Introduction

The GRone is the latest full-tower case from In Win, featuring eight expansion slots, support for E-ATX motherboards, and an external docking bay. Let’s see if it is a good choice.

The reviewed case is available in three color choices: white, black or metallic gray. Our sample was metallic gray.

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Figure 1: In Win GRone case

The case supports the installation of a 120 mm or 140 mm fan on its right panel, to cool down the underside of the CPU.

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Figure 2: In Win GRone case

As you can see, the huge transparent side window is bluish; this was the first time we’ve seen a case using such a color for its side panel. The case doesn’t support fans on its left panel.

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Figure 3: Left panel

The Front Panel

By looking at the front panel of the In Win GRone case, you may have the impression that it has eight 5.25” external bays. However, only the top three are usable; the bottom five bay covers are stuck together and hide the two 140 mm fans that cool down the hard drive cages. These fans glow red when turned on and come connected to the available two-speed fan controller. There are no technical specifications available for these fans.

The 5.25” bay covers are meshed, but they don’t have air filters. The cover for the fans, on the other hand, has an air filter and is easily removable by pushing it.

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Figure 4: Front panel

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Figure 5: Front panel

On the top part of the front panel you will find the fan speed controller, where you can select between “Silence” (low speed) or “Turbo” (high speed). By default, the front fans and the hard drive cage fan are connected to this controller. You can also add the rear and the top fans to it, and it still allows the installation of a sixth fan.

The case has two USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, and the traditional audio jacks. The USB 3.0 ports use an internal connector.

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Figure 6: Buttons, connectors, and the fan speed controller

The Top, Bottom, and Rear Panels

The top panel of the In Win GRone case is meshed. It comes with one 140 mm fan installed, and it supports the installation of another two 120 mm or 140 mm fans. The top fan doesn’t come installed to the fan controller, but this installation can be easily done. The top panel of the GRone supports the installation of a radiator of liquid cooling solutions up to 360 mm long.

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Figure 7: Top panel

The case comes with an external docking bay for SATA devices on its top panel.

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Figure 8: Docking bay

The bottom panel has two air filters, one for the power supply fan and another for the optional bottom fan or radiator.

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Figure 9: Bottom panel

The rear panel and the interior of the In Win GRone case are painted the same color as the rest of the case; in our case, metallic gray.

The case has eight expansion slots, using vented covers.

The rear panel comes with a 140 mm fan, which can also be connected to the available two-speed fan controller.

On the In Win GRone case, the power supply goes on the bottom part of the case.

There are four holes protected with rubber covers for hoses of liquid cooling solutions. These holes are 0.8” (21 mm) in diameter.

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Figure 10: Rear panel

The reviewed case has a tab for you to install a padlock or a warranty seal, preventing unauthorized people from opening the computer. By default, this comes hidden, as shown in Figure 11.

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Figure 11: Tab for padlock or warranty seal

Let’s now take a look inside the In Win GRone case.

Inside the In Win GRone Case

Both panels are attached to the chassis using black thumbscrews. The motherboard tray has a huge hole for you to access the backplate of the CPU cooler without having to remove the motherboard from the case and several holes protected with rubber covers for you to route cables behind it.

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Figure 12: Overall look

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Figure 13: A view behind the motherboard tray

Figure 14 gives you another overall look inside the case. Expansion cards are fastened using black thumbscrews. The In Win GRone case supports video cards up to 13.5” (342 mm) long on its default configuration or up to 14.4” (365 mm) if the hard drive cage fan is removed.

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Figure 14: Overall look

The case comes with a 140 mm fan that glows red installed in front of the top hard drive cage. See Figure 15. This fan comes connected to the two-speed fan controller.

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Figure 15: Hard drive cage fan

As already explained, the power supply is installed at the bottom of the case. Note that it can be installed with either its bottom fan facing up or facing down, so you can decide if you want the fan of your power supply pulling air from inside the case or from outside of it. As already shown, there is an air filter for the power supply fan.

