Cases

Category >> Cases

Lian Li PC-V1110 Super Mid-Tower Chassis 05-05-2008

Lian Li certainly put a lot of thought into the design of this case, even taking the time to implement the classic separate thermal zone design that is common to many full-tower and server cases. Can this case wow us like the PC-A17 did, though? Continue on as we find out.

Thermaltake Xaser VI Full Tower 04-11-2008

Thermaltake is one company that is hard to stay on top of. In the M9 case review last month, I mentioned how it seems like there is always something new coming from those folks. Well here to prove me right is the latest offering in the Xaser class full tower, the VI VG4000 series. Thermaltake calls the Xaser VI a Super Tower, and if the box is any indication of its size, I'd say they're right.

Cooler Master Centurion 590 Mid-Tower 04-09-2008

It was a little over a month ago that I had a chance to review another Cooler Master case, the Cosmos S. While the Cosmos is certainly a supurb case, a veritable heavyweight contender, not everyone may have the space (or the pocketbook) for an enclosure like that. This month Cooler Master has sent us something scaled down a bit, but equally as impressive looking, the Centurion 590.

CSX Wraith Tower Chassis 04-04-2008

Regarding the actual paint job, since each CSX case is air-brushed by hand by a different artist, there are no two cases in the world that are 100% identical. If you are the type that likes a truly unique product, you will certainly find that here.

Apevia X-QBOII Micro-ATX Case 04-03-2008

One of my all-time favorite cases has been the X-Jupiter tower, one that until just recently I had been using as my primary enclosure. Today I'll be taking a look at the new X-QBOII, a micro-tower case that appears to be sort of a scaled-down version of the X-Supra mid-tower, also recently reviewed here at OCIA.net.

Silverstone GD02 HTPC Case 04-01-2008

Today I have for review one of Silverstone's newer HTPC series of cases, the Grandia GD02. If you liked the style of the full-size GD01 but were just looking for something a bit smaller, the GD02 might be right up your alley. It's a micro-ATX size case, and like most HTPC enclosures it is designed to blend right into the other devices in your entertainment center, with a brushed aluminum finish on the front, available in either black or silver.

Tuniq 3 Mid-Tower Case 03-20-2008

Since the merger of Sunbeamtech and Tuniq, we have seen many of their products share cross-company styling cues and design features. Sometimes it is difficult to say exactly which company is responsible for what. Take for example the patented Core Fan idea we first saw implemented on our Sunbeamtech Quarterback case review. Now we find that same technology applied to the third case design to come from the folks over at Tuniq, named simply "3".

Thermaltake M9 Mid-tower Case 03-12-2008

Today I'll be looking at the recently released M9 series mid-tower case. There are two versions available, the VI1000BWS with side panel window and the VI1000BNS non-windowed case, which is the one I received for review. Measuring 17" tall by 8" wide and almost 20" deep, this black-only steel mid-tower offers the typical micro and standard ATX size in a compact frame.

Mountain Mods H2gO Aluminum Cube Case 03-08-2008

The box the H2gO came shipped in certainly didn't match the typical computer case shipping container; a plain brown cube with no exterior markings to indicate what's inside. I always liked this about one other manufacturer, Thermalright, who for years has used plain brown boxes to pack their products in. I think it says something about the company, something to the effect of... we'd rather spend our money on making you a great product than flashy advertising on the box it comes in.

Lian Li PC-A17 Aluminum Mid-Tower Chassis 02-24-2008

Lian Li is a name synonymous with quality in the case market. Almost every year, they release new chassis, all improvements upon the last in their line. Naturally, when LanCool PC (a subsidiary of Lian Li) said that they wanted to send over a Lian Li case, I was pretty excited to check it out. Today’s review sample, the PC-A17, may have a familiar sounding name: it’s the next generation PC-A16 case, and they’re about as similar as their names are.

Cooler Master Cosmos S Case 02-22-2008

Right on the heels of our Cosmos 1000 case review comes the totally revamped Cosmos S from Cooler Master. Although the Cosmos is really a nice case, there are a handful of things that could be done to make it better. We'll be taking a close look at the new Cosmos S today to find out if Cooler Master has made this latest version better than the last.

Apevia X-Supra Mid Tower Case 02-12-2008

Apevia has a lot of cases. A quick look at a popular online retailer shows 127 listings at the time of this writing. Most of these are economy-priced premodded mid-towers, in many different colors, some with a power supply, some without. This will be the fourth Apevia/Aspire case I have owned, and I have liked each of them. For someone wanting a decent lower-priced premodded case, you can't go wrong with one from Apevia.

