Chenming (Uneec) 701-V Case Review

Author : Wayne Date : 8th January 2001

3DVelocity would like to thank Chenming (Network Enclosure BU) , and in particular Hank J H Yuh, for their invaluable help and generosity in supplying this case for review.

Sometimes it's hard to judge how a thing feels in use just by looking at an image pasted up on a website, so let me try to paint you a picture. The first thing that strikes you when you take this case from its securely padded box is its weight. Tipping the scales at over 33pounds (16kg), you know straight away that they've either left a couple of bricks inside, or they've used some heavy duty materials in the construction. As I said earlier though, this doesn't mean it's a good case. They could have used industrial gauge Tungsten, but if its badly designed and constructed, it'll still be a bad case.

One of the things I like (though I know some don't) is the design of the floppy bay. Most FDD's have been in use so long, the front panel has discoloured and can spoil the look of your box, so having it hidden behind the front panel immediately scores points with me. What I did find a little odd, considering how little the average FDD is used these days, was that they positioned it so near the top of the case, but that's not exactly a fault, more an observation.

If we look a little lower down the front panel we come across this large architectural looking arch. This isn't just a design feature, it also houses the intake holes for the front mounted case cooling fan (optional). I can't help but wonder how this would look at night with a couple of case lights behind it.

And sat plum in the middle of the arch, the grey lozenge shaped rubber cover actually conceals the cut-outs for two forward facing USB ports.

Although the provision for four USB ports is not something all motherboards support, it's nice to see these extra features incorperated for those who may need them. Unlike other designs I've seen, the cover remains attached to the front panel and thus isn't likely to go missing.

The back sports the usual features you'd expect to see, plus one you possibly wouldn't, a case lock and keys. Turning this lock through 90 degrees renders the side panel impossible to remove without force, and it goes without saying that you can lock it in this position with the supplied key.

If that gaping hole in the back isn't obvious enough, I should point out that this case comes without its own power supply, so you will have to allow for this if you are building from scratch. If you decide to buy this case through Chenming's subsidiary company,Chieftec, they also stock a range of power supplies from 230watts up to 300watts.
Also visible from the back is the regular colour coded boiler plate (I/O plate), and the grill for the optional 80mm internal case cooling fan.

 

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