a single 360mm framed RGB reverse fan mounted to the back side wall of the case, while the S5 RGB Deluxe adds two more 120mm fans: one in the bottom front angled chamber and one as a rear exhaust. With NZXT keeping an eye on your finances, the S5 RGB costs $49.99, while the deluxe version only adds $10, to $59.99. Both versions are available in either an all-white or all-black color scheme, with a two-year warranty included for peace of mind.
Popular Now: 4GB and 6GB GDDR7 chips could enable 192GB workstation GPUs by 2027-28The S5 RGB looks good on paper: two-piece panoramic tempered glass, pre-installed fans (and room for up to ten total), filtered air intakes, and AIO support are all plus points that add expandability over time, when the budget allows. To see if it's actually any good, though, I have the standard S5 ARGB here for testing, and my job today is to find out if the elevated looks and feel of this case, along with the low-end price tag, are worth your time and, of course, your hard-earned cash.
| Item | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | NZXT S5 RGB | |
| Form Factor | Mid Tower | |
| Dimensions | 482mm x 210mm x 423mm (HxWxD) | |
| Weight | 6.14kg / 13.54lbs | |
| Materials | Steel / Tempered Glass | |
| Color | White or Black | |
| Motherboard Support | ATX / Micro-ATX / Mini-ITX | |
| BTF Motherboard Support | No | |
| Cooling Compatibility | Top: 2x 140mm, 3x 120mm, or up to 360mm AIO | Side: 3x 120mm (included) | Bottom: 3x 120mm | Rear: 1x 120mm | |
| ARGB / Fan Hub | No | |
| Drive Support | 1x 2.5" | 1x 3.5" |
| Front I/O | Power, 2x USB-A, 1x USB-C, Combo Audio | |
| CPU Cooler Height (max.) | 162mm | |
| PSU Length (max.) | 200mm | |
| GPU Card Length (max.) | 415mm | |
| Warranty | 2 years | |
Packaging
There isn't much to say about the S5 RGB's packaging. The case ships in a rather plain brown cardboard box with black print. An NZXT logo sits in the top-left corner of the front of the box, with the model name in the lower-left corner.
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On the back, a small image of the S5 RGB sits in the top-right corner, while one side includes a QR code to view the product manual online. I prefer a paper manual, but online access makes it easy for NZXT to implement updates. The side of the box also shows the case color, and we have the white version for testing. Of course, as a budget case, there is no need to overdo the packaging, so we can keep costs as low as possible.
Internal packaging is the familiar closed-cell foam and plastic bag to keep the case free from dust and dirt.
Outside the NZXT S5 RGB
At first glance, I like the S5 RGB's aesthetic; it looks more premium than the price tag suggests. The side tempered glass features a white printed band, while the front bottom vented panel includes an embossed NZXT logo at the bottom left. From here, you can see the angled front bottom fan mount, which we'll look at more closely in a moment.
Our Latest Mid-Tower Cases Review Coverage
The S5 RGB is marketed as an ideal case for standard ATX builds using either an air cooler or a 360mm AIO, and it's also well-suited for showing off a lot of RGB lighting. The S5 RGB offers space for builds that need room to grow over time and includes clearance for high-end hardware. The S5 RGB measures 482mm x 210mm x 423mm (HxWxL), with a total volume of 42.8L and a weight of 6.14kg / 13.54lbs. CPU clearance for an air cooler is 162mm, and it supports GPUs up to 415mm, with power supplies up to 200mm as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Open a question for an answer from TweakTown's coverage of this review, or ask your own below.
What motherboard sizes does the NZXT S5 RGB support?
Is the S5 RGB compatible with BTF motherboards or rear-connect builds?
Does the included 360mm side fan connect to a NZXT fan or RGB hub?
Can the S5 RGB fit a 360mm AIO in the top panel as well as the side mount?
Have a question that isn't listed here? Ask below, and TweakBot will answer it.
It's good that NZXT also states in the reviewer information what the S5 RGB isn't for; there is no BTF compatibility, it's not for those wanting support for a lot of storage, or who need a GPU anti-sag bracket, and I like that they include this information and the tradeoffs the S5 RGB brings. The tempered glass side and front are flat, individual pieces rather than a wraparound single-piece style, and it's all about cost. The more features you add, the more the cost goes up, and a case like the S5 RGB could suddenly be twice the price that it is.
