Since the design of computer cases, so to speak, has appeared, white has irrevocably gone out of fashion. If white is used now, it is mainly for the cases of simple office PCs, and they prefer to paint containers for powerful hardware with black paint. An excellent situation for presenting a banal white color as a sharp design move, thereby highlighting your product among similar ones.
In Thermaltake's assortment, the white version of the ARMOR REVO case, the eldest in its line, is designated as a separate model. Although, except for the color, they are no different, and they cost about the same: about 6 thousand rubles at the prices of Moscow online stores.
| Thermaltake REVO ARMOR Snow Edition (VO200M6W2N) | |
|---|---|
| Form factor | ATX Full Tower |
| Supported motherboard form factors | ATX, Micro ATX |
| Max. permissible height of the processor cooler, mm | 180 |
| Max. permissible video card length, mm | 330 |
| Power supply standard, mm | |
| Bays and Slots | |
| 5.25" open bays | 5 |
| Locked 3.5" bays | 6 |
| Open 3.5" bays | 1 (instead of one of the 5.25" bays) |
| Locked 2.5" bays | No |
| Expansion card slots | 8 |
| External ports | 3 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x eSATA, 2 x 1/4" TRS (mini-jack) |
| Fans | |
| Built-in | 3 x 200x30 mm (600-800 rpm, 13-15 dBA), 1 x 140x25 mm (1000 rpm, 16 dBA) |
| Seats for additional fans | 1 x 140x25 mm, 1 x 120x25 mm |
| Materials | SECC (steel, electrogalvanized, cold-rolled, coil) |
| Overall dimensions: LxHxD, mm | 586x254x552 |
| Weight, kg | 11,5 |
⇡ Packaging, delivery set, appearance
The case is sold in a box with a “portrait” of a knight in sparkling armor - befitting the name. The case belongs to the Full Tower standard, so the box it received was quite large. There are paired slots on the sides for carrying.
The delivery set includes bags with screws for all occasions, additional stands for the motherboard and plastic clamps. There is even an adapter from an eight-pin to a four-pin processor power connector and a “speaker” on a short cable. There is also an adapter for installing a 3.5-inch device into a 5.25-inch bay and a plug with a slot in case this device (memory card reader or something else) is displayed on the front panel. So, who just said, “Floppick”?
Despite what is shown on the packaging, the author of the article associates Thermaltake ARMOR REVO Snow Edition not with medieval armor, but with giant humanoid robots from some anime. The same ones who still won’t stand guard over the borders of our Motherland. Except that the notorious anime robots are usually painted in a more varied way, but this can be corrected if desired. By the way, the paint layer on all external panels is thick, the surface is perfect.
The right cover of the case is as usual blank, without any ventilation holes. The area of the left cover is divided between a viewing window and a huge fan grille (200 mm in diameter). In addition, there is a folding bracket on which you can hang your headphones after a virtual battle. Considering the weight of the headphones, the bracket looks quite reliable, but we would not recommend placing anything heavy on it (for example, a leg).
Both covers are secured with screws with massive heads that can be screwed in with bare fingers. Thanks to the thick steel and secure fastening, the lid snaps into place without any additional effort, but the screw holes on the lid and the frame of the case still do not completely line up, and it takes a little effort to get the sharp tip of the screw into the hole.
The body rests on four tall plastic legs. The legs turn outward, creating more reliable support.
The front panel bears not only the Thermaltake logo, but also features of a recognizable corporate design. The creators of the case maximized the number of ventilation holes on the “face”. The 5.25-inch slot covers are perforated; the entire space below is filled with large holes protected by a mesh.
Part of the front panel is covered by swinging doors made of thick brushed aluminum. Any functional purpose I couldn’t think of one for them: when closed, they don’t even interfere with access to the external compartments. But the doors signature feature Thermaltake cases, and they look solid. It's also the only part of Thermaltake ARMOR REVO's look that truly lives up to its name.
All communications are located from the front panel to the ledge of the top cover. The ports are oriented toward the user's likely location at a slight angle. In addition to USB 2.0, USB 3.0, eSATA connectors and two mini-jacks, there is such a component of dubious usefulness as a “docking” for hard drive. A standard block is mounted at the bottom of the recess with the sash SATA interface, to which you can connect a “bare” hard drive of a 2.5 or 3.5 inch form factor. It's on hand in the test lab. external HDD Seagate Backup Plus comes in a USM standard box, but, alas, it does not fit the Thermaltake case.