Cooler Master Cosmos 1000 Case 02-05-2008

Naturally, Cooler Master is a company focused on cooling performance in their products. Last October I reviewed their most recent budget case, the CM690, which had all of the right features for the overclocker in all of us with expandability for many fans. Today, we’re going to have a look at their latest high-end case, the Cosmos 1000. This case, however, has a slightly different focus than most CM products: silence. Priced at nearly $200USD, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser, but can Cooler Master keep true to their name while dampening noise?

Apevia X-Telstar Steel Mid-tower Case 01-24-2008

This will be my third Apevia/Aspire case. Besides the X-Dreamer II, which I used for the better part of a year, I had an X-Plorer that I used for at least a year, a long time for someone who gets as many cases as I do. So I am familiar with Apevia cases, and expect the X-Telstar to be a mid-priced, fairly well built and finished, pre-modded case with a few interesting features. Read on to see if it meets my expectations.

SilverStone Kublai KL02 Mid-Tower Case 12-21-2007

SilverStone Technology Inc. has only been doing business in the USA since 2003. In that relatively short amount of time they have expanded their product line to include computer cases, power supplies, processor and liquid cooling systems, external storage and audio devices, fans and other related case accessories. Their power supplies were one of the first to receive nVidia SLI certification and the company has achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification for quality and customer service.

Raidmax Aztec Case 12-11-2007

Today’s review sample is the Aztec ATX case, Raidmax’ latest attempt to please the gaming market with their “Elite” line of cases. With various options for cooling, some intense LED lights and a removable motherboard tray, this monster of a case looks like a promising product.

Thermaltake LANbox SFF Gaming Case 12-07-2007

Seems like there's always something new coming from the folks over at Thermaltake. It's no wonder, with an ever-expanding product line that now includes air and liquid cooling, computer cases, power supplies, external storage enclosures and fans and other case accessories. Today I'll be taking a look at the LANbox, a small form factor, portable "cube" case from their desktop series.

NZXT Rogue SFF Gaming Case 11-26-2007

NZXT has sent over one of their latest cases, the Rogue. Although they list it with their Crafted series, the smooth clean lines of this SFF case I feel more appropriately fits the Classic series. But the Rogue doesn't exactly match either of their two categories, most of which are populated by mid-tower designs. As this is targeted as a SFF LAN gaming case, a first for NZXT, this really comes as no surprise.

Sunbeamtech Quarterback Mid-Tower Case 11-15-2007

Are you tired of boring traditional computer impressions and long to experience the excitement of revolutionary hardware design? We thought so. In that case be sure to check out the latest, er... case, from Sunbeamtech... the Quarterback.

NZXT Alpha Mid-Tower 10-31-2007

NZXT's company objective is to "provide every gamer with a case that they can identify with." To this end NZXT offers two types of case designs, the more conservative "Classic" series, and the contemporary "Crafted" line. Today we look at the Alpha, one in the former category of case offerings from NZXT.

Ultra m998 Midtower Case 10-30-2007

Designated the m998 in recognition of the HMMWV "Humvee", Ultra compares its latest case offering to the ruggedness and versatility of the popular military vehicle. Can this aluminum mid-tower design really live up to its appointed name?

Cooler Master CM690 Chassis 10-21-2007

Cases are kind of an anomaly in the world of computer hardware. Some people won’t pay more than $50 for a case because, all in all, it’s just a metal box. Others pay $300+ for thorough cooling solutions, complete PC silence, or professional aluminum styling. There is yet another group, though: those who want flashy, bright, “gaming” cases, that look cool regardless of performance or noise. The various aspects and features of the case one chooses arguably tell a lot about their priorities and personality.

Apevia X-Jupiter Type G Tower 10-20-2007

Along with the release of the mid-tower X-Jupiter Jr. comes the full tower aluminum X-Jupiter chassis. With more fans, more space and less weight it's like the little Junior grew up... and went on a diet.

Moneual Labs MonCaso 932P Platinum HTPC Enclosure 10-16-2007

Several things instantly stand out on the specs list, most notably the fact that you can install a standard ATX system in this case. Many HTPC cases restrict you to Micro-ATX only systems, which really limits the type of hardware that you can use. A 7" LCD touchscreen is something you certainly don't see on most HTPC cases. The chassis appears to have good cooling also, with four pre-installed 80mm fans.

Apevia X-Jupiter Jr. Type S 10-10-2007

Following closely on the heels of the full-size X-Jupiter tower comes the mid-tower X-Jupiter Junior from Apevia. Looking very much like its larger sibling, the X-Jupiter Jr. is available in four colors and two side panel configurations, giving buyers a total of eight different choices in case design.

Tagan El Diablo Case 10-04-2007

Tagan advertises the El Diablo as the world's first case with an enormous 360mm fan in the side panel. Couple that with a nearly-as-large 250mm fan in the front and you've got a case that moves some serious air!

