- Steel Micro ATX Mini Tower
- 2 x USB2.0 Port; 2 x Audio Port Front Ports
- ATX12V SFX 250W Power Supply
- 2 External 5.25" Drive Bays
- 3 Internal 3.5" Drive Bays
Not bad overall
03/16/2013
This review is from: APEX MJ-16 Black Steel Micro ATX Mini Tower Computer Case ATX12V SFX 250W Power Supply
Pros:
Despite reviews to contrary, it will hold 4 3.5" HDDs with any mATX MB that does not have right angled SATA connectors. I just did it. I number slots from 1 (side of case) to 4 (center) for explanation. If you install 92mm fan in front, duh-mies, well, that's where you have to put drives 3&4 to clear MB. Slot 1&2, no problem. Slot 3, remove front bezel, break out perforated panel (like you did for rear I/O, put drive in from front. Same for slot 4, but no panel to breakout; instead, a plastic piece to push out. Drives 3&4 stick out of the case front about an inch (they are not visible, hidden by the black bezel). The perforated panel you need to break out of drive 3 slot is what people are attaching the 92 mm fan to. There is still room for a 60 mm fan in front of slots 1&2. Do buy 3 60mm fans, 2 for rear and one for front. Get drive screws. Break off and throw (actually, hurl, with great vigor) away tool-less HDD mounting doodads, along with included fan. A land fill would be insulted to receive them. BTW, never use tool-less; screws help transfer heat from drive. I got a Cooler Master Vortex Plus heatsink in with about an inch to spare. PS has 2 SATAs, 4 Molex, 24 pin & 4 pin.
Cons:
HDDs were still a you know what to install. Be careful when you remove the front cover. Reports of dead power switches are probably due to people jerking it off. The ribbon cable to connect to MB has a tendency to get hung up. and needs to be gentled out.
Cable management: yeah, do that. Let me know how it turns out.
Overall Review:
Overall, a pretty good case. Most of the issues with it are common to all small cases. Hey, it's a small case, limited working room, etc. But if you TAKE YOUR TIME AND THINK, it goes together pretty easily. I'm running four HDDs, optical, a high end sound card, WIFI card, SATA card, and a 65W processor in it, temps are OK.
If you just need a basic case, couple of drives, then buy it.
But, if you CAN use a larger case (I couldn't), life's a lot easier. Or if you're a tech level 5 type, and can't figure out why - when you put a fan where the HDD should be - you are having issues, this isn't the case for you.
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- Terry D.
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Verified Owner
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Owned For:
1 day to 1 week
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