The “command” ledge is made of white plastic. And, judging by the fact that someone split the plastic at the corner before arriving at 3DNews for testing (the defect is photoshopped in the photographs), this is the weak point of the powerful armor from Thermaltake. However, if you refrain from vandalism, then for everyday use this part seems quite reliable.
The case is equipped with built-in lighting (how could it be otherwise?). But if someone remembered the phrase “And she has a neon inside,” then that’s where they made a mistake. In this case, the backlight is provided by LEDs in two case fans. Of course, from a strictly aesthetic point of view, computer backlighting in itself is not the peak of grace and good taste, but one cannot help but admit that the good old neon effect still works: in the dark, ARMOR REVO really looks beautiful.
⇡ Design
The internal frame of the case is painted black. The steel is thick and durable, the quality of edge processing and painting is flawless. The sheet on which the motherboard is mounted has a window cut through for access to the area opposite the processor socket, which means you can remove and mount the backplates of all kinds of tower coolers without removing the board. There is no separate removable tray for the motherboard. The case is ready to accept boards of ATX and Micro ATX form factors.
A few more holes with rubber flaps are designed to keep the cables connecting the hardware out of sight.
In the rack for hard drives you can assemble an array of six 3.5-inch drives, and install another drive with an adapter in a 5.25-inch bay. The hard drives in the rack are turned sideways to the longitudinal axis of the case, thereby increasing the volume of the main compartment. Its length is enough to install expansion cards up to 330 mm in size.
The little blue baskets for hard drives look flimsy, but are notable for the fact that they HDD installations No tools are required: the mounting pins are simply inserted into the holes. Devices in 5.25-inch bays can also be installed with bare hands.
One of the two giant glowing fans is located directly opposite the drive rack. The entire front panel can be easily removed, providing access to the dust filter that covers the cooler.
Another dust filter goes directly along the outer surface along the bottom of the case. In this place, if necessary, you can install an additional fan measuring 120x120 mm.
The third of the 200mm coolers blows air through the top panel. You can attach another 120 or 140 mm fan to it. The top panel is also ideal for mounting a two-section radiator for a water cooling system, although top-end air coolers often use three-section radiators, which will not be included in the ARMOR REVO.
A system of three large 200mm fans is powered by two Molex connectors. The rotation speed is set by buttons on the control panel: High and Low. You can turn it on and off separately LED backlight. The remaining 140mm cooler on the rear panel connects to motherboard. It is noteworthy that you do not need to pull to the fan on the side cover separate wire: when installing the cover, the connector on the lower frame of the frame simply closes.
Overall, the Thermaltake ARMOR REVO cooling system looks impressive. Ventilation holes are made wherever possible, the body is easily blown through. There are many fans, and even more can be installed if desired.
⇡ Testing
In order to test the case in action, we placed iron inside test bench, which is used for video card benchmarks, - the most powerful system with a six-core CPU overclocked to 4.6 GHz, GeForce video card GTX 690 and a power supply with a rated power of 1200 W. But since the processor and video card are not the only components whose temperature worries the user, the stand included a 4 TB Hitachi Deskstar 7K4000 hard drive (HDS724040ALE640). This is a disk with five magnetic plates and a spindle speed of 7200 rpm. It gets very hot.
And Thermaltake ARMOR REVO did not disappoint. Even at lower speeds of the cooling system, it was possible to significantly reduce the temperature of the hard drive can and even help the CPU and video card coolers a little. If you turn on the fans to maximum, the temperature of the components drops another few degrees.
In maximum mode, the case is noticeably noisy, but the noise spectrum is pleasant to the ear. There is no roar, no whistle, no vibration. In Low mode, the contribution of the case to the background noise of the room is already insignificant.
⇡ Conclusions
Thermaltake's "Snowball" left a pleasant impression. It copes with the responsibility of cooling PC components perfectly. We are also completely satisfied with the capacity and ease of use. The workmanship is top notch. Of course, there are also more sophisticated cases - with aluminum panels, a service display, the ability to install large form factor motherboards, long radiators and a huge number of drives. But if all this is not required, then ARMOR REVO in both white and standard versions is a very good offer.
