Bare-bones system primed for HD home-theater use
AS LONG AS YOUR NEEDS ARE—and will remain—limited, Shuttle's $299 Sh178SH7 bare-bones system should suffice as the starting point for a smart, small home-theater PC.
You have plenty of options for powering this 7.4x8.2x12.8-inch system: It uses an AM2+ socket ready for the latest Athlon X2 or Phenom processors.The two RAM slots can hold up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM.The chipset is the new Nvidia GeForce 8200, which supports DirectX 10 and is optimized for HD
video playback without requiring a discrete graphics card. (If you decide to add a CPU, though, you can use it in concert with the integrated graphics—thanks to built-in Hybrid SLI technology----and boost your video
performance.)
The SN78SH7 has microphone and headphone
jacks, two USB 2.0 ports, and one four-pin FireWire jack on the front panel; and VGA-out, HDMI, and six-pin FireWire connections, two external SATA (eSATA) ports, four more USB ports, an Ethernet jack, and
eight-channel audio on the back. There are two expansion slots (one PCI Express x16 and one regular PCI), and three drive bays
(one each of external 5.25, external 3.5, and internal 3.5)—all in a removable drive rack—for components. An out-of-the-way
300-watt power supply and pre-tied cables help contribute to overall interior neatness.
Storage could present a problem for Media Center chores: You may need those eSATA ports, as there's no room for a
second hard drive. In fact, we had trouble reinstalling the CPU's fan-and-heat-sink combo after our test build, though it and the drive tray were easy to remove. You'll also have to settle for a midrange graphics card at best; don't expect the longer single-slot, or double-slot, kinds to fit. —Matthew Murray
Computer Shopper January 2009
www.shuttle.com
December 30, 2008
Shuttle SN78SH7
Antec Skeleton
Unique case offers unprecedented accessibility
IN A MARKET WHERE MOST CASES BOAST about features that isolate PC components from the environment around them, Antec's Skeleton case is unique: It leaves your PC's innards
exposed to the open air.
The Skeleton's two level design allows room for the power supply, two 3.5-inch drives, and two 5.25-inch drives below the motherboard tray. Four additional 3.5-inch drives can be mounted on the sides of the case. A rail on the front of the case has power and reset switches, as well as audio, USB, FireWire, and external SATA (eSATA) ports.
The ATX motherboard and power supply are mounted on slide out trays, and for the most part, the open-air design makes installing parts much easier than in a traditional case.The trickiest part is routing cables in the Skeleton's tight quarters. Installing cards is a snap, though with larger cards you'll want to remove the transparent card guide's two screws to simplify installation.
Despite the lack of a traditional airflow path, cooling doesn't seem to be an issue. With the massive 250mm Tri-Cool fan set to a barely audible medium setting, our CPU and chipset temperatures were about the same as when we installed the motherboard in a different case. One warning The case's
open design means you'll hear lots of noises usually muffled by a closed case.
Our biggest concern with the Skeleton is its lack of protection against the environment around the case. In a house with pets or curious, small kids, leaving the components exposed might be nerve-wracking or even dangerous. And though the airflow from the
fan should keep most dust away. you should
invest in a large value pack of canned-air
cleaners. But in a controlled environment, the Skeleton could be ideal for chronic upgraders. —D.A.
Computer Shopper January 2009
www.antec.com
Antec Micro Fusion Remote 350
Compact home-theater case has some limitations
THE $239.95 ANTEC MICRO FUSION 350 REMOTE is an attractive home-theater-PC case with some design gotchas that give us pause.
Measuring 4.5x15.1x16.1 inches, the sturdy, compact case accepts only MicroATX motherboards. We wish Antec had left
a wider perimeter around the board-mounting chamber—wedging our test mainboard into place was tight. Also, the single hard drive bay, a removable cage, is buried deep in the front of the case. We had to remove the front-panel LCD—a delicate operation—to access it.
Interior cable routing is tricky, too. There's minimal space for apart from piling it atop the motherboard. The included
350-watt power supply uses standard—not removable—leads, and stowing the unused ones takes what little space there is.
More crtidally, the case limits your expansion-card options. The slim profile
mandates only "true" low-profile cards with
low-profile mounting brackets, greatly limiting your choice of graphics
card and TV tuner. Fortunately, the lid is high enough to accommodate a normal
CPU cooler—a stock Intel heat sink fits comfortably.
The case's home-theater fit-and-finish does shine The aluminum bezel looks comfortably dressed in a crowd of home-theater components (though this case is too deep for most media racks).
Your DVD drive hides behind a flip door, and we like the customizable LCD, which shows media-file playback info and more via included software. The bundled remote, however, feels like a throw-in: small in hand and generic-looking, no match for
the most basic dedicated Media Center remote.
While we like this case's compact size and exterior styling, it should be cheaper—and
better designed inside. —John A. Burch
Computer Shopper January 2009
www.antec.com
December 05, 2008
Raidmax IceCube
Spacious chassis has limited cooling potential
IF YOU'VE BUILT A FEW PCs over the years and are intrigued by small-form-factor (SFF) systems, you'll find the Raidmax IceCube an excellent starter kit.
