TechwareLabs » Cases

InWin Diva MITX Case

Artiom — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:34:09 +0000

Introduction

The field of computing in general is generally dominated by males and so the cases are generally made with the male gender in mind. In Win, however, decided to take into account the minority and create a case that will be marketed towards the female side of the market. The Diva is the case that was designed with mostly women in mind. In fact, the female concept is woven event into the name of the case. The word Diva, means a distinguished female singer, a prima donna.

Specifications

There are a couple of important things to note here. First of is the power supply. This case, despite being a Mini-ITX does provided a 160 W power supply. One of the important things to know about the power supply, though is that provides limited number of connections for the peripherals that the user might be interested in such as SATA power ports (a total of 2) and a MOLEX plug (1).

Case Size:

S.F.F Slim Chassis (Ultra Small Form Factor)

Dimension(HxWxD):

276 x 133 x 257 mm(10.9”x 5.2”x10.1”)

I/O Expansion Slots:

Low Profile Expansion Slot x 2

External Drive Bay:

1. Standard 5.25” x 1

2. Slim ODD x 1 & 3.5” Drive Bay x 1

Front I/O(Ports):

1. USB 2.0 x 2

2. HD/AC’97 Audio

Power Supply:

160W Internal Power Supply

Thermal Solution:

System Fan:80 x 80 x 20mm

M/B Form Factor:

1. Mini-ITX

2. Mini-DTX

Safety:

1. Meets RoHS

2. CE and FCC Class B Requirements

Security:

Padlook Loop / Kensington Slot

Internal Drive Bay:

3.5” x 1 & 2.5” x 1

NZXT – Hades Crafted Series

Matthew Homan — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:52:21 +0000

NZXT continues to expand the fleet of computer cases in 2010 with the new Hades Crafted Series 9 Bay Black mid-tower case. NZXT has designed one more mid-tower case with as many as possible places to mount large chassis fans without overdoing it. The unique look is unlike most on the market today with a unique front panel to assist with hiding your ROM drive, but keep a sinister look. Features such as ports on the back panel for water cooling should get the attention of those who are or are planning on water cooling their rig. Also the Hades series includes two brackets to assist with mounting two SSD drives. Listing just a few key things about the case, let’s take a closer look at what the case has to offer you.

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Specifications:

MODEL	Hades Series
CASE TYPE	Mid Tower Steel
FRONT PANEL MATERIAL	PLASTIC
DIMENSIONS (W x H x D)	200 X 430 X 501 mm / 7.87″ x 16.9″ x 19.7″
COOLING SYSTEM	FRONT, 1 X 200mm red LED (included) REAR, 1 X 120mm (included)SIDE, 1 x 200mm (included)TOP, 2 X 120/140mm (1 include 140mm)
DRIVE BAYS	9 DRIVE BAYS 9 EXTERNAL 5.25″ DRIVE BAYS 4 INTERNAL 3.5″ DRIVE MOUNTS Screwless Rail Design
MATERIAL(S)	Steel with black finish
EXPANSION SLOTS	7
POWER SUPPLY	500 WATT PS2 ATX 12V 2.0 ( OPTIONAL )
WEIGHT	6.95 KGS (W/O Power)
MOTHERBOARD SUPPORT	MOTHERBOARDS: ATX, MICRO-ATX, BABY AT

Features:

Expansion galore: Nine 5.25″ bay setup or Five 5.25″ and Four 3.5″
Latest Hardware Support: VGA clearance room for 300mm cards like the ATI 5970
Dual 200mm intake Large air system: 200mm front fan, dual top 140mm fan, Side 200mm fan, rear 120mm exhaust. NZXT includes the chassis with all fans except for one top 140mm fan
Control the flow: Gaming, overclocking, or office work the dual 8W per channel fan control allows control over the dual 200mm fans that spin up to 150 CFM each
Monitor your system: A three C/F temperature display at front panel allows the user to see temperatures inside the chassis even with the door closed. A slant on the door allows for easier viewing from above.
Punched side panel: Besides aesthetics, the side mesh and extrusion allows for even greater and ease of wire management on the right side panel
Meshed front: 5.25″ meshed bays, meshed door, and meshed bottom panel allows for air to flow into the system with ease.
Wire Routing: Motherboard punched holes allows for quick CPU bracket removable and optimal wire routing.
NZXT Solid State bracket allows for two SSD drives to be installed
Pre-drilled water cooling holes on the backplate
Front mounted 2 USB, Audio, and E-SATA ports
Mounting holes for dual radiator at the top
Removable filter at the bottom PSU

SilverStone Fortress FT-02 Case

Will — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:41:16 +0000

Introduction

For several years now, SilverStone has been one of the top names in computer cases, standing alongside companies like Lian Li and Antec. From the introduction of the Temjin series, it’s been clear that SilverStone’s main target has been the PC enthusiast who wants a solid, refined chassis. Their Fortress series, begun last year with the Fortress FT-01, took several of the lessons learnt with the Temjin series and applied it to a new mid-tower form factor. Today we’ll be taking a look at the Fortress FT-02, a case that combines the unibody construction of the Temjin and Fortress series chassis with several cooling tricks first developed with the Raven series.