System unit
(slang: system unit, case, case) - a functional element that protects the internal components of the computer from external influence and mechanical damage, maintaining the required temperature conditions inside, shielding electromagnetic radiation generated by internal components and being the basis for further expansion of the system. System units are mass-produced in a factory from parts based on steel, aluminum and plastic.
Case types
Horizontal (dimensions in millimeters):
- Desktop (533×419×152)
- FootPrint (406×406×152)
- SlimLine (406×406×101)
- UltraSlimLine (381×352×75)
Vertical (dimensions in millimeters):
- MiniTower (152×432×432)
- MidiTower (173×432×490)
- BigTower (190×482×820)
- SuperFullTower (various sizes)
Example:
| Common parameters | |
|---|---|
| Form factor | ATX |
| Form factor and dimensions | |
| Standard size | Midi-Tower |
| power unit | There is |
| Power supply power | 450 W |
| Design | |
| Housing material | steel |
| Wall thickness | 0.6 mm |
| Presence of a window on the side wall | No |
| Number of internal compartments 3.5 | 5 |
| Number of external bays 3.5 | 1 |
| Number of compartments 5.25 | 4 |
| Number of expansion slots | 7 |
| There is | |
| Cooling | |
| Built-in fans | 1 x 120x120 mm, 2 x 80x80 mm |
| Front/Side/Top Interfaces | |
| 2 | |
| Microphone input | There is |
| Headphone output | There is |
| Additionally | |
| Power supply location | horizontal |
| Additional Information | FireWire on the front panel is optional, the ability to install two 80x80 mm fans or one 120x120 mm fan on the front wall |
Form factor ATX Standard size Midi-Tower Case types- Vertical (MidiTower (173×432×490))
power unit There is Power supply power 450 W
power unit
Number of internal compartments 3.5 5 Number of external bays 3.5 1 Number of compartments 5.25 4 Number of expansion slots 7 Screwless mounting in 3.5 and 5.25 bays There is
Number of external bays 3.5(from 0 to 8)Number of external bays (bays with external access) 3.5 inches. Such bays accommodate 3.5" floppy drives, zip drives, card readers, IR ports and some other devices. The number of bays should be selected depending on how many 3.5" devices are planned to be placed in the case. As a rule, for home computer One or two external 3.5" bays are quite enough.
Number of internal compartments 3.5(from 0 to 13)The number of internal (hidden) compartments is 3.5 inches. The internal bays are mainly used for installing hard drives. If you do not plan to connect more than two hard drives, then three or four There are enough compartments. If in the future the system will be upgraded and additional hard drives installed, then you should pay attention to cases with five or six or even more hidden compartments. It should be noted that for good cooling systems, it is undesirable to mount hard drives close to each other, therefore, for three hard drives, a case with six and more internal compartments.
Number of expansion slots(from 0 to 11) Built-in fans 1 x 120x120 mm, 2 x 80x80 mm Total number of USB interfaces on the front panel 2 Microphone input There is Headphone output There is
Number of USB interfaces on the front panel
ATX
Possibility of installation in the case of ATX form factor motherboards. Form factor is a standard that determines the dimensions of the motherboard, the location of components, and the type of power supply. ATX boards have dimensions of 304.8x243.8 mm and support seven expansion slots designed to accommodate PCI, PCI E and AGP cards. Most ATX form factor cases can also accommodate mATX motherboards (see "mATX"). ATX is the most common form factor of desktop motherboards today.
Power supply included.
Most cases come with a power supply. However, the supplied power supply may not be powerful enough if you assemble the system yourself, or it may not have enough connectors. A case without a power supply will be useful for people who are going to purchase a suitable power supply separately. As a rule, expensive, high-quality cases are sold without a power supply.
Power of the power supply included in the kit. Depending on the configuration of your computer, you may need more or less power from the power supply. To determine the required power supply power, you need to know how much total power is consumed by all system components. The most powerful components of the system are processors and video cards.
Consumption of a modern processor along with motherboard is approximately 100 to 150 watts. The higher the processor frequency, the more power it consumes. Dual-core processors are more powerful than single-core processors. The consumption of modern video cards varies from 40-60 W (for budget models) up to 300 W (for top video cards).
