Colorcases Stealth-X Midtower ATX Case - Colorcases Stealth-X Midtower ATX Case
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| Manufacturers: | Colorcases |
| Product: | Stealth-X Midtower ATC Case |
| Price: | $25.00 |
| Availability: | In stores and online now |
| Reviewed By: | Visionism |
| Edited By: | Mack "SPeeD" |
Inside the case
Inside, the Stealth-X continues to surprise with a new drive retention system. Gone are the drive rails of old, replaced by a quick friction locking system. Simply slide the drive in the front, push the yellow plastic lever to lock it down against a strong spring and you're done. If anything, this system impressed me more than all other options on the the Stealth-X. It is used for the 5-1/4" bays and the floppy bay but the hard drive mounts are old school screw-through-a-non-removable-drive-bay affairs which necessitate taking both sides off the case to install. Not a major gripe in a case at this price but a removable bay would have been useful.
Running my hands over the insides of the case proved worrisome. While most of the long edges are rolled, there are many short sections of very sharp metal, particularly around the PCI slots which is where I have my hands a lot of the time. In fact I managed to cut my hand quite severely here. (I do suffer to bring you these reviews)
The non-removable motherboard tray confused me at first. There are only two brass standoffs pre-installed and a great many small square holes. The motherboard standoffs included are small plastic affairs which clip into these holes and to which the motherboard is secured with a self tapping screw that bites into the plastic. I would like to go on record as saying this is a really terrible idea. It is VERY difficult to tell how much pressure you are exerting on the motherboard when driving these screws and I was nervous about over-tightening and either stripping out the standoffs or even cracking the motherboard. This "feature" alone would be enough to make me pass up this case for another model with real brass standoffs. Otherwise the inside of the case is very much standard for a case of this size and type. There are no cross-members inside, which really isn't a problem with a short midtower case. In fact adding additional support would simply get in the way when trying to work in the slightly cramped interior.
Installation
The proof of the pudding is in the eating as they say and the proof of a case's worth is certainly in how easy it is to work in. This is the area, sadly, where the Stealth-X falls down.
First off, there is the power supply mounting. The power supply actually mounts upside down. Luckily my power supply doesn't feature a bottom intake fan or I would have been very annoyed by this. As it is, the mounting went without a hitch but I have to wonder at the advisability of mounting a power supply is such a position that the heat isn't going to rise off the heatsink. Its a bizarre choice and one I can see no good reason for.
On installing the motherboard, I was, as I have already mentioned, made extremely nervous by the poor plastic standoffs. Having installed the motherboard I went on to install the cards in their slots and what a trial it was. The holes for the mounting screws were difficult to work with, requiring far too much pressure to screw in with the result that I was worried about slipping and jamming the screwdriver into the card or motherboard.
The drive locking system on the other hand worked flawlessly. Slide the drive in the front. line it up flush and lock it down. I'd love to see this feature make an appearance on a more expensive and well constructed case. I found I could install a drive in perhaps a tenth of the time it took me to get a drive into a regular cage. Marvelous idea and superbly implemented.
Then it was time to put the fans in. Oh dear. I was very impressed to get three fans in a case at this price, let alone clear ones. It would have been rather useful however if Colorcases had included any fan screws. There were none at all. Not one. It's careless, it's thoughtless and lord only knows how much frustration it will cause people who don't have a bag of fan screws handy. It's this kind of small niggling problem that can ruin your impression of a good case, let alone one that has the problems the Stealth-X has.
Conclusion
I wanted to like the Stealth-X, I really did. The look of the front bezel and the window really grew on me after a while, I was very impressed with the drive locking mechanism and thoughtful touches like the fans and thumbscrews. Unfortunately despite some good features this is a case with major failings. Cheap feeling plastic parts, the horrible motherboard standoffs, the power supply mounting, the lack of fan screws, all these add up to a case which basically just feels cheap. The sharp edges all over the place are simply inexcusable in this day and age.
Often we see budget priced cases which would make a great low-budget alternative for a second system or LAN box. With the Stealth-X I cannot in good conscience recommend it even as a second system for grandma. Installing a PC in a case should be a pleasure, not a challenge. For just a little more money you could buy an Enlight 7237 and while you wont get the flashy window and bezel, at least you'll get a case which doesn't frustrate you all the time. My system went right back in my Chieftec where it belongs.
Pros
Cons
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Cheap feeling brittle plastics
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Truly nasty motherboard mounts
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No means of attaching the fans supplied
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Power supply mounts upside down
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Generally poor fit of components
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Hideously sharp edges
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