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Cases

Antec's Mid-Sized 1100 enclosure can hold a lot of hardware

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 19, 2012 - 02:52 PM |
Tagged: antec, eleven hundred

The Antec 1100 enclosure is a mid-tower design but with enough space inside to accommodate an XL-ATX board as well as coolers of up to 170mm (6.7").  The included cooling is impressive, with a possible nine 120mm fans installable though it only comes with two.  There are six 3.5" drive bays, two 2.5" bays and three 5.25" bays, with the HDD bays set up front to back, sideways from the usual case design.  [H]ard|OCP did have a few improvements to the case that they would have liked Antec to include but as the case walked away with a Silver Award, those additions would simply make a good case even better.   If you are shopping for a $100 enclosure that can handle SSDs without adapters then you should check out their review.

H_1100.jpg

"We take a long [H]ard look at Antec's new Eleven Hundred model chassis that is billed by Antec as being "The Advanced Gaming Authority." This relatively inexpensive DIY chassis is chock full of features and represents a flagship in the Antec line. Our new testing format takes its maiden voyage on the Eleven Hundred."

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

 

Source: [H]ard|OCP

Are you SMART to choose Thermaltake's new 730W PSU?

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 15, 2012 - 02:49 PM |
Tagged: PSU, thermaltake, Thermaltake SMART 730W

The Thermaltake SMART 730W PSU looks a little bare compared to some of the competition out there right now; it is not modular, only meets the basic 80 Plus certification and the cables are not sleeved.  On the other hand, it is a single 12V rail design with 56A available for the four 6+2 pin PCIe connectors and with a 120mm fan it should run relatively quietly.  TechPowerUp put the PSU through their battery of tests and came out with a fairly negative conclusion.  At $100, the crossload and ripple test results were disappointing as was its ability to provide power when running at 40C or higher.  This PSU has a serious case of the 'just good enoughs' and should perhaps be passed over in favour of other PSUs at the same price point.

TPU_psu_standby2.jpg

"The new Thermaltake SMART series is a value series so it consists of budget units that according to Thermaltake incorporate high-tech components with Eco-friendly credentials. The capacities of the SMART units range from 430W to 730W and in this review we will test the strongest model with 730W capacity."

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

 

Source: TechPowerUp

Lian Li Releases Official Photos of PC-QO5 Case

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 13, 2012 - 04:33 AM |
Tagged: thin itx, mini ITX, Lian Li PC-Q05, Lian Li, case, aluminum

Lian Li, a case maker specializing in sleek brushed aluminum computer cases showed off (video link) several cases at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas a few months ago. One of the cases they touted was an extremely thin aluminum case that conforms to Intel's Thin Mini-ITX form factor. The super small case employs indirect cooling much like that found in laptops and utilizes Mini-ITX motherboards that use laptop style ram. As far as physical dimensions, the chassis measures 284 mm (W) x 47 mm (H) x 307 mm (D) according to the product page.

q05-01.jpg

The silver version PC-Q05 Chassis

The new product page further details that the aluminum case has a gross weight of only 1.5 KG (about 3.3 lbs) and, in addition to housing the Mini-ITX motherboard, will hold up to two 2.5" hard drives (or SSDs). The skinny case will further be available in either silver or black colors. The front of the case is a curved piece of brushed aluminum interrupted by two status LEDs on the right of the panel (but no drive bays or buttons to speak of). The right side of the case houses the power button, and the sides and bottom of the case contain plenty of ventilation holes.

q05-08.jpg

A top down view of the internals

I have to say that this PC-Q05 case would make for a sexy home theater PC (especially the black brushed aluminum case), though the case is certainly going to limit the amount of hardware you can have at your fingertips. Unfortunately, there is no word yet on pricing or availability.

Source: Maximum PC

Need a low cost cooler for your low cost Llano?