SilverStone’s Take

First, let’s see what SilverStone has to say about this case:

Combining two of SilverStone’s most distinctive computer chassis breakthroughs – the unibody construction of the Temjin TJ07, introduced in 2005, and the 90-degrees rotated motherboard mount of the RAVEN RV01 from 2008 – the Fortress FT02 advances both chassis construction and thermodynamics in a dynamic, streamlined design. With the Fortress FT02, SilverStone engineers have combined the rigidity of unibody construction with the unparalleled cooling layout of the RAVEN chassis, adding a hot-swappable hard drive cage and an acoustically padded interior for maximum versatility. The result is increased structural strength, increased storage capacity, and whisper-quiet operation. Available in black and silver colors, its elegant outer shell is perfectly accentuated by the U-shaped unibody aluminum frame that not only provides unique styling, but also functional purpose. The bottom gap from the frame to the main body actually serves as the main air intake area for its three massive 180mm fans, making it even suitable for use on carpeted surfaces. For professionals and enthusiasts looking to build a silent workstation or gaming machine with maximum performance, there is no better than the SilverStone Fortress FT02.

Clearly, this case is meant for enthusiast users who put heavy demands on their hardware. We’ll see if it holds up.

OtterBox 3500 Series

Matthew Homan — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:37:30 +0000

OtterBox™ manufactures a wide range of storage cases to hold such things as small electronics like cell phones, MP3 player and other personal items. The cases don’t just hold your items; the cases protect them from water to depths of 100’ and are even crush resistant. TechwareLabs was sent the 3500 Series dry box to test out and we were very impressed to say the least.

After the crush proof test, we didn’t have 100’ deep pool to test the depth test, but we submerge the 3500 Series case in a sink of water to test out if the case was still water resistant. Test consisted of placing tissues inside the case and then submerging it completely in water for several hours. The 3500 Series was then removed from the water and the exterior dried off and then opened. The tissue paper inside was still dry!!

Features:

Waterproof tested to 100 feet. Waterproof, crushproof and airtight protection for GPS units, cameras, small video cameras, hunting ammo, fishing supplies and so much more. The 3500 Series is available in black, yellow, blue and clear.

Exterior Dimensions: 8.813″ x 5.175″ x 4.179″
Interior Dimensions: 7.549″ x 3.606″ x 3.326″


Pretty simple design by the looks of it, but the OtterBox™ line is built to last!	The inside is lined with a thin foam to help prevent the contents from sliding around.


The latches of the OtterBox ™ line are design to withstand the worst.	The main hinge of the 3500 is simple stainless rod to battle the elemets and last the life of the case.

Cooler Master ATCS 840

Erik — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:38:42 +0000

Introduction:

Many of the computer cases these days include an array of features that typically make it a bit more difficult to pick the “better” of the bunch from the very large choice. The choice for many comes down to the external aesthetics because the bigger and better cases tend to all have superb cooling, removable motherboard trays and tool less designs. However, do you want to aim at a classic design or something a bit more out of the box? If a classic looking brushed aluminum design and three whopping 230mm fans sounds like a good combination of the two, then you should have a look at Cooler Master’s ATCS 840.

Cooler Master’s Take:

“ATCS 840 constitutes a classic all-aluminum design that builds on the legacy of the original ATCS design. The aluminum construction not only allows for a lighter weight but complements the thermal design seamlessly with three 230mm fans, dedicated air duct for graphics card cooling and HDD cooling module for superb cooling.”

SilverStone SG04B-H

Androski Matthew — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:13:36 +0000

Introduction:

Sometimes you want the best of both worlds; you want a small easily tote-able case and all the graphics power of a good gaming caliber rig. I give you the SilverStone SG04, a case that promises to have both small form factor size and the ability to have dual graphics cards. The slight modification I was lucky enough to receive to review was the SG04B-H which will also get a steel handle and a black paint job. Join me while we go over this Small form factor case, I give you the Silverstone SG04B-H.

SilverStone’s take:

“Sugo represents exquisiteness with its line of beautifully crafted small but powerful SFF chassis, and SilverStone’s Sugo SG04 is certainly an exquisite chassis. With the previous venerable Sugo SG03 model as the starting point, the SG04 improves every aspect of the former case from specification to user impression. With additional expansion slots and reversible power supply unit installation design, SG04 owns a superior cooling performance which can support operating dual graphic card (10.5 inch) within it. Adjustable fan positions enable users to devise their own cooling layout as required with the front door helping to reduce noise effectively. Packing with thoughtful features, the SG04 is truly worthy of living up to become another benchmark SFF enclosure.”

Case specs:

Model No.
SST-SG04B-H (black, handle)

–

–

–

Material
Aluminum door and outer panels, SECC structure

Motherboard
Micro ATX

Multimedia
–

Drive Bay External
5.25” x 1

3.5” x 1

Internal
3.5” x 2

Cooling System Front
1 x 120mm fan, 1200rpm, 1 x 120mm extra fan slot

Rear
Optional cross-flow fan

Side
–

Top
–

Bottom
–

Internal
–

Expansion Slot
5

Front I/O Port
USB2.0 port x 2
1394 x 1
Audio x 1
MIC x 1

Power Supply
Optional standard PS2 (ATX)

Expansion Card
Compatible with expansion card up to 10.5 inch

Net Weight
5.4 kg

Dimension
200 mm (W) x 417 mm (H) x 347 mm (D)

Extra
–

Remark

＊ CPU cooler cannot exceed 82mm in height

NZXT BETA – EVO Computer Case/Chassis

Androski Matthew — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:05:23 +0000

Introducing the BETA… EVO?

I know what you’re thinking; Déjà vu on the case review? Nope this is not the NZXT Beta being reposted; this is the supposedly classier brother the NZXT Beta EVO. While still a budget case my biggest question is… Is the EVO worth the extra money? Follow me as I look at the newest revision of NZXT Beta promising to offer increased cable management and a revised interior layout.

NZXT’s take on the Beta EVO.

“Announcing the Beta EVO, a sleek, all black value packed mid tower case at a budget price. Beta EVO features advanced cooling performance with support for up to 6 120 mm fans with an option of a 140mm fan at the top. Beta EVO also provides external dual radiator support along with a meshed front panel allowing for enhanced cooling potential.

