Installation:

As mentioned before, you'll want to install the PSU first in this case. It's just better this way, as there's no worry of hitting the motherboard or other components when you're putting in something bulky like a PSU. The PSU installed without incident and fit perfectly in the Luna.

PSU installed.

Motherboard area.

No standoffs installed.

No standoffs are preinstalled - you have to screw all of them in. I would've preferred if Sigma had put the standoffs in the most common positions (for an ATX motherboard) as this would've been a nice little time-saver. Furthermore, the Luna had an atypical ATX I/O panel preinstalled; usually most cases come with one that can be easily popped out. Instead, the one on the Luna had to be torn out, much like drive bay shields. This really is an unnecessary burden, since the torn-out shield is useless. Since layouts vary so much among motherboards nowadays, (and motherboards always come with a shield of their own) Sigma should've just left the space completely open, rather than force the user to tear out a piece of sharp metal.

Furthermore, the bottom of the case has a prominent lip that extends upwards a bit; this makes it a little more troublesome to get the bottom screws on the motherboard into place. I would've appreciated a little more attention to details with respect to motherboard installation on the Luna, as right now, things are a little tedious.

This has to be torn out.

Motherboard installed.

Securing an expansion card.

Installing expansion cards is, thankfully, a breeze with the tool-less system. You simply flip the retainer up, install the card, and snap the retainer back down into position. It's fairly secure, though maybe not as secure as using screws. However, as you can see in the pictures, you can always use a screw to further secure a card, since the tool-less system does not block the screw holes.

Very easy.

Hard to get HDDs lined up.

HDD installed; quite secure.

Moving on to HDD installation with the tool-less drive bays, we run into some more minor problems that aggravate the installation process. The HDD cage is fairly typical, but with the tool-less system it's hard to know when the HDD is lined up properly for the pegs to go into the screw holes properly to secure the drive. There are simply no stops at the back of the HDD cage so it's easy to push the HDD too far in, or not far enough. This could've easily been solved by putting tabs at the end of the cage so that it would be easy to line up the HDD properly by pushing it all the way back. This is another minor detail that, unfortunately, ends up making installation harder than it should be.

External drive install is easy.

Latch closed.

Almost done.

External drive installation with the tool-less system, however, is dead simple. This is because it's easy to know when the drive is lined up properly for the pegs, since you simply have to make sure it's flush with the front of the case. As mentioned before, you have to secure the drives on both sides, which means you have to remove both side panels.

Conclusion:

The Sigma Luna Type W case provides a strong list of features coupled with a nice appearance and easy tool-less installation. All of this is packaged into a nice mid-tower-sized case that still manages to offer a decent number of drive bays, along with a window and a fancy-looking front door. The lightweight nature of the case will also make it ideal for many people, not just people who regularly attend LAN parties.

However, certain design flaws mar an otherwise decent case. These include the inability to use a 120mm fan up front, and difficulties in installing HDDs easily using the tool-less system. If Sigma can fix these problems, the Luna will certainly be a case to be reckoned with.

Pros:

• Black aluminum construction

• Lightweight

• Tool-less installation

• Numerous drive bays

• Window and side 80mm LED fan

Cons:

• HDD installation tedious

• Cannot fit a 120mm fan despite there being a position for it

• Motherboard installation could be easier

Thanks to Sigma for making this review possible.

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