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 12, 2012 - 04:19 PM |
Tagged: low profile, low noise, heatsink, arctic cooling alpine 64 plus

If you spent around $100 on your CPU you are unlikely to want to spend a large percentage of that again on a high powered third party heatsink but that doesn't mean you have to stick with the cooler in the retail package.  Arctic Cooling's Alpine 64 Plus stands 69mm x 99mm x 116mm making it perfect for smaller systems and weighs in at only 430g as well.  The price is something you will love, the MSRP is $15 which should sit within anyone's budget.  FrostyTech tried it out on their testbench and as you might expect it did not top the cooling charts but did perform adequately and it was one of the quietest active coolers they've tested.

FT_ACalpine64_p.jpg

"With the release of AMD's socket FM1 Fusion A8-3850 processors late last year there's been a growing need for inexpensive yet relatively quiet CPU coolers of moderate power. The 'Llano' processor only has a 100W TDP and costs just over $120 bucks, so expensive tower heatpipe coolers can be a little bit of an overkill. Arctic Cooling's Alpine 64 Plus heatsink is one economical option to consider; it's rated for 100W and stands 70mm tall so it fits in most media PC cases with ease."

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

 

Source: Frosty Tech

A Case For The Raspberry Pi Linux Computer

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 7, 2012 - 04:58 PM |
Tagged: Raspberry Pi, cases, computing, 3d printing

Marco Alici is not only eagerly awaiting his Raspberry Pi computer, but he is so excited that he has already started mocking up a case for it using Blender software and basic measurements of the Raspberry Pi board.

raspberry-pi-case_05a.jpg

The case is a form fitting white plastic affair that has cutouts for each of the ports and an etched Raspberry Pi logo on the top. He states that because the Raspberry Pi has been designed to be as low cost as possible, the placement of connectors on the PCB makes for a less than ideal case. The RCA jack in particular juts out quite a bit from the casing, for example. Also the Raspberry Pi PCB does not have mounting holes to make attaching the case easy; Mr Alici had to come up with a snap-fit assembly to get around that issue.

The renderings of the case were made using Blender and Yafaray. He says that he is still waiting on his physical Rasberry Pi board to finalize the design and make it available for 3D printing at Shapeways. The case further is able to be constructed using injection molding, which he says makes for a cheap to produce case. More photos are available here.  Now, if only I had a 3D printer!

Source: Marco Alici

Xigmatek thinks big with their new mATX Gigas enclosure

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 2, 2012 - 03:01 PM |
Tagged: xigmatek gigas, xigmatek, SFF, mATX

When you build a machine based on an mATX board, you tend to be aiming for a compact system that can be hidden away or is at least small enough that it is unobtrusive.  Xigmatek decided to toss that style away when they designed the Gigas, quite possibly the only mATX enclosure which weighs more than 20lbs.  At 10.94" x 12.68" x 15.59" you have a lot of space to work with and will find space for a lot more drives than you might expect even with a full size GPU and 1kg+ heatsink.   This is a perfect enclosure for some of the high end mATX board for sale currently, but as TechPowerUp points out in their review there are no grommets for watercooling if you wanted to upgrade your cooling solution.

TPU_finishedon.jpg

"Is it a mATX chassis? No! Is it a mid-tower case? No! What is it? It is the Xigmatek Gigas! Too big to be a compact mATX cube, but too compact to be considered a mid-tower. Will the Gigas end up being the Frankenstein of cases, or manage to impress with this new approach?"

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

 

Source: TechPowerUp

Enermax doesn't feel the need to brag about the efficiency of the new Revolution87

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 1, 2012 - 02:54 PM |
Tagged: PSU, modular psu, enermax, Revolution 87, 80 Plus Gold

The Enermax Revolution87+ 1000W PSU can distribute almost its entire peak capability across its four 12V rails at a maximum of 83A.  After their testing [H]ard|OCP proclaimed that this is another step forward in PSU design for Enermax, retaining solid construction and power generation needed by users as well as increasing efficiency and lowering noise.  Perhaps the most laudable thing Enermax did with this unit was to market it as 80+ Gold even though it actually meets Platinum standards.  That is the opposite of most PSU marketers whose PSUs tend to barely meet the claimed efficiency or to not meet it at all when tested by reviewers.