Measuring 9x12x17 inches (HWD), the Icecube is much larger than a typical SFF chasis. The top panek, side panels, and motherboard tray are removable, which makes installing components easier.
The interior is relatively spacious, with room for up to four hard drives, two 5.25-inch drives, one internal 3.5-inch drive, and a regular-size power supply. Although room exists inside for an extra-long power supply, the bracket that supports it is too small to support such a model (there's also enough room for a long-but not an extra-long-video card).
The case has four PCI slots, which should be adequate for most expansion needs. Only Micro ATX motherboards will fit inside the chassis, of course. The front of the unit features two USB ports, FireWire, and headphone and mic jacks.
Cooling is provided by a rear 120mm fan, but there's no intake fan in the front, a common problem with SFF cases. Still, Raidmax includes two holes on the rear of the chassis to be used with an external liquid-cooling system, an uncommon and appreciated feature on an SFF chassis. Raidmax has also tried to make the system quiet: Both hard drive cages are adorned with vibration-and noise-absorbing strips of rubber, along with rubber-grommet mounts that further reduce vibration.
The IceCube is a fine "tweener" case if you've built a desktop PC before but are worried that constructing an SFF system would be a hassle. It's large enough to make the process much easier than usual, yet small enough that it could sit unobtrusively on a desk. -Josh Norem
Computer Shopper November 2008
www.raidmax.com
Chieftec CH-05
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
October 13, 2008
NZXT Tempest
A low-cost wind-tunnel for high-heat PCs
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WE'VE SEEN GREAT GAMING CASES cost $200,$300, or even more, but it's rare that we come across one that offers most of what enthusiasts crave without even breaking the $100 barrier. NXT's $99 Tempest is just such a case.
The Tempest contains sic larger-than-average fans (handsome equipped with the ever-popular blue LEDs), two 120mm intake fans (with filters for dust control) in the front of the case, two 140mm exhaust fans in the ceiling, a 120mm exhaust fan in the rear, and a 120mm intake fan on the windowed side panel.
Other key features include the ability to route cables behind the motherboard tray, along with a layout that places the power supply at the bottom of the case, rather than at the top. That may take a little getting used to , and if you're planning on powering a device in one of the uppermost drive bays, you might have trouble making the cable reach. But it certainly makes for a cleaner, more circulation-friendly design.
If you want to add even more cooling, two grommeted holes drilled in the rear panel make it easy to route liquid-cooling piping into and out of the case. The raised grate on the exterior exhaust port, however, might make it a bit of a challnge to install a radiator there.
The Tempest has space for only seven expansion cards, which means you might run into trouble building systems with three- or four-card graphics setups, but otherwise there's more than enough room. There are three 5.25-inch bays and two hard drive cages,each capable of holding four hard drives (all drive bays are toolless), as well as an external Serial ATA (eSATA) port on the front panel simplifies connecting external storage.-Matthew Murray.
source: Computer Shopper October 2008.
company website: www.nzxt.com
September 16, 2008
NZXT Khaos
NXKT Khaos
There was a time when NZXT's cases were known more for their outlandish front bezels than anything else. But in the last year or so, the company seems to have turned over a new leaf, introducing a handful of products with more subdued aesthetics. The latest addition to NZXT's product lineup for example, the Khaos, features a near-symetrical design with what is essentially a perfectly flat front bezel save for curved, protruding fins at its top and bottom.
The Khaos'main appeal isn't its more subdued look, however. It's the case's extremely high-quality construction and enthusiast class features. Although there are myriad of aluminium full towers on the market, few are quite as sturdy as the Khaos, thanks to the 2mm and 3mm thick panels used throughout its construction. Many of the seams on the Khaos are also welded, which further adds to the case's strength.
In addition to its relatively high-quality build, the Khaos also features provitions for two bottom-mounted power supplies (a secondary PSU triger is included) and seven 120mm cooling fans. Four fans (two intake, two exhaust) are included, and there's a bracket that can accommodate three more for additional motherboard and video card cooling.
On its exterior, the Khaos'top and bottom panels sport a finned heatsink-like design, presumably to aid in cooling. There are wheels and a handle affixed to the case, as well, which make it relatively easy to move around for such a large enclosure. Its back panel has two holes with rubber grommets to accommodate tubing from a liquid-cooling kit. An I/O panel with USB, audio, FireWire, and eSATA ports resides on the top panel, adjacent to the power and reset switches. And the case's side panels have horizontal vents running down the middle. Finally, a pair of hinged, 5.25-inch drive bay covers to "stealth" any mounted optical drives are also included.
The Khaos isn't a tool-less case, but its large size and open design make it easy to work with. It may not be quite as refined as products from Silverstone or Lian-Li, but the NZXT Khaos deserves a mention among ultra premium brands such as these, and its price is a reflection of this status.
by Marco Chiappetta
Specs: ATX Full Tower; Material: Aluminium; Motherboard compatibility: ATX, Micro ATX, Baby AT; Bays: 5 external 5.25-inch, 8 internal 3.5-inch, 1 external 3.5-inch; Expansion slots:7.
source: Computer Power User October 2008.
www.nzxt.com
September 09, 2008
Antec Twelve Hundred
Antec Twelve Hundred
The Antec Twelve Hundred isn't named the Ultimate Gaminc Case just for kicks. On the contrary, the polished black full-tower asserts itself with the cooling capabilities and expandability that gamers and enthusiasts often dream of.
