Introduction

Its been a year since our last big case roundup, so about time to look at what the market has to offer at the moment. Although a year is enough time for most branches of the IT industry to revolutionize, rethink and release entirely new product lines, it is different for computer case manufacturers who seem to take their time with new product releases. Having said that, 2006 still has seen the release of some very interesting new models.

PC's are becoming cheaper over time, one of the reasons for this is that computer cases are being consistently sold for lower prices. With some thorough searching its quite possible to find cases for sale for prices as low as 25 dollars and for that price you even get a power supply! Taking this at face value then you must wonder how anyone could produce a case, ship it and still make a profit for that kind of price, but experience has shown us that the overall quality of cases like this is questionable at best: steel so thin that its almost transparent, lots of sharp edges, only the most standard of build options and a power supply which wouldn't be able to cut the mustard with any decent sort of computer setup. Cases such as these are fine if your building a budget system meant for word processing or browsing your email, but things would go belly up if - and this is the case for most people who read Hardware.Info - you're continuously fiddling with your computer setup. There are several cases around which would suit most enthusiasts for prices of around $75. Hence we have taken this as our target minimum price for this test. It should be noted though that we've also included some of the more extreme cases in this roundup, the most expensive case in the test is available for prices over $300!

Little to no change

What struck us the most was the fact that there were little to no changes in the product lineups of most manufacturers since our last big case roundup last year. At the time of writing this review most of the cases we reviewed over a year ago are still up for sale and we still stand behind the cases we recommended back then. Nonetheless 2006 saw the release of numerous new cases by the various manufacturers, 23 of which we'll be reviewing here.

We noticed that the developments in the industry have been mainly cosmetic in nature: there are plenty of new designs with new face plates, colours etc. etc. but nothing truly innovative. Better yet, the cases we reviewed last year had more radical design elements than anything in our current line-up.

Though there have been little to no changes in designs, we did receive a few cases which stood out from the crowd. The A+ for example has a 25 cm fan in its side panel and then there's a Lian-Li case with insulation on all sides. Design wise we saw several manufacturers taking large steps forward. The designs for the Stacker 830, from Cooler Master, and the Zalman Fatal1ty are extreme to say the least.

Specifications and Pricing

On the bottom of each page you´ll find an overview of the tested cases. Click on the detail-links for the specifications and prices of the various cases.

A+ Roma

With a weight of just 3.5 kilos, the A+ Roma is by far the lightest case in this test. Of course this is achieved by only using aluminum as the base material. The exterioir of the case is very slick: the target audience for this case is definitely not gamers and overclockers, but if you're building the a nice and powerful multimedia-PC this might be the case for you. Halfway the frontpanel A+ has integrated a LCD-display that shows the casetemperature and the speed of the casefans. With the buttons below the display you can alter the rotation speed of the fans. It's definitely not special that A+ has implemented frontpanel connectors in the top of the frontpanel, but what is exceptional is the presence of an eSATA connector among these. With a standard SATA cable this can be connected to one of the SATA-connectors on your mainboard. DVD-drives can be placed behind brackets with an integrated eject button. For this to work it's mandatory to use drives where this button sticks out a little. Inside the case we find room for two 12 cm fans, one in the front and one in the back. Unfortunately A+ omits to bundle either one of these fans. The case features a clever rails system for fitting the drives, which makes the use of a screwdriver unnhecessary. Further details on the inside are not very special. The retail price is not very high, especially when you consider that the case is 100% aluminum.

Pros: Extremely light with a stylish and sober design. eSATA connection on the front panel.
Cons: Aluminium used could have been a touch thicker to add some rigidy to the design.
Conclusion: A good starting point for a stylish and powerfull multimedia pc.