H_ener.jpg

"Enermax is and has been a favorite brand with HardOCP for many years now. Today it is showing off its new Revolution 87+ series suggesting 87% efficiency or better at all times. Coming in at a full kilowatt of supplied power, designed with ZERO LOAD sleep states in mind, and 24-7 at 50C performance, this should be one tough PSU."

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

 

Source: [H]ard|OCP

OCZ Introduces the High-Performance Fatal1ty 1000W Power Supply

Subject: Cases and Cooling | February 28, 2012 - 12:28 PM |
Tagged: ocz, fatal1ty series, kilowatt, PSU, modular psu

OCZ has expanded their Fatal1ty Series of PSUs to include a 1000W model, perfect for systems with multiple GPUs.  Not only will you get reliable power, for those who like to show off the insides of their cases the bright red of the PSU and power connectors will give you a unique looking system, powered on or not.  It doesn't seem to be available yet, but should be very soon.

OCZFAT1K.jpg

SAN JOSE, CA—February 28, 2012—OCZ Technology Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: OCZ), a worldwide leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) and power supplies for computing devices and systems, today announced the availability of the Fatal1ty 1000 Watt power supply, the latest high-performance PSU targeted at gamers and enthusiasts that demand maximum wattage, high efficiency, and a modular cabling configuration.

Dedicated to delivering premium power solutions, OCZ’s latest PSU was co-developed with twelve-time world champion Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel to meet the specific needs of fellow gamers in performance, stability, and ease of integration to reduce system downtime. Featuring individually-sleeved modular cables, the Fatal1ty Series eliminates unnecessary wire clutter for a cleaner overall presentation and superior airflow in high end systems that are packed with components.

“We are thrilled to partner up once again with Fatal1ty to build the ultimate PSU designed specifically for hard-core gamers,” commented Steve Lee, Senior Vice President of Power Management at OCZ Technology. “The new 1000W Fatal1ty PSU delivers exceptional performance for dual GPU platforms, enhanced reliability with premium components, excellent efficiency and robust features, including a large yet ultra quiet fan and high-end individually sleeved cables. All of these add up to a premium PSU that gamers can be confident in to power through the most intense gaming and enthusiast environments.”

“When looking for the ideal gaming power supply, I look for plenty of power to support multi-GPU configurations, superior reliability, and features like quiet and efficient cooling that allow me to stay focused on the game,” said Wendel. “I also want modular cabling which makes it easy to configure my rig and make it look clean. With the new Fatal1ty 1000W modular PSU, gamers are armed with the perfect solution to power all of their high-end components, enabling them to design the perfect gaming rig. I want gamers to play to their full potential, and with this PSU your gaming rig will have every bit of power it needs to fulfill your hardcore gaming sessions.”

Combining a powerful single +12V rail and premium components, the Fatal1ty 1000W balances the needs for both gamer and enthusiast standards with 100% Japanese 105°C capacitors, continuous output at a demanding 50°C ambient temperature, and heavy-duty protection circuitries. Key features include a large temperature and load controlled 140mm double ball-bearing fan with red LEDs for whisper quiet operation, well-regulated electrical noise and ripple, and 80 Plus Gold certification with up to 90% efficiency at typical loads.

The Fatal1ty Series is tested and qualified for the most component-heavy systems with multiple power-hungry drives and video cards by delivering 1KW of continuous power, and offers rock-solid, super-clean DC output and complete array of connectors including detachable CPU, and multiple PCIe, SATA, and peripheral cables. The Fatal1ty Series provides universal input and active PFC (Power Factor Correction) to effectively regulate input voltage and maintain a stable supply of power in an industry-standard ATX form factor to accommodate virtually all computer towers. With sheer power combined with maximum efficiency, the Fatal1ty 1000W is backed by a 5-year warranty.