Full of options for expansion, the case fits high performance 10.5″ graphics cards, up to 4 external 5.25″ drives and 5 internal 3.5″ HDD racks. Beta EVO provides a number of features that significantly enhance ease of installation including screw less installation for 5.25″ drives and superior wire management capabilities with the bottom mounted PSU and 180 degree turned HDD cage. It also features punched holes in the motherboard allowing for quick CPU bracket removal.”

Features

Fits ATX Standard Motherboards and Power Supplies

Fits large 10.5″ performance graphic cards

Expanded cooling directly cools video cards and CPU

Support for up to 6 120mm fans with the option of dual 140mm at the top

Screw less installation for hard drives and external 5.25″ drives

Black Internal finish for sleek look

Meshed front panel allows for better airflow than traditional cases

Superior wire management with bottom mounted :: PSU and CPU punch-out for heat sink removable

Removable PSU filter

180 degree Turned HDD for a cleaner internal finish and better wire management

External Dual radiator support

Top mounted USB/Audio for convenient usage

Azza Solano 1000 Computer Case

Ilya — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:28:03 +0000

Introduction

Sometimes it is hard to decide which chassis to go with. Should it be cheaper but you don’t know what to expect from a relatively unknown company or play it safe and pay extra for a brand name. Than again it’s not always a certainty that you will get what you need for pay extra. It is generally advised to go with the more known and approved companies when buying a new chassis. The question is: how does one approve of a company if he doesn’t want to spend 100 plus dollars on a case without having any assurance it will fit his needs. Well, that’s where we come in. One of the great things about lesser known companies is that they will go out of their way to always put their best foot forward for a lesser price. As we get into the review, we’ll see if Azza Solano 1000 can be considered as one of those cases. Let’s dig in deeper to see what this case has to offer.

Azza’s Take:

Introducing the all-new AZZA Solano 1000 gaming case! Its innovative design in so many aspects will satisfy the needs of the extreme computer gamer and power user. The case is designed for maximum thermal management with fans installed everywhere to keep your components cool. A 230mm blue LED super fan is mounted on the top for main ventilation. A second 230mm blue LED super fan is built-in on the side panel to facilitate CPU cooling. Two additional 140mm blue LED fans are installed in the front panel to boost the cooling of HDD cage. And a 120mm fan is mounted in the back panel vented to the outside. To sum it up for you, a total of 2×230mm fans, 2×140mm fans and 1×120mm fan work in unison to provide you with unprecedented airflow. This full tower case supports ATX, and Micro ATX motherboards and the thumb screw design allows for easy installation of seven PCI expansion cards without tools. A plethora of drives bays, including up to ten 5.25″ and eight 3.5″ bays, allow you to grow your system every time. All the bays have a thumb screw design for easy assembly as well. That’s not all! A removable HDD cage can accommodate up to eight HDD’s. The two front intake 140 mm fans are especially designed to boost HDD cooling. Moreover, an adjustable PSU support bridge is located in the bottom and you have the option of installing the PSU with the fan facing either up or down, for air intake or exhaust. The pre-drilled fan holes right underneath all but help to eliminate the PSU as one of the heat sources in the case! Furthermore, since cable can be organized behind the pre-drilled motherboard tray, this case comes with a superior cable management system that allows for ameliorated cable routing and improved airflow. This PC chassis is manufactured with high-quality Japanese steel, solid and sturdy yet not weighty. The interior has a stylish black paint finish. With its high-end features along with the superb exterior design, the AZZA Solano is the ultimate choice for your gaming needs. You can count on impressing your friends at the next LAN party!

NZXT Zero 2 Computer Chassis/Case

Erik — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:14:09 +0000

Introduction:

Picking out the right gaming case can be a very tough choice with the ever expanding market, new ideas and fantastic looking innovative designs coming out of a large lineup of companies. With the larger more expensive internal parts putting out more heat, a gaming case that allows more airflow will be needed. As you can see by NZXT’s marketing statement below, the Zero 2 hopes to fill the gap and targets not just the gamer but also the standard home user by offering a case with cooling and expansion.

NZXT’s Take:

“Introducing the Zero 2, the follow-up to the successful ZERO, featuring the same extreme cooling capabilities, the ZERO 2 is the perfect home to enthusiast and gaming users.Featuring a sturdy 1.0mm steel chassis, the Zero’s structural integrity cannot be doubted. Weighing at 10.2KG the zero 2 is a beast of its own. Zero 2’s quad side fans are perfect for users running multi-GPU systems.“

Now Let’s take a quick look at the Zero 2 Specifications and Features

Antec P193 Computer Case/Chassis

Will — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:26:11 +0000

Speak Softly and Carry a Big…Case?

When you ask people to think of companies that make quality cases, Antec is one of the names that springs to mind almost immediately. The Antec Sonata case was one of the first commercially produced cases designed to virtually eliminate noise. While the Sonata and its successors do that job quite well, one area they’ve typically fallen short on is cooling. Antec’s answer to this was the P180, a case that managed to be quiet and provide high airflow.

Continuing in this line, Antec’s latest offering is the P193, the first of the Performance One cases to support the Extended ATX form factor. Soon, we’ll have a look at this case, and see whether it delivers on its promises. First though, let’s look at what it’s promising.

Antec’s Take

Larger and more versatile, the Antec P193 stands apart from the competition with room to handle the biggest hardware out there. Together with the cooling features and Quiet Computing™ technologies that the Performance One series is renowned for, the P193 is truly in a class all its own.