The hard drive consumes about 10-15 W, RAM- approximately 10 W per gigabyte, CD-RW/DWD-RW drives - 15-20 W. USB controllers along with sound and network cards- about 30 W more.
When choosing a power supply, it is advisable to have some power reserve to ensure stable operation. For example, a system with Core 2 Duo, a modern video card and two hard drives will require a 400-450 W power supply.
Power supplies of various powers can be installed in the same case, and the higher the power, the higher the cost of the kit and the more heat will be generated during operation.
The number of slots available in the case for expansion cards. The number of slots is directly related to the case form factor. ATX and BTX cases have a maximum of seven expansion slots, mATX and mBTX have four slots each (see "ATX", "BTX", "mATX", "mBTX"). Keep in mind that some devices (for example, video cards with massive heatsinks) may occupy two slots.
Screwless mounting in expansion slotsPossibility of mounting in expansion slots not only with screws, but also with special latches. This design makes installation and removal of boards faster and more convenient.
Number of built-in fans 120x120 mm(from 0 to 7)
Number of 120x120 mm fans installed in the case.
Number of USB connectors on the front panel of the case.
The presence of several USB connectors on the front panel allows you to connect various devices with USB interface. Depending on the number of USB devices you use simultaneously, you can choose a case with one, two or four connectors.
Presence of a miniJack audio input (3.5 mm) on the front panel of the case. This arrangement of the additional connector allows you to connect a microphone without moving the case away from the wall.
Headphone output on the front panelAvailability of miniJack audio output (3.5 mm) on the front panel of the case. This arrangement of the additional connector allows you to connect headphones or speakers without moving the case away from the wall.
Synchronization technology provided in the backlit housing (see “Backlight Type”).
Synchronization itself allows you to “match” the backlight of the case with the backlight of other system components - motherboard, video card, keyboard, mouse, etc. Thanks to this coordination, all components can synchronously change color, turn on/off simultaneously, etc. It is worth noting that all such systems have RGB backlighting. The specific features of the operation of such backlighting depend on the synchronization technology used, and, as a rule, each manufacturer has its own (Mystic Light Sync for MSI, Aura Sync for Asus, etc.). The compatibility of the components also depends on this: they all must support the same technology. So the easiest way to achieve backlight compatibility is to assemble components from one manufacturer.
power unit
Availability of a power supply unit (PSU) included with the case. This configuration relieves the user of the need to purchase a power supply separately and from the hassle of compatibility - the supplied power supply, by definition, is optimally suited for the case. On the other hand, this power supply may turn out to be unsuitable for the system that you plan to assemble - for example, due to insufficient power or lack of the required number of connectors. Therefore, before purchasing, you need to find out detailed characteristics complete power supply and make sure that it is suitable for the selected configuration. If the configuration is not known exactly (for example, you plan to purchase additional components gradually, or you have not yet decided on a specific set of components), you may want to choose a case without a power supply and get a power supply last, when the requirements for it are completely clear.
Power of the complete power supply
Output power of the power supply supplied with the case (see “Power supply”). Given power should be no lower than the total energy consumption of the system that is planned to be assembled in the case - otherwise the power supply simply will not “pull” the system.
PSU location
Location of the power supply (or seat for the power supply) in the case.
The traditional option is the top location of the power supply; this is a familiar and familiar option to many. However, heated air from other system components accumulates at the top of the case, reducing cooling efficiency. Cases with a bottom-mounted power supply do not have this drawback; however, a lot of dust and other contaminants get into them if the system unit is installed on the floor. However, this difference becomes critical only when using high-performance systems with appropriate heat dissipation; For an ordinary household PC, the location of the power supply unit as a whole is not important.
Also note that in miniature cases like mini-Tower (see “Form factor”), the power supply installed on top can cover part of the motherboard, which further worsens the cooling efficiency and makes it difficult to install large processor coolers; however, it all depends on the layout of the particular case.
5.25" bays
The number of 5.25" form factor compartments provided in the case design. Such compartments are made only external, that is, with the ability to be accessed from the outside without opening the case (unlike 3.5", see the corresponding glossary paragraphs). Today, 5.25" bays are used primarily for installing drives optical disks, internal hard drives in removable “pocket” adapters (Mobile Rack), sometimes additional fans. Also, 3.5" devices can be installed in such compartments using special adapters. Most cases are equipped with 1 5.25" compartment or two compartments. But there are models with 3 compartments or more.
