Fractal Design Node 804 Review

In the last few years the demand for compact cases has increased, both micro and mini systems have seen their popularity grow exponentially. With both the quality and quantity of components available expanding, it is important to offer users a wide range of options when it comes to the enclosures for the aforementioned components, aka a nice computer case.

Fractal Design has in the past, with its Node series, presented a few interesting options for compact builds, namely the 304 and the 605. The product we will be reviewing today, the 804, also belongs to the Node family and visually looks somewhat similar to the 304, in terms of functionality though, it is a whole other beast, but more on that later.

The Node 804 comes in a standard cardboard box that while not colorful, does the job of protecting the case (hard styrofoam) and listing most of the main features present on the 804. The final layer of protection is a plastic bag that will prevent dust and other debris from reaching the case.

Inside the cardboard box, and bundled with the case, you will find a very detailed user manual with step-by-step instructions on how to assemble everything inside the 804. While this level of detail could be considered overkill on a standard case, in this context, and considering the uniqueness factor associated with the 804, it's just the right amount of information to allow you a quick and uneventful build.

Aside from the manual, you will also encounter all the screws and standoffs you could ever want, more importantly, inside the actual case you will find 3x120mm fans from Fractal's Silent Series. Taking into consideration the dual-chamber design of the 804, having only 1 or 2 fans pre-installed would not suffice, thankfully Fractal decided to include a third cooling unit that should help out quite a bit.

Finally, and much like the Core 2500 that we've reviewed previously (Link), the Node 804 also comes with a built-in fan controller that allows you to manually control the speed (high, medium or low) of 3 fans. While this is a great extra, a more accessible spot for the controller would've been nice to see.

The unique cube-like shape of the Node 804 will certainly appeal to a lot of users and enthusiastic builders out there. While it's an incredibly compact case, the way Fractal designed and structured its interior space allows for multiple configurations. Support for long power supplies, a colossal number of hard-drives(10-12 depending on your cable management abilities), multiple graphics cards (5 expansion slots), great flexibility in terms of cooling options, the 804 seems to have it all.

Going back to the aforementioned cooling options, there are a total of 10 slots where you can place your fans, all of the intake positions - namely the front, top and bottom - are filtered, preventing dust from accumulating inside your machine. On top of that, all the filters are very high-quality, particularly the one from the top of the case.

Regarding CPU coolers, you can fit one that goes up to 160mm in height, meaning that even a "beast" like the Noctua NH-D14 is an option here. Liquid cooling is also a very viable alternative, both the right and left chamber of the Node 804 support the installation of radiators.

Visually we've got to give credit to Fractal Design, the Node 804 looks amazing. While its shape is basically a cube, the sleek curvature on the front panel combined with its brushed aluminum texture, give it a unique and charming personality.

Much like every other case from Fractal, the 804 feels very minimalist in terms of visual design with only a small hint of a logo at the bottom right corner accompanied by a discreet power led.

On the left side of the case there's a generously sized side-window that reveals most of your internal components.

Moving to the right you will find the power button, 2 usb 3.0 ports, your microphone and headphone jacks and a slot for a slim ODD, unfortunately no reset button is present.

At the top, and like I previously mentioned, you will find quite a large and high quality mesh that should prevent dust from settling into case, while at the same time acting as a sort of noise-blocker.

Finally at the back, besides the slots for your exhaust fans and the fan controller, there's not much to see.

In regards to construction quality, the little cube holds up pretty well, showing no signs of flex or flimsiness. The side panels in particular are extremely solid, even the left one with the window feels strong and sturdy. With a price tag of $109 (give or take), the Node 804 is certainly an impressive little case.

Final Thoughts

Even considering the tough competitors that it will be up against, the Node 804 easily holds its ground by presenting itself as something completely different. While it's still a relatively tiny case, the ingenious dual chamber design grants users with a ton of space to keep the interior of their case all neat and tidy, improving air flow, adding expandability thanks to the many HDD and SDD slots available and even separating your cool components from the ones that produce the most heat.

