NZXT has improved over their past designs with the Lexa, its classy looks and solid build quality proves that they are able to deliver an excellent case to the masses.

Most people decide which case to get after running through a series of criteria in this order:
1) Price
2) Functionality
3) Performance/Looks

Cheap, awful looking cases with sharp edges inside are being sold by the dozen at local hardware stores. People choose them because they are cheap, and not everybody has the budget to spend a large amount of money on a case. When you do have a bit more to spend, then functionality will most likely come next, a case with easy access, no sharp edges, removable motherboard tray, drive rails etc seems to be the next step up from the “noname” to cheaper functional cases like Aopen/Chieftec entree models.

The looks and performance of a case are only important for those who have a budget which can allow them to see higher up the ladder and get a better quality case. Depending on what the end user wants, looks will come first (nice integration with their house/apartment’s interior) or performance (overclocking their system to limit).

The Lexa can be bought at Newegg for a rather steep price of $179 (with 500W PSU!), this puts it out the grasp of most people, the price in Europe should be around €139 without PSU. At that price it has entered the Coolermaster and Silverstone ballpark, two of several companies who put out equally decent enclosures at comparable prices. Now why should somebody decide to go with the Lexa? Although it does offer better value because of the included fans, LCD temperature display and carrying strap at that price you expect a case to have great functionality and cooling; so you’ll end up deciding on looks, and that is where personal taste comes in. So next time you go shopping around for your “BMW” or “Mercedes” enclosure you might want to venture over the Lexa and who knows… you might like it.

PRO
Design Case
Excellent thermal performance
Plug and Play installation
LCD temperature display

CON
Price!
Side panel closing mechanism might need a bit of tweaking

We would like to thank NZXT for providing the Lexa for evaluation.

Update 12/01/2006: There seem to be some problems with the LCD screen on the Lexa. But support reacts quick and replacements parts are shipped.

Question/Comments: forum thread