External bays 3.5"
Screwless mounting
Possibility of using special latches (instead of screws) for fastening peripheral devices into 3.5" and 5.25 bays, as well as cards into expansion slots. This screwless mounting greatly simplifies the installation and replacement of system components.
Opening mechanism
A method for opening a case to gain access to its internal volume.
Removable side panel. In cases with this opening, one or both side panels are removable. Usually, to work with the “filling” it is enough to remove one panel, but double-sided removable panels are considered more convenient, as they simplify access to some places inside the case.
U-shaped cover. In such cases, the side and top panels are made in the form of a single block, shaped like the letter P (hence the name), and when the case is opened, they are removed entirely. This disassembly scheme provides access to the contents of the case not only from the side, but also from the top; on the other hand, the U-shaped cover is slightly less convenient during assembly than removable ones side panels.
Installed fans
We also note that most often the holes for installing fans are designed for one specific size, but there are also “multi-size” seats for 2 – 3 options. Moreover, these options can differ both in diameter and in quantity: for example, it may be possible to install two 140 mm fans or three 120 mm fans.
Fan space on the side
from the sides of the body
The larger the fan, the more advanced it is considered: the large diameter allows it to operate efficiently at relatively low speeds, which reduces noise levels and energy consumption. Case fans are available in several standard diameters, and the seats for them can be designed for one or several sizes - for example, 120 / 140 mm. Moreover, in some models the available number of seats also depends on the selected size: for example, there are gaming cases where you can install either one 180 mm fan or four 120 mm fans on the side.
Places for fans on top
The number of seats for fans on the top side of the case, as well as the size of the fans for which these seats are designed. The presence of the fans themselves in the kit should be checked separately.
The larger the fan, the more advanced it is considered: the large diameter allows it to operate efficiently at relatively low speeds, which reduces noise levels and energy consumption. Case fans are available in several standard diameters, and the seats for them can be designed for one or several sizes - for example, 120 / 140 mm. Moreover, in some models the available number of seats also depends on the selected size: for example, there are gaming cases where you can install either one 180 mm fan or four 120 mm fans on top.
Places for fans at the bottom
The number of fan slots on the bottom side of the case, as well as the size of the fans for which these slots are designed. The presence of the fans themselves in the kit should be checked separately.
The larger the fan, the more advanced it is considered: the large diameter allows it to operate efficiently at relatively low speeds, which reduces noise levels and energy consumption. Case fans are available in several standard diameters, and the seats for them can be designed for one or several sizes - for example, 120 / 140 mm. Moreover, in some models the available number of seats also depends on the selected size: for example, it may be possible to install either one 180 mm fan or two 140 mm fans.
Places for fans
The total number of places for installing fans provided in the chassis design.
The more productive the system, the more components it includes, the more powerful cooling it will require; Therefore, the number of fan locations is usually directly related to the size and purpose of the case. It is also worth considering that with the same number, the installation location of individual fans may be different - behind, on the side, on top, etc.
Liquid cooling support
This feature is indicated for cases that normally allow the installation of liquid cooling systems (LCS). Such systems are extremely effective, but are complex and expensive, so they are mainly used in high-performance PCs, for which traditional coolers are no longer sufficient. Note that, theoretically, liquid cooling can be installed in almost any case; however, if support for such cooling is not initially included in the design, this can be very difficult. So if you initially plan to use a life support system, you should choose a case that directly supports this function.
Lattice front panel
The presence of a grille on the front panel of the case. The main point of this solution is to improve the ventilation of the internal volume: the grille allows the fans to be supplied with a large amount of cool outside air. In addition, the grille most often looks good, and a lighting system can be located behind it (see Type of lighting), which further improves appearance housings.
Dust filter
The presence of a special filter in the housing to prevent dust from entering. Without such a filter, dust settles on the system elements; Radiators are especially susceptible to this; they also lose their efficiency, becoming clogged with dust, and they have to be cleaned periodically. If you have a dust filter, you have to clean not the “filling” of the PC, but the filter element, which is much easier and harmless to the system.
