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Hard
drive fitting doesn't come much easier than this.
Simply remove a couple of drive rails and fit them
on either side of your drive than slide it into place.
I say "fit", but in actual fact the rails
just push into place. The silver bits that look like
screws are actually just knurled pins which push into
the screw holes in the side of your hard drive. The
rails are also slightly bowed so as to apply a little
pressure to the sides of the drive as you slide it
in.
I'd
have liked to see the addition of thin rubber or foam
washer on each of the pins to help isolate them and
make for an extra-snug fit but so far it's worked
perfectly well just as it is so I can't complain too
much.
I
would imagine that even in drives where the holes
have been opened up by using wrong sized screws, there's
still enough pressure from the rails to hold them
securely place without vibration.
The
side panel fans fix using regular fan screws but the
two rear fans come with the now familiar screwless
fan cradles. This not only makes fitting quick and
easy, it also means no obstructive cages or brackets
to spoil airflow.
The
front USB, IEEE and audio connectors terminate with
regular motherboard connectors. You'll either love
or hate this idea depending on whether the regular
connector fits your motherboard. I'm sure most enthusiasts
would prefer the individual connectors which can be
so off-putting for less experiences users so I guess
there's no right or wrong here.
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USB/IEEE1394/Audio
Connectors
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And
last but by no means least, all the screws and motherboard
stand-offs are supplied along with a couple of sets
of keys and a ferrite ring.
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Srews,
Keys and Ferrite Ring
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Conclusion
The
3DVelocity 'Dual Conclusions Concept' Explained: After
discussing this concept with users as well as companies
and vendors we work with, 3DVelocity have decided
that where necessary we shall aim to introduce our
'Dual Conclusions Concept' to sum up our thoughts
and impressions on the hardware we review. As the
needs of the more experienced users and enthusiasts
have increased, it has become more difficult to factor
in all the aspects that such a user would find important,
while also being fair to products that may lack these
high end "bonus" capabilities but which
still represent a very good buy for the more traditional
and more prevalent mainstream user. The two catergories
we've used are:
The
Mainstream User ~ The mainstream user is likely
to put price, stock performance, value for money,
reliability and/or warranty terms ahead of the need
for hardware that operates beyond its design specifications.
The mainstream user may be a PC novice or may be an
experienced user, however their needs are clearly
very different to those of the enthusiast, in that
they want to buy products that operate efficiently
and reliably within their advertised parameters.
The
Enthusiast ~ The enthusiast cares about all
the things that the mainstream user cares about but
is more likely to accept a weakness in one or more
of these things in exchange for some measure of performance
or functionality beyond its design brief. For example,
a high priced motherboard may be tolerated in exchange
for unusually high levels of overclocking ability
or alternatively an unusually large heat sink with
a very poor fixing mechanism may be considered acceptable
if it offers significantly superior cooling in return.
The
Mainstream User ~
Chieftech
have a knack for turning out solid. easy to use cases
and the BX-03 series is no exception. It's not as
bomb-proof in its construction as some cases on the
market but it kind of compensates for this in its
ease of use.
There
are a few niggles that need to be addressed, like
for example the semi-redundant front air filter mesh
or the very low placement of the front USB, audio
and FireWire connectors, but they're more inconveniences
than deal breakers. The
lack of any kind of instructions is a minus for the
inexperienced users but it's quite difficult to go
wrong.
As
a total package, the BX-03 is a slick, innovative
case that will impress your peers without you ever
needing to break out the tool box. Add an LED fan
and a couple of UV or CCFL tubes and your mates will
think you've been modding PCs for years.
The
size is just about perfect for most users, the look
is simple yet stylish for the most part and it's a
pleasure to work with.
The
Enthusiast ~
There's
lots to like in the BX range of cases including room
for six hard drives and lots of airflow, albeit unfiltered
airflow for the most part. Some will moan at the lack
of a removable motherboard tray but in a case this
roomy I see it as a moot point.
With
good looks, good rather than spectacular build quality
and an element of mod-ability, this a great choice
for the more experienced user. A blue LED always adds
to the appeal (case makers take note) as does the
easy-build nature and reasonable price tag.
120mm
fans in cases should by now be the de-facto standard
and I think Chieftec missed their chance to score
big by adding one to this style of case.
Manufactured
in 1mm steel the BX's are also heavy so you better
bulk up if you plan lugging one around the LAN party
scene.
All
things considered though it's a great case with a
lot of options and a lot of potential and all without
breaking the bank. Another Chieftec winner!
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