Source: OCZ Technology

SilverStone's PS07 might be Precisely the enclosure you are looking for

Subject: Cases and Cooling | February 27, 2012 - 02:24 PM |
Tagged: Silverstone, PS07, precision series

If you are looking for an inexpensive mid-size tower that can handle GPUs up to 13.5" in length and coolers with a height of 165mm or shorter the SilverStone Precision Series PS07 is not a bad choice.  It can handle up to three 120mm fans for cooling but no grommets for an external radiator if you prefer watercooling.  Sticking with the air cooling motif, they've included fan filters which are held in place with magnets offering an easier way to keep them clean than many competitors.  MEKTU Mods was also fond of the cable management solutions and the removable roof and motherboard tray.

mektu_ps07.jpg

"Some might say that the PS07 is aimed more towards a budget buyer. There is nothing wrong in that and if the product is high in quality and looks good, I'm all for it. So, is the Silverstonetek's PS07 the case for you? Read and find out!"

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

 

Source: Mektu Mods

Corsair's enthusiastic take on a new PSU family

Subject: Cases and Cooling | February 21, 2012 - 03:06 PM |
Tagged: TX750M, TX550M, Corsair PSU, Corsair Enthusiast Series, PSU, modular psu

Perhaps we should rethink the component that Corsair is best know for as [H]ard|OCP points out that they currently have seven families of PSU on the market right now.  They mention that fact when starting out their review of the Corsair Enthusiast Series Modular TX550M and TX750M PSUs.  They passed the PSU torture tests with flying colours but still feel short of an award due to pricing.  With so much competition in the PSU market right now it is not enough for a PSU to provide solid power, it must also be priced similarly to the competition.

H_750cors.jpg

"Are you a "hardcore PC gamer?" A "Performance Enthusiast?" Or "Anybody who appreciates a combination of high performance standards and affordability?" Corsair Enthusiast Series power supplies in 550 watt and 750 watt are reviewed today and we will tell you whether or not we see those as enthusiast PSUs."

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

 

Source: [H]ard|OCP

Swiftech's expandable self contained watercooling apparatus

Subject: Cases and Cooling | February 17, 2012 - 12:26 PM |
Tagged: swiftech, H20-220 Edge HD Liquid Cooling Kit

Swiftech may change the way that you think about self contained watercoolers with their new H20-220 Edge kit.  Most of these types of coolers are sealed and not intended to be opened for cleaning, let alone be modified or expanded.  The Edge on the other hand is a radiator with an integrated reservoir and pump that can be modified and serviced.   You can expand your cooling loop to include your GPU and other components without voiding the warantee nor is it difficult to set up.  The cooling performance is on par with the competitions but there is a drawback, the kit Legit Reviews tried out was the less expensive version but it still cost over $200.

h20-220-edge-hd_001.jpg

"The H2O-220 Edge HD kit from Swiftech is solidly built, easy to install, and performs very well. The configurability of the H2O-220 Edge HD kit is nice as it allows the end user the flexibility to make the cooler fit their need, rather than the other way round..."

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

 

Source: Legit Reviews

NZXT's new big white blocky enclosure

Subject: Cases and Cooling | February 8, 2012 - 06:14 PM |
Tagged: nzxt, switch 810

We've come a long way from the chunky off-white cases of yesteryear, so far that white cases are coming back into style.  Thankfully they are a true white and not the spoiled milk white which we were used to.  NZXT's latest enclosure, the Switch 810 is a great representation of this trend with a white external colour scheme which hides features an IBM PS2 users couldn't have imagined in their wildest dreams.  The case offers great air cooling but was really designed with those using watercooling.  Legit Reviews did run into some issues when mounting SSDs and suffered a bit of sticker shock but do recommend the case for those using external radiators.

