Introduction:

In-Win Matrix Case

   IN-WIN, computer cases, power supplies, drive enclosures. They are a fairly well known company around here, and while I haven’t reviewed one of their PC cases before, this isn’t the first IN-WIN case I’ve used. When my family needed a new system, I chose a case that is very similar to the Matrix, the BK623 has a very unassuming name, and doesn’t look quite as clean beside the Matrix, but internally they are identical.

The Matrix is marketted as IN-WIN's 'Tiny Tower' gaming case. Meant for someone who wants a clean setup, the case hides almost every thing behind it's white panels, including the cables that normally make up such a rats nest behind most systems.

Case Size: Tiny Tower Chassis

Material: Pearl metallic-painted plastic panel SECC ECO Streel

Dimension(HxWxD): 1. 13.6'' × 5.9'' × 13.7'' 2. 346 × 150 × 347mm

Data Security: Padlock loop for padlock

Power Supply: 1. SFX 12V 2. 300W

I/O Expansion Slots: 4×Full Height PCI/AGP expansion Slots

Thermal Solution: 1. Intel Mt. Jade Ref. Design 2. Partition Plate Cooling Tech(PPCT) 3. 8cm Fan for HDD

External Drive Bay: 1. 5.25'' x 1 2. 3.5'' x 1

Internal Drive Bay: 3.5'' x 1

M/B: Micro ATX

Safety: 1. Meets RoHS 2. CE and FCC Class B Requirement

Overview:

While the two case’s internal workings are the same, that doesn’t mean the Matrix has only cosmetic changes to distinguish itself. It is actually difficult to tell which part of the case should be the front and back at first glance. The entire case is as close to a single surface as I can imagine a case getting.

On the front, there are 3 fold out covers. One for the optical drive, one for the ‘floppy’ drive (I use the term loosely) and the last for the USB/audio ports. Each cover has 2 very small, but very powerful magnets to keep the doors closed.

No matter how good most cases look on the front, usually they seem to completely ignore the back. You can understand why, most of the time anyway, you setup a machine, tuck it away under a desk and don’t move it until something blows up. So the Matrix having it’s “cable management” makes it stand out, and helps make it suitable for more locations than many other cases.

The one real issue that comes from IN-WIN’s choice is that it requires a special cable for your video out. And the only cable IN-WIN includes is for VGA. I don’t know where or even if, you could find a similar cable for DVI, but it is possible that some HDMI connectors would be able to bend enough and not require anything special. Even so, it does limit the possible customer base for the Matrix. It might be marketed as a ‘gaming’ case, but I think it is well suited for a Home theatre setup with its clean looks.

If you aren’t using onboard video however, there is another panel that can be removed to allow direct access to the top PCI slot. This way no adaptor is needed.

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