Cases - 47 articles

Silverstone has become a multi-faceted manufacturer of computer components in recent years, with its product line up now comprising of power supplies, coolers, and a variety of peripherals. However, as the case we have in the XSR labs today proves, the firm has not abandoned the enthusiast case market so fundamental to its success. With a variety of truly innovative features and aggressive ...

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The consoles versus PC wars have been ongoing for longer than most fan boys can remember, but one of the arguments that has almost always been in the PC camp's favour is that their gaming platform of choice can be upgraded however you want. Sure consoles can be modded or tweaked, but it normally takes someone who really knows what they're doing to accomplish either of these feats. Now however, ...

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Cases have evolved dramatically in recent times to be so much more than a metal box to keep your rig inside. A whole series of factors determine the quality of a case: strength, cooling, noise, cable management and size to name but a few. However, the aesthetics of PC enclosures are more important than ever with enthusiasts wanting an attractive case with all the gizmos and features available in ...

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Recently we reviewed the rather impressive InWin X-Fighter. Today, we have another case from the same company but this time it’s on the small end of the scale. The Matrix is designed especially for MATX boards and with its unique design and 360 degree visuals, it certainly looks the part. The white colour is very distinctive but unfortunately isn’t the easiest to photograph so let’s see how it ...

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The futuristic sci-fi Star Wars films have influenced and inspired the design of In Win’s X-Fighter case with its triangular feet, geometric lines and steel and aluminium chassis. All this makes the X-Fighter into the ultimate spaceship but how will it fare at doing its job as a PC enclosure? The aesthetics certainly look great, so let’s see what the rest is like.

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The Antec 900 was one of the most popular gaming cases released in the past few years. It was good looking, had great cooling and some interesting features, and was even followed up by a little brother version, the Antec 300. Now though, Antec felt that it was time for a refresh, meet the Antec 900 v2. It's got whopping cooling options, along with a nice side window, dust filters have been added ...

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Today here at XSReviews we have a product from a very much up-and-coming company – NOX. With cases these days needed to be so much more than just a chassis; aesthetics, cooling and noise are all important aspects. With the high standard of PC enclosures in this modern era, will NOX be able to break into this heavily competitive market and become a well-known brand themselves? NOX are hoping to ...

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When it comes to building a pc, many enthusiasts leave the case to the last thing on their list. However, does this crucial part in any computer deserve its ‘bottom-of-the-pile’ rank? Today at XSReviews, we have Jeantech’s latest case – the Unicorn. Boasting a huge cooling potential and easy installation, will this case prove its worth and be able to climb off the bottom rung? Let’s find out…

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So you’re looking to build a new computer or are upgrading your current system. The last thing on your list is probably the case. It really shouldn’t be. If it is, you’re usually left with a flimsy, cramp and ugly heap of metal which is supposedly a PC enclosure. You’re kidding right? Well no, it’s true and most of us can put our hands up and admit we’ve done this on more than the odd occasion. ...

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When it comes to cases, Coolermaster aren't exactly known for their subtleties. With chassis like the Stacker range that have dominated the large tower market for years, it's about time they introduced something new; but hopefully just as OTT. Their new range is called the HAF, and I'm looking at the 932 model. It's a pretty monstrous in terms of size and cooling ability. Let's check it out.

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A good case can be a gamer’s best friend, holding all the vital components whilst looking good and keeping the system cool. However a case doesn’t contribute in any great way to the performance of the computer so people tend to be a bit tight and skimp on a good looking but not very functional case. NZXT has released the Guardian 921, a relatively cheap but swish looking case. Is it like the ...

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The transfer from traditional type computer cases to media centres and remote controlled equipment is rapidly occurring. There is much more emphasis on the style and ability for an encasement to suit the living room rather than an office. Consequently, whole operating systems have been designed to provide the user with the perfect media platform. Today, at XSReviews, I have Antec’s latest ...