A+ XClio II

At first glance the A+ XClio's design looks like any other of the bog standard cases available, there is one thing which does set it apart from the competition. Maxpoint, manufacturer of the A+ case brand, have installed a 25cm fan in the side panel! Though the fan turns at only 600 rpm, this is more than enough to generate an enormous amount of airflow in the PC. Regrettably we cant exactly call the fan silent. One major letdown is that A+ does not supply an outtakefan as standard, if your going to create a case with an immense amount of air being blown into it then you had better make sure that there is an equal and adequate amount being removed at the same time, otherwise it will have a negative impact on your case temperatures. The case allows for the placement of fans of different sizes, both in the front and back. The front faceplate is made up out of plastic with an almost rubber like feel to it and because of this it feels less like a budget case then it really is. Surprisingly the case sports no USB, Firewire and/or audio connections on the front, something we feel is unacceptable in this day and age. The inside of the case can be called nothing else but "standard"; DVD-drives and hard disks are installed by using a "clamping"system, the nstallation of any expansion cards requires the use of your trustworthy screwdriver. There is no removable hard drive cage, which can cause some hassle when/if you wish to install or remove a hard drive. If we just look at the facts then we can only conclude that this is a standard budget case with a 25cm fan as its only unique feature.

Pros: A fan with a diameter of 25cm for untold airflow..
Cons: No connections of any kind on the front of the case. Fairly standard offering with little redeeming features.
Conclusion: The 25cm fan, though unique, cannot convince us that this is anything else but a budget case.

Antec NSK6500

The NSK6500 is Antec's entry-level case with a stylish yet basic design. In comparison to the somewhat more luxurious models in Antec´s line-up, this case has been stripped of some of the features present in the other models. For example, the controllable 12cm fan is installed with screws and the powersupply supplied with the case is one of the items where they tried to cut the costs of the case. Though this may Antec´s entry level case, the NSK6500 still offers space for up to five hard drives. The drives are on rubber spaces so as to minimise vibration and lower noise production. On the inside we find a special air duct, or Advanced Chassis Air Guide` as Antec likes to call it. This allows for any heat generated by videocards or any other type of add-in card to be efficiently vented to the top of the case. The retail price of $109,99/£61,88 might seem a little expensive when compared to comparable cases, but we mustn't forget that the Antec 430W power supply alone would set you back about $69,99/£52,99.

Pros: Harddisks are installed in sound damping trays, regulated 12cm fan.
Cons: Quality has a price.
Conclusion: Fine case for a standard computer.

Antec Sonata II

The Sonata II is the mirror image of its predecessor: a stylish case with a glossy "piano-black" finish. Looking at just the outside of the case you'd be hard pressed to notice any difference between this case and the previous Sonata, but as we all know appearances can be deceiving and Antec has definitely implanted some changes to the inside of the case. The most apparent improvement is the fanduct which transports hot air from the processor to the rear exhaust of the case. There is space for four hard drives which are placed sideways so as to reduce case clutter. The Sonata II comes with an Antec Smartpower 450 Watt powersupply with a fan management system, which regulates the fan speed according to the temperature of the PSU, and all the connections you could require in a modern PC. The Sonata II has a 3-speed 12cm fan in the rear has been mounted in such a way so as to minimize vibrations and hence minimize noise. The Sonata has one drawback: the fanduct included in the system can become an annoyance when building a system as it tends to get in the way and it can be hard to get back into place with a PCI-card installed. With its 430W powersupply and extra options the Antec Sonata II brings slightly more to the fray then the NSK6500, something we definitely notice in the price: this case can be yours for around $129,99/£78,71.

Pros: Styling, finish and general build quality combined with an excellent powersupply.
Cons: Fanduct can get in the way of heatsink and PCI-cards.
Conclusion: A good case which copies the styling of its predecessor but improves on the overal design.

