Tool-less case makes your build easy
DECENT IN BOTH APPEARANCE and functionality, the biggest thing Chieftec's $129.95 CH-05 case lacks is excitement.
Measuring 18x8x21.3 inches (HWD), and clad in mostly silver with black accents, the CH-05 is definitely more ordinary than ostentatious, and it has plenty of room for a sensible collection of components: three external 5.25-inch drives, one external 3.5-inch drive, and six internal 3.5-inch drives. It also has space for seven full-size expansion slots.
We found the CH-05 sufficiently roomy-and extemely convenient=to work with: The tool-less construction was among the best we've seen, with slide-out rails for attaching hard drives, a pressure-sensitive (and, supposedly, vibration-reducing) retaining system for optical drives, and an easy-to-use metal bracket for securing expansion cards.
You will, however, need a screwdriver to replace or reconfigure either the included 600-watt modular power supply or any of the three preinstalled fans. The 120mm exhaust fan is fairly standard, but having two 90mm intake fans attached to the right wall of the case, blowing air across the hard drives and out the mesh in the removable left side panel, is a bit unusual. The lower section of the front panel, also right next to the hard drive, is composed of two grilles for still more ventilation, and there's more mesh on the front cover. You won't find any space for additional fans, though, so you may have to settle for liquid cooling if you want extra heat removal.
Also strange was the placement of the front-panel ports (one FireWire and two USB, plus headphone and microphone) on the right edge-useful only if the computer is on the floor or desk to your left and your cables will reach far enough. - Matthew Murray
Computer Shopper November 2008
www.chieftecusa.com
DECENT IN BOTH APPEARANCE and functionality, the biggest thing Chieftec's $129.95 CH-05 case lacks is excitement.
Measuring 18x8x21.3 inches (HWD), and clad in mostly silver with black accents, the CH-05 is definitely more ordinary than ostentatious, and it has plenty of room for a sensible collection of components: three external 5.25-inch drives, one external 3.5-inch drive, and six internal 3.5-inch drives. It also has space for seven full-size expansion slots.
We found the CH-05 sufficiently roomy-and extemely convenient=to work with: The tool-less construction was among the best we've seen, with slide-out rails for attaching hard drives, a pressure-sensitive (and, supposedly, vibration-reducing) retaining system for optical drives, and an easy-to-use metal bracket for securing expansion cards.
You will, however, need a screwdriver to replace or reconfigure either the included 600-watt modular power supply or any of the three preinstalled fans. The 120mm exhaust fan is fairly standard, but having two 90mm intake fans attached to the right wall of the case, blowing air across the hard drives and out the mesh in the removable left side panel, is a bit unusual. The lower section of the front panel, also right next to the hard drive, is composed of two grilles for still more ventilation, and there's more mesh on the front cover. You won't find any space for additional fans, though, so you may have to settle for liquid cooling if you want extra heat removal.
Also strange was the placement of the front-panel ports (one FireWire and two USB, plus headphone and microphone) on the right edge-useful only if the computer is on the floor or desk to your left and your cables will reach far enough. - Matthew Murray
Computer Shopper November 2008
www.chieftecusa.com
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