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Apevia X-Plorer Mid-Tower Case by Apevia International
Digital product summary informationManufacturer: Apevia International Model: ATXB8KLW-BK Product features: - This multi-functional thermally advantaged Aspire X-Plorer
- With a built-in air duct on side panel to funnel cool air towards the processor
- There are 2 x80mm built-in fans with option of 2 additional fan space, plus the built-in air duct on side panel
Digital camera reviews of Apevia X-Plorer Mid-Tower CaseDigital camera Review: Aspire Black ATX Mid-Sized Tower Summary: 5 Stars
I am in the process of building a whole new rig and decided to go with this tower rather than a more expensive full sized tower. All items are not in yet so I cannot tell you how cool the tower keeps the system or how loud its fans run, so I will update accordingly.
Initial reaction: Wow, this looks slick. This is my first gaming rig, so I've never owned my own "gaming" case.
Heat Dissipation: --/--
O.K., so I feel that this is the most important piece of the puzzle when it comes to towers. If the tower looks great, thats fine, and if its easy to install, thats nice too, but if my chips fry inside of the box then the aforementioned goodies don't mean anything.
However, as I've mentioned, the last bits haven't come in so I don't have results for this section. I'll update this when the verdict comes in.
Spacial Considerations: 10/10
I'm not sure why they call it mid-sized -- its quite large. I imagine the full-sized cases must be bigger still, or the label wouldn't make any sense. For those of you that might worry about whether card X will fit into the case: don't. Two KFA GeForce 8600 GT graphics cards fit in no sweat, and they're on the larger side. The only foreseeable problem I can see considering space is that theres a nifty heat vent right above the processor (more later) that comes down onto the unit several inches. Those with colossal fans and heat-sink rigs might have to remove some of this vent, but its only a couple screws, so its not a big problem.
The tower has five slots for internal (not for show) and six slots for other internal (for show, like CD-DVD drives) drives, including two for floppy-disk drives (what's that? :-P).
All in all, there were no issues here.
Installation issues: 8/10
No significant problems here either. Everything fit in the way it was supposed to (with the exception of a wireless network card, but I believe that is the fault of the card and not the case) and screwed in snuggly. Several bolts could have been better placed. For example, some bolts lie on the back of the case, right above where PCI cards would end, making it a little more challenging (though not by much) to insert those kinds of cards. With a little work around, however, this was not a big issue.
Additionally, this same area includes metal strips (to hide the inside if a PCI card is not inserted) that are not held on by a screw. Instead, these are meant to be removed once and for good, so make sure that you really need that slot free before you remove the metal backing. It doesn't go back on. The same is true for the four CD-DVD slots. Once its off, its off.
Lastly, all of the wiring included for the front lights and fans work and are of proper length.
Additional Features/Drawbacks: 8/10
Again, I'm no hardcore gamer. This is my first rig. That said, I am very impressed with the features included with the case. The part of the case that houses CD-DVD drives is covered by a front grating that swings open. The front looks sophisticated and high-tech, especially when lit up (the blue LED lighting is a nice touch). There is ample ventilation all around, and a mostly-clear sliding side door that is held on by two pegs that screw off by hand. The neatest feature for me though is a vent and tube that runs right above the processor, which should act just like a heat duct and siphon heat away from the rest of my parts. A very neat idea, lets hope it works.
The reason I nicked two points from this section is that the case (as mentioned in other reviews) does not come with instructions. You have to figure everything out yourself, and at some places it brought the installation to a quick albeit unnecessary halt. This however is the only other complaint I have about it.
Visual Appeal: 5/5
The case looks nice. You can see the pictures of it yourself, so I won't elaborate.
Material Quality: 5/5
Nothing has fallen apart on me or been of noticeably low quality. I will update this section after running the computer for some time.
Delivery Time: 2/2
I ordered this with standard delivery and it arrived in two days. This is exceptional delivery time, and this has been my experience with all TigerDirect products. I will shop from them exclusively for my next rig.
Personal Rating: 5/5
I like it. It does what I need to do, and since I am a big fan of value, I love the high quality and neat features for the affordable price.
Overall Rating: 9/10 -> 5/5
Final Thoughts: This case should be a nice fit for computer enthusiasts and casual computer shoppers alike; I highly recommend this case for anyone.
Summary of Apevia X-Plorer Mid-Tower CaseAspire X-Plorer ATX Mid-Tower This multi-functional thermally advataged Aspire X-Plorer mid tower is designed based on Intel recommended "Chassis Air Guide Design Guide" to achieve high lever thermal performance. With a built-in air duct on side panel to funnel cool air towards the processor and other system components passively without fan, X-Plorer is aimed to bring out the best performance for systems based on high-end processors. There are 2 x 80mm built-in fans with option of 2 additional fan space, plus the built-in air duct on side panel, the X-Plorer provides the supreme cooling solution to handle the toughest task for your system. The great features-front LCD temperature readout, front fan speed controller, front USB2.0 and Firewire ports and the imcomparable cooling solution that X-Plores delivers can only be found in very few of the expensive chassis in the market. Available in 6 color choices and with 420w power supply option, X-Plorer is versatile to accomondate your pers
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