Transcript
N° and issue date : 949 - 19/04/07 Circulation : 50000 Frequency : Weekly Page : 45 MicroMart_949_45_315.pdf Size : 95 % Web Site: http://www.microcomputermart.co.uk
Th
>
we k..
lan Jackson takes
.
e
i
s
a
tank
at
some
the best atum
of
um PC cases on the market
Aluminium PC Cases
Lian
PC-A10
Li
he PC-A10
Midi Tower Case end As usual from Lian
the latest
is
,
sensational and the thermal characteristics are spot on as well with pre-cut hoLes for water
beautifully designed allaluminium case from
T
the
Li
.
build quality 111
One long-time master Lian the most welcome changes
is
,
,
.
Li
trio cooling kits 120mm case fans and
of
of
from recent Lian designs the the departure upsidedown motherboard arrangement which although sometimes
a
,
is
Li
sensible from
,
,
cooling point havoc for any motherboard with heat pipe based cooler Heat pipes are the tatest craze of
a
.
video tard view creates
a
are well catered for and
,
,
one
these
of
fitted with you still feel a
is
.
a
3.5
adaptor the need for permanently installed floppy drive Hard disks are equally well catered for with provisions for five
motherboard Northbridge
in
to
the board
dense heat sinks via
a
usuatly
(
if
.
,
area near the top
"
a
cooling and work by transferring an heat away from the chipset of
,
of
total although two the vertical mounting them will not help airflow the the PSU Sensibly each hard disks
)
in
,
of
liquid medium Flip the board upside down and all the hot the chipset liquid flows down rather than the fins potentially .
to
of
of
.
,
the
to
five drives Prise 175.06 Manufacturer: Lian Websit- www.tia
,
Al0
The
.
similar
is
the Antec
to
Li
com
l
mounted
is
to
case through rubber grommets so they provide better noise dampening than most cases
.
causing overheating
a
removabte motherboard tray With total provision for seven optical drives DVD and CD copying fanatics
of
,
.
mounted that the PSU the bottom rather than also suffers from the the top that you need same problem P180
is
in
.
over
At
at
at
Aesthet cs
It
BuidO
in
* *
*
*
*
is
the second most expensive case here though when you closely examine the build quality and rigidity the case this doesn'
*
*
* .
,
* *
*
*
*
*
*
* *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
al
y
Design Va ue:
an extra long main power and auxiliary table on your PSU make all work Fine you' designing PC from scratch but
*
*
170
the PC-AlO
*
*
*
*
t
of
,
to
.
if
seem like an unreasonable prise pay Overall the PC-AlO like because difficult not
re
it
is
to
.
,
a
,
it'
not so fine
you'
if
a
planning on
re
IIFine
to
designing Pe from scratch but not so fine you' planning on upgrading your existing machine and have good PSU with short tables if
you'
re
,
re
if
a
,
,
upgrading your existing machine and have good PSU with short tables Super large PSUs like the a
.
Enermax Galaxy are also out the question for this one as the rather smaller than PSU bey of
,
is
these behemoths require Fortunatety that really where the Al0 the major downsides .
is
just so drop dead gorgeous Case manufacturers tome one and go but Lian
.
of
Li
is
,
the very few companies that are right up there with Apple when tomes styling Flawed genius perhaps but .
to
it
,
genius nevertheless the PC-AlO masterpiece ,
is
of
a
,
of
contemporary styling
.
1/6 Copyright (Micro Mart) No reproduction without authorisation
ANTEC
s
N° and issue date : 949 - 19/04/07 Circulation : 50000 Frequency : Weekly Page : 46 MicroMart_949_45_315.pdf Size : 100 % Web Site: http://www.microcomputermart.co.uk
Aluminium PC Cases
Antec P1806 Black case first thing strike you when you unpack the P180 be back pain likety by far the heaviest case to
The is
as
il
is
to
,
White we like minimalist designs this case they' somewhat marred by the presence
er
,
of
is
,
a
of
,
inctuding two drive cages that
,
this group test -and probably the heaviest midi tower case we have ever seen The P180 has in
.
in
,
is
.
a
,
of
a
,
one
a
miss
.
Aesthetically the P180 minimalist with plain flat front is
,
a
,
and windowless side panels
.