At the end of the day, and taking everything into consideration, Fractal did a great job with the 804 and I would recommend it to everyone who is looking to build a more compact system.

The Good
+Great design
+Brushed aluminum at the front
+Multiple configurations
+Solid construction
+Detailed manual
+Dual chamber
+Price
+A ton of dust filters included

The Bad
-No reset button
-Filter at the top can be a pain to clean
-Fan controller could be located in a better position
-Tough competition (Air 540, SG13, Prodigy M, HAF XB, among others)

Thanks to Fractal Design for providing the review sample

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Fractal Design Core 2500 Review

Finding an affordable computer case to house all the nice components you just bought is not always easy, if you're planning on expanding your machine later down the line, the amount of options and solutions available on these cases is not always optimal. Sometimes saving a couple of bucks today will cost you big when you want to upgrade and/or expand. 

Planning and searching for the correct choice amongst the sea of possibilities on the market is essential. 

With the aforementioned ideas in mind, today we will be reviewing the Core 2500, a compact and very affordable ATX mid-tower from Fractal Design. This company from Sweden is well known for their high-end silent cases with extremely elegant designs, but how well do their entry-level cases stack up against the fierce competition? Let's find out.

In terms of packaging the Core 2500 comes in a plain but sturdy cardboard box that will perform its main function of protecting the actual computer case without many problems. While the interior "defenses" are composed mainly of hard foam, that shouldn't be a problem, the actual case is not that heavy (around 7.0 kgs).

Bundled with the Core 2500 you will find a decent amount of extras, besides the nicely detailed manual you will also encounter two 120mm fans from Fractal Design, all the screws and standoffs that you might need are also included along with a couple of cable ties to keep the interior of your case neat and tidy. The final little extra is actually built-in the back of the case and that's a fan controller with 3 speed settings, low, medium and high (it supports up to 3x3-pin fans). It would've been nice to see the fan controller in a more accessible spot, still it's always a nice feature to have available.

Moving on to the actual case it's easy to notice, even at first glance, the sheer amount of cooling options and solutions made available by Fractal Design. Particularly for an entry-level case priced at around 65$ (at the time of this review), the Core 2500 has a considerable number of options for cooling your machine. There are a total of 7 positions for you to place your fans, 3 of this positions are filtered (4 if you count the PSU), while the other 4 are not. Regarding CPU coolers you can fit in towers up to 162mm in height which is a considerable size when compared to other ATX mid-towers on the market.

If you prefer to cool your system using some sort of liquid there are also a few options available, mainly at the front where you can fit a 240 or 280mm radiator, but that's not all, at the back you can replace the fan that Fractal included with a 120mm radiator if you so desire, finally at the top you can also squeeze a thin 240mm radiator (if its thickness surpasses the 35mm mark then it might interfere with some components from your motherboard).

The aforementioned cooling options are great for keeping your computer running at decent temperatures, unfortunately the numerous spots for the fans don't really match the sleek visual design from the rest of the case, they actually stand out and make it feel a bit inconsistent.

Still we got to give credit where credit is due and the front of the Core 2500 looks amazing, the minimalist feel blends in perfectly with the brushed aluminum-look from the front panel (it's plastic though), the vents for intaking air present on each side of the front panel also look really nice and unlike the ones present on the top and side panels, these ones are very subtle.

Power and reset buttons are located at the top of the case along with power and HDD activity LEDs, 2 USB 3.0 ports and your typical microphone and headphone connections.

Opening the case is a tool-free process and it reveals a very standard case where everything seems to be in the right place, easy to access HDD trays, lots of holes for routing your cables and a very large cutout for an easier installation/removal of your CPU cooler. This sort of standard configuration is great especially for users building their first machine, I imagine this is one of the main target audiences for this case.

