Page 53 - Computer Power User - February 2017
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CASE BUYER’S GUIDE
Aerocool DS 230
$119.99 ($19.99 for optional full-size acrylic side panel)
www.aerocool.us
Why You’ll Dig It: Aerocool accents the DS 230 with LED lighting
that runs across the top and bottom of the front panel, as well as LEDs
just above the pedestal base for some ground effect lighting. You can
pick among seven LED colors (red, green, blue, orange, purple, cyan,
or white) and configure the lights to remain a static color, pulse, or
change color based on the system’s PWM fan speed. As a member
of Aerocool’s Dead Silence lineup, the DS 230 includes a number of
features to keep PC noise to a minimum. Both side panels are coated
with a layer of sound-dampening material, and the front panel’s
ventilation features only side-facing and downward facing openings,
so sound from the front panel is directed away from you. The DS 230
is also available with a full-size acrylic side panel that costs you only
$19.99.
Who Should Apply: Enthusiasts who want quiet operation and the
ability to match case illumination to a build’s internal color scheme.
Dimensions: 18.7 x 9 x 18.8 inches
Motherboard Support: Mini-ITX, mATX, ATX
Drive Bays: 2 x 2.5-/3.5-inch internal, 3 x 2.5-inch internal
CASE BUYER’S GUIDE
be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900
$249
www.bequiet.com
Why You’ll Dig It: Earlier this year, the Dark Base Pro 900 received our prestigious CPU Cutting Edge award for be quiet!’s exceptional modular
case innovations. The Dark Base 900 Pro’s motherboard tray is removable, so you can install your motherboard and various other components outside
the case if you like, and you can also flip the motherboard tray, as well as move it to one of three heights inside the case. Furthermore, each of the
seven internal 3.5-inch drive bays can alternatively house two 2.5-inch drives, and the rack that houses all these bays isn’t just removable—you can
rotate it so that the trays slide out to the right instead of the left. The internal PSU mounting bracket can reside in up to six positions inside the case.
The Dark Base Pro 900 exudes a premium look and feel, in part due to the tempered glass panel—which can also be moved from the left to the right
side.
Who Should Apply: Custom loop fanatics who need
a case they can customize to work with non-standard,
intriguing design choices.
Dimensions: 23 x 9.6 x 22.7 inches
Motherboard Support: Mini-ITX, mATX, ATX, XL-ATX, EATX
Drive Bays: 2 x 5.25-inch external, 7 x 3.5-inch internal,
15 x 2.5-inch internal
CPU / February2017 53