The top of the case includes a full-coverage PVC mesh magnetic dust filter sheet, color-coded to the steel case. When removed, the top shows mounting rails for 120mm or 140mm fans and radiators, with a hexagonal venting pattern.
Viewed front-on, the tempered glass offers a great look at the internals and continues the printed white band from the side of the case. While it isn't a single piece of glass, NZXT has tried to flow the design around for a seamless look.
The I/O is placed at the bottom of the front, housed within the plastic panel. It includes a large power button that lights up around the edge when powered on, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, a single USB 3.2 Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headset jack. This is the standard I have seen on many cases this year, and should be enough for most consumers.
Venting is included around the back, where the back-side-mounted fans are installed, and like the front side, an embossed NZXT logo is located at the bottom. The rest of the panel is plain, and the color matching between the steel and plastic elements looks good so far. No filter is included for the side-mounted intake fans, so airflow shouldn't be restricted.
Both side panels are tool-less, with no thumbscrews required; you can remove each panel using the small indentations at the top rear of the case. Motherboard I/O and a 120mm fan mount are included toward the top, with seven PCIe slots below. Access to the PCIe brackets is via a gate that requires removing a single screw. Finally, the power supply bay is at the bottom and requires internal, rather than external, fitment.
As with the top, the bottom of the S5 RGB includes a full-coverage magnetic dust filter. When removed, you can see the mounting holes for a 3.5" drive, and the same hexagonal venting pattern to draw air into the bottom of the case for the power supply and fans. Clearance from the rubber-padded feet is reasonable, around 15mm.
Inside the NZXT S5 RGB
With the side and front glass out of the way, you can see the S5 RGB internals. NZXT includes a 360mm single-frame RGB reverse fan to pull air into the case. The fan runs at 1,500 ± 200 RPM and moves 50.46 CFM per fan. Of course, being RGB, it has lighting ready to go out of the box, with room to add more as time and budget allow.
As NZXT mentioned, the S5 RGB includes no BTF compatibility or GPU support bracket. Cable cutouts around the motherboard tray are well placed, and feature rolled edges to keep them smooth, rather than relying on grommets. Even with both glass panels removed, the S5 RGB feels well made, and while it flexes a little without a support on the front corner, it won't be a concern in use; it's built well and should last for years to come.
The top of the PSU shroud includes cable pass-through slots and room to mount two 120mm fans, while a third can be added at the front. NZXT has included an angled recess for the front fan to help direct air toward the graphics card and keep it as cool as possible. It's a trend we are starting to see more, with the HAVN BF360 and the more recent Cooler Master HAF II 500 both using a front scoop to direct air toward the GPU.
Stripping away the back panel gives access to the power supply chamber. 22mm of clearance is provided here for routing cables, so certainly not the most room I have ever seen, but it should be enough for most modest builds with good cable management.
A single 2.5" sled is included at the back of the motherboard tray. While there is only room for a single 3.5" and 2.5" drive in the S5 RGB, I do think that this is reasonable, given who this case is aimed at. With NVMe drive slots on motherboards becoming more common, I suggest using those for the OS and games, using the provided storage mounting options for backups, and a large HDD where required.
The basement is where the 3.5" drive can be installed, to the front under the angled fan mount. While there is some room here to tuck away additional power cables, be mindful that if this drive bay is occupied, it will reduce available space and, to some extent, airflow for the front fan. In this image, you can see NZXT includes a hole for passing fan cables through for connection.
Before testing, a quick look at the included accessory box that NZXT provides. It includes screws for motherboard and drive installation, along with a few cable ties.
Test System, Installation, and Finished Product
My test system installation was quick and easy, and while I didn't use the plentiful tie-down points, they are well positioned to make a tidy build possible in this case.
The system I have built for testing includes an AMD Ryzen 5 9600X CPU, housed in an MSI B850 Tomahawk Max Wi-Fi Motherboard, paired with two sticks of 16GB Corsair Vengeance DDR5-6000 memory. Our CPU is kept cool using the be quiet! Dark Rock Elite. For storage, I am using a Corsair MP700 Elite 1TB NVMe M.2 drive. Finally, for graphics, I have an ASUS Prime RTX 4070 12 GB Super. Testing was completed with PBO enabled, AXMP1, and MSI Smart Fan configuration.