SVO rear size
The size of the seat for the water cooling system provided on the rear side of the case.
280 mm is 2x140 mm with a width of 140 mm, and 360 mm is 3x120 mm with a width of 120 mm.
SVO front size
The size of the seat for the water cooling system provided on the front side of the case.
In cases with CBO support, water cooling radiators are installed in the same slots as traditional fans. In other words, either a fan(s) or a radiator can be installed on the same seat. The size of the seat for the SVO is indicated by one figure - length (according to larger side); the width can be determined based on these data. The fact is that modern SVO radiators usually use fans of one of standard sizes- 120 mm or 140 mm; and if there are several such fans, they are arranged in a row. As a result, the length of the radiator is a multiple, and the width is equal to one of these numbers: for example, 280 mm is 2x140 mm with a width of 140 mm, and 360 mm is 3x120 mm with a width of 120 mm. In general, the size of the front radiator is 240 mm 360 mm 420 mm and even more.
Note that in this case, the same nuances are relevant as for air cooling: a larger fan takes up more space and costs more, but is considered more advanced, since it can operate effectively at a lower speed - and this reduces noise and vibration levels.
SVO side size
The size of the seat for the water cooling system provided on the side of the case.
In cases with CBO support, water cooling radiators are installed in the same slots as traditional fans. In other words, either a fan(s) or a radiator can be installed on the same seat. The size of the seat under the SVO is indicated by one number - the length (on the larger side); the width can be determined based on these data. The fact is that modern SVO radiators usually use fans of one of the standard sizes - 120 mm or 140 mm; and if there are several such fans, they are arranged in a row. As a result, the length of the radiator is a multiple, and the width is equal to one of these numbers: thus, the minimum size of the side radiator for modern cases is actually 240 mm, which corresponds to two 120 mm fans placed side by side; the actual dimensions of such a nest are therefore 240x120 mm.
Note that in this case, the same nuances are relevant as for air cooling: a larger fan takes up more space and costs more, but is considered more advanced, since it can operate effectively at a lower speed - and this reduces noise and vibration levels.
SVO size at top
The size of the seat for the water cooling system provided on the top side of the case.
In cases with CBO support, water cooling radiators are installed in the same slots as traditional fans. In other words, either a fan(s) or a radiator can be installed on the same seat. The size of the seat under the SVO is indicated by one number - the length (on the larger side); the width can be determined based on these data. The fact is that modern SVO radiators usually use fans of one of the standard sizes - 120 mm or 140 mm; and if there are several such fans, they are arranged in a row. As a result, the length of the radiator is a multiple, and the width is equal to one of these numbers: for example, 280 mm is 2x140 mm with a width of 140 mm, and 360 mm is 3x120 mm with a width of 120 mm. In general, the size of the upper radiator of 240 mm or less is considered relatively small, 280 mm is considered medium, 360 mm is large, and in some models it reaches 420 mm or even more.
Note that in this case, the same nuances are relevant as for air cooling: a larger fan takes up more space and costs more, but is considered more advanced, since it can operate effectively at a lower speed - and this reduces noise and vibration levels.
SVO bottom size
The size of the seat for the water cooling system provided on the bottom side of the case.
Note that in this case, the same nuances are relevant as for air cooling: a larger fan takes up more space and costs more, but is considered more advanced, since it can operate effectively at a lower speed - and this reduces noise and vibration levels.
Places for SVO
The total number of spaces for water cooling systems provided in the case, in other words, the largest number of water cooling radiators that can be installed in the case. Such radiators are usually placed one at a time on the side of the case, so several radiators are most often located on different sides: for example, 3 places for the air cooler can be located at the back, top and front.
When assessing the number of seats (of all types), it is worth considering that SVO fans and radiators usually use the same seats.
Location
Location of the front set of connectors provided in the housing. These connectors may be located on the front panel, on the side wall, or on the top of the case. The first two options are found in all case form factors (see above), while the top placement is considered optimal for tower solutions, originally intended for installation under the table.
Fan control
Ability to manually control the rotation speed of fans installed in the case.
This function allows you to adjust the fan operating mode to suit the specific situation. For example, in cool weather with a light load, you can reduce the speed (or even turn off the fan altogether), reducing power consumption and noise level, and when starting a demanding game, you can increase it. Also note that there are software tools that allow you to automatically adjust fan speed; so instead of manual control, this function can be entrusted to automation.