But lets get down to the numbers, there are 7 expansion slots in the back, these slots have removable covers that can be easily reinstalled at a later date, this is great to see in such an affordable case. In terms of storage options you have 4 very sturdy trays compatible with both 3.5'' and 2.5'' drives, these trays are split between 2 cages that can be removed if you wish to improve air-flow or need the space for something else, note that for long graphics cards (up to 380mm) no cage removal is necessary. Behind the PSU area there's another spot for installing an extra 2.5'' drive, a great option if you wish to remove both cages from the front and improve the air-flow inside your case.

In terms of construction quality and much like the visual design I previously mentioned, the level of quality fluctuates a bit, most of the Core 2500 is very well built with little to no flex in most areas, unfortunately the side and top panels are once again the weakest link. Don't get me wrong as they're not terrible or anything like that, it's just that when compared to the rest of the case they certainly feel a bit out of place.

Final Thoughts

Fractal Design has stayed true to their Core series, delivering more bang for your buck and above all, tons of building options at a low-low price.

If you're a first-time builder or someone on a tight budget I would certainly recommend the 2500, it's relatively compact, it looks good and it is decently built. Within this price range it is one of the best options currently on the market.

The Good
+Lots of options
+Decent construction
+Price
+Lots of space inside
+Elegant front panel

The Bad
-Top/Side panels vents don't match front panel
-Top/Side panels construction lower than the rest of the case
-Case is a bit limited for the most "serious" builders
-Fan controller could be located in a better position

Thanks to Fractal Design for providing the review sample

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Antec One Review

Today I have for you the One, a mid-tower computer case from Antec that has a very affordable price and a ton of features to boot. If you don't know Antec very well here's a bit of their history:
"Antec, Inc. is the global leader in high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself markets. Founded in 1986, Antec is recognized as a pioneer in the industry and has maintained its position as a worldwide market leader and international provider of quiet, efficient and innovative products. Antec has also achieved great success in the distribution channel, meeting the demands of quality-conscious system builders, VARs and integrators"

Antec has packed the One in a simple brown cardboard box, certainly not the prettiest thing ever, but it does the job of securing the case pretty well. At least there's a ton of info on the back of the box and a picture of the case on the front.
Once you open the cardboard box you will find your typical mounting screws, 2x zip-ties, 10x 3.5'' hard-drive clips, 1x USB converter and a small piece of paper with some info regarding the product you just bought. It's certainly not the greatest bundle out there, the lack of a paper manual (digital version available in Antec's website) is something that really hurts the One as I see this case being the choice for many first-time system builders.

Dimensions-wise the One is compact and light-weight, with a height of 241mm and a width of 463mm it can handle tall CPU coolers (up to 155mm) which is great news, especially when you consider that all around the case there are a decent number of cooling solutions that will work in tandem with that CPU cooler.
While Antec did a great job in making the One look like an expensive case, once you lift it you will quickly realize that compromises in terms of construction quality had to be made, the thin steel on both side panels is a sign of just that.
Another problem we had with the One was the very easy to ruin paint job, it certainly looks good but attention is required when assembling your machine in order to avoid any sort of scratches both on the outside and inside of the case.

Taking a quick look at the front of the case reveals 3x 5.25'' bays, your power and reset buttons and not only your typical 3.5mm audio inputs but also 2x USB 3.0 ports. Below the 5.25'' bays, hidden behind the perforated mesh that makes up much of the front panel there is also enough room for 1x 120mm intake fan, unfortunately no fan or dust filter is included.
Turning the case around and looking at the side panels we can see that both sides are extruded, this is always a welcome addition as it allows more room for basic cable management and taller CPU coolers. The left side also has room to add another 120mm fan. Aside from those two features there is little to see in both side panels as they are pretty basic.
The One's top panel much like the sides is plain, having only room for 1x 120mm exhaust fan right over where your CPU cooler should be, the fan comes installed right out of the box, at this price point that is something nice to see.
The bottom panel reveals yet another spot for 1x 120mm or 140mm intake fan and still no dust filter is included, if you plan on using this spot for intaking cool air get ready for some regular cleaning. At least the PSU intake is protected by a small dust filter that is also easy to remove and clean. The four tall feet ensure constant cool air is available for your PSU and intake fan.
The back of the case is pretty standard, from top to bottom you can see 1x 120mm exhaust fan (included), 7x expansion slots (1 reusable), 2x water-cooling grommets and finally the space for your power supply. Particularly the non-reusable expansion slot covers is something that we would like to see fixed in future iterations of the One.

