Mid-Tower Mega Roundup
by Joshua Buss on September 8, 2005 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
Sunbeam Trio
Still, at the relatively cheap end of the spectrum is Sunbeam's Trio case. As the time of writing, it was available for as little as $70 online. For the most part, the Trio looks more like a gamer's case, but this doesn't mean that it couldn't appeal to a slightly more mature crowd either.
Finished in a glossy piano-black shine not unlike the X-Cruiser, the Trio is another case where keeping a cotton cloth on hand to keep it clean will make a big difference. The front bezel is entirely made of plastic, except for the metal ventilation grill on the right.
The typical auxiliary ports are on the right side of the case, but there are also volume controls for the headphone out and microphone input, which is definitely a nice touch.
Opening the large plastic front door gives us a look at the four optical bays, two floppy bays, power and reset buttons and LEDs.
Also notice how, like the X-Cruiser, the Trio has three blue gauges monitoring volume, fan speed, and temperature. In the following close-up, note how this case's gauges are better labeled than the ones on the Aspire.
Moving on, let's take a look at the rear of this case.
There are a couple of things to point out about the back exhaust, the first of which is the perforation. While the holes certainly look big enough, there's actually just about as much metal here as space for air to pass through, which is a less efficient design than the spacious hexagon cutouts that other cases have in this roundup.
Luckily, it does have something going for it that most of these cases do not, and that is the option of running either dual 80mm or a single 120mm fan. The trio does include a 120mm one though, so unless there's a much better use for it elsewhere, it probably makes the most sense just to leave it there.
To get a better idea of what the Trio looks like from the side, we're going to jump immediately to some pictures of the case with the test bed fully installed.
Still, at the relatively cheap end of the spectrum is Sunbeam's Trio case. As the time of writing, it was available for as little as $70 online. For the most part, the Trio looks more like a gamer's case, but this doesn't mean that it couldn't appeal to a slightly more mature crowd either.
Finished in a glossy piano-black shine not unlike the X-Cruiser, the Trio is another case where keeping a cotton cloth on hand to keep it clean will make a big difference. The front bezel is entirely made of plastic, except for the metal ventilation grill on the right.
The typical auxiliary ports are on the right side of the case, but there are also volume controls for the headphone out and microphone input, which is definitely a nice touch.
Opening the large plastic front door gives us a look at the four optical bays, two floppy bays, power and reset buttons and LEDs.
Also notice how, like the X-Cruiser, the Trio has three blue gauges monitoring volume, fan speed, and temperature. In the following close-up, note how this case's gauges are better labeled than the ones on the Aspire.
Moving on, let's take a look at the rear of this case.
There are a couple of things to point out about the back exhaust, the first of which is the perforation. While the holes certainly look big enough, there's actually just about as much metal here as space for air to pass through, which is a less efficient design than the spacious hexagon cutouts that other cases have in this roundup.
Luckily, it does have something going for it that most of these cases do not, and that is the option of running either dual 80mm or a single 120mm fan. The trio does include a 120mm one though, so unless there's a much better use for it elsewhere, it probably makes the most sense just to leave it there.
To get a better idea of what the Trio looks like from the side, we're going to jump immediately to some pictures of the case with the test bed fully installed.
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xsilver - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link
just because you like the "stealth" look it doesnt mean everybody else doeswhy is there a market for car neons?
why is there a market for phone covers and ringtones?
but good god, that thermalrock case needs to DIAF! :P
smn198 - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link
http://www.chavscum.co.uk">Chavsimaheadcase - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link
Well its evident there is a market, but your comparing apples to oranges. Its computer part not something everyone builds themselves. If you have people buying power ranger cases that built computers, then they need a new hobbie..xsilver - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link
who says you have to build a system yourself?dont your local pc store (not best buy etc) stock their cases from somewhere?
if some 10 year old (or some tryhard that doesnt know how to build his own) wants a pc, what case is he going to choose, crappy bling neons or real aluminium?
dont get me wrong -- I prefer stealth too - but I do realize that there is a market for crappy neons :P
raildogg - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link
ThermalRock Eclipse looks sweet, although I'd still get a P-180.why would you pay that much for the V1000? rather get a cheaper case like a P-180
oh and primo posto! :)
OvErHeAtInG - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link
I was going to to correct you with "primer poste" until I realized you typed the Italian... a race fan should know... *hits himself...*ksherman - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link
I personally dont think any case should be worth so much... unless it was the MOST amazing theng ever to hit the world... which I dont think the V1000 lives up to. I personally dont like the look of the Eclipse... to flashy, and it actually looks kind of cheap. But it might look different in person. I am a big fan of the Sonata 1 so, I would guess the #2 would be better, but it doesnt seem to include a PSU from what I have seen...Furen - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link
The Sonata 2 does include a PS: a SmartPower 2.0 450w. The problem with it is the fact that it's quite a bit louder than the original TruePower and the TruePower2 of the newer Sonatas.