Ahanix MCE601 - Construction
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The first thing I noticed as I pulled the case out of the box was the weight. This isn’t a case made of thin, cheap metal. The MCE601 weights in at 12.2 lbs. It is fairly heavy for a case its size, but it is one solid case. This is maybe the best built case I have ever seen. It is made of 1/8” pieces of steel, creating one strong case, strong enough for any hardware that you can put in it.
All the sides can be removed by just a few screws. This would solve the problem of cramped space while screwing stuff in; it's also great if you wanted to do a little modding of the case.
The PSU
I have two words for you: proprietary format. This PSU is the only PSU that can be used in this case. Because of the size of the case, a mATX PSU will be too small, and a normal ATX will be a shade too big, so you are left with this. The good news is that you can’t put in as much hardware into this case as a full sized case, so the demand is a great deal less.
The back looks nice, but you notice what is not here? I don’t see an on/off switch. Why not just include a switch? Would it really cost that much more to add?
I busted out my multimeter, and measured the rails at Windows Idling, and then Priming for a few minutes, and recorded the results. I use fairly basic hardware, of the sort that you might find in a HTPC.
- Abit AI7
- Intel Pentium 4 2.6c
- 1 GB OCZ VX PC3200
- ATI 9800
- Samsung SATA hard drive
- Sony DVD+-RW
Well, it passed the tests. For the first few minutes under load, the 12v rail was jumping like mad. I saw readings at 12.05, then jumping down to as low as 11.93. After a few moments it stabilized at 11.94. If you added more load, such as a power hungry CPU, or GPU, then this might not hold up. I would much rather throw my OCZ Powerstream in there, but this PSU holds up fine.
Conclusion
The Ahanix MCE601 is a very sturdy HTPC case. The construction is very solid. The sides aren’t made of cheap floppy aluminum, but instead thick steel, and the sides are removable via screws. The brushed steel gives the case a simple but stylish look. Most HTPC cases don’t support ATX motherboards, but this one does, and also supports seven PCI and AGP ports. As far as cooling, it has a decent amount of openings for air flow for its size.
I do have three complaints. The first is the LED read out on the front of the case. Why would you ever use a parallel port in this day and age? A USB would have been a lot better. My second complaint concerns the PSU. The case is designed for ATX hardware, so why not make it a tad bigger and put in an ATX power supply? The PSU that is in there works, but I wouldn’t deck the computer out with many fans and lights.
The only other downside I can think of to this awesome case is the price. You can find it online for $250, which is quite a lot for a case. HTPC cases tend to run higher than normal cases, but that is quite a lot. I highly recommend this case for anyone looking for a HTPC case. It is an ATX case with the HTPC size and looks. If you want a HTPC case, and have the money to spend, then this is the case for you. Look no further; the Ahanix MCE601 is an amazing case.
I would like to thank Quiet PC for providing us with this case. If you have any questions check out the forums, otherwise head back to the front page for some other news and reviews.
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