Sneaking and Peeking
The paint job on this case is quite
excellent to say the least. It is thick, scratch-resistant
and allows for your fingers to grip it properly.
I should also comment on how well the painted metal
blends in with the plastic front panel. It took
a knife to make a noticeable scratch in the case.
The front panel shares this build
quality as well. It is made of a hard strong plastic
that doesn't bend or flex. The silver strip that
runs the length of both sides of the front and along
the bottom provides a variation for the eye, which
is always welcome in a black case. With a single
colour, I find that it will never catch my eye when
browsing through a selection of cases. Taking my
dull tastes aside, the front is rather bland. It
lacks action to put it bluntly and begs to be modified
by the end user.
The front fan intake is large and
has the nice advantage of blocking light from shining
through the front. This is an excellent selling
point for me because in most cases, when using a
light kit, the light shines through only half of
the intake, which I find to be ugly.
Unfortunately the front USB ports
that Maxtop decided to place there mar this otherwise
nice front. They truly do stick out like a sore
white thumb and Maxtop did not think to provide
you with a cover of any sort. Thankfully most people
have case badges that will fit snugly over this.
It may also prove to be a skilled dust collector
over the years.
The windowed side panel is always
a welcome addition to any case regardless of the
owner. I know from experience that even my computer
illiterate mother likes the look of a case with
a window. It provides you with bragging rights and
the ability to show off your hardware without reaching
down and unscrewing the case. And to thwart the
more insidious of people, it allows you to check
up on your hardware during a LAN party for "borrowing"
attempts.
The window is well constructed and
riveted into place in many occasions. No single
place flexed inward more than a millimeter or so.
The cut metal part is burr free and nicely filed
so as to not slice your precious fingers.
The window is also slightly indented
where it touches the metal so that you can run your
fingers along the side without hitting a bump or
noticeable break. Congratulations go out to Maxtop
for this attention to detail.
I did find two things that I was not
so impressed with though. The actual position of
the window leaves much of the more interesting hardware
out of view while you get to stare at the drive
bays. You will also find that the side fan is blowing
outward which will conflict with most processor
fan combinations that blow air at the socket. The
fan can easily be reversed but this is something
that should be done beforehand.
Both side panels are constructed of
a thick strong metal that did not warp or stick
when subjected to the wiggle and bend test. I also
appreciated the large number of tabs that held the
panel in place. This leaves a lot of room for breaking
tabs and also keeps the panel securely in place
when transporting.