AOpen EZ Mystic Black

The AOpen Mystic Black is a basic Midi-tower with very little in the way of extras.On the front of the case we find a door, which hides the 5,25 inch drive bays from view and in the process creates a finished and clean look. Aopen applied the same styling to the floppy drive, which in turn is hidden from view by a sliding cover, creating a seamless whole. The construction of the steel case feels robust and feels like it could take a knock or two without a problem. Unlike some of the more stylised cases around, the Aopen EZ doesn't have a case window, though there is a ventilation hole with fanduct for the CPU cooler. The side panel can be locked for added security, but imagine our surprise when the side panel was actually locked when we received it. After some thorough searching we found the keys but this could cause quite some confusion for most people if they aren't aware that this is supposedly standard procedure. Inside the drives are all installed through use of an easy "click" system, you simply slide the drives in and that's it, no messing around with screwdrivers. Aopen have also implemented a convenient screwless add-on card system which allows for the easy installation of videocards, soundcards, etc. etc. without the use of a screwdriver. Why Aopen only implemented this system for the top four expansion slots is a mystery though and to us it feels like false economy. The case comes with two standard case fans and a 350 Watt powersupply with an adjustable 12cm fan. Unlike some of the powersupplies that are supplied with "budget" cases this one leaves a fairly positive impression, but all in all it just wont cut the mustard when it comes to powering a power hungry gaming rig. With a retail price of around $99,99/£75 this case is a steal, especially when taking into consideration the powersupply that's been included.

Pros: Handy click system for drives, fine 350 Watt power supply for budget systems.
Cons: Only the first four expansion cards can be mounted without using screws.
Conclusion: Considering the retail price of just € 99 which includes a power supply, this is an excellent choice for a low-end system.

Aspire X-Cruiser

The most striking aspect of the Aspire X-Cruiser are the three lit, analogue VU-meters situated on the front of the case. With just the glance of an eye these allow you to see the audio volume, case temperature and fan speed. The three analogue gauges do add a certain extra to the aesthetics of the case. The construction of the case doesn't really inspire confidence as the steel used is definitely of a lower grade than that of most of the other cases in this roundup. The front bezel looks and feels like cheap plastic and this doesn't gain the case any bonus points. To the right of the door we find the front access connectors and a fancontroller. The sidepanel has been fitted with a large window and a fanduct for the CPU cooler. The case allows for the placement of fans in the front, side, back and top of the case. Aspire also saw fit to supply two 8cm blue-led fans with case. The inside of the case, In stark contrast to the outside of the case, is nothing special: all drives and add-on cards have to be installed with the use of screws, the motherboard tray, though removable, cannot be slid out which is far more practical and there are lots of sharp edges, so take care when building your system inside this case. The Turbolink powersupply that comes with the case might be rated at 420 Watt, the fact of the matter is that it only has one 15A 12V-rail meaning that in practice it will only be capable of powering a budget system at most. Another let down is the amount and type of connectors which the powersupply has, in today's market this just isn't acceptable anymore. The case is on sale for around $139,99/£85,99 or less, but, though the VU-meters might be a nice touch, it just cant justify the price tag.

Pros: The three anologue gauges on the fron of the case do add some class to the case.
Cons: Low quality construction, dashboard plastic front bezel, the use of screws in this day and age and a substandard powersupply.
Conclusion: Only consider this case if your competely obsessed by the analogue gauges.

Aspire X-Navigator

Though the Aspire X-cruiser might have left us slightly apprehensive as to how this case would fare, we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of this case. This case, which is clearly a modified Chieftec case, has had some interesting extras installed. For starters, the front bezel has had LED's installed in each corner which looks cool with the lights turned of. The clear Plexiglas in the front panel adds some class to the design and, as an added bonus, it can be taken out and replaced by either the blue or black Plexiglas panels that Aspire has included with the case. In the middle of the front panel we find an LCD-display that displays the temperature of the two temperature probes that have been included. Aspire have also included a fancontroller as standard. The inside of the case is completely made up of aluminum and the finish is excellent with no sharp edges that we could find. The installation of the hard drives will still require the use of a screwdriver but the removable drive cage makes up for this. The case offer space for up to six fans, four of which have been included as standard. All of the supplied fans have blue LED's. The 600 Watt powersupply is definitely worth mentioning as it seems to have escaped the set of Pimp my ride. The cables have all been sleeved and all the connectors are neon green, even the powersupply itself has a transparent plexiglas housing allowing you to see all the goodness inside. Last but not least is the large side window and lets be honest with a case like this a side window is almost a necessity. The ideal case for showing off at a LAN-party if your not into modding.

Pros: Pimp my case, enough said.
Cons: A case like this shouldnt require a screwdriver for the installation of the hard drives.
Conclusion: The tried and tested quality of Chieftec combined with Aspire's styling ethos makes for an excellent case.