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Figure 16: Power supply compartment

The case supports the installation of two 120 mm or 140 mm fans or one radiator up to 240 mm long on its bottom panel. You need to remove the bottom hard drive cage for installing the second fan or a 240 mm radiator. One good thing about this case is that if your fan or radiator is up to 1” (25 mm) thick (virtually all case fans are 25 mm thick), you can reinstall the bottom hard drive cage.

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Figure 17: Place for installing fans or a radiator on the bottom panel

When no fan is installed, you can install a power supply up to 15” (380 mm) deep. When the first fan is installed, you can install a power supply up to 8.5” (215 mm) deep.

The Disk Drive Bays

The In Win GRone case has three 5.25” external bays, eight 3.5”/2.5” internal bays, and one 3.5”/2.5” external docking bay. Installation of 5.25”, 3.5”, and external 2.5” devices can be done without the use of tools or screws.

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Figure 18: Disk drive bays

The case has two hard drive cages. The upper one has five 3.5”/2.5” bays, and the bottom one has three 3.5”/2.5” bays. You can remove the top cage if you want to improve airflow inside the computer. Furthermore, you can remove the bottom cage if you either want to improve airflow inside the computer or want to install a fan or radiator on the bottom panel that is thicker than 1” (25 mm).

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Figure 19: The case with its top hard drive cage removed

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Figure 20: The case with its bottom hard drive cage removed

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Figure 21: The case with both hard drive cages removed

Each 3.5”/2.5” bay is actually a small drawer with rubber rings to reduce the vibration and noise produced by 3.5” hard drives.

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Figure 22: One of the 3.5”/2.5” bays

Main Specifications

The main specifications for the In Win GRone case include:

• Style: Full-tower
• Application: E-ATX and smaller form factors
• Material: Zinc-coated steel (SECC) body
• Power supply: Doesn’t come with the product
• Available colors: Black, white or metallic gray
• Side panel: Bluish transparent window
• Dimensions: 22.1 x 9.6 x 23.4 inches (562 x 245 x 593 mm) (H x W x D)
• Net weight: 26.5 Lbs (12 kg)
• Gross weight: 30 Lbs (13.6 kg)
• Bays: Three external 5.25” bays, eight internal 3.5”/2.5” bays, and one external 3.5”/2.5” docking bay
• Expansion slots: Eight
• Maximum video card length: 13.5” (342 mm) or 14.4” (365 mm) if the hard drive cage fan is removed
• Maximum CPU cooler height: NA
• Fans: Two 140 mm fans on the front panel (red LEDs), one 140 mm fan on the top hard drive cage (red LEDs), one 140 mm fan on the top panel, and one 140 mm fan on the rear panel
• Optional fans: Two 120 mm or 140 mm fans on the top panel, two 120 mm or 140 mm fans on the bottom panel, and one 120 mm or 140 mm fan on the right panel
• Extra Features: Two-speed fan controller, support for one radiator up to 360 mm long and another radiator up to 240 mm long
• More Information: http://www.inwin-style.com
• MSRP in the U.S.: USD 160.00

Conclusions

The In Win GRone case has terrific options for the enthusiast building a high-end PC, in particular eight expansion slots, support for E-ATX motherboards, and support for up to two radiators of liquid cooling solutions.

Strong Points

• Support for E-ATX motherboards
• Support for two radiators, one up to 360 mm on the top panel and one up to 240 mm on the bottom panel
• Supports 10 fans, comes with six
• Vented covers for the external 5.25” bays
• Air filters for the front, bottom and power supply fans
• Two-speed fan controller supporting all fans
• Eight expansion slots
• Expansion cards are fastened using thumbscrews
• Vented slot covers
• Supports nine 3.5”/2.5” storage devices
• Anti-vibration rings for the 3.5” hard drives
• A huge hole in the motherboard tray for accessing the backplate of the CPU cooler
• Holes protected with rubber covers for routing cables behind the motherboard tray

Weak Points

• No clips for fastening cables behind the motherboard tray