If you'd like a second opinion Steve is more than happy to provide you with a review and NZXT with a Gold Award.

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"We were very impressed with several of the innovative features that NZXT put on the Switch 810, especially the consideration for pretty extreme water cooling setup with that 85mm of top clearance. The ability to drop a 420mm rad in the top and another 280mm rad in the bottom should be enough cooling for even a quad GPU setup. Placing easy to access filters on the intake fans is a real plus and should keep the dust bunnies to a minimum..."

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

 

Source: Legit Reviews

NZXT reveals a full Hale hand of PSUs

Subject: Cases and Cooling | February 7, 2012 - 05:09 PM |
Tagged: PSU, nzxt, modular psu, HALE90-750-M, HALE90-1000-M, HALE82-850-M, HALE82-750-M, HALE82-650-M, 80 Plus Gold, 80 Plus Bronze

X-bit Labs collected five PSUs from NZXT's HALE82 line including the HALE82-650-M, HALE82-750-M, HALE82-850-M, NZXT HALE90-750-M and HALE90-1000-M.  All of the PSUs are rated at least 80+ Bronze with the HALE90 models reaching 80+ Gold ratings.  This is a definite boon for those who plan on running the 1000W model.  All are 12V PSUs, with an internal converter to provide 3.3V and 5V, which means that these PSUs can provide in the neighbourhood of 99% of its maximum amperage to the 12V line to keep those GPUs fully fed.  Head on over and read through the whole review or else choose the PSU with the wattage appropriate for you to examine.

You can also catch Lee's thoughts on the 850W version in his latest review.

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"Today we are going to talk about five power supply units from NZXT ranging in capacity from 650 W to 1000 W and certified according to 80 PLUS Bronze and Gold standards."

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

 

Source: X-Bit Labs

Origin PC Now Offering Frostbyte 360 All In One Liquid Cooling System

Subject: Cases and Cooling | February 6, 2012 - 02:49 PM |
Tagged: water cooling, triple radiator, origin pc, liquid cooling, hsf, cpu block

Origin PC has started offering a unique water cooling solution called the Frostbyte 360. The self contained water loop includes a CPU water black, pump, tubing, and a triple 120mm radiator. The company claims that the new cooler has allowed their overclocking teams to reach overclocked processor speeds of 5.2 GHz on their systems. Kevin Wasielewski, the Origin PC CEO and co-founder has stated that the Frostbyte 360 is "a maintenance free liquid cooling solution, Origin PC customers can enjoy top-end CPU performance at a fraction of the cost."

OriginPC_Frostbyte360.jpg

Although his claims that "traditional" watercooling systems for extreme overclocking required hundreds in not thousands of dollars of components is a bit extreme, it is a hobby that can get expensive.

Especially if you are only interested in cooling a CPU, the various "all in one" solutions like the Corsair Hydro series and the Antec Kuhler series can be a viable option. What is interesting about the Origin offering; however, is the inclusion of a triple 120mm radiator in the loop, which is more than the competition and should be plenty of radiator space to keep your processor nice and chilly even when overclocked.

According to Origin, features of the new Frostbyte 360 water cooling system include:

  • Micro-channel copper CPU block
  • 360mm (3x120mm) high efficiency copper radiator
  • Embedded temperature sensor measures copper surface temperature accurate to within 1°C
  • Factory sealed, maintenance free operation
  • Silent pump
  • Lightweight
  • Thermal resistance as low as 0.085 C/W
  • 1 to 3 year warranty on PCs that include the new cooler.

Currently, the new Frostbyte 360 sealed loop water cooler is available in Origin PC's Genesis series computers, which start at $1,599 USD and can be added to the computer in the configurator.  UPDATE: The Frostbyte 360 is not sold as a standalone product; however, current and previous Origin PC customers can purchase it as an upgrade.  It will be interesting to see if the the company will take on the Corsair and others more directly by selling the Frostbyte 360 cooler itself to customers.  Although not expandable like a traditional water cooler, it is also less costly and should not require any maintenance for at least a few years.  Would you be interested in using one of these 360 rad sealed loop coolers in your builds?

