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

Conclusion

Since we are drawing near to the end of the review, we will go over a quick overview. The case is black with Silver Front Panel. There are 2 pre-installed Silver CD Bay Bezels to help cover up your optical drives while at the same time let you open the drive by popping the disc tray out of the bezel. This feature is one of the unique highlights to this case, since it helps you cover up any ugly colored optical drives from mixing with the slick silver of the case (and many other cases don’t have these). There is big window side panel which holds high potential for all sorts of modding (e.g. Cathode Lights, LED Fans, EL Wires, UV sensitive ATA Cables, etc). There is also the Integrated Circuit Board (ICB) which is located at the front of the case and monitors the case temperature and lets you control the speed/loudness of your fans. Opening and upgrading this system is an ease with the Thumbscrews as well as the removable expansion slot covers.

The thing that was distasteful about the case was the cooling. There are only 2 fans (one front 120mm fan and one rear exhaust 80mm fan). Despite the fact that there is a 120mm fan, cooling wasn’t exactly great, since it reached up to low 40’s when in use. There aren’t any other more places to place fans into the case. The only alternative to cooling would be if you added some 3^rd party cooling accessories (e.g. Expansion Slot Coolers).

Even though cooling was mediocre, with a great slick look, convenient front panel case fan control, LED Case temperature display, as well as a big window side panel, the Ahanix dBox receives a SLRating of 9/10. We would like to thank ColorCase.com for providing us with the Ahanix dBox.

Pros:

• Slick Silver Front Panel with Black Case
• Large Window Side Panel for Modding
• Stealth CD Bezels to cover optical drives, yet allow drive tray to pop out
• Integrated Circuit Unit (ICB) allows Case temperature monitoring and Case Fan Speed Adjustments
• Blue LED Light Installed just Above 5.25" Bay to give case a nice touch
• Removable Expansion Slot Covers
• Thumbscrews makes opening case very easy

Cons:

• Somewhat Poor Cooling (Case temperature was at 40^oC on maximum fan speed. Our Testing unit was the Steel version. Aluminum version might have better result, since it conducts heat better)
• Case Alarm gets in the way of installing motherboard and also came disconnected

SLRating: 9/10

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