Inside the case, a few surprises: NZXT opted for the numbered motherboard holes and side-mounted hard drive case that pleased me so much when reviewing the Lexa and Zero models, but the 5.25 inch and 3.5 inch bays feature built-in plastic locking mechanisms instead of the screwless drive rails found in other cases. In addition, NZXT replaced the metal expansion card bracket that caused me so many problems mounting video cards in the Zero with individual plastic tabs. The tabs aren’t as sturdy as the metal bracket and they don’t keep cards quite as steady as the use of screws, but they’re a pretty good compromise and I like them. The drive locking mechanisms are great: push the drive into place – and there’s no need to remove the front of the case to do so, as with prior models – slide the lock forward and you’re done. The hard drive cage includes the more traditional screwless rail design, perhaps because of the cage’s orientation, but given the simplicity of the lock, expanding them into the drive cage area seems like it would be a good idea.

I did run into one significant issue when installing my optical drives: the metal plates in front of the 5.25-inch bays are very difficult to remove. Closer inspection revealed tabs on the sides of the plates that appeared to be keeping the plates in place and eventually, after a few choice words I managed to bend the plate and pull it out. I’m not sure why these plates exist in the first place, but they should be much easier to remove.

The case mounts three fans: the one on the case door, plus one in the front behind black plastic spaceship exhaust ports and one in the back below the power supply. For whatever reason, NZXT did not include a fan in the front position, which seems like a bit of a cost-cutting oversight; a case aimed at gamers should have all of the built-in cooling it can get. A brief manual explains how to do a complete installation and includes instructions on how to install that missing third fan.

When it comes to interior space, the Apollo gives you a surprising amount of room to work, especially for a mid-tower. Everything fit inside quickly and easily and I had plenty of room afterwards to store enough slack from wires to prevent problems with airflow. I did scrape my knuckles trying to connect the power to my floppy drive, which is one problem with steel cases – the other being that this case isn’t nearly as light as an aluminum frame when fully loaded. My impression is that NZXT sacrificed a few options that LAN partiers would want to see in favor of durability, so if you’re looking to carry your new case around, don’t go for the Apollo.