Removing the side panels (thumbscrews) and examining the interior of the One we find plenty of room for cable management on the back of the motherboard tray thanks to the aforementioned extruded side panel, this is great as it allows you to have a clean looking case while also improving the much needed airflow. The motherboard also has almost all the necessary holes (not rubberized) that allow smooth cable routing and one big CPU cutout that will definitely save you some time when changing CPU coolers, unfortunately no hole for the 8-pin cable is present.
The Antec One has enough room for you to install up to 5x 3.5'' and 2x 2.5'' drives, much like the 3x 5.25'' bays at the top of the case the installation method is tool-free (except the 2.5'' drive at the bottom of the case).
While it's not possible to remove the hard-drive cage to gain a bit more space, you can still fit graphic cards up to 266mm which should be enough for most builds.

Final Thoughts
The One is primarily aimed towards system builders on a tight budget or first-time builders who want an affordable case where they can conduct their "experiments". The One's discreet visual design is something that many buyers will certainly appreciate. On top of all that, the number of features and (air)cooling solutions available for this case is something that manufacturers sometimes forget to include, while it is a budget case and it certainly shows in some areas, it does not mean that in the future consumers won't try to upgrade their machine while keeping the case.

The Good
+Affordable ($50-60)
+Air cooling solutions
+Easy cable routing
+2 fans included
+Looks great


The Bad
-Flimsy side-panels
-Lack of space for 8-pin cable
-No intake fans included
-Expansion slot covers not reusable
-Lack of dust filters for intake fans

Thanks to Antec for providing the review sample

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In Win GT1 Review

Since the foundation of "No Review Left Behind" I was lucky enough to be able to review a few computer cases that really stood out because of their good quality, both the Antec GX700 and the Corsair Obsidian 750D surpassed my initial expectations and received very positive reviews overall.
This time around my initial expectations for this Mid-Tower were not as high simply because there was less information online regarding the GT1 from In Win, thankfully now that I've had the chance to test it out for a few weeks I can safely say that it has surprised me in a very positive fashion.

After opening the cardboard box I quickly noticed how well compartmentalized all the included accessories come, it's just a minor detail of course but this sort of attention to tiny details is something that you rarely see at this price range ($50-$70). Every different type of screw and/or standoff comes tucked inside separate plastic bags, all of them labeled to further reduce the tedious process of sorting all of the necessary "extras".
Bundled with the GT1 you will find your typical user manual (very detailed), 11x MB screws, 10x HDD screws, 4x PSU screws, 1x Stand-off socket, 1x speaker, 3x MB standoffs, 3x cable ties (reusable), 24x anti-vibrations 3.5 HDD protections and finally 20x cosmetic hexagons for your front panel.
As you can probably see in the list I elaborated above, almost anything that you can possibly need to set up your precious components inside the GT1 is included, showing off once again the attention to detail that I had already mentioned previously.

While there are 2 distinct versions of the GT1 available for purchase, one black and one white, the one we will be reviewing today is the black version.
The case visual design in itself seems to draw inspiration from a car, a theme that works well, making the GT1 look unique without being too over the top, if you're looking for something a little bit more elegant, then I advise you to look elsewhere.