Features & Specifications

* Dual chamber design isolates heat and noise: the power supply resides in a separate chamber to isolate heat and reduce system noise
* Fits heatsink fans up to 140mm: the P193’s superior cooling eliminates the need for larger heatsinks
* No power supply included
* Power supply option: comes with a power supply mounting adapter to mount either a standard size power supply or Antec’s exclusive CP Series power supply
* Innovative two-layer, sound-deadening side panels (steel, polycarbonate) and three-layer front door (aluminum, plastic, aluminum) dampen noise and ensure Quiet Computing™
* 11 drive bays
- External 4 x 5.25″; 1 x 3.5″
- Internal 6 x 3.5″ for HDD
* Cooling system:
- 1 rear (standard) 120mm x 25mm exhaust TriCool™ fan
- 2 top (standard) 140mm x 25mm exhaust TriCool™ fan
- 1 lower front chamber (optional) 120mm fan for HDD
- 1 side (standard) 200mm fan for dual graphics cards
- 1 upper front (optional) 120mm fan for HDD
- 1 middle (optional) 120mm fan for graphic cards
* Cable organizers behind motherboard tray minimize cable clutter
* Front-mounted ports provide convenient connections:
- 2 x USB 2.0
- 1 x eSATA
- Audio In and Out (HDA and AC97 compatible)
* Double hinged door opens up to 270º
* 7 expansion slots
* 0.8mm cold rolled steel chassis for durability
* Compatible Motherboards: Mini-ITX, microATX, Standard ATX and Extended ATX
* Net weight: 35.8 lbs / 16.25 kg
* Gross weigh: 41.7 lbs / 18.9 kg
* Case dimensions:
- 20.25″ (H) x 8.1″ (W) x 23.25″ (D)
- Actual clearance needed for width is 9.5″ due to the side panel fan
- 51.4 cm (H) x 20.5 cm (W) x 59 cm (D)
* Package dimensions:
- 13.25″ (H) x 25.8″ (W) x 28.75″ (D)
- 33.7 cm (H) x 65.5 cm (W) x 73 cm (D)
* Whats new in the P193:
- Front door vents, as well as wider vents along the door frame, improve airflow into the chassis.
- Filters and filter doors are integrated as one unit. The doors themselves have been modified to provide greater airflow, resulting in cooler system temperatures.
- Drive bay covers are vented and include air filters to provide better airflow.
- Lower chamber fan is now located in front of the hard drive cage, allowing for installation of longer PSUs as well as easier cable routing between the lower HD cage and the power supply.
- The Big Boy 200™, a 200mm fan, is moved outward to give more clearance for taller heatsinks. Externally removable washable air filter allows for easier maintenance.

INWIN X-Fighter

Matthew Homan — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:22:02 +0000

INWIN has released several computer cases this past year which have done quite well even in the presently depressed global economy. TechwareLabs alone has reviewed several of INWIN’s new cases which include, “Allure,” and the “B2” and have been very impressed with their design and function. Recently, INWIN has now sent us their “X-Fighter” case to review which initially looked a lot like the INWIN B2 case, but shortly after removing the case from the box, we were pleasantly surprised by the differences. Lets take a close look at what it has to offer.

Like most mid-tower cases, the x-fighter by INWIN is outfitted with several 5.25″ external drive bays along with two 3.5″ bays. The arrangement of the location of these external drives is nothing new to mid-towercases, but the rest of the X-fighters configuration is something unique. The side panel a somewhat large air scoop similar the B2 case, but a slight bit bigger.

Specifications:

Case Size: Mini Tower

Material: 0.8mm SECC Steel

Dimension(HxWxD): 1. 18.5” × 9.4” × 22.4”
2. 470 × 240 × 570mm

Data Security: Padlock loop for padlock

Power Supply: 1. ATX 12V
2. PS/2

I/O Expansion Slots: 7 PCI/AGP Slots

Thermal Solution: Smart-3D UniDuct™ 12cm Ceramic Fans at Front & Rear Panels VGA Turbo Cooling System with 8cm Side Ceramic Fan x 2 Support Water-Cooling

Front I/O: 1. USB2.0*4
2. e-SATA*2
3. IEEE 1394A*1(FireWire)
4. HD/AC’ 97 Audio

External Drive Bay: 1. 5.25” × 4
2. 3.5”× 2

Internal Drive Bay: 3.5” x 5

M/B: 1. ATX
2. Micro ATX

Safety: 1. Meets RoHS
2. CE and FCC Class B Requirement

Chenbro RM11602 Server Case

JasonK — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:47:49 +0000

Chenbro RM11602 Server Case

Introduction:

Our friends at Chenbro have sent us a 1U server case to review. The Chenbro RM11602 case is a rack dense Computing-Oriented Server Chassis. This case is designed for tool-less, easy installation and with outstanding thermal protection.

Utilized 5.25″ bay with Chenbro versatile storage kit

Outstanding Thermal Solution

Compatible backplanes available for cost saving

Specs:

Description 1U DP , 2 x H/S HDDs , SAS/SATA BP , Ideal for General Computing
Server

M/B Form Factor EEB (12″X13″)

Processor Intel / AMD UP Quad
Intel / AMD DP Quad

Support Backplane SATA II/SAS

Security Intrusion Switch

Front Bezel Option Optional

Chassis Dimension D x W x H (mm) 660 x 430 x 43.5 (mm)
D x W x H (inch) 26″ x 16.9″ x 1.7″

Drive Bay Hot-Swap 3.5″ 2 (SAS/SATA)
External 5.25″ 1

Generality Metal Material SGCC
Metal Thickness 1.2mm
Metal Material Type ABS-HB

Expansion Slots FF 1

System Cooling Middle 4x 4048 mm
1x 4028 mm

Rear Window Standard

Front Panel - Front Control Power On/Off
System Reset
Alarm Mute

Front Panel - Indicator Power Status
HDD Activity (x1)
LAN Activity (x2)
FAN Failure
Overheat Warning

Front Panel - Ports USB2.0 (x2)

Net Weight (Chassis Only) 7.4 kg

In the Box:

Backplane (1) 2 ports SAS/SATA backplane

Card retainer (1) Riser card retainer

Chassis (1) 1U chassis base

Fan Bar (1) Middle fan bar

Fans (1) 40 x 40mm T28mm fan, 3P3C, 12500RPM
(4) 40 x 40mm T48mm fan, 3P5C, 11000RPM

Others (2) 3.5″ Hotswap hard disk carriers

As you can see the RM11602 is loaded with standard features and includes several options for fan placement. Let’s take a closer look at this case.