Casetek CK-1022-6

Casetek has taken a page from Cooler Masters design book with the CK-1022-6 following the trend set by the Cooler Master Stacker: on the front of the case we find no less than eleven 5,25 inch bays, one of which comes with a module with front panel connections. Up to four hard drives can be placed in a cage which takes up three 5,25 inch bays. A fifth hard drive can be placed in the module containing the front panel connections, though you will run into some problems with the cables. Casetek only supplies one bracket for any external 3,5 inch devices as standard. The case is made up out of steel and the overall construction comes across as solid. The case offers space for up three 12 centimeter fans - two in the front and one in the rear - all of which make use of anti vibration rubber inserts so as to cut down on noise reduction. The design of the case isn't overly extreme and for some people who aren't attracted to some of the more "extravagant" cases available this can be considered a definite plus. The case is capable of housing both ATX and BTX motherboards, though the latter requires an optional BTX-kit. A definite disadvantage is the fact that the mounting plate for the motherboard cannot be slid out of the rear, instead it has to be installed from the side making for a less than user friendly experience. A construction on the inside of the case allows for the installation of large add-in cards such as a 8800GTX. Overall the installation of hardware is relatively simple without requiring the use of a screwdriver. The side panel contains a large window and the possibility of locking the case from any grubby hands after your hardware. With a price tag of around $100/£75 the Casetek CK-1022-6 is one of the cheapest cases in the roundup offering the most real estate for your cash.

Pros: Solid construction, lots of space allowing for future upgrades and the possibility of locking the case..
Cons: The removal of the motherboard tray is quite an undertaking and only one external 3,5inch space.
Conclusion: Fine choice for anyone on the look out for a Stacker like case without the hefty price tag.

Chieftec GX-01B

Chieftec is well known for its nigh indestructible cases and lives up to its name with the new GX-01B. The construction of the case is solid, something that is reflected in the weight: 13 kilograms. Interesting detail is the fact that the side panel alone weighs in at 1,85 kilograms, more than half the weight than that of the lightest case in this roundup. To keep up with modern trends, Chieftec have given their case a somewhat more eccentric look than what were used to, but simplicity and functionality still have the upper hand. The inside of the case is exactly what you would expect from any Chieftec case: lots of space, removable hard drive cage and a rail system for the DVD-drives. The front of the case houses an 8cm fan and the rear a 12cm fan. During the Hardware.info days, several Masters of Modding teams proved that the case forms an excellent basis for any case mod. The suggested retail price of the case is a steal at $120/£69,99. Definitely worth checking out.

Pros: Solid case for a relatively affordable price.
Cons: Standard case, will have to be modded to make it interesting.
Conclusion: 13 kilograms worth of solid construction, this case can handle a knock or two.

Cooler Master Centurion 534

Cooler Master's Centurion product line is composed of several affordable yet attractive cases. The 534 is no exception to this: we have very little in the way of criticism regarding the general design. The case offers space for up to two 12cm fans, one of which is installed as standard and the 534 allows for the screw-less installation of drives. A good choice for anyone on a tight budget but still demands a bit extra from their case. A nice extra is the Blue LED fan in the front of the case which adds to the overall look. When switched on in the dark the case emanates a blue glow through the holes in the front resulting in an eerie effect.

Pros: basic yet well designed case.
Cons: Only one case fan installed as standard.
Conclusion: user-friendly case with basic yet attractive looks.

Cooler Master Mystique 631

The Mystique 631 is a midi tower which is made up almost completely out of aluminum, resulting in a light weight design. The front panel is made of up of sec steel and with its "wave" design reminds us of the Wave-cases from the same manufacturer. The door on the front panel can open to both to the left or right as the users requires. There is space for four 5,25 and two 3,5 devices, inside we also find space for up to four hard disks. The design and layout of the inside of the case is of a high level and all the drives are a cinch to install due to the tool-less design. Though the hard drive cage cant be removed, its orientation to the outside of the case allows for the easy installation and/or removal of hard drives. The motherboard tray cannot be removed which is a shame considering the overall high level of design. Cooler Master have also seen fit to include rubber grommet holes next to the power supply for the in and out tubes of most external water-cooling setups. Overall this is an excellently designed midi tower case with an excellent finish, both inside and out.