In the front panel you will find enough room for 3x 5.25'' optical drives, located above them are your typical 3.5mm microphone and headphone sockets and 1x 3.0 and 2x 2.0 USB ports. This is probably the biggest mistake that In Win made when designing the GT1, including at least two 3.0 USB ports seems something basic in this day and age.
The removable front panel also hides two slots for 120mm fans, one comes included with the case, unfortunately the dust filter that also comes included only covers one of the slots, a strange decision by In Win, a slightly taller dust filter would really set the GT1 apart from the competition.
Regarding the side panels there's not much to say, the right one is plain and the left one has a very large acrylic window with the In Win logo on it, in my opinion the window is actually too large since it shows the HDD cages, this is a matter of opinion of course, I'm sure lots of system builders out there like to show off their hard drives and ssd's.
The top of the case has enough room for 2x 120mm fans, sadly there's no fan included here. What comes included with the GT1 though is a fan speed controller with 2 settings, Turbo and Silence, this is definitely something not usual at this price range and will probably weight heavily when deciding between the GT1 and some other case. That's not all though, there's also a SATA EZ-Swap port on the top of the case that allows you to quickly connect a hard-drive without having to actually open the side panel and messing around with the cables, this is amazing and in my opinion very useful indeed, almost making up for the lack of a second 3.0 USB connector.

The back of the case is pretty standard, one 120mm red fan comes included which is nice, when working in tandem with the fan from the front panel it provides a decent air flow right out of the box, something to keep in mind for those of you who don't have a lot of patience to mess around with that sort of thing.
Above the fan you will find two rubberized holes for water-cooling, below the fan your 7 typical expansion slots are present, unfortunately only one of them has a reusable cover, below that you will find the space for your power supply.
Finally moving to the bottom of the case you will find four tall plastic feet, a great way to guarantee that your power supply and bottom 120mm fan (not included) always have enough room to intake lots of cool air, I'm glad to see that both of these intake spaces are protected by removable dust filters.

Inside the GT1 you will quickly discover that there is plenty of room behind the motherboard tray to hide your pesky cables, unfortunately you will also notice two "rookie" mistakes, the first one being the lack of rubber covering the cable-routing holes, this is a big deal especially in a case where all the components are on display thanks to the side-window. The second mistake is related to the 8-pin connector, while there is a small space on the motherboard tray that I believe is intended for it, the dimensions of said space are just ridiculously small, personally I could not make it work so I ended up passing the cable through the front of the motherboard instead.
Aside from the two miscalculations I mention above, In Win did a terrific job with the GT1 interior design, the HDD cages are well placed and constructed in a way that allows air to flow from the front fan(s), the top cage is also removable, allowing extremely long graphics cards to be installed with no problems at all.
Another cool feature that is quickly noticeable is the tool-free design of the top and front fans, they don't require a single screw in order to be installed which is always something nice to see, unfortunately this also means that you're limited to 120mm fans. A quick note to mention that the fan from the back and the one from the bottom of the case still require screws.

Final Thoughts
At the time of this review the GT1 price fluctuates between 50 and 70 dollars, finding a better option on the market in this price range is not an easy feat, the case from In Win is a sturdy and solid solution for those who intend to build a reasonably cheap, air-cooled machine without having to make too many sacrifices in terms of features or visual design.

The Good
-Construction
-Visual design
-Lots of space
-Tool-Free design
-Lots of extras
-Front panel allows customization
-Lots of dust filters

The Bad
-Non-Rubberized cable routing holes
-Lack of space for 8-Pin cable
-Only 1 dust filter on the front

Thanks to In Win for providing the review sample

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Corsair Obsidian 750D Review

Today we will be taking a look at the 750D, a Full-Tower case that is designed and produced by Corsair, a company that first appeared back in 1994, since then Corsair has been growing and expanding their product portfolio, always keeping quality and innovation in mind.