Source: Origin PC

Your watercooler is cool but this LN2 pot is downright cold

Subject: Cases and Cooling | February 3, 2012 - 12:40 PM |
Tagged: LN2, Kingpin, F1 Extreme Dark Cooling Pot

Kingpin's F1 Extreme Dark Cooling Pot is not for the faint of heart or for that matter for the lazy.  The price you pay for exotic cooling is evaporation which unfortunately is also the key to how this type of cooling works so well.  You will constantly need to top off the Extreme Dark Cooling Pot with LN2 but for the extreme overclocker that is just part of the drill.  OC3D shows off the new pot and adds a small tutorial on setting up your CPU and motherboard for this type of cooling as insulation is important to target the heatspreader on the CPU as well as ensuring that condensation does not interfere with other components near the CPU socket.  If you need a cool looking new pot or are interested in just how this type of cooling is done then head to Overclockers.com and take a look at Kingpin's latest product.

OC3Df1dark.jpg

"Overclockers have always been a bit extreme – we take hardware many people are perfectly satisfied with and then push every last MHz we can out of it within our cooling limits. Some choose air cooling, some choose water cooling. There are a few brave souls that use water chillers, but mostly those are benching operations only."

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

 

Source: Overclockers,com

Gelid wants you to join the side of the DarkForce

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 27, 2012 - 01:48 PM |
Tagged: Gelid, darkforce

Gelid has expanded into the enclosure business with the mid sized DarkForce, 530x207x505mm (20.9x8.1x19.9") which might not give you as much space as other cases recently arriving on the market but for most PC builds it should be spacious enough.  The drive cage is well done, with the ability to hold 2.5" SSDs in addition to 3.5" HDDs, and for those with extra long graphics cards the cage can be completely removed from the case.   The motherboard tray has a cut out to allow easier access to your heatsink mount and there is a matching space to mount a fan on the door to help cool an area that is a dead spot in most cases.  At $120 it not expensive for a case of its size, but that is not the only reason Legit Reviews had such a positive reaction to the case.

LR_Gelid-frontprofile.jpg

"The DARKFORCE mid-tower comes into a saturated field of mid-towers made for PC gamers and enthusiasts. Gelid Solution will need to take a unique approach to find ways to distinguish itself from the competitions at the entry price of $120 in the US market. After an overview of the specifications, it looks like Gelid Solutions has used its past experiences to put something a little different into this product..."

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

 

Source: Legit Reviews

The expanding Cosmos; Cooler Master thinks wider, taller, deeper and heavier

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 23, 2012 - 05:55 PM |
Tagged: cooler master, cosmos ii

Be warned, the obvious handles on the Cooler Master are there for a reason!  That handy lip on the front of the case is not a handle, it is a spring loaded cover for your peripheral plugs and fan controller and should not be used to pick up the case.  There are 11 card slots at the back of the case, just to give you an idea how big this case really is and in the front are 13 places to stash 3.5" or 2.5" drives.  The official measurements are 27.7" x 13.5" x 26.1" (704 x 344 x 664 mm) so you will have no problems fitting in even the largest of GPU cards.  The Tech Report is a little shocked by the $350 price tag but ended up deciding that the case was worth that much to anyone willing to pay the price.

TR_front-620.jpg

"Cooler Master's latest creation is a follow-up to the revered Cosmos line of enthusiast enclosures. We put this super-sized newbie through its paces to see if the Cosmos II is worthy of carrying the torch."