Pros: Completely constructed out of aluminum, excellent finish, preinstalled holes for water-cooling.
Cons: Motherboard tray is non removable.
Conclusion: You'd be hard pressed to find a better midi tower than this.

Cooler Master Mystique 632

The Mystique 632 is the Mystique 631's more extravagant sibling. Inside the cases are identical, but Cooler Master have added some design elements to attract those of us who require some more "bling" to their case. What makes the 632 unique is the aluminum front panel which looks like it was stolen from the Star Trek set. The centrally split doors are divided by a blue plastic bar which lights up when the computer is switched on. Science fiction fans will love the little design elements and, as stated previously with the Mystique 631, the overall finish of the case is excellent.

Pros: Completely constructed out of aluminum, excellent finish, preinstalled holes for water-cooling.
Cons: Motherboard tray is non removable.
Conclusion: The added design elements improve on the Cooler Master Mystique's design.

Cooler Master Stacker 830

Like its predecessor the Cooler Master Stacker 830 is completely made up out of brushed aluminium and the implementation of big black mesh panels. The design is more "extreme" than that of the previous case, the new Stacker looks futuristic and wouldn't look out of place in a Star Wars film. A new addition to the design is the door that has been fitted to the front panel, the side panels have also been fitted with far larger mesh panels than the previous stacker. All these design touches make the 830 a case that is going to garner a lot of positive responses from sci-fi fans, but also means that there is very little left to mod. The previous Stacker was well known for its exceptional airflow mainly due to the fact that entire front panel was made up out of mesh panels. The new Stacker, though it has a door, doesn't disappoint in this area: in the door we find one huge mesh panel. As previously mentioned, the design of the side panels is futuristic to say the least. Both the left and right side panels have large mesh panels allowing for a huge amount of airflow. Removing the front panel and side panels couldn't be easier and doesn't require the use of a screwdriver. Cooler master didn't only use mesh panels in the front and sides of the case, the top of the case also has a mesh panel under which a case fan can be installed. When removing the left side panel of the case, the first thing you will notice is the possibility for installing four case fans of up to 14cm in size. Its clear that Cooler Master has set its sights on overclockers: designing a case which makes no concessions to attaining the most optimum airflow possible. For those of us who wish to install as many drives as possible should look no further that the Stacker. The case has no less than nine 5,25" bays. This is a little less than the previous Stacker which had eleven 5,25" bays. The drives can be installed through a user friendly click system without the use of screws or a screwdriver. 3.5" devices have to be installed by using the appropriate Cooler Master modules, these take up three 5,25' bays and allow the installation of four hard drives. The hard drives are cooled a 12cm fan, which is installed as standard in each module. These fans double up as intake fans for the front of the case. One module is included as standard and any additional modules can be ordered separately from Cooler Master. The Cooler Master Stacker 830 has a removable motherboard tray allowing for the easy and simple installation of the motherboard and hardware. Naturally the Stacker 830 is capable of housing a full-size ATX motherboard, but the unique feature is the ability to install a BTX motherboard. Cooler Master includes a special fan-duct for use with a BTX XPU-cooler. Should BTX ever become the standard then you're fairly much future proof with the Stacker 830.

Pros: Futuristisc design, excellent finish, almost unlimited expansion options.
Cons: The design wont be to everyones taste, just like the price tag. Conclusion: Might just be the ultimate computer case.... though there is very little left to do for casemodders.

Gigabyte Triton

The Triton is Gigabyte's only case in this roundup. The Triton leaves little to be desired and offers a good basis for systems ranging from budget to high end power hogs. Gigabyte, like some of the other manufacturers in this roundup, has included pre-cut holes for water cooling tubing. We also find two 12cm fans as standard. Gigabyte has also simplified the installation of drives by using a tool-less design or "click" system. The front panel of the Triton doesn't have a door and the design is clean yet modern, resulting in a look that most people wont find disagreeable. The construction of the case sturdy and inspires confidence. All in all Gigabyte have delivered a well designed and "complete" product, leaving no doubt that Gigabyte is serious about entering this market. Gigabyte is also one of the few manufacturers to offer such a wide spectrum of products that it is quite possible to construct a computer almost completely out of their products. The best part about the case is its price: you can pick up the Triton at your local Gigabyte dealer for around $108.00 / £50.

