MaximumPC 2003 12

Ahanix Blu III

Don’t be taken in by its good looks

W

hen we saw the Blu III’s unique backlit LCD display, we

found it hard to believe that the case costs just $79. Then we

discovered some of the corners that Ahanix cut, and the low

price began making sense.

The spinning fan graphic in the LCD display, for example, doesn’t seem

to do anything except light up when the case is powered on. It indicates

neither fan speed nor activity. The bar graph representing power is also

static. In short, if you were hoping for a full-fledged fan-bus controller,

you're out of luck. To its credit, the LCD does display time, temperature,

and hard disk activity, just not the full enchilada.

Apparently, aluminum and other exotic metals weren’t within Ahanix’s

$70 budget. Nonetheless, the interior is well laid out, and all the edges are

rolled to prevent accidental lacerations during component swapping. You’ll

also find ample space for your drives—four 5.25-inch bays and seven 3.5-

inch bays. The top two 5.25-inch bays feature spring-loaded trap doors that

hide their optical drives—a slick addition that helps keep the front fascia

neat and hides off-color drive bezels. Don’t expect a mounting rail system

or quick-release drive cages, as none will be found. You also won’t find an

included power supply (though, considering the PSUs typically bundled with

budget boxes, that’s not such a bad thing).

In the cooling department, there are no worries thanks to mountings for

four 80mm case fans. Supplementary USB, FireWire, and audio connectors

can be found conveniently

clustered on the right side of

the front bezel.

This case is fine in terms

of pure functionality, but it

doesn’t boast exquisite build

quality or a pampering tactile

feel. We would like to have

seen more features in the LCD,

but that’s probably asking too

much for $80.

—DWIGHT LOOI

Cool-looking LCD display, trap doors for optical

drives, ample fan mountings, affordable price.

GORGEOUS DATE

EXPIRATION DATE

LCD is more show than go, and overall the

package is rather low-budget.

.

$79 (w/o PSU or fans), http://www.ahanix.com

MAXIMUMPC VERDICT

Cooler Master Centurion CAC-T01

The premiere case-builder cuts too many corners

I

t’s no secret that Cooler Master is the Mercedes-Benz of aluminum

case manufacturers, and that its enclosures are favored by top-tier

boutique vendors such as Voodoo PC and Falcon Northwest. But for the

average Jane and Joe, Cooler Masters have always had one flaw: They’re

too damned pricey.

Enter the new Centurion CAC-T01, Cooler Master’s direct response

to all the pricing protests. Unfortunately, the Centurion aims too low, and

makes far too many compromises in its quest to sneak below the magical

$100 mark.

The Centurion’s front bezel is aluminum, and does a reasonably good

job of making the case look expensive. There are also conveniently located

USB, FireWire, microphone, and headphone connectors at the base of the

front panel. But that’s the extent of the case’s endearing qualities. Like a

Victorian façade on a 1970s’ stucco building, the charm ends once you

open the door.

The rest of the case—wrought from thin sheets of galvanized steel—is

finished to a standard that would be passable for most low-priced cases,

but is uncharacteristically shoddy for Cooler Master. The top and side

panels don a thin coat of uninspired black paint, and the back panel is

left unpainted. The expansion slot and optional I/O port openings are

covered by slapdash breakaway covers. Look inside the case, and you’ll

find crudely rolled edges that dutifully prevent accidental bloodshed, but

lack any cosmetic pretense. There is no removable mobo tray or drive

rail system, and you’ll find just plain vanilla mountings for four 5.25-inch

drives, four 3.5-inch drives (two of which are front accessible), and two

80mm fans.

The case is functionally

adequate, sturdy, and relatively

inexpensive. Its construction

is unremarkable, but not

horrendous. If the Centurion

was from a no-name vendor,

it would have blended into the

vast sea of other nondescript

cases, and we would have

little to say about it. However,

as a carrier of the Cooler

Master banner, it strikes us as

a huge disappointment.

—DWIGHT LOOI

CM’s foray into

lower-priced

territory makes

us all too aware

of what we

lose when

we pay less.

Genuine aluminum front bezel, front-panel

connectors.

LIBERTY BELL

TACO BELL

Low-rent construction through and through.

$69 (w/o PSU or fans),

http://www.coolermaster.com

6

MAXIMUMPC VERDICT

The Blu III’s

LCD might look

impressive,

but it offers

minimal

functionality.

Reviews

108 MAXIMUMPC DECEMBER 2003

16.7”

18.6”

7.7”

7

18.5”

17”

8”