Construction and Design:

Click on any of the images for a closer view

The front of the case has clean and simple look to it. Air intake is through and above the two hot swappable hard drives. The hard
drive trays are sturdy and well made. The front of the case has indicator lights and two USB ports, which is all you really need. Rear of case has 3 USB ports, 2 PS/2 ports, serial, VGA and 2 Network ports. Again, all you really need or want.

This is a well thought out case with just enough room for everything to fit. Not cramped for space, it’s just right for a 1U case. The 11,000 RPM fans are a little noisy, but OK and well worth it as they move quite a bit of air.

You will want to order this chassis with the optional PSU, rail kit and riser card.. I chose the 26″ Slide Rails which were easy to install my Dell PE 2410 rack. There are three riser cards available from Chenbro. A 64-bit PCI-X riser card, x16 PCI-E riser card or a x8 PCI-E riser card. For the PSU, you have a choice of 400W or 520W.

Conclusion:

The Chenbro RM11602 is a very well thought out and simple design for a 1U case. It will make a perfect web server case, which is what I’m using it for. This is a case I would recommend to my clients and for all small, medium, and large businesses!

Lian Li PC-A06F Computer Case

Artiom — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:01:57 +0000

Introduction

Have you ever thought to yourself: Gee I would like to fit my Standard ATX board into a smaller than Standard ATX Case? Well Lian Li came to the call and developed the PC-A06F. If your desk, like many others, is height-challenged, this case might prove to be the perfect solution for your problem. The A06F is shorter than a regular standard ATX case by quite a bit. It accomplishes its miracle at a price, however. Whatever the A06F lacks in height, it compensates in length. This means that you now will be able to fit your case into your desk, but you won’t be able to close the door, because the computer is sticking out. So has Lian Li been able to make the case sufficiently short, or will your computer essentially become a really expensive door stop? Read on and find out.

Specifications

Model PC-A06F

Case Type Mid Tower

Dimensions 187 x 375 x 490 mm ( W, H, D)

Front bezel Material Aluminum

Color Black

Side Panel Aluminum

Body Material Aluminum

Net Weight 3.8kg

5.25″ drive bay (External) 4

3.5″ drive bay (External)

3.5″ drive bay (Internal) 3

Expansion Slot 7

Motherboard ATX, M-ATX

System Fan (Front) 1 x 140mm fan (900RPM)

System Fan (Top) 1 x 120mm fan (1000RPM)

System Fan (Rear)

I/O Ports USB2.0 x 2, HD+AC97 Audio

Cooler Master Storm Scout Case

Will — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:07:42 +0000

Introduction

In recent years, a number of PC hardware manufacturers have latched onto the eSports phenomenon. Whether it comes from a desire to connect with the gamer crowd, or the simple economic imperative of “give the customer what he wants,” many companies are embracing the hardcore PC gamer, and Cooler Master is no exception. Under the CM Storm imprint, Cooler Master has been putting out a variety of products aimed specifically at the hardcore gamer, including mouse pads, case fans, and of course, cases. Today will be looking at the entry-level slot in the Storm case lineup: the Scout. This case is aimed not at the hardcore enthusiast, but at J. Random LAN Gamer. This case was designed for looks, LAN party convenience, and affordability, in roughly that order. Today we’ll take a look at this case, and see if it meets those objectives.

Packaging

Here, Cooler Master decided to show off the two features you’ll interact with most on this case: the top-mounted port array and the integral carry handle. The red reticle surrounding the shot is clearly meant to evoke the view through a rifle scope, which fits with the military theme of the CM Storm line.

The back of the box further continues the military theme, with a faintly menacing fellow in black riot gear and red-tinted goggles in the center. Below that, we see a few detail shots of the case itself, alongside testimonials from a few of the pro gamer teams Cooler Master sponsors.

Packaging is a pretty standard affair, with a plastic dust-cover and hard styrofoam “bookends” to protect the case in-transit. The box was slightly crushed in one corner during shipping, but the case itself was undamaged.

NZXT-Beta

Androski Matthew — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:23:39 +0000

Introducing the Beta:

When you’re looking to build a sick rig on a budget, one of the first places you can shave a little cash off, is the case. Unfortunately as anyone who has ever bought a cheap off the shelf case can tell you there are some severe drawbacks, from sharp edges to shoddy construction. Sometimes the construction on these “budget” cases are so bad you are better of mounting your board to plywood and calling it a day. Join my medical team and In reviewing the Beta case from NZXT.

NZXT’s Take:

Announcing the BETA, a mid-tower steel case that delivers gamers a chassis designed for tremendous value without sacrificing performance. Built for maximum expandability, BETA expansive jet black interior provides ample room for 4 external 5.25″ drives, 5 HDD racks, and fits large 10.5″ performance graphics cards. NZXT continues their expertise in effective cooling by offering BETA users expanded cooling that directly cools video cards and CPU with 4 120mm fans (1 front, 1 rear, and 2 side) and a meshed front panel that improves airflow. The front 120mm fan can fit thicker fans like the Scythe Ultra Kaze that can help maximize airflow. Additional features like screw less installation for 5.25″ drives/hard drives and top mounted USB/Audio enhance ease of installation and convenience for gamers.