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

 

Source: The Tech Report

When marketers go bad; the Seventeam E-Force 750W

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 20, 2012 - 03:04 PM |
Tagged: PSU, Seventeam, E-Force 750W, 80 Plus Bronze

The Seventeam E-Force 750W did pass [H]ard|OCP's torturous PSU testing regime, with no real faults but no outstanding results either.  The real problem lays with the fact that more effort seems to have been spend marketing the PSU than was spent designing it, up to and including the fact that the single layer PCB used is labelled 'Cooler Master' and the overall build quality is of lower quality than the GX 650W that the PCB also appeared in.  In theory this should bring the price down but unless it is significantly less than similar PSUs your money could be better spend elsewhere.  Besides, do you want to support a company which labels its PSUs as "Windows 7 Ready"?

H_seventeam.jpg

"Seventeam is a longtime PSU builder that has just recently started focusing on the enthusiast market in North America and it shows in its marketing. Today's 750 watt power supply is touted as, "Meets ATX 12V V2.3 standard," is Windows 7 Ready, and carries the 80Plus Bronze badge that is described as 'High Efficiency.'"

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

 

Source: [H]ard|OCP

NZXT Switches the Phantom for an 810

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 18, 2012 - 06:36 PM |
Tagged: nzxt, switch 810

NZXT was thinking big when they created the Switch 810, the case is 235mm x 595mm x 585 (9.25" x 23.4"x 23") so you should have no problems fitting in large CPU coolers or oversized graphics cards.  The size also accommodates 10 fans, either 120mm or 140mm or for water cooling fans a 360mm will fit perfectly.  Neoseeker are not fans of the piano black finish as it tends to feature fingerprints and dust more strongly that it does a shiny finish; in all but perfect circumstances.  Apart from their aesthetic differences though, they highly recommend the case.

Neos_810 18.jpg

"The NZXT Switch 810 builds on the success of the Phantom series, while attempting to sweeten the formula with features like a hot-swap bay, improved cable management, room for a 360mm radiator, 10 internal fans, and support for XL-ATX and E-ATX motherboards. It even comes in white if you want, like the original Phantom. Find out if the Switch 810 can live up to its predecessor in our latest case review."

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

 

Source: Neoseeker

NZXT Launching New Switch 810 Full Tower Computer Case

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 17, 2012 - 04:34 PM |
Tagged: nzxt, full tower, computer, chassis, case, atx

NZXT, a computer case manufacturer that has been around since 2004, is today launching a new full tower computer case with the Switch 810 chassis. The new full tower case includes several features aimed at enthusiasts along with a 2 year warranty and choice of two colors (white or black). NZXT founder Johnny Hou seems confident in the case by stating that the new chassis "offers enthusiasts an array of advanced features intuitively implemented into one of the most unique designs we've ever created."

1704.jpg

The full tower case supports EATX motherboards with up to nine expansion slots and 375 millimeters of space for large, modern graphics cards when the front fan is removed. The motherboard tray further supports plenty of cable routing holes and a CPU back plate cut out. Further, the interior of the can can hold four 5.25" drives, six 3.5" drives, and up to 10 120mm or 140mm fans. The front, bottom, and drive bay area of the case houses two fans each. Meanwhile, the top of the case houses three cases and the rear holds one fan. Constructed of steel and plastic, the case weighs in at 9.1 Kg or about 20 lbs.

1766.jpg

As you can see from the outside of the case, the Switch 810 chassis supports four 5.25" drives, audio and microphone connectors, two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports, and a card reader. Also, a filter for the bottom intake can be removed from the front of the case. Some of the touted features of the new case include the ability to easily install water cooling and the new "hybrid fins" that allow users to close the fins to reduce dust and quiet the computer or open the fins along the top to maximize airflow. Tool-less drive bays, an acrylic side window, and a white LED that can be switched on or off are also features of the Switch 810 case.

1708.jpg

The NZXT switch is available now for $169.99 USD. More information and photos of the case can be found here. What do you think of the new case, are you impressed with the "hybrid design?"

NZXT_Switch_810.png

The proposed airflow diagram for the new NZXT case.

Source: NZXT

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