,
The outside panels
initially seem
be
to
the P180
of
IIThe side panels
,
FireWire and USB ports plus audio headers .
silver but this black modet much newer Antec also recently announced limited edition mirror-finish version though not being fans wiping off finger prints all day from practical standpoint we would give that
These optical drives sit on rails which allow easy fitting and removal but makes shipping OEM-made cases based on the
a
,
been availabte for some time
.
,
re
slightly ugly fan vent on the top and rather unsubtle indent on the front which houses the lock
proof defences required Internally the P180 full clever bits and pieces if
,
in
aluminium
the P180 would make reasonable bulletproof defences required of
if
panels but look closely and you will see they are thin veneer stuck plastic panel which ,
er
,
,
a
to
a
is
,
then itself re-enforced with SECC steel these thick panels that .
It
is
give the Antec its huge weight but with weight comes rigidity
total six hard drives; slide out caddy that occupies the middle-front the case and further four the bottom single floppy drive also supported as well as four optical drives house
two
in
a
of
a
of
a
,
.
at
The side panels the P180 would make reasonable bullet of
.
A
is
,
.
well as reducing compatibility for more exotic devices that use these bays The motherboard tray quite small ruling out EATX boards P180 risky as ,
.
is
,
extra long video cards like the 8800GTX or
.
Akasa Mirage 62 he Akasa Eclipse 62 was great divider opinion Some said was the best overclocking case money could buy with oodles
Details
a
of
Price- E98 no fans
T
.
it
,
space and
(
)
s
Manufacturer: Akasa Website www.Akasa.co.uk
of
simple but superb cooling arrangement whereas others maligned as hideous abomination case thanks its exceedingly ugly front bezet Akasa has therefore released the Mirage which shares the Eclipse internat chassis and its exce.tional thermal a
Ratings
,
is
of
a
a
to
.
Aesthetics Build Qua Desgn
* *
* *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* *
*
*
ty
*
Value:
*
*
*
* *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* *
OVERALL
,
8
s
characteristics but with differently styled plastic bezel Some people still think ugly but we rather likes throwback a
,
.
it'
s
,
ils
IBM styling certainly huge improvement over the Eclipse Internally the mirage supports two externat 3.5 bays .
It'
s
a
.
,
"
,
2/6 Copyright (Micro Mart) No reproduction without authorisation
ANTEC
N° and issue date : 949 - 19/04/07 Circulation : 50000 Frequency : Weekly Page : 47 MicroMart_949_45_315.pdf Size : 95 % Web Site: http://www.microcomputermart.co.uk
placement options for the front
fan-behind the top hard drive
ils
t
D
bay
Pnce- C81 Antec ufactu We www.Antec corn M
the front
at
the case
of
or
,
the bottom drive bay caddy between the PSU and the drives This placement
er
front
in
te
of
,
Ratings
is
.
rather ridiculous because
the
if
,
A
ics
t
BuddO
*
*
*
*
*
*
PSU leads doesn' get
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
the way
in
t
and staff the fans the SATA
*
a
y
,
V
Design lue
*
*
*
*
*
*
cables certainly will Indeed the bottom mounted PSU was .
,
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
OVERALL
a
cause for significant annoyance as greatly limits your choice PSU one with extra long
7
,
it
to
of
The case cornes with three
ir
case fans each
which
of
,
a
is
provided with built-in RPM their adjustment switch quietest setting most people will be very pleased with this the Low noise level case There are number a
At
.
of
of
a
.
four CD-ROM bays and
a
total
,
an optional bay that overhangs the CPU and can fortunately
case costing just
a
a
,
hundred notes you would expect case fans The Mirage disappoints as Akasa doesn' even provide the most basic a
.
t
,
of
120mm units even though ,
it
does
space and the removable motherboard tray makes things bags
of
even easier Unfortunately few annoyances slow you down Firstly there' fitting the front .
un-joined plethora single-pin jumpers Every other high-end case we can think provides single large HD audio header that can be instalted on the internat audio pins final niggte that one go the detachable hard drive bay
over-engineered
,
of
a
.
a
is
.
s
,
,
and want
is
in
a
s
as
is
of
nearty
t
,
s
annoyance the front audio ports header which provided
.
it
j
WD Raptor
Akasa Amber fans couple superb tayout that makes upgrading doddle Overall you like the styling
as we had exactly the saure issue with the Eclipse Another
of
-a
.