- Side panel lock. The presence of a special lock on the removable side panel of the case. This lock prevents unauthorized access to the internal volume of the system unit.
- Noise insulation. The housing has additional sound insulation. This can be either a special coating on the inside or other, more specific solutions (for example, shock absorption systems on “seats” for individual components that reduce the level of vibration transmitted to the body... y). In any case, this feature helps reduce the noise level emitted by the system - sometimes quite significantly.
- Removable basket for HDD. The presence in the design of the case of a removable basket for the internal periphery of the 3.5" form factor (in the vast majority of cases this is hard disks, hence the name). This basket makes assembly easier due to the fact that it can be removed and installed HDD inside is much easier than attaching it to a non-removable compartment inside the case; This point is especially useful if you plan to install several hard drives in the system.
- Docking station for HDD. Built-in docking station for quick connection internal hard drives. Actually this function allows you to connect the internal HDD as an external one: the docking station connector is located outside the case and is equipped with quick-release fasteners for easy connection.
- Hidden wiring. Possibility to run wires from the power supply from the back side of the motherboard (if you take as the main side the side on which the processor and slots for expansion cards are located). Thus, the space on the main side of the motherboard is freed from wires, which, in particular, has a positive effect on cooling efficiency.
- Window for installing the cooling system (CO) for the processor. The presence of a separate window in the case opposite the fasteners for the CO processor. The mounting system is located on the back of the motherboard, and usually to change it you need to remove the entire motherboard; The CO installation window relieves the user of this need and greatly simplifies the installation and change of CO.
Advantages: In principle, a normal price. Three-dimensional Zalman logo. The entire muzzle is covered with a perforated metal mesh with a fine mesh. Immediately behind it, a foam filter is located throughout the entire area. There is a filter at the bottom for the power supply. The filter sticks out a little around the perimeter, but it protects normally - after a few days, a little debris has already accumulated on the power supply filter (although this is stupidly a problem with the lower location of the power supply). Because of the convex side walls, a larger cooler will fit in and you get normal cable management - you can actually arrange all the cables behind the back wall due to stamping on the side cover. Obviously, for complete management you need long cables, but even short ones can be partially hidden. During operation of the computer with a 7200 rpm HDD, it does not shake, does not jolt, does not vibrate (apparently due to rivets, roundings...) There is a reset button, and a large one Rubber bands under so that the power supply does not gouge on the bottom Wall bolts with knurled heads (plastic, which can be unscrewed with your fingers) There is a rectangular recess on top - you can put something and not be afraid of it falling There are no holes on the side and on top: less dust, less noise (a gaming computer is very hot in this It’s unlikely that anyone will assemble the case) The legs are very high - it would be better to blow out the power supply 2 compartments x 5.25 inches: you can stuff a DVD-ROM into one, and the miracle icedisk 100 with HDD inside in the second (if you are assembling a super quiet computer) There is a hole under 3.5 - you can push the card reader 1 USB 3.0 on the face, and not an extension cord, but at the end a connector in the mother (although if there is no connector on the mother, and the current on the back wall, then with the connector you will fly by) 2 USB 2.0 on the face B set of 2 valves. The front valve with 3-pin power supply to the mother and my mother can adjust the rotation speed, so it turned out to be quiet. HDDs sit on skids. The sled simply rests against the HDD and slides into the runners. Additionally, you can screw in 1 bolt. The slides do not have rubber gaskets, but after additional. fastening with a bolt, the rigidity is good. Subjectively, the HDD vibrates less.
