LCD Side Window on NZXT 'Snowblind' NZXT Case

By Published September 02, 2016 at 5:00 pm
LCD Side Window on NZXT 'Snowblind' NZXT Case
Hardware

The NZXT Noctis 450 enclosure was modified for display at Intel's booth for PAX West 2016, featuring an LCD panel for the side “window” in place of the usual acrylic. The display was built by iBUYPOWER as a prototype, and is effectively a 4:3 screen slapped onto the side of the case, then backlit (because there is no normal LCD LED backlight) by the internal case LEDs. White components are specifically used to create a high-contrast viewing port, meshing with the LCD panel in a way that allows video playback on the side of the case.

For the show, iBUYPOWER loaded a splash/advert video onto the side panel that scrolled through Intel and IBP logos. The future may permit more dynamic integrations with the panel, like loading PC monitoring software (e.g. NZXT CAM) with high contrast onto the display, then extending through usual Windows functionality. That's not possible yet, but is one of the considerations made by the team.

This isn't a feasible consumer product today – it's a prototype. IBUYPOWER sees this integration as being more partner friendly, being used in a similar fashion to In Win's H-Tower. To that end, the NZXT N450 + LCD window would make sense in a few core deployments: Trade shows, where vendors want flashy cases with advert playback capabilities, and eSports arenas, where sponsors could place video advertisements or logos on the side of pro player systems.

ibuypower-snowblind-1

iBUYPOWER used a 4:3 panel for this display, given the obviously not-widescreen-friendly format of a case panel, and uses a clear display that still allows sight into the case. Internally, all white components are used to drive up contrast and benefit the output, with some customizations made to fit the unique window. The video card is one modified component, which uses a mirrored backplate and white shroud to better mesh with the design.

The Snowblind, as iBUYPOWER calls it, isn't really something that's well demonstrated in still photos or words. Watch the short video (above) for a demonstration of the technology.

Editorial: Steve “Lelldorianx” Burke
Video: Keegan “HornetSting” Gallick

Last modified on September 02, 2016 at 5:00 pm
Steve Burke

Steve started GamersNexus back when it was just a cool name, and now it's grown into an expansive website with an overwhelming amount of features. He recalls his first difficult decision with GN's direction: "I didn't know whether or not I wanted 'Gamers' to have a possessive apostrophe -- I mean, grammatically it should, but I didn't like it in the name. It was ugly. I also had people who were typing apostrophes into the address bar - sigh. It made sense to just leave it as 'Gamers.'"

First world problems, Steve. First world problems.

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