Tagan CS-Monolith 09-17-2007

Let me clarify by saying that this case is huge. I want to get that out of the way. One of my favorite designs for cases is the matte finish for that modern look. The front has a smooth finish mixed with the matte to break up the monotony. With plenty of holes drilled out, they made sure there was somewhere for everything to vent, even above the PSU.

NZXT Lexa Blackline Case 08-08-2007

The Lexa Blackline is a nice looking rig. The window could be a little smaller, to hide some of the wire mess, but not a big deal. The red LED fans are a change from the blue ones most rigs use, and the black/red combination is a cool look. I ran the front, rear, and side 120mm fans with 12v, and the trio are surprisingly quiet. So quiet that I may not change them to 5v in the future as I usually do. Keep in mind if you run them at 5v, the LEDs probably won’t light up much. The red HDD led is different…goes very well with the theme.

Mountain Mods U2-UFO Duality 07-09-2007

With accommodations for triple 120mm radiators and multiple power supplies, these cases are built with watercooling in mind. Watercooling is not a requirement, however. You can still get plenty of functionality from a U2-UFO with simple air cooling.

NZXT Hush Midtower Case 06-22-2007

NZXT is well known for their Crafted Series of computer cases, producing such hits as the Nemesis and the Guardian - the Transformer-ish case that put NZXT's name on the radar of millions of hardware / gaming enthusiasts worldwide. NZXT has since broadened their product line to target non-gamers as well. The Classic Series presents customers with a quality NZXT chassis without the added "bling". Today we will be taking a look at the NZXT HUSH, the latest offering under the Classic Series.

Apevia X-Q-Pack 2 05-11-2007

The front bezel houses two 5¼" drive bays and one 3½" opening, next to which is the LCD temperature display. Immediately below this is the spring-loaded steel carry handle. It retracts into the case when not in use but can easily be pulled out when you need to carry the X-QPack 2 to your next gig.

NZXT Duet ATX / HTPC Case 02-14-2007

This week I get a chance to check out one of NZXT's latest offerings in the "Classic" series, the Duet. Aptly named for its ability to function in either a mid-tower or desktop orientation, the Duet looks to give users the benefit of a small footprint case without having to sacrifice on hardware due to component size constraints...

Ultra Grid Midtower Case 01-28-2007

The tissue paper is also something not regularly seen in case packaging. After pulling all of that packaging away you can see the front panel and side window are further protected by yet another layer of plastic. The side window is even covered inside and out. Ultra has obviously taken extra steps to make sure this case arrives at your door with the finish in factory pristine condition.

AeroCool Zero Degree Flexi Case 12-21-2006

Viewing the case from the rear, it really looks like an upside-down ATX. This rear plate is interchangeable for either an ATX or BTX motherboard. Each side panel comes with two thumb screws for easy removal. This case gives you the choice of using either two 80mm fans or a single 120mm fan for rear exhaustion, and has a removable plate for mounting the PSU through the rear.

NZXT Zero Full Tower Aluminum Chassis 12-20-2006

The rear of the case offers two 120mm exhaust fans. I was happy to see a free-flowing design with these exhaust ports, rather than the restrictive grill designs that many other case manufacturers use. You can also see that two thumb-screws are used to hold the left side panel in place, allowing you to gain access to the case without the need for a screwdriver.

Zalman Fatal1ty FC-ZE1 Champ1on Series Aluminum Case 11-26-2006

I will be the first to admit that most all of the Fatal1ty products I have seen to date look pretty sweet, but many end users have complained about the hefty premium price tag put on these items and cannot justify spending the extra money. Today I will be looking at the Zalman Fatal1ty FC-ZE1 Champ1on Series Aluminum Case... definitely a flashy looking system, but does it warrant the near $360 asking price?

NZXT Adamas Premium Aluminum Chassis 11-13-2006

Enter the NZXT Adamas Premium Aluminum Chassis: NZXT's first attempt at an all-aluminum case. NZXT was established in 2004 with their sights set on the gaming enthusiast market. Their first offering, the Guardian midtower case, had a revolutionary look (many said it resembled a Transformer) and was an instant hit. NZXT has expanded on their Crafted Series to include four other cases and more recently introduced the Classic Series which consists of the Trinity, Lexa and the newest addition, the Adamas.

ASYS Freedom CK-1022-6 Tower Case 07-07-2006

Enter the new CK-1022-6 Freedom, touted as a Super Tower / entry-level server case from Asys. Yes, that's Asys, with a Y. Can't say that I've ever come across any of their cases before, but the product information sheet looked promising. And the pictures showed it was no slouch in the looks department either. There were also some interesting features I wanted to check out a bit closer. This might not be such a bad case after all.

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OCIA.net and NZXT May Contest!

Another month, another contest here at OCIA.net! We have once again teamed up with NZXT to offer one lucky winner NZXT\'s brand new Crafted Series chassis, the Tempest!

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