Pros: excellent finish and holes for water cooling.
Cons: Motherboard tray cannot be removed.
Conclusion: Gigabyte has managed to combine a low purchase price with excellent design and satisfactory expansion options.

In-Win O3

The exterior design of most of the In-Win cases isn't exactly special when compared to some of the offerings of the competition. Time and time again In-Win has managed to deliver well designed, yet simple cases, for affordable prices. With the O3 it seems that In-Win has finally broken the mold and released a case which, dare we say it, different from the rest of its product lineup. The front panel is light gray in color and adorned with three silver discs, on top of this the front panel lights up when the system is switched on. The door can be opened all the way to the side and when open reveals plenty f building space. The side panel doesn't have a window, instead it has large ventilation holes and a fanduct for the CPU-cooler allowing for efficient airflow in the system. The fanduct for the CPU is quite special in its own right as it can be slid, horizontally, and positioned so as to give the maximuim benefit to the CPU-cooler itself. The In-Win O3 offers space for up to two 12cm fans for both the front and rear of the case, major letdown is the fact that In-Win doesn't include any fans as standard, unlike the competition. Overall the In-Win O3 is a decent case and will definitely attract those of us who are into contemporary design.

Pros: Decent case, stylish design and a adjustable air duct..
Cons: No case fans included.
Conclusion: Those of us on the look out for a stylishly designed case cant go far wrong with the In-WinO3..

Lian-Li PC-S80

Lian-Li cases have always been something special and the PC-S80 is no exception. Beautiful and elegant design, which has been stripped of any superfluous lines and design elements present on many modern day cases. The rear of the case is quite unique in that it sports an aluminum construction which acts almost like a muffler. The construction extends from the rear of the case and is padded with sound insulating foam, it also moves the exhausted air away from the case and can even be used as a cable tray for any cabling extruding from the rear of the case. The inside of the case is shielded by a second set of panels. These allow for the hot air from the front of the case - produced by the hard drives for example - to be vented from the case without influencing the rest of the system. There is an additional case fan positioned above the powersupply which vents the hot air out of the case through the "muffler". Another unique aspect is the fact that the hard drive bays are in fact heat sinks, meaning that hard drives are being cooled passively in the first place. This setup allows the PC-S80 to cool even the most voracious beast of a computer with very little noise production. The case itself is almost like a piece of modern minimalist art, which becomes even more evident when you look at each part of the case individually: filed down pop rivets, rounded edges and high-grade materials. The overall minimalist design, quality of the materials used and inventive layout may yet turn the PC-S80 into the average case modders wet dream. Though it should be noted that excellence has its price and with an average retail price of $430/£240 this case isn't cheap.

Pros: Excellent finish, high grade materials, inventive cooling solution and special cooling blocks for hard drives.
Cons: Excellence has a price.
Conclusion: Fantastic case that could double up as a piece of art.

Recom Backdraft

The use of modded cases seems to be the current trend amongst gamers. Some will even revert to the age old custom of modding their own case with their trusted dremel in an attempt to give their case a personalized look, whilst others will settle for purchasing a pre-modded case. The Recom Backdraft falls into the latter category, an affordable case that is ideal for anyone looking to get some attention at a LAN-party. Unlike some pre-modded cases the Backdraft does not have any lights installed, but if you were to place a CCFL behind the front air vents you'll be guaranteed a surreal look. Like so many other "gamers" cases, Recom paid more attention to the aesthetics of the case than the actual inside and general functionality. The layout is fairly bog standard and offers absolutely nothing innovating, also we would have preferred it if Recom had used thicker steel for the construction of the case as it feels somewhat "flimsy". The case weighs in at 6,2 kilograms and this isn't exactly confidence inspiring for a steel case. One of the features of the case that we appreciated was the tool-less design, which allows for the installation of all the hard drives, DVD-drives and expansion cards without the use of a screwdriver. The Backdraft, though not innovative, isn't bad and for anyone who wants a case to show off their stuff at LAN-parties, but doesn't have the time or skill to mod their own case then the Recom Backdraft is worthy of consideration.

