Fractal Design’s Define XL R2 is an EATX chassis with a deceptively simple exterior that hides a wealth of features that will satisfy almost any user. This chassis has great cooling potential with seven different 140/120mm fan mounting locations (including one on the side panel), but also has several acoustic dampening features that make it a great choice for those looking for a quiet system.
Product Review: Fractal Design Define R4
Fractal Design’s exclusivity agreement with Newegg has recently ended, so over the past month we have been looking at a number of their chassis to determine if there were any that we would be interested in offering to our customers.
After looking at a number of different models, we found the Define R4. The Define R4 has an emphasis on quiet operation (as evidenced by the front door and built-in acoustic dampening) which fits well in our product line; but the size, number and location of the fan mounts means that it can very easily be converted into a chassis with very powerful cooling. In this article, we will be looking at the features of this chassis and examining it’s cooling potential to see if it is a chassis that could find a place in our product line.
Product Review: BitFenix Prodigy
The BitFenix Prodigy has received quite a bit of attention on the web recently, but the PC community is divided over whether or not it is actually good chassis. While it is bigger than a normal mini-ITX chassis, it offers a very wide range of cooling and hard drive customization options. In this article we will be looking at these customization options and many other features to determine if this chassis would be a good addition to our current chassis product line.
Product Qualification: Antec P280 Chassis
IN this article, we will be reviewing the Antec P280 which is a great chassis for a wide range of system configurations, but really shines in keeping high-end configurations both cool and quiet. Lower power configurations may run quieter in other chassis such as the Antec P183 V3, but since Antec is advertising this chassis as a high-performance option this is not much of a surprise. This chassis is close to ideal, but for a few small issues that will keep us from carrying this chassis.
Product Qualification: Antec Solo II
The Solo II is Antec’s latest addition to their Sonata family of chassis and is designed primarily for quiet operation of low to mid range systems. This chassis includes many features for quiet computing, a high-quality stock fan and USB 3.0 connectivity to keep it in line with the latest technology. However, is this chassis solid enough to justify it’s high MSRP value of $129?
Side Panel Fans: Are They Worth It?
Adequate cooling is always a concern when using high-end hardware. In this article we will examine the cooling advantages a side fan can give to an otherwise normal system.
Product Qualification: Lancool PC-K9B
The PC-K9B is a mid tower chassis from Lancool’s “First Knight” series. It is available in black, silver and a black version with a painted black interior. For this qualification, we will be reviewing the basic black version.
Product Review: Silverstone TJ08-E
The Silverstone TJ08-E is the successor to the popular Silverstone TJ08. Today we will be reviewing the case to see if it is worthy of replacing the Silvestone TJ08.
Product Review: BitFenix Shinobi Black w/ Window
The BitFenix Shinobi is a case designed with budget consumers in mind. Looking at this case though, it is clear that a cheap price does not necessarily mean cheap construction. All too often, budget cases feel flimsy and the design not fully thought through. Luckily, the Shinobi has neither of those problems.
Case Comparison: Antec P182 vs. P183
There has been a lot of talk about whether or not the new Antec P183 is truly an improvement over the old Antec P182. The P182 has long been one of our favorite cases at Puget Systems, so there is some resistance to the P183 taking over the role as the flagship case in our lineup. The question is: is the P183 truly superior to the P182, or is the latest revision of the P180 series a step in the wrong direction?