Tech Specs:

MODEL Beta Series

CASE TYPE Mid Tower Steel

FRONT PANEL MATERIAL PLASTIC

DIMENSIONS (W x H x D) 200 X 430 X 501 mm / 7.87″ x 16.9″ x 19.7″

COOLING SYSTEM FRONT, 1 X 120mm Blue LED (included)
REAR, 1 X 120mm

SIDE, 2 x 120mm

DRIVE BAYS 9 DRIVE BAYS
4 EXTERNAL 5.25″ DRIVE BAYS
5 INTERNAL 3.5″ DRIVE BAYS
Screwless Rail Design

MATERIAL(S) Steel with black finish

EXPANSION SLOTS 7

POWER SUPPLY 500 WATT PS2 ATX 12V 2.0 ( OPTIONAL )

WEIGHT 7.28 KGS (W/O Power)

MOTHERBOARD SUPPORT MOTHERBOARDS: ATX, MICRO-ATX, BABY AT

Thermaltake DH-202 HTPC (Media PC) Chassis

Dan Shannon — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:01:33 +0000

Introduction

In this day and age, technology and computers consume our lives. Its only natural that with time, people will realize that the puny, limited DVR (digital video recorder) that the Cable Company makes you pay for is a waste of space and money, and the longer you have it the more of a waste of money it becomes. With the ability to surf the web, check your email, watch HD movies, record television, and much more, the real question is: “Why wouldn’t you get a HTPC?” And if you’re going to do it, you might as well have one with class. Thermaltake steps up to the plate with one of the nicest HTPC cases we have seen in a while. The Thermaltake DH-202 which is not only nice but also affordable. With an LCD Display, 23-in-1 Card Reader, and enough room to “Cool all Your Life“, the DH-202 is sure to win all our hearts. Will this Thermaltake Chassis live up to its name, or go down into the big book of mistakes.

Features

Stylish and unique front panel design. This is the best choice for your home digital entertainment

High efficiency ventilation: 12cm Silent Fan in front and dual 6cm fan in rear

Built in 23-in-1 Card Reader

Built in Media LAB LCD with hot keys module (Windows Vista Ready)

LCD Capable of multi-language display

10 buttons hot key function

Volume Control Knob and Remote Controller

Specifications

NZXT Panzerbox LAN Case

dwarf — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:27:35 +0000

Introduction

LAN parties are fun, but hauling a 40lbs. desktop up three flights of stares for a 6 hour death-match can be a turn off. That’s why great companies, like NZXT, strive to make the lightest of the light computer case that allow you, the gamer, the powerful components you need/deserve and still be able to make it up those stares. In this corner, we have NZXT’s Panzerbox mid-tower LAN case. This featherweight can pack a heavyweight and not tire you out on the trip to the LAN as well as provide the proper cooling for your portable heater. We’ll weigh in the NZXT Panzerbox after the break.

Here is what NZXT has to say about the Panzerbox:

“Panzerbox features the best airflow in its class, boasting two 190mm and one 120mm

fans that churn out a combined 300 CFM*. The Panzerbox’s pure aluminum design makes it a light and luxurious option for travel and LAN parties and the welded chassis enhances strength and support. Dual radiator support and full expandab

ility with room for high performance 10.5″ cards, 4 hard drives, 3 5.25″ drive bays, and oversized heatsinks offer gamers and enthusiasts even more options to increase performance while a removable motherboard tray makes upgrades easy and painless.”

Features and Specifications

Mid Sized, Extreme Performance : Fitted with dual high performance 150CFM controllable 190cm* fans and a dual radiator bracket to provide the best performance, the Panzerbox offers high performance for a mid sized case due to its unique layout.

Removable Motherboard Tray: A removable motherboard tray makes upgrading easy and painless.

Pure Aluminum: Build in all aluminum, the Panzerbox is light and luxurious, perfect for traveling and showing off at LAN parties. Compared to similar products with high airflow and ATX expandability, the Panzerbox is almost 25% smaller and 50% lighter.

Full Expandability: Room for high performance 10.5″ cards, over sized heatsinks, even larger dual radiator solutions.

Top mounted USB/Audio/ESATA Ports

Model

Brand NZXT

Model CS-NT-PANZER-B

Spec

Type ATX Mid Tower

Color Black

Case Material Aluminum

With Power Supply No

Motherboard Compatibility ATX, Micro-ATX, BABY AT

Expansion

External 5.25″ Drive Bays 3

External 3.5″ Drive Bays 3

Internal 3.5″ Drive Bays 4

Expansion Slots 7

Front Ports

Front Ports USB, Audio, e-SATA

Cooling System

120mm Fans 1 x120mm rear fan

Physical Spec

Dimensions 17.9″ x 17.9″ x 9.6″

Weight 13.8 lbs.

*Emphasis added

Thermaltake Element G Computer Chassis

Tom Gowing — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:00:31 +0000

Introduction:

The Thermaltake Element G Chassis is designed with gamers in mind; it’s designed to keep your system ultra cool, while providing some flashiness that every gamer loves. With the increasing reliance on digital media, a good chassis needs to have room for many hard drives. With the increasing number of peripherals each user has, the amount of available USB ports can also often become an issue. Read on to see if the Element G case can rise to the challenge, and meet the needs of today’s gamer.