Pros: Looks are aimed at gamers.
Cons: Recom paid more attention to the aesthetics of the case than the functionality.
Conclusion: Born with two left hands, yet you don't want be shown up at a LAN-party? The Recom Backdraft might be just the case for you.

Recom Zenith

The Recom Zenith case is another product aimed squarly at gamers. Its basic design is identical to that of the Recom Backdraft, the only difference being the design of the front- and side panels. The bootom half of the frontpanel contains six lights and the protruding letter Z on the front gives the case some additional cachet. The conclusion is fairly much the same as that of the Backdraft: if your enticed by the Recom's design then this case is a decent choice, but overall the case brings nothing new to the market.

Pros: Extreme exterior aimed at gamers.
Cons: Recom has paid more attention to the exterior of the case than the inside. Conclusion: Identcal to the Backdaft apart from a front- and side panel

Thermaltake Eclipse DV

There were some heated debates about aesthetics at the office when we took Thermaltake's Eclipse DV out of its box. Last year wasn't any different when there were similar cases such as this model with CD's and DVD's placed as ornaments on the front of the cases. The problems with designs such as these are you either love them or despise them. In defence of the Thermaltake Eclipse DV, in contrast to previous models they actually placed a functional DVD-ROM player in the front. The frontpanel of the Eclipse DV is fairly massive and can be locked by using the key on the side of the case. This doesn't lock the front portion of the frontpanel but the rear part, possibly to stop anyone from ripping your hardware out if left untended at a LAN-party. The side panel with window is also equipped with a lock. Two 12cm fans, one of which is equipped with lighting, cool the case. Another nice touch is the indicator on the front of the case, which displays the volume

Pros: Functional DVD-ROM player on the front of the case.
Cons: Lock on frontpanel doesnt lock the door.
Conclusion: A case which you'll either lover or hate, the built in DVD-ROM player lets the case double up as the basis for a powerful and striking media center.

Thermaltake Eureka

The first thing that struck us as we removed the Thermaltake Eureka from its packaging was the amount of space it offered. Being almost 65 centimeters deep, the case can house even the largest of extended ATX motherboards. This makes the case ideal for anyone wanting to use a motherboard with two processor sockets. The removable motherboard tray makes the installation of hardware a cinch. Thermaltake didn't only think of large motherboards when designing this case, everywhere you look there is ample space. There is plenty of space for drives and its even possible to install full-length expansion cards. Thermaltake kept the design fairly simple, allowing the modders amongst us to alter the case to their own wishes. Thermaltake also took watercooling into account when designing this case, all the necessary holes for the tubing have already been cut out. The frontpanel is almost cylindrical in shape, where the top half is made up out of black mesh and the bottom half out of brushed aluminum. The case can be called anything but cheap: the suggested retail price of $185/£108,99 is a fair wad of cash when compared to similar cases available on the market.

Pros: Loads of space, can fit extended ATX motherboards with ease.
Cons: Its greatest strength is its greatest weakness, you need to have adequate space for this case. Conclusion: Spacious case for anyone looking to build a workstation or home server.

Tuniq 2

TheTuniq 2 is a stylishly designed case and though it may not be quite as tall as some of the towers in this market segment, the depth of the case is comparable to that of a big-tower. The layout of the case differs from what were used to: The motherboard is installed upside down and the PSU has been place in the bottom of the case. An innovative fan-duct supplies the CPU-cooler with an ample supply of cool air and the hot air is rapidly removed from the case through the 12cm fan in the rear of the case. The fan-duct is connected to the fan in the power supply. The front of the cases houses another 12cm fan and a third 12 cm fan, which comes with the case as standard, can be positioned in such a way so as to cool the video card/s. There is space for up to a maximum of eight 5,25"devices, regretfully the Tuniq 2 does not feature a tool-less design and all of these will have to be installed with the aid of your trusty screwdriver. The same goes for any 3,5"devices. Hard disks are placed in the somewhat unhandy cage in the bottom front of the case. The front panel has a door, which closes through the use of magnets, and the front panel connectors are placed on the side. The power switch has been neatly worked away in the top of the case, regrettably there is no reset switch. The overall layout is satisfactory, but it's mainly the design of the case which manages to sway our verdicts in its favor.

