Over the past couple of weeks, I have been looking for a new computer case as I put together a Sandy Bridge build. Specifically, I am looking for a case with the following features (in order of greatest to least importance): quality of materials, elegant design (nothing too flashy), spacious enough for easy accessibility, good ventilation, tool-less design elements, and front USB 3.0 ports.
My current case is an Antec Performance Plus 660B that I have used now for the past...ten years! Wow, does time fly.:awe: The Antec has certainly been a great case, but it is time to upgrade to something a little more up to date with modern day conveniences.
I have to say that choosing a new case was not easy. My first place to look was Antec's website, as I have been quite pleased with my 660B. But surprisingly, I did not find any of their new case designs enticing. So then I perused multiple forums and researched all the offerings by Corsair, Li Lian, Cool Master, and Fractal Designs.
The Corsair Obsidian 650D and the Fractal Designs Arc Midi were definite contenders in my case selection. But unfortunately, neither are due for release until April. At this point, I wasn't sure what to do. So I browsed Newegg's website and saw numerous cases, but very few matched what I was looking for. Then I came across the Rosewill Blackhawk.
I have never purchased a Rosewill product before. I know that their products are targeted for the 'value' market, so I was a bit dubious of their quality. But the Blackhawk is Rosewill's latest top-end mid tower and appeared on screen to have almost everything I was looking for in a new case.
I took the gamble Monday night and ordered the case from Amazon for about $114 shipped. Less than three days later, the case arrived this afternoon and I have to say for my first impressions, I am pleasantly surprised. I haven't installed any hardware in it yet, but just going over build quality and the functionality of the case, it does look quite nice.
Here are my likes and dislikes so far:
Pros:
1) Four legs keep the case an inch above the floor, so there is plenty of room for air flow to feed the bottom mounted PSU, even on thick carpet. There is an air filter underneath that Rosewill recommends checking on every so often (with good reason
).
2) Tool-less design. Thumb screws detach the side panels, screw-less trays for all drive bays and thumb locks for peripheral cards, etc.
3) The SATA hard drive cradle on top of case has a dust cover for the connectors.
4) The case has overall excellent build quality.
5) Very spacious interior and numerous cut-outs for good cable management.
6) Jet black throughout and not "charcoal gray".
Cons:
1) Side window is tinted and shaped like an arrow. I would prefer a large clear window.
2) The front USB 3.0 port must plug into a rear USB 3.0 port and not onto the motherboard header. So far, all the cases I have seen, including Corsair's upcoming 650T, use the extension cable method. I am surprised that a year after USB 3.0's debut, there are still few cases that offer 3.0 front connections and even the high end cases do not make use of the USB 3.0 header found on most Sandy Bridge motherboards.
3) The front panel of my case arrived slightly damaged. I am going to see if Rosewill can send me a replacement for just the front panel. Everything else that I have seen in the case is in excellent condition.
4) Only the rear fan has a 3 pin motherboard connector. The other four fans use molex.
I will update this post with more thoughts after all my parts arrive and I assemble the new rig. Here are some pics:
My trusty Antec 660B. Yes, it certainly deserves a good cleaning!
Top panel.
SATA cradle.
Naked case exposed in all glory!
This interior is much roomier (not to mention 10x more accessible!) compared to my Antec.
Back side.
Closer shot of interior. Case includes four 120mm fans.
Let me know if you guys have any questions or requests for pics of specific items. So far, I am very happy with this purchase.
My current case is an Antec Performance Plus 660B that I have used now for the past...ten years! Wow, does time fly.:awe: The Antec has certainly been a great case, but it is time to upgrade to something a little more up to date with modern day conveniences.
I have to say that choosing a new case was not easy. My first place to look was Antec's website, as I have been quite pleased with my 660B. But surprisingly, I did not find any of their new case designs enticing. So then I perused multiple forums and researched all the offerings by Corsair, Li Lian, Cool Master, and Fractal Designs.
The Corsair Obsidian 650D and the Fractal Designs Arc Midi were definite contenders in my case selection. But unfortunately, neither are due for release until April. At this point, I wasn't sure what to do. So I browsed Newegg's website and saw numerous cases, but very few matched what I was looking for. Then I came across the Rosewill Blackhawk.
I have never purchased a Rosewill product before. I know that their products are targeted for the 'value' market, so I was a bit dubious of their quality. But the Blackhawk is Rosewill's latest top-end mid tower and appeared on screen to have almost everything I was looking for in a new case.
I took the gamble Monday night and ordered the case from Amazon for about $114 shipped. Less than three days later, the case arrived this afternoon and I have to say for my first impressions, I am pleasantly surprised. I haven't installed any hardware in it yet, but just going over build quality and the functionality of the case, it does look quite nice.
Here are my likes and dislikes so far:
Pros:
1) Four legs keep the case an inch above the floor, so there is plenty of room for air flow to feed the bottom mounted PSU, even on thick carpet. There is an air filter underneath that Rosewill recommends checking on every so often (with good reason
).2) Tool-less design. Thumb screws detach the side panels, screw-less trays for all drive bays and thumb locks for peripheral cards, etc.
3) The SATA hard drive cradle on top of case has a dust cover for the connectors.
4) The case has overall excellent build quality.
5) Very spacious interior and numerous cut-outs for good cable management.
6) Jet black throughout and not "charcoal gray".
Cons:
1) Side window is tinted and shaped like an arrow. I would prefer a large clear window.
2) The front USB 3.0 port must plug into a rear USB 3.0 port and not onto the motherboard header. So far, all the cases I have seen, including Corsair's upcoming 650T, use the extension cable method. I am surprised that a year after USB 3.0's debut, there are still few cases that offer 3.0 front connections and even the high end cases do not make use of the USB 3.0 header found on most Sandy Bridge motherboards.
3) The front panel of my case arrived slightly damaged. I am going to see if Rosewill can send me a replacement for just the front panel. Everything else that I have seen in the case is in excellent condition.
4) Only the rear fan has a 3 pin motherboard connector. The other four fans use molex.
I will update this post with more thoughts after all my parts arrive and I assemble the new rig. Here are some pics:
My trusty Antec 660B. Yes, it certainly deserves a good cleaning!
Top panel.
SATA cradle.
Naked case exposed in all glory!
This interior is much roomier (not to mention 10x more accessible!) compared to my Antec.
Back side.
Closer shot of interior. Case includes four 120mm fans.
Let me know if you guys have any questions or requests for pics of specific items. So far, I am very happy with this purchase.
Last edited:
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