The number of fans cooling the Twelve Hundred will blow you away (no pun intended). Most impresive is the 200mm fan occupying most of the case's top. Two 120mm fans reside in the back, and there are three more 120mm fans, complete with removable, washable filters, beneath the honeycombed grating on the front panel. There are brackets for additional 120mm fans in the middle of the case, as well as on the side panel. All but the optional fans have separate speed controls, letting you regulate the airflow in the case.
I used the Twelve Hundred to torture Antec's Signature 850 PSU, and even with our system maxed out, it ran cool. Not surprisingly, the moment I sped up the fans, the Twelve Hundred transformed into a jet engine.
Twe Twelve Hundred's 3.5-inch internal drive bays are split inti three removable cages and can house three HDDs each, or, with the included adapter, an FDD. There are seven expansion slots and a bottom-mounted PSU slot that can house, with minimal effort, even 9.5-inch PSUs. The Twelve Hundred can accommodate ATX (and smaller) motherboards and 10.5-inch graphics cards. However, space between the GPU and the middle drive cage was so slim that you'll have to make the cable connections before re-inserting the cage.
Overall, the Antec Twelve Hundred was easy to work with and lived up to its expansion and cooling promises, proving to be a great case for gamers and enthusiast builders.
by Kris Glaser
Specs: Bays: 3 5.25-inch external, 9 3.5-inch internal, 1 3.5-inch external. Fans: 1 200mm, 5(+2 optional) 120mm. Front ports: 2 USB, 1 eSATA, Audio I/O.
www.antec.com
September 06, 2008
Antec Twelve Hundred
Antec Twelve Hundred
Feature-packed case not perfect for everyone
THOUGH ANTEC'S NEW Twelve Hundred super-tower looks like it's just a bigger version of the company's popular Nine Hundred gaming chassis, it's much more than that. Antec has significantly revamped the design and added new features, more cooling, an dmuch more room to maneuver.
This 22.9x8.4x20-inch (HWD) case features 12 internal drive bays, of which nine are reserved for hard drives; the other three can be used for components such as optical drives and media readers. The case also offers seven PCI slots, but it's not toolless, so have your Philips screwdriver ready.
The $209 twelve Hundred acceps only ATX motherboards, and its motherboard tray is not removable. Though there's still quite a bit of interior room-it's able to accommodate long video cards and large power supplies-we found the case's middle section a bit cramped for installing motherboards, and cables (especially if you have many hard drives) can create an inconvenient tangle.
The top of the chassis features power and reset buttons and easily accessible I/O ports-including two USB and one external Serial ATA (eSATA)-as wel as headphone and microphone jacks, but no FireWire. The front of the chassis features three removable hard-drive cages, each of which holds three drives and houses a 120mm fan, but removing the fans's washable filters is something of a chore. And the bright, blue LEDs on the drive-cage fans cannot be turned off, which can be annoying.
Two 120mm fans in the rear chassis and a giant 200mm unit on the top provide further cooling; you can adjust their speeds via a small panel in the top rear of the chassis. We appreciate it, but it's a pain to climb under your desk to access the switches.-Josh Norem.
source: Computer Shopper September 2008.
www.antec.com
August 10, 2008
In Win Metal Suid GD
In Win Metal Suid GD
Full-featured midtowe is tool-less and sound-less
IN WIN'S $135 METAL SUIT GD is an impressive midtower chassis that suports both ATX and MicroATX form factors while offering features usually found on cases that cost much more.
Aside from a removable aluminium faceplate, the case is made from steel that's light enough to keep the weight down, without sacrifing rigidity. It contains four external 5.25-inch bays and two 3.5-inch bays.
The Metal Suit GD is mostly tool-less-you'll only need tools to install or remove the motherboard. The four internal case fans are wedged into plastic holders; you release them by pushing on tabs. Internal and external drives are installed using tool-less rails, and PCI cards are secured using plastic tabs that lock into place with the push of a finger. You don't even have to install standoffs for the motherboard.
THe rubber-and-plastic rails for securing drives are ingeniously designed to reduce noice output by absorbing vibration caused by spinning drives (there are enough for every drive bay).
The cooling system includes a side air duct and 120mm front intake and rear exhaust fans, both of which feature rubber sleeves (where they make contact with their frames) to reduce noise. The bottom of the case features a long plastic cover that holds two 80mm fans pointed at the PCI cards (though these fans would be blocked by an extra-long video card).
The front I/O ports, which include four USB 2.0, FireWire, and headphone and mich jacks, are difficult to access on the left side of the case. Also, the internal cable for the USB ports that plugs into the motherboard isn't a solid block, but instead a gaggle of four separate pins, so you'll have to consult the manual to ensure proper fitting.
source: Computer Shopper August 2008.
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