Features:

Gaming

Colorshift Fan with 6 color changing pattern for optimal gaming experience

Glittering

Three enlarged color shifting fans creates most eye catching appearance

Gradational

Adjustable fan speed control for performance mode or silent mode

Gigantic

Massive storage capability with 7 x 3.5” and 2 x 2.5” HDD or SSD bay

Glaciated

Excellent thermal performance with glacial airflow

Specifications:

Case Type Mid Tower

Front Bezel Material Plastic

Color Black

Side Panel Solid w/ 23cm side fan

Motherboard Support Mini ATX
Full ATX

5.25″ Drive Bay 3

Ext. 3.5″ Drive Bay 0

Int. 3.5″ Drive Bay 7

Expansion Slots 7

Front I/O Ports USB 2.0 x 2,
HD Audio Ports

Cooling System Front (Intake)
200 x 200 x 20 mm Touchcolor, 600-800 RPM, 12-14 dBA
Two 120 x 120 x 25 mm (optional)Rear (Exhaust)
140 x 140 x 25 mm TurboFan, 1000 RPM, 16 dBA

Top (Exhaust)
200 x 200 x 20 mm Touchcolor, 600-800 RPM, 12-14 dBA

Side (Intake)
230 x 230 x 20 mm Touchcolor, 600-800 RPM, 12-14 dBA

VGA (Exhaust)
Two 60 x 60 mm fan (optional)

Liquid Cooling Capable No

Liquid Cooling Embedded No

Power Supply Supported Standard ATX PSII(optional)

Power Supply Included No

Dimensions (H*W*D) 565 (H) x 231 (W) x 526 (L) mm
22.2 (H) x 9.1 (W) x 20.7 (L) in

Warranty 3 Year

CoolerMaster HAF 922 Case

Matthew Homan — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 04:01:41 +0000

Introduction

Cooler Master has had great success with their HAF 932 case, mostly due to it’s high air flow design and larger than life size. The engineers took the HAF932 and scaled it down a little and came up with the HAF 922 in order to put a case with design aspects of the hugely successful HAF932 case into lower price range. This new case by Cooler Master is a chassis which is a must have for those want the HAF932, but can’t afford the price. Lets take a close look at the HAF922 to see what it has to offer.

HAF922 by: Cooler Master

Specifications

Dimensions 10in (w) x 19.7in (h) x 22.2 in (d)

Weight 19lbs

Material Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel

Motherboard Type ATX/Micro ATX

5.25″ Drive Bays 5 Exposed (one could convert to 3.5″ drive bay)

3.5″ Drive Bays 5 Hidden 1 Exposed (Converted from one 5.25″ drive bay)

Cooling system Front 200mm fan x1 Red LED on/off fan x1 700RPM/ 19dBATop: 200mm fan x1 /700 RPM/ 19dBA (can be swapped to 120mm fan x2) Rear: 120mm fan x 1 /1200 RPM /17 dBA Bottom: 120 / 140mm fan x1 (optional) Side: 200mm fan x 1 (optional) Front 200mm fan x1 Red LED on/off fan x1 700RPM/ 19dBA Top: 200mm fan x1 /700 RPM/ 19dBA (can be swapped to 120mm fan x2) Rear: 120mm fan x 1 /1200 RPM /17 dBA Bottom: 120 / 140mm fan x1 (optional)

I/O Panel USB x2, MIC x 1, eSATA x1, Audio X1

Expansion Slots 7+1

Power Supply ATX PS2 /EPS 12V (optional)

Warranty 1 year

NZXT Khaos – Aluminum Full Tower

Erik — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:01:42 +0000

Introduction:

When on the look out for a new case to out fit your rig, you may have a peek over at what NZXT is producing. NZXT is still a young company, only being established in 2004. However, they have produced a fairly decent sized list of computer chassis, some with a very unique design and look. With the NZXT Khaos at hand, one can only speculate as to what NZXT has in mind as a “unique” and “unparalleled design.” You may want to take your time looking over this hefty chassis, as it weighs upwards of 35lbs+ because its 2mm and 3mm thick aluminum construction and of course its quite large $400 price tag.

NZXT’s Take:

“Khaos features breakthrough design in every category effectively satisfying the needs of the most power hungry PC Enthusiasts and Gamers.”

The definition of a breakthrough is, “A major achievement or success that permits further progress, as in technology.” I am a little skeptical as to the use of the word breakthrough. The Khaos does not seem from it’s design to permit the use of term breakthrough for the definition provided. Maybe with a little prodding I can discover whether the NZXT Khaos can be considered a breakthrough in computer chassis category, or if it really does deserve such a title.

Model No.	SST-SG04B-H (black, handle)
	–
	–
	–
Material	Aluminum door and outer panels, SECC structure


Motherboard	Micro ATX
Multimedia	–
Drive Bay	External	5.25” x 1
		3.5” x 1
	Internal	3.5” x 2
Cooling System	Front	1 x 120mm fan, 1200rpm, 1 x 120mm extra fan slot
	Rear	Optional cross-flow fan
	Side	–
	Top	–
	Bottom	–
	Internal	–
Expansion Slot	5
Front I/O Port	USB2.0 port x 2 1394 x 1 Audio x 1 MIC x 1
Power Supply	Optional standard PS2 (ATX)
Expansion Card	Compatible with expansion card up to 10.5 inch
Net Weight	5.4 kg
Dimension	200 mm (W) x 417 mm (H) x 347 mm (D)
Extra	–

