Introduction

The GT1 is the latest mid-tower case from In Win, coming with an excellent suggested price (USD 69). Let’s see what this case has to offer.

The In Win GT1 is available in two options of color, black or white. We reviewed the black version.

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Figure 1: In Win GT1 case

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Figure 2: In Win GT1 case

The left panel of the In Win GT1 has a huge tinted window.

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Figure 3: Left panel

The Front Panel

The In Win GT1 was designed with airflow in mind, as its front panel is completely meshed. There are three external 5.25” bays with meshed covers; however, they don’t have air filters.

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Figure 4: Front panel

The case comes with one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, and the traditional audio jacks located on the top portion of the front panel. The USB 3.0 port uses an internal connector. We don’t understand why this case doesn’t have two USB 3.0 ports instead of one. The case also has a two-speed, single-channel fan controller, located on its top panel. This controller uses standard peripheral power connectors, so if you install additional fans with a three-pin fan power connector, you will need to use adapters in order to connect the fans to the controller.

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Figure 5: Buttons and connectors

The front panel comes with a 120 mm fan installed, which is attached to the case using a mechanism that doesn’t require the use of screws or tools. No technical specifications for this fan are provided. This fan comes with an air filter, but there is no air filter for the optional second 120 mm fan that can be installed.

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Figure 6: Front fan

The Top, Bottom, and Rear Panels

The top panel of the In Win GT1 is meshed, supporting the installation of two 120 mm or two 140 mm fans. The installation of these fans doesn’t require the use of tools or screws, thanks to the tool-less mechanism that is used.

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Figure 7: Top panel

 

One of the highlights of the GT1 is its external 3.5”/2.5” docking bay, shown in Figure 8. In Figure 8, you can also see the two-speed, single-channel fan controller.

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Figure 8: External 3.5”/2.5” docking bay

The bottom panel of the In Win GT1 has filters for the power supply and the bottom fans.

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Figure 9: Bottom panel

The rear panel and the interior of the In Win GT1 are painted in the same color as the exterior (black, in our sample).

On the In Win GT1, the power supply is installed at the bottom of the case.

The product comes with a 120 mm fan with red LEDs installed on its rear panel. No technical specifications for this fan are provided.

There are seven expansion slots with meshed slot covers that are disposable.

The case comes with two holes with rubber covers for hoses of external liquid cooling solutions. Each hole is 0.8” (20 mm) in diameter.

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Figure 10: Rear panel

The case comes with a tab for the installation of a padlock or warranty seal, preventing unauthorized people from opening the computer.

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Figure 11: Tab for padlock or warranty seal

Let’s now take a look inside the In Win GT1.

Inside the In Win GT1

Both panels are attached to the chassis using black metallic thumbscrews. The motherboard tray has a huge cutout for you to access the backplate of the CPU coolers without having to remove the motherboard from the case, and several clips for you to fasten cables using cable ties. The motherboard tray doesn’t go all the way to the bottom panel, leaving a huge space 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

In Figure 14, we get another overall look inside the case. Expansion cards are fastened using regular black screws, accessible from outside the case. On its default configuration, the In Win GT1 supports video cards up to 10.6” (270 mm) long. With the top hard drive cage removed, this clearance is increased to 16.1” (408 mm).

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Figure 14: Overall look

The power supply is installed at the bottom of the case. 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 shown before, there is an air filter for the power supply fan. On the case’s default configuration, you can install power supplies up to 10.6” (270 mm) deep.

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Figure 15: Power supply compartment

The bottom panel allows the installation of an 80 mm or a 120 mm fan. If a 120 mm fan is installed, the power supply depth limit is 6.3” (160 mm), whereas with an 80 mm fan installed, this limit is 7.1” (180 mm).

The Disk Drive Bays

The In Win GT1 has three external 5.25” bays, one 3.5”/2.5” external docking bay, six internal 3.5”/2.5” bays in two cages, and one internal 2.5” bay. The installation of 5.25” and 3.5” devices can be done without the use of tools or screws, but installation of 2.5” devices require the use of regular screws.

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Figure 16: Default configuration of the disk drive bays

As mentioned before, you can remove the top hard drive cage to allow the installation of video cards longer than 10.6” (270 mm). However, to remove this cage, you need only to remove its left-side wall, and the single 2.5” bay, which is located inside the top cage, will still be available. See Figure 17.

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Figure 17: Top hard drive cage removed

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

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Figure 18: One of the 3.5”/2.5” bays

Main Specifications

The main specifications for the In Win GT1 include:

• Style: Mid-tower
• Application: ATX and smaller form factors
• Material: Zinc-coated steel (SECC) body
• Power supply: Doesn’t come with the product
• Available colors: Black or white
• Side panel: Transparent
• Dimensions: 18.7 x 8.3 x 19.3 inches (475 x 210 x 491 mm) (H x W x D)
• Net weight: 12.5 lbs (5.6 kg)
• Gross weight: 15.5 lbs (7 kg)
• Bays: Three external 5.25” bays, one external 3.5”/2.5” docking bay, six internal 3.5”/2.5” bays in two cages, and one 2.5” bay
• Expansion slots: Seven
• Maximum video card length: 10.6” (270 mm) on its default configuration or 16.1” (408 mm) if the top hard drive cage is removed
• Maximum CPU cooler height: NA
• Fans: One 120 mm fan on the front panel and one 120 mm fan with red LEDs on the rear panel
• Optional fans: One 120 mm fan on the front panel, two 120 mm fans on the top panel, and one 80 mm or 120 mm fan on the bottom panel
• Extra Features: Single-channel two-speed fan controller and tab for padlock or warranty seal
• More Information: http://www.inwin-style.com
• MSRP in the U.S.: USD 69.00

Conclusions

The In Win GT1 is a very good case for its price tag (USD 69), coming with features usually only available on more expensive models, in particular its external 3.5”/2.5” docking bay. The quality of its plastic parts could be better, and it could come with more fans, but at this price we don’t think these points are real issues.

Strong Points

• Covers for the 5.25” bays are vented
• Air filter for the power supply, bottom, and front fans
• External 3.5”/2.5” docking bay
• Support for six 3.5” or seven 2.5” internal devices
• Supports video cards up to 10.6” (270 mm) long on its default configuration or up to 16.1” (408 mm) long if the top hard drive cage is removed
• Two-speed, single-channel fan controller
• A huge cutout in the motherboard tray for accessing the backplate of the CPU cooler
• The motherboard tray doesn’t touch the bottom panel, creating a huge space for routing cables
• Clips for fastening cables using cable ties
• Anti-vibration rings for 3.5” hard disk drives

Weak Points

• Fan controller uses peripheral power connectors instead of three-pin fan connectors
• No air filter for the optional front fan
• Only one USB 3.0 port