Ahanix dboX Computer Case Review Author: Alan Wong Date Posted: October 21st, 2003 SLRating: Bottom Line: The last few years have given rise to cases with modded windows – a practice previously unheard of. Now it’s a growing a trend to have a modded PC case with a side panel window. With so many options available which should you choose? We reviewed the Ahanix dboX and liked it although there were a few minor issues. Read on to find out what we found in our official review....... Article Navigation Introduction Specifications Packaging External Features Internal Features System Installation Conclusions Gallery Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> Discuss This Article

System Installation

How would we know if a case is good unless we actually install all the components of a PC in it and run it?

We decided to install the essentials of an everyday PC:

Processor: AMD Athlon XP 2800+ (Barton Core)

Cooling: CoolerMaster Aero 7 Lite CPU Fan

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-7N400 Pro2 Motherboard

Graphics Card: PNY GeForceFX 5200 8x

RAM: Patriot 512 MB PC3200 DDR400

Hard Drive: Western Digital 200GB Hard Drive w/ 8mb Buffer (Model WD2000JB)

Optical Drive: Memorex Dual Format DVD Recorder

Power Supply: Allied 400W PSU w/ Bottom Intake Fan (Purchased Seperately and is not included with the case)

Cables: Cables Unlimited Rounded ATA133 IDE Cables

Installing the components into the Ahanix dBox wasn’t that hard, however, there were some small annoyances. There was the alarm stuck in the middle of the case and to be honest, it was basically a nuisance. When I received the case, one of the alarm wires was disconnected and so it didn’t work. The alarm also made it difficult to install my motherboard, since I had to tilt my motherboard when trying to place it in the case so that I could avoid scratching my motherboard with the alarm. (If you look very carefully at the picture, you will notice that the red wire is connected while the black one isn’t).

When we started up the system, it was relatively quiet. We put the temperature sensor in between the optical and the power supply so that we would get the most accurate temperature reading. Also, our room temperature was 90^oF.

The default fan speed was set at Level 3, which kept the case at 42^oC.

We then set the fans at Level 10 (the Maximum). The fans noise increased so much that the sounds of my CoolerMaster Aero 7 Lite Heatsink (at maximum RPM, which is pretty loud) was not audible. The only things audible were the 2 cases fans. The temperature at Level 10 was 40^oC.

These temperatures weren’t attractive at all. Usually case temperatures are in their 30’s. The fact that this case only has one exhaust fan is a drawback and is probably the cause of such high temperatures. My PCMCIS 2008G Case (which had an included Generic Case fan and a secondary CoolerMaster DAF-B82 Case Fan) had temperatures around 38^oC at most. Overall, the case temperature wasn’t unbearable but it wasn’t that good either. You might want to try getting the Aluminum version of the dBox if you are a cooling fanatic, since aluminum conducts heat better than steel.

Conclusions

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