TheTechLounge - Recent Reviews: Cases

SilverStone SG03 SFF Case

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:17:58 -0600

SilverStone must be a cool place for an engineer. Not only do they obviously put engineering first, but they don't simply accommodate innovative designs; they make them their staple. Without re-working the same products again and again, SilverStone produces top-shelf enclosures for all possible form factors, from Mini-ITX mobile-on-desktop to Extended-ATX server cases. All elegant, and every one an award-winner.

Thermaltake Soprano DX Mid-Tower Case

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 00:57:07 -0600

Although not the first of its kind, with overlapping, curved lines and a reflective metal-flake finish, it absolutely makes a show of combined elegance and stature. The black is accentuated by chrome lines and blue lighting, neither subtle nor minimalistic, but far from overstated. It's a good-looking case.

Lian-Li PC-A05 Mid-Tower Case

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 14:42:46 -0500

What can be said about Lian-Li? I have always felt their name was synonymous with quality, style, and shiny brushed aluminum. Lian-Li's own website describes the company as one of the largest and most reputable manufacturers of aluminum PC cases in Taiwan. And rightfully so. With over twenty years of experience, Lian-Li is a salty dog. The PC-A05 is a new offering, and a departure from previous doctrine 'Big Is Beautiful', which targets the lower segment of the market. The case promises to be very un-big in size while remaining big on features. An ambitious endeavor, but can it deliver?

Antec P182 Mid-Tower Case

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 01:01:35 -0500

Cases are one of the least frequently updated PC parts. You might get a new motherboard and CPU, more RAM and a bigger hard drive, but you stick those parts in the same old case. Even my own workstation "� if you added up the age of all the parts in the PC (my parts have an average age of 10 months) they'd still be collectively younger than my case (six and a half years). But the time comes, and the bell tolls for these old cases. Once at the top of their game, they now are relegated to the cellar. Bigger fans and fancier features make the old cases look prehistoric. Features like cable routing, integrated rubber spacers for vibration abatement and rubber grommets for routing your liquid cooling tubes are all the rage these days.

Cooler Master CM Media 281 Mid-Tower/Desktop/HTPC Case

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 11:52:53 -0500

This HTPC case transforms from mid-tower to desktop, can be modified with a full MCE-compatible media kit, and joins with the other CM cases to form: Sentinel Master Omegus! Not suitable for children under 5. Point away from face.

SilverStone TJ09 Full-Tower Case

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:28:10 -0500

Today we'll be looking at the Silverstone TJ09 Full-Tower Case. It sports a handful of innovations such as a separate hard drive section and unique video card cooling. The accolades for the TJ09 are already piling up, and Maximum PC is calling this their 2006 Dream Machine case. For the price, it might just be dream-worthy, too. There's not much doubt that the TJ09 will live up to Silverstone's reputation for quality, but does it actually merit the acclaim? Is it a steal for a mere three hundred United States dollars?

Antec Nine Hundred Mid-Tower Case

Sat, 10 Feb 2007 16:10:39 -0600

Antec has built their reputation and great following by making conservative cases with outstanding build quality and a mind for acoustics. Even their portable, LAN-centric designs are utile and relatively subtle. The gamer case market is flooded with lesser names and less expensive, if garish, enclosures. What Antec doesn't do often, is change. When some people say timeless, others say dated. Their innovations rarely permeate through to the outsides of their cases, and it's safe to say they're not likely to fix what ain't broke. The Nine Hundred is a gamer's case; it's a surprise to see them drive with the body kit, phat pipe and ground lights guys. Will it deliver on the good construction by which Antec has made their name? Is it at all possible for it to manage the kind of silence that they're renowned for?

Thermaltake Mozart TX Entertainment Center Case

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 23:46:21 -0600

There's something about Thermaltake's Mozart TX that is uncommon in cases; something beyond its aluminum construction, minimalist styling and size. It's potential. With all its compartmentalization, easy access, and big, empty spaces, Thermaltake's Mozart TX is designed for customization. This case is more than a home for your computer; it's a breeding ground for creativity and invention.

HighSpeedPC Tech Station

Mon, 3 Apr 2006 00:22:12 -0500

HighSpeedPC's Tech Station is billed as the perfect workstation for computer hobbyists, overclockers, IT professionals, and even PC shops. Over the last few months Nick has used the Tech Station as the base for a dedicated test rig - a computer that is constantly having parts swapped for various reviews. After three months of testing, we've come away with some good experiences, and some not so good.

Silverstone TJ07 Full-Tower Case

Tue, 28 Feb 2006 21:06:26 -0600

It is painfully obvious that this case is being marketed towards the select few that can pay a high price for exceptional quality and aesthetics, but will the TJ07 be the Ferrari of computer chassis or will it end up being an over-priced hunk of aluminum?

Antec P180 Mid-Tower Case

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 13:07:18 -0600

Antec has seemingly spared no expense with the P180. It was made very clear to us during our meeting that the primary goal for all of Antec's new cases was to be as quiet as possible. A number of things were done to help achieve this; from specially designed side panels, large diameter low-speed fans, anti-vibration measures, and more.

Antec Overture 2 ATX Desktop Case

Thu, 10 Nov 2005 18:50:34 -0600

Because of size constraints, you may not be able to fit an exceedingly high-end system into the case. By the same token, it likely isn't a good idea to do much overclocking in order to avoid overheating. That said, Antec is renowned for their quality and design, and I've got high expectations for this beauty.

Cooler Master Centurion 530 Mid-Tower Case

Mon, 25 Jul 2005 17:56:24 -0500

If you're in the market for a case that comes in under the $100 mark, consider Cooler Master's Centurion 530. This case boasts features such as stealthed drive bays, top I/O ports, potentially great cooling, sideways-facing hard drives on rails, and toolless PCI slots.

Cooler Master WaveMaster Mid-Tower Case

Wed, 18 May 2005 19:17:14 -0500

Cooler Master did a wonderful job with the design of this case. If you're as fed up with pre-mod cases as I am, the simple, flowing façade of the WaveMaster will be a breath of fresh air. Cooler Master has gone with beautiful automotive paintjobs (black, silver, blue, yellow) on an all-aluminum chassis with just a hint of lighting at the front air intake.

Thermaltake Armor Full Tower ATX / BTX Case

Sat, 7 May 2005 00:25:54 -0500

It seems as if Thermaltake designed this entire case perfectly from the ground up. It was very hard for me to find any flaws in the case, and the only things I disliked were based on opinion. It is rare to see a case with performance and quality all undeniable and I have to give Thermaltake an A+ for this fine piece of work.