Bgears b-Envi Case Review | Hardware Secrets

Conclusions

B-Envi is an HTPC case targeted to users that want to build a home theater PC and/or to gamers that are looking for a light and small case to make it easier to carry his computer to LAN parties. Here is a summary of what we found about this case.

Strong Points

Touch panel.
Very light.
Reduced size will save you lots of space and make it easier to carry your PC around (to LAN parties, for example).
Aluminum 2 ½” hard disk drive enclosure.
SATA printed circuit board for the enclosure costs only USD 9.99 (or USD 15.99 if you want a whole new enclosure).

Weak Points

Low-quality mechanism for the top 5 ¼” and memory card reader bay covers: they kept opening all the time.
No screwless mechanism for holding daughter boards. A case on this price range should use at least thumbscrews for this function.
No screwless mechanism for holding disk drives.
Not speed control for the fan.
Use of standard 4-pin peripheral power plugs on the fan, which prevents you from monitoring its speed.
No anti-vibration mechanism for the hard disk drives.
Some stores like Newegg.com are selling it at a price tag higher than the manufacturer suggested price.

In summary, it is a good all-aluminum option, but it isn’t flawless product. We expected a little bit more for a product in this price range, even though it comes with a hard disk drive enclosure, which increases its final price. If you won’t use this device then you are probably better off with a different product.

Bgears b-Envi Case Review
By Gabriel Torres on October 7, 2008	Page 5 of 5
Conclusions B-Envi is an HTPC case targeted to users that want to build a home theater PC and/or to gamers that are looking for a light and small case to make it easier to carry his computer to LAN parties. Here is a summary of what we found about this case. Strong Points Touch panel. Very light. Reduced size will save you lots of space and make it easier to carry your PC around (to LAN parties, for example). Aluminum 2 ½” hard disk drive enclosure. SATA printed circuit board for the enclosure costs only USD 9.99 (or USD 15.99 if you want a whole new enclosure). Weak Points Low-quality mechanism for the top 5 ¼” and memory card reader bay covers: they kept opening all the time. No screwless mechanism for holding daughter boards. A case on this price range should use at least thumbscrews for this function. No screwless mechanism for holding disk drives. Not speed control for the fan. Use of standard 4-pin peripheral power plugs on the fan, which prevents you from monitoring its speed. No anti-vibration mechanism for the hard disk drives. Some stores like Newegg.com are selling it at a price tag higher than the manufacturer suggested price. In summary, it is a good all-aluminum option, but it isn’t flawless product. We expected a little bit more for a product in this price range, even though it comes with a hard disk drive enclosure, which increases its final price. If you won’t use this device then you are probably better off with a different product.
Originally at http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/625/5	Pages (5): 1 2 3 4 5 »
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