Rosewill Blackbone - what do you think of it?

[VirtualLarry]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147023

I already picked up a Blackhawk for myself, with five fans, but this one would be for a friend of mine.

First things I notice - no top fan / blowhole.

It has a front 120mm blue LED intake fan, and a 120mm rear exhaust fan.

It also has two 120mm-sized fan gratings on the side panel. I don't see separate mounting holes on the side panel for 120mm fans, so perhaps it's just a vent.

Would airflow be better, if that vent was covered over inside?

For the price, it seems like it has some decent features. It was kind of a toss-up between this case, and the Lian-li with two fans (one intake, one exhaust) that was also $50, but then the price on the Lian-Li went back up to $100, so that one is a no-go.

Drive mounts are all fully tool-less, much like my CoolerMaster Elite 330. The two are fairly similar.

Edit: Here's another one to consider: HEC Blitz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121096
Has a top fan included, and a front blue LED intake fan, but no rear fan included (there is a spot for it).

 

[lehtv]

First things I notice - no top fan / blowhole.

To me, that's reason enough to go for the cheaper NZXT Gamma and simply buy a second fan for that. But that's not the only advantage of Gamma - it can mount the PSU on the bottom (especially important in a case that doesn't offer cable management) and the HDD cage is sideways, making it nicer to work with.

 

[MadScientist]

I bought one of the Blackbone's when they were on sale for $29.99 shipped for a friend's build. Didn't expect much and didn't get it.
The steel is very thin gauge. The slightest bump against anything will put a dent in it.

The tool less plastic drive clamps are very fragile and break easily. At least they provide spares.

Not much room between the side panel and MB tray to hide cables. Even the thinnest cables will make the side bulge outward.

The front panel cables are way toooo long. The usual complaint is that they are too short but these are ridiculously long.

On/Off switch and top panel USB ports are flimsy. Waiting for a call from my friend that he can't turn it on.

Under details it states: option for 2 more 120mm or 3 x 80mm fan. The left side panel looks like it has holes for fan mounting. I don't see any other place on the case where you could mount them.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I bought one of the Blackhawk's when they were on sale for $29.99 shipped for a friend's build. Didn't expect much and didn't get it.
The steel is very thin gauge. The slightest bump against anything will put a dent in it.

The tool less plastic drive clamps are very fragile and break easily. At least they provide spares.

Not much room between the side panel and MB tray to hide cables. Even the thinnest cables will make the side bulge outward.

The front panel cables are way toooo long. The usual complaint is that they are too short but these are ridiculously long.

On/Off switch and top panel USB ports are flimsy. Waiting for a call from my friend that he can't turn it on.

The side panel holes are vents, not for mounting fans.

I will assume you meant to say "Blackbone", not blackhawk. At least I don't think that the Blackhawk was ever priced at $30 shipped.

Thanks for the review, that doesn't sound so good. I'm very happy with my Blackhawk, was hoping that the Blackbone might be similar quality, guess not.

 

[infoiltrator]

What's going in the case now, what is planned and what is the budget?If you want stength you can find a Cooler Master 912 on Amazon for $50 shipped most times. Essentially the Blackbone is a "good" Case at its price point and very good on sale.
Is it as good as a Rosewill Challenger, no.
People I trust tell me the NZXT Souce 210 and Source 210 Elite are their favorite small case/low price cases.
In between there and the $80 plus range you can get cases without fans (Blitz), light cases with fans, or sturdy cases with none few, or not good fans.
The Antec 300 is strong with poor wire management.
Zalman 9 plus is underrated.
BitFenix Shinobi?

 

[MadScientist]

Yeah, I meant the Blackbone. I was reading your post and typed Blackhawk. Let me edit that. I also edited the line about the side vent.

I would not purchase another Blackbone, even at $29.99 with FS.

 

[WT]

If you want strength you can find a Cooler Master 912 on Amazon for $50 shipped most times.

:thumbsup: Bought two of those with a CM500w PSU for $45 after rebate last month. What a great case, especially for $45. I can't say enough good things about it, but if I have to ding it for something it does need an exhaust fan on the top of the case to better promote airflow.

 

[dmoney1980]

Have you consider Fractal Design? The one in the link comes with 3 140mm fans, and room for more

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811352007

edit: never mind, see its out of the budget....