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The R-3 Corona is the latest edition from GMC’s middle tower series. Incorporated in this new design is a very innovative idea where the optical drive (ODD) is mounted on the chassis front allowing it to operate vertically. However, how will these stylistic changes affect the performance of this particular case? Let’s find out…

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We have seen many cases here at XSReviews ranging from the conservative silent types to the somewhat more extravagant. When looking for cases many people want to have the best of both worlds: silence and looks. Yet although there are solutions available for such a customer, many fall short of delivering a truly silent gaming case. With this in mind and the hope of filling this gap, Zalman have ...

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Water Cooling has always been a quite complex part of the computer industry and in the past, only extreme hardware enthusiasts have undertaken it. It’s a long process of buying water-cooling parts singly and them modifying your case to fit the parts; this can prove daunting for most. Fortunately though, Zalman have come up with a case designed specifically for water cooling which also includes a ...

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Here at XSReviews we've taken quite an extensive look at NZXT's range of cases, but NZXT have found one we haven't had out mitts on yet. This one's called the Tempest, and it has it's own slogan: “Welcome the airflow king”. NZXT have made some pretty immense cases in the past so lets take this one for a spin and see how it performs and if it deserves its catchphrase.

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Coolermaster have developed many cases over the years including the Stacker series and more recently the Cosmo range of enclosures. Today I have the most recent Cosmo case, the Cosmo S set for wide availability by the end of March. Featuring a fairly unnecessary 9 possible fans (eight 120mm and a 200mm blower) and a touch-sensitive power button, this case is aimed at the connoisseur of cases ...

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Apevia aren’t the most widely known maker of cases, especially since they changed their name from Aspire. We’ve seen a couple of their cases before, and today I have another to add to the list. The rather cumbersome name – G Junior Type X-Telstar – relates to a front temperature and voltage display with a couple of 120mm fan thrown in. With a combination of aluminium, steel and plastic, let’s ...

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Nearly everyone who's looked for a new PC case will have heard the name Lian Li who are celebrated for their aluminium enclosures. Lian Li have always aimed their cases at the conservative computer owner, who would rather have a light-weight clean looking case rather than one jam packed full of cold cathodes and LED encrusted fans. Today I have in my hands the Metal Boned K7 chassis that while ...

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We’ve been privileged enough to review a fair portion of the NZXT case range, with the Lexa Blackline, Rouge, Hush and Duet all receiving solid results and accolades. Now I have another case from the gamer enclosure constructors; the NZXT Alpha. Sold under the tag-line of ‘Simple yet powerful’ it slots into the budget class case segment. Featuring tool-less drive mounting, steel chassis and ...

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I’ll be honest, when the ThermalTake Armor+ case arrived at the office, I was left in a similar state as when the Antec P190 landed; speechless. The box is a mammoth construction of cardboard that hints of the case packaged inside; a super tower case. This case is something special; it’s built for the most demanding user and includes the option to have preinstalled water cooling, up to seven ...

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Media is the buzz word, with manufacturers gunning for this market with remote controller equiped computers and even whole operating systems designed around providing you with the perfect media platform. Today I have the much anticipated ThermalTake DH 102 which steps into the game with an included 7” 800x600 LCD touch screen panel on the front. It comes packaged with the tried-and-tested iMON ...

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NZXT have been champions of the gamer case market for a while now. In order to keep a top position, you need to keep pumping out interesting cases designed for every user. To fit this bill, they’ve releases the Rogue. Featuring a box shaped design and LAN carrying strap, it should be able to keep NZXT at the top of the game.

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Lian Li are well known for their prowess at forging PC cases from aluminium. We’ve seen their desktop towers, and so today I have a horizontal desktop enclosure with the possibility of it being mounted in a server rack.</p> <p>Hopefully it carries on the same design and quality of the other Lian Li offerings.

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NZXT loves gamers, and make their cases for that market. We’ve seen snippets from their Classic range, but today I have the Apollo which fits into their Crafted series which definitely shy away from the professional look and go for in-your-face aesthetics. Let’s have a look if the NZXT Apollo is right for your next show-off gaming rig.

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So you want to go to your LAN party but really can’t be bothered to hump around your humongous PC case weighing in at more than a man can carry? Well, Apevia (formerly Aspire) feel your pain and have come up with a new version of their LANer’s case the X-QPack wisely named X-QPack 2.