Case Size:	Mini Tower
Material:	0.8mm SECC Steel
Dimension(HxWxD):	1. 18.5” × 9.4” × 22.4” 2. 470 × 240 × 570mm
Data Security:	Padlock loop for padlock
Power Supply:	1. ATX 12V 2. PS/2
I/O Expansion Slots:	7 PCI/AGP Slots
Thermal Solution:	Smart-3D UniDuct™ 12cm Ceramic Fans at Front & Rear Panels VGA Turbo Cooling System with 8cm Side Ceramic Fan x 2 Support Water-Cooling
Front I/O:	1. USB2.04 2. e-SATA2 3. IEEE 1394A*1(FireWire) 4. HD/AC’ 97 Audio
External Drive Bay:	1. 5.25” × 4 2. 3.5”× 2
Internal Drive Bay:	3.5” x 5
M/B:	1. ATX 2. Micro ATX
Safety:	1. Meets RoHS 2. CE and FCC Class B Requirement

Description	1U DP , 2 x H/S HDDs , SAS/SATA BP , Ideal for General Computing Server
M/B Form Factor	EEB (12″X13″)
Processor	Intel / AMD UP Quad Intel / AMD DP Quad
Support Backplane	SATA II/SAS
Security	Intrusion Switch
Front Bezel Option	Optional
Chassis Dimension	D x W x H (mm) 660 x 430 x 43.5 (mm) D x W x H (inch) 26″ x 16.9″ x 1.7″
Drive Bay	Hot-Swap 3.5″ 2 (SAS/SATA) External 5.25″ 1
Generality	Metal Material SGCC Metal Thickness 1.2mm Metal Material Type ABS-HB
Expansion Slots	FF 1
System Cooling	Middle 4x 4048 mm 1x 4028 mm
Rear Window	Standard
Front Panel - Front Control	Power On/Off System Reset Alarm Mute
Front Panel - Indicator	Power Status HDD Activity (x1) LAN Activity (x2) FAN Failure Overheat Warning
Front Panel - Ports	USB2.0 (x2)
Net Weight (Chassis Only)	7.4 kg

Backplane	(1) 2 ports SAS/SATA backplane
Card retainer	(1) Riser card retainer
Chassis	(1) 1U chassis base
Fan Bar	(1) Middle fan bar
Fans	(1) 40 x 40mm T28mm fan, 3P3C, 12500RPM (4) 40 x 40mm T48mm fan, 3P5C, 11000RPM
Others	(2) 3.5″ Hotswap hard disk carriers

Model	PC-A06F
Case Type	Mid Tower
Dimensions	187 x 375 x 490 mm ( W, H, D)
Front bezel Material	Aluminum
Color	Black
Side Panel	Aluminum
Body Material	Aluminum
Net Weight	3.8kg
5.25″ drive bay (External)	4
3.5″ drive bay (External)
3.5″ drive bay (Internal)	3
Expansion Slot	7
Motherboard	ATX, M-ATX
System Fan (Front)	1 x 140mm fan (900RPM)
System Fan (Top)	1 x 120mm fan (1000RPM)
System Fan (Rear)
I/O Ports	USB2.0 x 2, HD+AC97 Audio

MODEL	Beta Series
CASE TYPE	Mid Tower Steel
FRONT PANEL MATERIAL	PLASTIC
DIMENSIONS (W x H x D)	200 X 430 X 501 mm / 7.87″ x 16.9″ x 19.7″
COOLING SYSTEM	FRONT, 1 X 120mm Blue LED (included) REAR, 1 X 120mm SIDE, 2 x 120mm
DRIVE BAYS	9 DRIVE BAYS 4 EXTERNAL 5.25″ DRIVE BAYS 5 INTERNAL 3.5″ DRIVE BAYS Screwless Rail Design
MATERIAL(S)	Steel with black finish
EXPANSION SLOTS	7
POWER SUPPLY	500 WATT PS2 ATX 12V 2.0 ( OPTIONAL )
WEIGHT	7.28 KGS (W/O Power)
MOTHERBOARD SUPPORT	MOTHERBOARDS: ATX, MICRO-ATX, BABY AT

Model
Brand	NZXT
Model	CS-NT-PANZER-B
Spec
Type	ATX Mid Tower
Color	Black
Case Material	Aluminum
With Power Supply	No
Motherboard Compatibility	ATX, Micro-ATX, BABY AT
Expansion
External 5.25″ Drive Bays	3
External 3.5″ Drive Bays	3
Internal 3.5″ Drive Bays	4
Expansion Slots	7
Front Ports
Front Ports	USB, Audio, e-SATA
Cooling System
120mm Fans	1 x120mm rear fan
Physical Spec
Dimensions	17.9″ x 17.9″ x 9.6″
Weight	13.8 lbs.

Dimensions	10in (w) x 19.7in (h) x 22.2 in (d)
Weight	19lbs
Material	Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel
Motherboard Type	ATX/Micro ATX
5.25″ Drive Bays	5 Exposed (one could convert to 3.5″ drive bay)
3.5″ Drive Bays	5 Hidden 1 Exposed (Converted from one 5.25″ drive bay)
Cooling system	Front 200mm fan x1 Red LED on/off fan x1 700RPM/ 19dBATop: 200mm fan x1 /700 RPM/ 19dBA (can be swapped to 120mm fan x2) Rear: 120mm fan x 1 /1200 RPM /17 dBA Bottom: 120 / 140mm fan x1 (optional) Side: 200mm fan x 1 (optional) Front 200mm fan x1 Red LED on/off fan x1 700RPM/ 19dBA Top: 200mm fan x1 /700 RPM/ 19dBA (can be swapped to 120mm fan x2) Rear: 120mm fan x 1 /1200 RPM /17 dBA Bottom: 120 / 140mm fan x1 (optional)
I/O Panel	USB x2, MIC x 1, eSATA x1, Audio X1
Expansion Slots	7+1
Power Supply	ATX PS2 /EPS 12V (optional)
Warranty	1 year