All testing was completed using AIDA64 Engineer's System Stability Test v7.65.7400 for 2 hours. Other software used was HWiNFO 64 v8.34-5870, TechPowerUp GPU-Z v2.70.0, and CPU-Z v2.15.0 x64.
Kris' Test System Specifications
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 9600X (Buy at Amazon) |
| Motherboard | MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX Wi-Fi (Buy at Amazon) |
| GPU | ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 4070 Super OC (Buy at Amazon) |
| RAM | Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 16GB (2x8GB) (Buy at Amazon) |
| SSD | Corsair MP700 Elite 1TB (Buy at Amazon) |
| Cooler | TBC (Buy at Amazon) |
| Power Supply | TBC (Buy at Amazon) |
| Monitor | Acer Nitro XV322QK (Buy at Amazon) |
| OS | Microsoft Windows 11 Pro (Buy at Amazon) |
I ran my usual two-hour test on the S5 RGB, and the results were about what I expected. As standard, this case provides positive airflow due to the preinstalled fans, and a filter doesn't suffocate them. An ambient temperature of 24C means it is still a little warm here, and my case testing chart will consider this when looking at where the S5 RGB sits overall. On the day, the S5 RGB reached a maximum of 79C for the AMD 9600X and averaged 76.3C over the test. Meanwhile, the ASUS 4070 Super peaked at 74.8C and settled to 73.6C. With ambient drawn to 20C for a comparative baseline, these results place the S5 RGB mid-table, between the Lian Li Lancool 217 INF and GAMDIAS ATLAS P6 CG for CPU temperatures.
When reviewing the GPU results, the S5 RGB places just below the HAVN HS420 VGPU and above the InWin DLITE. When you factor in delta, with the CPU at 72.3C and the GPU at 69.6C, these aren't bad results; the gap between the top and bottom of my CPU chart is 13.7C, while the GPU range is 13C overall.
Testing didn't stop there, though, as NZXT sent over some additional fans and a cooler. While I always base my conclusion on my standard setup, it would have been rude not to see how the case performed when stacked out with fans and an AIO. For this, I ran NZXT F120 RGB fans, with an NZXT F360 RGB replacing the rear side single frame unit. Finally, I installed an NZXT Kraken Elite 360.
Results improved, as expected. Average CPU temperature came in at 68.1C, while GPU temperature came down to 63.5C. Obviously, if you fill a case full of fans and add an AIO, you expect better results, and it gives you an idea of what the S5 RGB can achieve when fully populated. These results move the S5 RGB up; for CPU, it now sits between the GAMDIAS ATHENA M4M and the Cooler Master Q300L V3. For GPU, the case now ranks between the GAMDIAS ATLAS P6 CG and the Lian Li Lancool 217, at 7th overall. It's a big improvement, not that it performed badly out of the box, so hopefully it gives you an idea of what to expect as you add more fans and better cooling to the case.
Final Thoughts
NZXT set out with a focus on what the S5 RGB should be, and they have delivered on what they aimed to achieve. For under $50, this case performs well, has good build quality, and looks much more expensive than it is. It also provides the end user the opportunity to expand their setup over time, and as we saw from the testing results, it's an avenue worth exploring when finances allow.
I felt that reading through some of the notes in the review guide that NZXT wanted to calm expectations, given the trade-offs- no BTF, no single piece wrap-around glass, etc. but NZXT doesn't need to worry, as the S5 RGB does exactly what it set out to accomplish. If this were a $120 case, my final thoughts would be rather different.
If you are looking for a simple, good-looking case that doesn't promise more than it can deliver, the S5 RGB is an ideal platform for your first build. If you bear in mind some of its so-called restrictions, storage capacity, for example, and plan accordingly, then it serves its purpose beautifully. If you need space for four or five 3.5" drives, then the S5 RGB isn't what you need, and it felt almost a little apologetic by NZXT in the review notes to justify some of these points. NZXT decided not to include an abundance of storage options, but they have done it for the right reasons, and the S5 RGB isn't a case to be sniffed at.
I've said before, cheap doesn't always mean bad, and this case is a prime example: it offers good value, good performance, and looks great, with room to expand over time. If you are putting together your first build, then don't overlook the NZXT S5 RGB.