Minor flaws aside you can' deny the Mirage prowess as an overclocker' case featuring the lowest case temperatures on show once decked out with
t
,
good choice
a
putting all the panels back on as the holes dritled for the screws don' seern quite fine up This isn' just peculiarity with this mode[ either is
,
t
provide the mOSt basic 120mm fans even though does on its entry level zen chassis case costing just 25
therefore quite
a
.
t
,
is
s
.
to
IlAkasa doesn'
a
it'
a
,
is
,
is
a
.
in
case costing
.
,
,
filter Secondly
.
a
)
.
25
the Akasa Instalting PC should be easy as there
!
(
be removed For
chassis-a
on its entry level Zen
consuming process nice case Overall the P180 with some important drawbacks but well priced and
resonates and vibrates loudly when fitted with fast drive like
of
,
of
a
fan This requires removal the hard drive bays the front bezet four screws and dust .
seven hard drives although two these are provided by of
cables and the small access holes makes building PC with the P180 fiddly and time
.
A
a
of
,
and
a
.
a
if
,
get the highest overclock the Akasa Mirage how simple fine exampte to
is
,
of
a
sometimes better Compared its traditional arrangement complex cases like the Stacker and P180 feel fussy and .
is
to
,
.
3/6 Copyright (Micro Mart) No reproduction without authorisation
ANTEC
,
N° and issue date : 949 - 19/04/07 Circulation : 50000 Frequency : Weekly Page : 48 MicroMart_949_45_315.pdf Size : 100 % Web Site: http://www.microcomputermart.co.uk
Aluminium
PC Cases
Coolermaster Stacker 830 IlBrute force cooling and
Coolermaster Stacker truly immense full tower case standing tall
The is
a
sharp looks may moue
,
64cm This space height not wasted however as its
at
a
of
.
is
,
top
,
modular' bay arrangement allows for the installation
your shopping
of
'
of
lot
have
a
drives Only 5.25 bays are included with the stacker with hard drives being installed .
.
4
"
up
to
module' which houses four hard drives and also
in
to
shape cut out
a
.
of
,
,
.
you want fans the Stacker provides the opportunity
I
,
If
,
to
mount mammoth nine them one the back three the front one on top and four via an inctuded 120mm fan bracket which mounts on the side the case opposite the motherboard This isn' as ridicule us as sounds as the Stacker' side panels are mostly a
of
at
,
,
at
,
4
of
.
,
hard
remove and
to
.
as they
fit
x
of
,
in
.
er
(
,
to
intake fans Alternativety you can
way
in
,
,
.
is
.
Despite being big the Stacker still manages be an Optimus very handsome Prime from Transformers kind
If
list"
to
is
.
of
front 120mm fan these you so desire three can be installed providing space for twelve hard drives and three provides
the
to
of
adaptors and special front bezels with holes the correct size and
3
remove %%equired the rear motherboard tray also clunky and over-engineered Four thumbscrews would be just fine thank you very much
,
"
in
'
.
might be showing my geek stripes there...1 with aggressive bachelor pad styling meshes and sharp comprised fines Pretty much everything on the Stacker removable sonne way most the time not requiring any tools The side panels however are very of
the rest with six optical drives Ftoppies are also installabte via included 5.25 3.5 externat
"
of
,
a
just one module and stack
it
handled The various catches and switches
t
it
,
simply flex too much when being
s
Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000WBA Aluminium Case all aluminium cases fortune and
ot
cost
Nat
the case well as this too glossy black paint job rather than the normal anodised brushed' look black aluminium cases have ,
has
,
75
just
inctuding VAT the Tsunami easily the cheapest odel the group test first gtance you could easily mistake for the good old Cooler Master WaveMaster the two cases look very similar -but move the case side angle and the brash transparent side panel gives away the ,
in
light case
,
it
from
cooling
a
of
is
Lada Bentley made very thin aluminium and there' too much flex the body the case Installing 3.5 floppy drives will test your patience
comparing
is
to
a
.
bay beneath and optical drive such an bay above flex
is
of
s
in
of
"
is
.
it'
s
,
It
to
perspective
a
The whole case
of
.
t
it
,
.
