Kingwin KT-424 Aluminum Midtower Case

Reviews: Cases

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Kurtis Kronk
Brian
Case-Mod
Oct. 25, 2004

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Conclusion

The KT-424 is really a great case. The removable motherboard tray takes the hassle out of installing and maintaining a computer, and the toolless mechanisms are a welcome feature as well. It is also nice to see fan grommets to absorb hard drive vibration and reduce noise. Yet another welcome addition to this case is the hidden fan controller which is already hooked up to the front intake fans. Not only does this help to reduce noise, but it saves you from having to use up one of your precious bays with an add-on fan controller.

While the KT-424 has some great features, there are a few things Kingwin could have done to improve the case. The most important thing that I think should have been implemented into this case is support brackets - both in the case itself and on the motherboard tray. The case is pretty sturdy as is, but extra support would be welcome. The motherboard tray is not very sturdy at all, and after going through the installation process only once, the back of the tray bent slightly. Support brackets would have prevented this and would have made for a more solid design.

Another issue is safety! Although the insides of the case proved to be very safe, with all rolled or folded edges, the outside was not as safe. As I pointed out earlier in the review, I managed to cut myself twice while working on the outside of the case. The biggest concern for me is on the rear of the case above where the power supply mounts. The top of the case folds over the back of the case and is riveted in place, but there is a slight overhang. This is where I got one of my cuts, and I suspect I will not have been the only one to be cut by this overhanging piece of metal. Despite the fact that this case is supplied with an abundance of thumbscrews, I caution you to take care when using them. So long as you take your time and pay attention, you should not cut yourself. But if you are like me and you don't pay 100% full attention when you are fiddling with things, you will probably get some minor cuts and scratches in the "trouble areas' that I outlined earlier in the review.

One little trivial issue I have with the design has to do, again, with the motherboard tray. Kingwin integrated a clip into some of the wires trailing from the front of the case so that they may be disconnected via a single lead, rather than having to unplug all of the leads form the motherboard itself. This is a great feature, and it makes the motherboard tray all the more convenient. However, the same feature was not implemented for the USB and Firewire ports which are also located on the front of the case. What this means is that you will have to unplug all of these headers when you take the motherboard tray out, and then replace them with you put the motherboard tray back in the case. As such, I just decided not to even plug in the front USB and Firewire ports.

Overall I was very pleased with the KT-424, and I'm actually going to continue using this case as the home for a new testing rig for TheTechLounge. The sub-$100 price makes this case even more attractive; right now you can get it for $89.99 at Case-Mod!! Case-Mod is also offering a coupon for all TTL readers, so make sure to check out the Coupon Offer down below the Pros & Cons. If you're the type of person that is constantly fiddling with your computer, or prefer a classic design and great features over the current trend of pre-modded cases and don't want to fork out $200 for a Lian Li, I most definitely recommend this case to you.

Pros

Looks great
Toolless features
Removable motherboard tray
Rubber grommets absorb vibrations from hard drives
Hidden fan control
Adequate airflow
Plenty of thumbscrews included
Nifty security feature

Cons

Couple safety concerns on rear of case (I cut myself twice)
Weird issue with installing CD drive in topmost bay
Case and motherboard tray lack support brackets
Case collects smudges and fingerprints

Coupon Offer:

If you would like to buy this case, please support our sponsor for this review by purchasing it from Case-Mod. If you purchase from Case-Mod you may use the coupon code TTLkwbk to get $5.00 off until December 25, 2004. This coupon is valid for either the Black or Silver KT-424 with window.

Extra Photos

Here are a couple extra photos that I took of the case with all components installed, including a couple blue Vantec cathodes. Enjoy:

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Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: First Impressions
Page 3: Opening the Case
Page 4: Inside the Case
Page 5: Quality Check
Page 6: Conclusion & Extra Photos

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5 User Comments

1 - Posted by flip-mode on October 27, 2004 - 7:21 am

I've had this case for over a year and I love it.

My complaints:

1. The front usb port door should have been black aluminum and not the cheesy clear plastic. I removed that plastic crapper on day one.

2. The fan adjuster should be accessible without removing the front panel for crying out loud.

3. The fan adjuster does not go low (quiet) enough.

This case is a keeper though. I haven't even thought about replacing it.

Oh, yeah, this is my first post in these forums, Hello World!

2 - Posted by handrail on October 27, 2004 - 10:58 am

crappy USB doors seems to be a theme lately...even on higher level cases. i prefer just a hole in the bezel for my USB ports, thank you very much.

welcome flip!

3 - Posted by Kurtis on October 27, 2004 - 12:18 pm

Welcome to the forums flip-mode! :) Did you ever have problems with the "Danger Zones" I pointed out? :P

The fan adjuster probably only goes to like 7V instead of 0 or 5V, but I didn't find it to be a problem since I think it is such a big plus that it is integrated. I also like that it is hidden, personally. Even if you have to adjust it, pulling off the front of the case is so easy, that for me it isn't a big deal.

Anyways. Thanks for your comments, and once again welcome to our forums! :D

4 - Posted by EmoMakesMeCry on October 27, 2004 - 12:19 pm

woah, at first when i saw the picture i thought it was a lian-li.

5 - Posted by Guest on October 27, 2004 - 11:45 pm

Nice review of a nice case...
I would like to see more details about the hidden fan controller, though... how does it work? Knob-style?

Congratulations and keep up the good work!

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