Introduction
What do you look for in a computer case? Size, ease of setup, weight,
cooling efficiency, noise, price and looks are all top priorities, but your
individual needs may rank some of these considerations higher than others.
I've reviewed cases that place weight at the top spot (the aluminum Antec Super
LanBoy comes to mind), others for looks (the MGE Sidewinder is a
standout) and
others that seem content with being well-rounded. The customized CCLX-6A19
from PDI (coolcases.com) puts quietness and top quality construction in the
spotlight. Is it possible to be content with a beige box in this day and
age of fancy graphics, neon and windows? The answer is a resounding
"YES".
Overview
When I received the ATX-8000 from the Diceman, I took one look at it and
wondered if he was just feeling sorry for me and sent me an old office
castoff. Then I took a second look. And a third. Eventually, I
knew that he wasn't completely off his rocker. Talk about a sleeper!
The side mounted 120mm fan complete with rubber isolation mounts, high quality
dust screen and no-nonsense grill was my first clue that this case had more to
it. Closer inspection of the exterior revealed quality latches on the side
panel (that actually work).
Taking off the side panel (using the latches
that actually work) netted the biggest Oooh...Ahhhh...that I've had in a long
while when looking at a computer case. The entire inside is basically
upholstered (for want of a better term) with fire-retardant Sonex Sound
insulation foam. Nice. A nice long gander at the inside also
identified a front mounted 120mm fan (temperature controlled, no less), a
matching 120mm in the rear and all the requisite hardware required to get up and
running. Five minutes spent examining the case was all it took to convince
me that I was looking at a case that had been engineered with quality in
mind. And one look at the invoice told me the reason: This case came
out of the shop of Jim Hanson. Jim has been at the
forefront of custom case building since it became a part of the modding
world. Like me, he started his enterprise in the late 90's in his home,
and (unlike me) has been steadily cranking out better and better products this
whole time. How many companies can lay claim to five-plus years of steady,
tightly focused service to the discriminating PC enthusiast? Not many.
Let's take a closer look.