)
,
,
.
the price but comparing the build quatity the two like
a
(
is
1
a
,
Li
realty
Thermaltake through and the case through The front actually plastic apart from the door which thick extruded aluminium but glossy and looks nice matches the rest
the main chassis when the front door unlocked something certainly wouldn' feet
IlStylistically this was mistake as makes the case look cheap but you can`t argue with
very
a
at
to
a
is
,
is
-
heritage-it
is
just 5.6kg but unfortunately this testament its rather flimsy construction The Lian may be nearty twice
it
cases true
to
in
.
The Tsunami
At
to
is
a
'
is
.
nearty impossible get back once removed mostly because the main hard drive
of
a
the maximum as the caddy ,
to
extent that you will be raging madman after few minutes effort The front fascia also flexes alarmingly away from a
a
of
.
comfortable sending by courier unless absotutely necessary The Tsunami' toot-less hard drive installation through rubber nice touch as grommets Thermattake' choice fans .
s
is
a
is
,
s
of
.
4/6 Copyright (Micro Mart) No reproduction without authorisation
ANTEC
N° and issue date : 949 - 19/04/07 Circulation : 50000 Frequency : Weekly Page : 49 MicroMart_949_45_315.pdf Size : 95 % Web Site: http://www.microcomputermart.co.uk
sized radiator and short
of
,
Details
using bay-mounted units not much space for pumps and reservoirs either ,
Pnce-176 Manufacturer Cooler Master astercom Website
.
you' looking fora case that lets everyone know your PC complete badass the Stacker
www.cooler
re
If
is
Ratings
a
Aesthetics BuddQuai
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
,
just the ticket
*
*
is
*
ty
ils
.
certainty has
It
annoyances but brute force cooling and sharp looks may move ,
Design Value:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
the top your shopping List wasn' so expensive Two days before this article was finished the retail price was of
it
OVERALL
to
only
-
if
7
mesh and are thus permeable
air flow
to
.
t
it
,
shocking adjusted upwards 176 and for this money you can nearly get new computer And unfortunately for Cooler Master a
to
.
Despite its size the Stacker doesn' provide ample opportunities for water cooting units unless externally mounted -there' nowhere for decent ,
t
a
s
,
.
a
,
this level engineering simply isn' worth the asking price of
.
t
'
l
There are two quiet 120mm
1
provide ventilation the drives and CPU plus the side an 80mm exhaust the panel right the middle
units
to
to
,
in
of
in
Perspex window Stylistically this was mistake as makes the case look cheap but you .
Details
it
a
,
Price: 75 Manufacturer Thermaltake Website: www.thermattake.com
,
can' argue with
from
t
t
a
cooling perspective as the case provides excellent ,
temperature performance Overall the Tsunami
gs
.
Aesthetics. Build Qua tyDesgn
is a
,
nice looking case that will its 75 many users appeal price tag White certainty isn' at
* *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
to
Value t
suffers from notably worse build quality than the other more expensive cases this group test bad purchase
*
*
t
.
a
* *
OVERALL
t
,
7
.
in
5/6 Copyright (Micro Mart) No reproduction without authorisation
ANTEC
N° and issue date : 949 - 19/04/07 Circulation : 50000 Frequency : Weekly Page : 50 MicroMart_949_45_315.pdf Size : 95 % Web Site: http://www.microcomputermart.co.uk
Te
> S u
m
U
..
.
es
p
mot erboarde an 9e
GTS
d
a
tard
w s
d
e
c
e
d
SA
t%%
k rd tir
case
es CP
-Ac
r
were
pe
t
BEST OV
>
k
3A5 Hz
d
DFt
a .
f
ty
975X GX
ï t
HIG
>
ove
X6
2
e ta
,
e
O 8
s
i
Oiv
t
3
t
r
l
6
D
if
m
Lian
PC-_
Akasa Mirage 62
l
Li
A
Product
Lian
Pnce
Li
Antec P1808
PC-A10
Akasa rage 62
Cooter Master Stacker 830
M
Thermaltak= Tsunam ,
E1
E
6 8
1 1
,
5.25 Bays "
3.5 Bays "
xp
Materiat
. x
)
d t
P
A
A
Fans CPU
/
(
installabte
)
2
Temperature
8800GTX Compatible?
4
Y
m e
6/6 Copyright (Micro Mart) No reproduction without authorisation
ANTEC
