MaximumPC 2004 04

Reviews

80 MAXIMUMPC APRIL 2004

L

ike people, cars, and cheese

products, PC cases come in a

wide variety of shapes, sizes,

and colors. But what’s the difference

between a top-of-the-line enclosure

and a bargain basement case? You’re

about to find out.

—JOHN LIRA

Chenbro PC6166 Gaming Bomb

We know what you’re thinking: that

the Gaming Bomb looks cheap. This

was our first impres-

sion too, but looks can

be deceiving. Upon

closer investigation,

we found the Gaming

Bomb to be surpris-

ingly, er, bomb-like.

This mid-tower

case’s front bezel

comes in four dif-

ferent colors (blue,

green, silver, or

orange) and is

easily removed via

two plastic tabs on

the case’s interior.

Although the rest of

the case is made of

metal, the bezel itself

is made of plastic and

includes a perforated lower half with

a soft filter on its interior for sifting

the air that enters the case from the

front. Holes are drilled for 80mm or

92mm fans, but no fan is included. A

well-stocked front I/O port is included

as well, with two audio jacks, two USB

2.0 ports, and a FireWire port. Overall,

the front of the case is well designed

and packed with useful features.

The case’s side panel includes a

standard locking mechanism, and

the door is released by shifting a

single plastic tab upward. Operating

the door is effortless, and we dig the

window’s subtle yet cool design. If

you’re into the contemporary clear

look, the Gaming Bomb optionally

comes configured with a trans-

parent acrylic door.

The case’s internals surprised

and delighted us. The case includes

seven internal drive bays: three 3.5-

inch, and four 5.25-inch that are

mounted with included plastic rails.

Extra rails are kept secure in a holder

on the floor of the case, and a cable

caddy will help you keep your front

I/O wires tidy. The Gaming Bomb

uses an innovative screwless design

for holding add-in cards in place;

while it works fairly well, the plastic

parts it uses feel flimsy and fragile.

The case’s rear includes mounting

holes for a 92mm or 120mm fan,

but again, no fan is included.

The Chenbro doesn’t come with

a power supply, but it costs just $45,

for crying out loud! Considering its

rock-bottom price, this low-cost case

totally exceeds our expectations.

It’s not just a fantastic case for the

money, but a fantastic case overall.

SilverStone Nimiz

SilverStone is a high-

end case manufacturer

intent on building

the absolute best

cases in the industry,

price be damned. A

prime example of this philosophy

is the company’s warship-sounding

Nimiz—an expensive case abso-

lutely loaded with features.

The all-aluminum Nimiz is cer-

tainly pleasing to the eye. In a market

dominated by bling, we’re happy to

see such elegance. The front bezel

sports a dual-door design that uses

tiny embedded magnets to keep the

doors shut. The top door swings out

to reveal six 5.25-inch drive bays.

The lower door provides convenient

access to the front fan filter and sports

a push-release cover for the bay of I/O

ports. FireWire, dual USB 2.0, mic,

and headphone jacks are all present

and accounted for. Despite the case’s

overall sturdy construction, we admit

to feeling slightly disappointed with

the flimsy nature of the two case

doors. Both rattled around on their

hinges, and the weak magnets used

to keep them closed consistently

failed. When tipped to the front or

side, the doors come loose and swing

open. Because full-tower cases like

the Nimiz aren’t designed to be trans-

ported, this isn’t that big a deal in a

product that offers a welcome alterna-

tive to Cooler Master’s Wave Master.

SilverStone bucks the side-window

trend by going with a solid panel,

and maintains a clean, classy look as

a result. The side panel is attached via

three thumbscrews, allowing it to be

easily removed along with the moth-

erboard tray. Complementing the six

5.25-inch bays are six internal 3.5-inch

bays, which is more than sufficient.

Located on the case’s rump is a power

supply slot that accepts either a redun-

dant power supply or a standard ATX

unit. Interior cooling is achieved with

80mm fans mounted on the front

and top; two optional rear 80mm fans

bring the total up to four.

With its classy construction,

room for growth, and superb cooling

system, the Nimiz is a power-user’s

dream come true.

PC Case Clash

High-end competes against low-end, with surprising results

The Gaming

Bomb

possesses

features you’d

find in cases

costing twice

as much.

classy exterior provides a

welcome reprieve from a market

dominated by side windows, neon

tubes, and laser lights.

the Gaming Bomb looks cheap. This

was our first impres-

is made of plastic and

The Gaming includes a perforated lower half with

The Nimiz’

Excellent features, sturdy construction, tastefully

appointed.

CRISTAL

COOKS

Magnets that keep the front doors shut are too weak.

$285, http://www.silverstonetek.com

MAXIMUMPC VERDICT 9

SilverStone Nimiz

Screwless design, support for different size fans,

useful front I/O port, affordable.

ALIEN QUADRILOGY

ALIEN PROBE

Flimsy plastic arms on the screwless PCI card locks,

no motherboard tray.

$45, http://www.chenbro.com.tw

MAXIMUMPC VERDICT 9

Chenbro PC6166

end case manufacturer