The 750D keeps Corsair's tradition of bringing us cases with sleek designs, always going for a more elegant and clean look than most of their competitors, there are no bright colors or awkward shapes here, the 750D keeps most of the front panel free of buttons or doors, instead opting for having all of your usual and necessary ports, plugs and buttons right at the top. There's only one other thing in the front panel and that is the Corsair logo at the bottom, once again very minimal and not disrupting the elegant flow of the brushed aluminium.
In terms of cooling options at the front you can expect to find 2x140mm fans (included) with already pre-installed dust filters that can be easily removed for cleaning, if you prefer you can replace the fans with smaller 2x120mm fans instead.

On the left side of this Full-Tower you will find a massive acrylic window that shows everything that's going on inside, for those that like to show off their components this is a great thing to have. Personally I think that a nice and clean side panel would better match the minimal look presented to us at the front.
The right side panel as with most cases is plain.
Both of the panels have no slots for installing any sort of cooling option which can  be disappointing for some people.

The top of this Full-Tower looks very good both visually and in terms of functionality, the magnetic dust filter that sits at the top provides the case with a bit more protection from any dust that might be floating around, it's also extremely easy to remove and put back into place.
The number of cooling combos that can be achieved here is astonishing, you can install 2x140mm or 3x120mm fans, if you prefer water cooling you can easily install a radiator up to 360mm as well.

Under the case you will find some nice rubber feet that prevent the case from moving around and also function as a nice cushion to greatly reduce any sort of vibration that might occur.
A few cooling options are also available here, 2x120mm fans can be installed if you remove the 3.5' cages.

Moving to the back of the case you will find the mount for your PSU at the bottom (with removable dust filter), 9 expansion slots, 2 grommets, another 140mm fan (120mm option is also available) and some extra ventilation holes at the top. Note that the mount for the PSU is missing some rubber feet to reduce vibrations, a weird mistake since it's something very basic.

Moving on to the interior of the 750D, it's good to see a nice amount of space available behind the motherboard tray, always useful when organizing your cables. Multiple cable tie down loops are also present(zip-ties included). Speaking of cables, glad to see that the grommets where they pass are rubberized, always a nice touch that improves your case interior look and also protects your cables from any sort of damage, the decently sized CPU cutout will work with most motherboards, definitely a time-saver.
Still regarding the right side of the box you will find 4 totally tool-free 2.5' bays that sit sideways and allow the user to remove the 3.5 bays at the front if he so desires, this improves air flow inside the case and just gives it a more clean and tidy look overall.

On the front of the case you will find your traditional 2.5/3.5 toolless HDD cages that like I mentioned before can be removed, they can also be stacked or placed side by side, it all depends on your preference and the type of air-flow you want for the case.
Personally I removed both and just used the 4 toolless 2.5' bays present on the back of the case as this helps greatly with the air-flow inside the 750D.
At the top there are 3x5.25 drive bays, these are also completely tool-free and feature a very shiny Corsair logo in the locking mechanism, once again it's nice to see such small but nice details being included in this Full-Tower.
The case is also pretty large, supporting most motherboard sizes, CPU coolers up to 170mm in height and graphic cards up to 450mm.
The several fans and radiators that the case allows you to install will guarantee low temperatures to most of your components.

Final Thoughts
Corsair has done it again, the 750D is a very elegant and at the same time robust Full-Tower that gives the user a ton of options when it comes to components and cooling combos, the large size, great price ($159) and roomy interior work great to improve the airflow inside, making this a very interesting case to beginners and veteran system builders alike.
Like I said in the beginning of this review the only thing that really feels out of place is the acrylic window on the side, I would have much preferred to see something a little bit more elegant and classy that would match the rest of the 750D visual design.