Pros: Innovative fan-duct construction, extra fan for video card/s, design of the case. Cons: Motherboard tray non-removable, screwdriver required for installing drives.
Conclusion: Stylish case with smartly designed fan-duct and taking into account the limited height there is still plenty of space available.

Zalman FC-1 WSVG Fatal1ty

Fatal!ty is one of the most popular and successful gamers. The professional gamer has lent his name to a myriad of products; ABIT's high-end motherboards and several soundcards and mice from Creative. The Korean cooling specialist Zalman has also worked together with Fatal!ty on several occasions and one of products to be spawned from this marketing marriage is now up for review. The case inspires the same feeling of quality as the cases from Lian-Li: perfect finish and several smart innovations. The case can be opened from the front allowing the rapid removal/installation of hard drives: you simply slide the drive between the rollers and a elastic band holds the drives in place, original to say the least. The only thing that leaves us slightly confused is how Zalman apparently thinks about their prospective clients. Apparently the average Zalamn FC-1 WSVG Fatal1ty owner isn't too intelligent, or so it seems from the almost ludicrous amount of warnings that have been plastered all over the case: "Main Intake Vent-Do not destruct the vent! Leave a minimum of 10 cm clearance", Do not remove this panel! Removal may cause structural damage", Do not remove any Allen Bolts from this case. Removal will void warranty" and "Caution when viewing the internal components, protective eyewear is recommended" are just a few examples of the multitude of texts on the case. The manufacturer wants to be sure that its clients understand that the case has "No maintenance Hinges-Do not oil or lubricate". Just incase you didn't know, Zalman have also included a text on the rear of the case stating that the installation of any add-in cards when the computer is on is dangerous, but to be honest, anyone who does that shouldn't be around computers in the first place. Even opening the case seems to be difficult for Fatal!ty owners, not only does the lever have a text saying "open" with an arrow pointing in the direction in which the lever has to be moved, Zalman have also included a text stating "Slide lever to open" in another large arrow pointing in the required direction. All in all there are more than ten of these warnings and this is not even counting the multitude of Fatal!ty logos that the case has been adorned with. When you get down to it the Zalam Fatal!ty case is an excellent case, but we would spend some extra money on a can of black paint to get rid of all the nonsense.

Pros: High-grade materials used, the ease with which the case can be opened (even without all the text).
Cons: Too many warnings and text which cant be removed, Extremely heavy design making it unsuitable for LAN-parties.
Conclusion: Judging from the warnings on the case were surprised that Zalman thinks that its users are even able to read...

Conclusion

Choosing the best case from a roundup such as this is quite difficult if not impossible. Choosing a case to house your system depends on several independent factors such as personal taste and intended use. Looking at the cases on offer today and the cases we tested in last years roundup the one thing we can safely conclude is that we can still heartily recommend the cases - such as the Antec P180 -that came out on top last year. Though having said this we did come across some memorable cases in this year's roundup. In the high-end segment the Cooler Master Stacker 830 came out on top, the case excelled in all possible areas. The only negative thing we could think about is the fact that there is fairly little left to do for modders due to the extreme design of the case. For this target group the Lian-Li PC-S80 could well be the ultimate computer case: the design and quality of the case almost beg to be modded into some modern piece of art, downside is the extremely high price tag. The Chieftec GX-01B and Gigabyte Triton are our cases of choice for the mid-range market, the first for its solid design and the latter for its looks and possibility for water-cooling. For those of us who prefer pre-modded cases and want to show of at LAN-parties then the Aspire X-Navigator might be the best choice, but if you don't want to spend too much on a new case you can always opt for a Recom case.

Cooler Master Stacker 830

Lian-Li PC-S80
Aspire X-Navigator

Chieftec GX-01B
Gigabyte Triton