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With motherboards getting smaller and smaller, small form factor PCs are all the rage. It’s possible to fit a whole lot of computing power into these tiny spaces, and people are taking notice. However, most SFF cases require you to make sacrifices in the way of graphics card length, or the size of power supply that you can use. The SilverStone Sugo SG02 which builds on the success of the SG01, ...

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We’ve seen the Hush, we’ve seen the Duet, but we have yet to review a standard desktop case from NZXT. Fortunately, today I have just that, although the use of the word standard might be wrong in this case (pun time).

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Revoltec chose a rather unique name for their company, and their cases also have a rather unique look. We’ve seen the Zirconium, and today I have the Rhodium continuing their naming scheme for elements. The Rhodium has similar looks to the Zirconium with the trademark top triangular I/O plate and the large front panel. Let see how it performs.

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NZXT are a reasonably young company (founded in 2004) that target their cases directly at the gaming population. With their Lexa case design turning heads on the review market a while back, I have the Hush which is NZXT’s attempt at preventing case noise from ruining your fragging experience. Let’s see how well it performs…

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Cases by Gigabyte aren’t the most well-known, and their forte is generally motherboards. But today I have their Triton chassis, which features some interesting extras, such as water cooling grommets and tool-less driver mounting. Read below to see how it fared…

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We’ve tested a couple of Lian Li’s aluminium creations, both of which were met with open arms. However, neither of these cases catered for the extreme user who counts more as better. Well today I have the Lian Li PC-A71 top case which features enthusiast extras such as water cooling grommets, six 120mm fans and enough HDD bays to have 10 terabytes of storage. Sounds interesting…

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Antec; the champion of the biggest cases I’ve seen. Today, instead of their usual approach of adding centimetres, I have their Sonata III which is a more standard sized chassis toted as silent. Perhaps even mulnaz?

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See-through cases have never had a particular appeal to me, but today I have the Sunbeam Tech UFO Cube case which is, well, cube shaped and see-through; although not very UFO like. Let’s have a look

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After meeting up with Revoltec at Channel Expo this year, we found they had recently decided that breaking England would be a good idea. To aid the third German invasion, we have the Revoltec Zirconium case to test…

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Antec, the makers of several user-centric cases, making the best use of space and always using tool-free designs. Today I have their current flag-ship model; the P182, which features noise-deadening panels and the first case I’ve seen with an optional spoiler.

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Recently, we had the privilege of reviewing Lian Li’s PCB-20 case. Suffice to say, its professional looks and ease of install had us impressed. But today with have another Lian Li offering, the PC-A12; a cheaper version.

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Lian Li are well known for their quality aluminium cases, and have been in the enclosure game for a long time as a result. Today I have their PC-B20 model which is not only toted as aluminium but super silent. Lets find out…

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Spire has featured prominently on XSReviews for their range of power supplies that they provide, but today I have one of their new cases; the soft skinned BlackFin. Hopefully their skill at power supplies will rub off on their case design.

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The year was 1986. Starbucks had only a few stores. Don Johnson was actually cool. The average PC had less memory than today’s cellphones. And in Fremont, California, a little company named Antec was born. Antec’s first employees never imagined that their upstart firm would rise to the very top of the high-performance computer components industry. But rise it did. And rather swiftly, too.

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The word Silverstone is not only synonymous with the famous race track, but also with high quality cases and coolers. SilverStone create some of the most visually stunning products on the market and not only do they look good, but most of them perform beyond the expected. Today I’m testing the TJ06 case, lets see how it performs.

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have in front of me the Apevia X-Discovery case. Toted as a ‘silent case’ I’ll be testing this claim and whether this case reaches the standards set by gamers…

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Silverstone are no strangers to case designing, with over 30 different cases catering for everyones needs, they definitely should have learnt every trick in the book to make their cases the best.

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Antec has been producing Cases, Power supplies and cooling products for nearly two decades. This experience in the world of computer hardware has led them to have an awesome reputation as one of the world's paramount computer part companies. Today I have one of their newest cases with me, the Antec Solo. It's a midi tower with some wonderful cooling and noise reduction features.

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