The Good
-Great for beginners and experts
-Sleek visual design
-Lots of options
-Well-Built
-2.5' toolless bays "hidden" at the back
-Great Price/Quality ratio

The Bad
-Side window feels out of place
-Missing rubber feets for PSU

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Antec GX700 Review

Today we bring you the GX700 computer case review, this Mid-Tower is produced by Antec, a company well known for the good quality and variety of their products in general, they offer all sorts of solutions for all sorts of users, from the most common of gamers to the most hardcore overclock enthusiast, everyone can use an Antec case and probably be satisfied with its performance. Because of this, the virtues that the GX700 shows right out of the box do not surprise, it's something we have come to expect from this American-based company.

What might be a surprise is the GX700 peculiar and somewhat risky look, it certainly wins some points when it comes to originality, moving away from the typical "futuristic" design most cases these days go for, instead opting for more of a "military" arrangement, certainly not a look that everyone will enjoy, but for those that like it, everything in this Mid-Tower, from the colors to the build quality, screams tough!

Like mentioned before, this case is a Mid-Tower, it is built almost entirely out of steel and plastic, it's moderately heavy when compared to other Mid-Towers from the same company, weighing nearly 8 kgs. 

This case certainly does not feel flimsy or cheap, it is however pretty affordable, costing anywhere between 50 to 60$ on Amazon at the time of this review.

In terms of cooling and airflow options, Antec included in the GX700 2x140mm fans at the top, these can easily be replaced if the user so desires, either by quieter or smaller fans (2x120mm).

Also at the top and still related to the cooling options, is a fan controller, once again the military design is pretty obvious, the little cover that protects this switch seems something you would see in a bomb (at least in the ones from the movies).

The front of the case is equipped with an easy to remove and washable dust filter that covers the 2x120mm fans (not included).

The side panels are extremely simple, you won't find acrylics or anything of that kind in the GX700, instead the only thing worth mentioning is the option for another 120mm fan on the left side, well positioned to help cool down your graphics card.

On the back of the case you will find two rubber grommet holes, very useful if you're planning on adding some water-cooling options in the future, right under the two holes lays yet another 120mm fan, this one also included.

To supply the "juice" for all this fans you will install the PSU (not included) at the bottom of the GX700, a dust filter is also in place here, protecting the PSU from all the dirt and grime that accumulates under the case as time goes by.

When it comes to actual airflow inside this Mid-Tower, the usual cable routing holes are present and in the right places of the motherboard tray, they help keep the cables out of the way, ergo air can flow in a more consistent fashion, the only downside being that the holes are not rubberized, caution is advised to prevent any damage to the cables, even though the edges are rolled you can never be too careful.

The CPU cutout or "time saving hole" also makes an appearance, for those that don't know, this hole in the motherboard tray allows access to the CPU cooler retention plate without having to take the whole thing apart, extremely useful.

Still airflow related is the matter of space, this being a Mid-Tower you can't expect to be left with a lot of room after every component is installed, this can hurt the airflow inside the case, especially when you consider the fact that the front drive trays are not removable, this limits the space available for the air to flow.

On a more positive note is the tool-less design of the case, for example the 7 expansion slots at the back have an almost optimal thumbscrew access. Continuing with the tool free setting we have the 5x3.5'' or 5x2.5'' HDD trays at the front and the 4x5.25'' bays at the top, all completely free from the use of tools.

Final Thoughts

When every aspect and feature of the GX700 is taken into consideration there can only be a positive conclusion, even with a few flaws here and there, this Mid-Tower from Antec is certainly a very interesting option for gamers and small budget enthusiasts alike, people who like to set up their systems swiftly and without much hassle can certainly count on the GX700 to do that job in a competent and affordable manner.

The rugged military look will assuredly please ones more than others, but it's certainly original, so the extravagant design is a plus in our opinion.

The Good

-Original military design

-Sturdy and well built

-2 removable dust filters

-3 fans included

-1 fan controller

-Tool-less

-Water Cooling is an option

-Good price-quality ratio

The Bad

-Lack of rubberized cable routing holes

-Non removable HDD trays

-No intake fan included

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