5844 MA XIMMA XIMUUMMPPCC AUGUST 2004SEPTEMBER 2004
Xoxide UFO
This unusual case is part Borg, part
Battlebot, and part Hellraiser all rolled
into one 18-inch cube. Easily the size
of two mid-towers placed side-by-
side, the UFO is a three-windowed
beast that consumes more than 3.3
cubic feet. The model we received
was fully equipped, with no less
than seven cold-cathode lights and
almost a dozen fans. It also includes
five 5.25-inch bays and room for nine
hard drives. The sheer terror this case
evokes doesn’t come cheap, however;
the bare-bones version of the case
costs more than $300, and the fully
loaded version is twice that amount.
Unfortunately, the case’s coolness
factor diminished as we worked with
it. Instead of individual panels, the
case is built out of two three-sided
sections. These oversized sections are
difficult to work with because the top
section must be lifted out and the fan
connectors unplugged. With so many
fans and lights, the case’s interior is
a massive tangle of wires before you
even install your first PC component.
Worse yet, for all the case’s bells and
whistles, it’s missing a front I/O port!
The UFO is huge, pretty, cre-
atively built, and certainly unique.
Unfortunately, its awkward design will
turn off all but the most hardcore case
modders.MA XIMUMPC VERDICT: 6
GALACTUS: One of the most creative prefab
cases we’ve ever seen.
DR. DOOM: Awkward to work with, pricey, and
rat’s nest wiring.
$600 ($300 for bare version),
http://www.xoxide.comSilverstone Temjin SST-TJ05
Silverstone’s newest tower is a drop-
dead beautiful behemoth that is fully-
loaded and bears a striking likeness to
Cooler Master’s famed Wave Master
case. This makes sense, as we’ve heard
that both cases were designed by the
same person. The Temjin TJ05 com-
bines many of the Wave Master’s fea-
tures—including a subtly curved front
bezel—with the clean, neat design of
Silverstone’s Nimiz case (which received
a 9 verdict and a Kick Ass award and is
home to this year’s Dream Machine).
The front panel even has a small LCD
screen that displays time, motherboard
temperature, and other features.
The Temjin TJ05’s interior is just as
brilliant as its exterior. Maneuvering
through the incredibly spacious case is
a simple matter of turning thumbscrews
and sliding plastic levers—no tools
needed here. Every drive bay uses a rail
that is stored neatly on the case’s floor.
PCI cards are secured using a set of
plastic locks that, while not the sturdiest
we’ve seen, work quite well. The only
time you’ll need a screwdriver is when
installing the motherboard.
The downfall to all this ATX real
estate is that this baby weighs a ton,
and we’re disappointed by the steel
construction. Its full-size stature and
weight limit the case to stay-at-home
duty, but we can’t think of too many
better cases for the job.MA XIMUMPC VERDICT: 9
FU MANCHU: Beautiful, sturdy, clever design,
and tons of great features.
MANDARIN: Aluminum would have been
better than steel frame.
$180, http://www.silverstonetek.comCASE STUDIES
Windy Jazz Take 5
This case is imported from Japan
and boasts a super-lightweight
design thanks to its aluminum mesh
construction. The mesh material also
enhances airflow by allowing cool
breezes to float in from any angle.
The most notable design element,
however, is its unusual stepped front
bezel, which is comprised of six 5.25-
inch drive bays. Unfortunately, none
of the steps has a front I/O port.
The Take 5 is well-constructed,
but not incredibly sturdy—the mesh
walls don’t feel nearly as resistant to
bumps and scratches as other solid
metal or aluminum enclosures.
The case is a snap to work on
and in, with a slide-out motherboard
tray and two removable drive cages
that hold two drives apiece. The
slanted step design makes things a
bit cramped near the top of the case,
but it’s not a major issue. Cooling
options are barely adequate though,
with a 120mm fan above the AGP
slot and a 60mm fan in the bottom
of the front bezel. Several additional
cooling kits are available, but consid-
ering this case already costs $400,
they should be included. The outra-
geously high price tag can be partly
attributed to the 500W PSU. A non-
PSU version is available for $300.MA XIMUMPC VERDICT: 7
GUNDAM: Super-light with lots of nice
features.
SPEED RACER: Way too pricey, no front I/O
ports, and extra fans shouldn’t cost more.
$400, http://www.soldam.com