Disadvantages: The front muzzle is completely mesh, the foam does not protect against noise. If you need a quiet system, then you need to think about silence in total. Well, here’s something for you to think about: As in any case with a bottom-mounted power supply, you need to be very careful about the length of the cables - many ordinary power supplies simply won’t reach 4 pins. additional connector mother's power supply The cable management is cheating: there is no room behind the mother and, in theory, the cables should not fit in at all, but they fit in solely thanks to the convex wall, i.e. the cables lie in this convexity. In principle, I don’t care, but you need to arrange the cables more carefully and place them in an even layer. The HDD cage is on the side and the slides are made so that the connectors can only be turned towards the rear wall. Because of this, you have to insert/remove the HDD by removing the rear side cover, and the management cable is hidden there and the wires are compacted there tightly and they all fall out. Or you can also wriggle out and stick your hand behind the basket, but that’s a real hassle. In short, a good basket for those who will not poke screws back and forth. Due to the fact that the rear valve is 3-pin in the mother and she can regulate them, it turned out to be quiet, but I had to move it to the front to cool the screws. The second one is made on Molex and it turns out to be audible, although it is quiet, it turns out to be the loudest on the computer - I turned it off. When blowing out, the tower cooler from the processor blows out well on its own. At the same time, it is quite difficult to remove the muzzle - it is attached to plastic spacers - it is difficult to squeeze them and it is dangerous to break them. The wires of the buttons are shameful, all separately - all the ties are from the set. gone to them Absolutely strange on/off button: you press a regular button and it is recessed inside. but this one has no movement, literally half a millimeter. +I don’t know why, but on two computers, when Windows is turned on and the power button is pressed, the computer stupidly turns off without completing work, although everything is OK in the settings, i.e. I’ll have to forget about turning off the computer from the button on the case, I had to make a shortcut to turn it off. The steel here is obviously 0.6, but despite this it doesn’t vibrate, and what a weight...
Due to the growing fleet of flash drives with USB 3.0 support, it was decided to make a small upgrade.
Due to the fact that the InWin S500 case of my computer was purchased a long time ago, the absence of any interface connectors on the front panel was quite natural. The emergence of affordable flash drives has made some changes. At first I used an extension cable for the ports located behind the computer. Later, I came across a front-panel splitter installed in a 3.5" bay and using additional ports on the motherboard. It was quite comfortable, although some modifications were required. Some time ago, an upgrade of the computer hardware gave me the opportunity to use the USB 3.0 interface, but for some reason my The motherboard on the Z77 chipset did not come with splitters. Maybe this was how it should have been, or maybe the managers stole it, it doesn’t matter now. But I finally decided to correct the situation.
As the Chinese love, the front panel came in a regular package, wrapped in 2 layers of bubble wrap.
Upon unpacking, I discovered that the panel material is iron, not plastic. An annoying oversight - I thought, but there is nothing to do, I have to bet.
Appearance and comparison with the previous front panel:
The body features required improvement. I don't consider this a disadvantage.
Unfortunately, the guide slides are impossible in my case without them. 
Long wires allow you to connect the panel to connectors on the board installed almost anywhere and still have the opportunity to neatly lay the wires. 
Installation, appearance, how it was and how it became:
I was afraid that I would have to modify the iron panel like the old one, but the iron did not let me down.
The only thing I didn't like was that the panel didn't fit flush with the drive. Although after a couple of days I got used to it and didn’t feel any discomfort =)
Functional test, speed and load:
Flash drive (force of habit FAR) read data to zero. Test passed. 
Simulation of charging a crazy phone, thinking that it is connected to the charger:
For the purity of the experiment, an additional “voltmeter” was installed in the adjacent port. With a current of 1.04 Ampere, the loss on the wires was 0.16 Volts. Based on this, the total resistance of the supply conductors along the line and +5V is: 0.16/1.04=0.15 Ohm, which is quite good in my opinion. Considering that, according to the specification, the port can supply up to 0.9 Amperes to the load, the voltage drop will be even less.
There will be no dismemberment, because it is not possible to open it without damaging it.
Instead of a cat - a dinosaur
A real TwinMos USB 1.1 flash drive in good condition, reading speed less than a megabyte per second =) It’s buggy on modern hardware, but works perfectly on old hardware.
Approximately purchased in 2004 
Let's summarize:
Did not like:
-iron material
-color
-they spared the bolts in the kit
Liked:
-works =)
- no burrs
-The coating is quite durable, no scratches from flash drives have been found yet.
-acceptable wire resistance (purely my opinion, unfortunately there is nothing to compare with)
Conclusion: you can take it.
ps why I bought this particular panel - as always, I was in a hurry, my $5 coupon was burning (honestly earned). Therefore, the additional payment in real money amounted to slightly less than a dollar.
I'm planning to buy +36 Add to favorites I liked the review +27 +60
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