Tech Link (Chassis): Aerocool Zero Degree ATX Computer Case

LegitReviews reviews a chassis, case, or PC enclosure or whatever you call it, from Aerocool*. The author is impressed, and can hardly find any Cons. But hey, if you ask me, subjectively speaking, the cons is that it looks ugly to me. Anyway, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, so that's just me. Check it out if you have some free time to kill..

Final Thoughs and Conclusions


The Aerocool Zero Degree case has a nice clean outside appearance and a functional inside design that will easily accommodate water cooling setups if one should choose to go that route in the future. The 0.8mm SECC steel that is used for the Zero Degree was found to be strong and leaves you with a heavy solid case when installation is complete.

When it comes to pricing the Aerocool Zero Degree can be found for $114.99, but right now Newegg has a $20 rebate on it. This brings down the price to $94.99 after the $20.00 Mail-In Rebate, which still makes it an expensive case as it doesn't come with a power supply. There is tough competition in this price range as the Antec Nine Hundred that we just reviewed can be found for less and is also a great gaming case.

The cons on the case are pretty far and few to be honest. It would be nice to see it ship with more hard drive mounting adapters and screws, but not too many people need to run more than four hard drives. The thickness of the 250mm case fan might not work well with some case fans. We tried to install the OCZ Vindicator in the case and couldn't close the door due to the height of the cooler and the thickness of the door.

If you're looking for a tool-less 'Flexi Tower' case with an upside-down ATX configuration and a side window that will make others stop and take a second look, then the Aerocool Zero Degree is well worth a look.

The Legit Bottom Line: The Aerocool Zero Degree is a very well built case that any gamer should be proud to own. The upside-down ATX configuration is something different and worth checking out!

Source:Aerocool Zero Degree ATX Computer Case

Tech Link (Chassis): Thermaltake Lanbox

Overclocker Cafe posted a review of Thermaltake's nifty LanBox chassis. I'd love to have one as well, but hey, I am still pretty happy with my Focus Nemesis chassis which I haven't even begun to open yet, yay for me! Check it out if you're looking for a new LanBox for your matx system,

Conclusion

Thermaltake has come up with an exceptionally practical and stylish case with their LANBOX. Accepting MicroATX mainboards in a package just a hair larger than a MiniITX based SFF rig is a nice accomplishment. Under power, the loudest thing in the case was the Northbridge cooler which easily overpowered the low volume of the 90mm and two 60mm included fans. Thermaltake's Key 3 Spirit seems to be well defined here but sold short. I believe aesthetics are every bit as important as Tt's other "three keys" and the Tt LANBOX has that one nailed in a highly portable package with clean lines and a subtle elegant appeal. The only area of concern was that of height restrictions closing some cooling option choices. This is notable but not a huge deal because to alter the case design so that it could take the largest of coolers gets away from its primary focus of being a very compact LAN box. Thermaltake has put out a great case with the LANBOX which as soon as I finish writing this review, will be the new home to my personal LAN rig.

Source:Thermaltake Lanbox

Tech Link (Casing): Project War Machine

KikBoxes has new case mod ready for you! I mean, a tank and a computer chassis, what more can you ask for? Go ahead, gear up and stuff up and check out the new bad boy.

Project War Machine (available at www.XOXIDE.com)

What is War Machine?
Sometimes the best way to explain the mood of a piece is to create a back story. Imagine the Nazis found a mystical piece of ancient Roman war machinery. Imagine they cleaned and repaired it by adding panels of sleek shiny black to those areas that had been ravaged by time. Maybe they hoped it would help them win the war. Whatever, you get the idea...

The design
War Machine will be an amalgamation of styles from a few sources. The idea is to create a case that appears menacing and yet stylish. Light in weight but very heavy in mood and appearance. A case that mixes elements of organic looking cast iron power with sleek polished features.

I am focusing on what I hope will be a nice balance of mods and finishing. I imagine this case being what you might get if you mixed the Roman Empire at its peak with that of Nazi Germany 1942. Hard to imagine? Well, maybe it will begin to make more sense as you read the work logs or buy the case today!

For a long time I have been fascinated with the Roman Empire. As a kid I read a great book about the ancient general Hannibal who led an army made up of many nations over the Alps to take on the Romans on their own turf. At the end he faced the same bitter defeat that so many who opposed the Romans shared but he had some stunning victories along the way. That book started my interest in all things Roman. The fighting style, the culture, their society and technology.

Another thing that I found interesting was how the Nazi party of WWII modeled much of their imagery after that of the Roman Empire. Bold colors in black and red, vertical banners, use of the eagle in their emblems...I could go on and on. This project is, in part, about that contrast. So let’s get down to it.

Source:Project War Machine

Tech Link (Chassis): Thermaltake Aquila is one bad-ass Gorilla

OCModShop has a new chassis review. What got my attention is not the fact that it's made by Thermaltake*, or that it can support BTX and ATX form factor, or that it weighs a whooping 10KG, but the fact that it is called "Aguila" and even the logo is designed to look like one. Why the author called it a "gorilla" is beyond me, Aguila means "Eagle".

When searching for the quietest, nicest case for your rig, there are certain features you must look for. Some of these are Size, Air Flow, and Expandability. Thermaltake has been making cases along with their other equipment, targeting the computer enthusiast and hardware modder. Thermaltake's Aguila case looks to be a well-built and expandable case that's sure to impress at the next LAN party!

Source:OCModShop

Article: Mars 722 Orbit PC Case Review

An early Saturday article from yours truly. Well, I really liked the chassis and because of that, I figure anyone who's planning on getting a new one should give this chassis a look, and a major consideration. The chassis looked really good, and while I do have complaints, it's not enough to sway me from advising people to get this for their PC. You can read the article here.
_{Thanks to ame for quickly pointing out the name of the chassis. Don't hesitate to sell or buy stuff from him =)}

::Front::
The front of the chassis is nice, I love the simplicity as well as style of the chassis. It has four(4) 5.25in drive bays with plastic covers, and two(2) 3.5in slots. There is a silver button at the lower mid portion that looks like a V shape. The upper half of the silver button is the power switch on/off and the lower half is the reset button. In between these buttons is a clear plastic with two(2) LEDs, which is for HDD Activity Status (red) and Power On Status (yellow green). Moving further below is a great looking silver mesh located at both the left and right extremes, it is a plastic grill for air intake. There are also two(2) USB ports which should be enough for most cases, and two(2) holes provision for mic and speakers.

Source:FanBoyReview