MODTHEBOX.COM - Canada's Premier Case Modding Source - Reviews - ClearPC "Secret Agent" Briefcase Review

Click image for larger view

In order to address issues with proper cooling and function, ClearPC has incorporated a build-in HD cooler into the 3.5" internal drive cage area. Two 40mm fan hole mounts located towards to the rear portion of the internal drive cage to cool any installed hard drives. There are also two 40mm fan hole mounts located above the ATX I/O area which act as rear exhaust fans. To balance out the four 40mm fans, a 120mm intake fan is also located on the side panel to cool the PCI slot card location.

Click image for larger view

The back portion of the ClearPC "Secret Agent" Briefcase features openings for an I/O ATX back plate and seven expansion slots. All expansion cards are mounted against a horizontal mount which has a series of pre-drilled holes for securing the cards in place using the included thumb screws. Consumers will want to exercise caution during this process as this area is extremely fragile until the cards are properly mounted. During my inspection, I did note because of the way that the horizontal mount is positioned against the case frame that there will be a small opening towards the right side portion of the case. This opening can be used for routing the port extender cables which connect directly to the back ports on a motherboard. The ClearPC "Secret Agent" Case does not include any fans as a stock option, but consumers can purchase these add-on accessories directly from the ClearPC website. For this particular case I assembled four 40mm ADDA fans along with four small chrome mini grills as well as a 120mm Sunon fan.

Click image for larger view

Installation of system components into the ClearPC "Secret Agent" Briefcase was very simple as long as your follow the priority order specified on the 2-page reference sheet included with the package. To complete this system, I assembled the following components:

ASUS P4C800 Deluxe Motherboard
Intel Pentium 4 2.4B CPU w/Thermalright SLK-947U Heatsink
2 x OCZ PC3200 DDR400 256MBx2 CAS2.5
Albatron FX5900XTV video card
2 x Maxtor Diamond Max Plus 8 40 GB Hard drives
LiteOn 52x32x52 CD-RW
LG 52x32x52 CD-RW w/ SuperLink
SB Live 5.1 sound card
AeroCool P4 550 Watt PSU

One of the biggest challenges consumers will face working on this particular case is keeping cable management to a minimum. I strongly suggest purchasing a few zip ties to bundle cable as well as use sleeving on your PSU. I trimmed down my rounded cables in order to neatly tuck them into corners and open areas. For consumers looking to purchase this case or any type of acrylic enclosure it is important to address maintenance issues. If you have any concerns regarding dust there are some simple procedures that you should follow to maintain the ClearPC "Secret Agent" Briefcase's appearance. First off, always use a non-abrasive soft cotton cloth with Lucite cleaner, Novus#1 Plastic Polish or a simple mixture of soap and water to remove finger prints and dust. Do not use ammonia based products, such as Windex which is known to cause clear acrylic to cloud over time. To remove minor scratches from the ClearPC "Secret Agent" Briefcase, I recommend using Novus#2 Scratch Remover. These products will guarantee that this case will last you a long time and keep this product maintenance free. Finally, if you plan on using this case as your primary LAN Rig, it is a good idea to invest in some sort of transport carrying system such as the popular Caseace Gear Grip Pro.

Conclusion:

ClearPC has stuck to its original roots for acrylic case fabrication and has developed a really unique product with the "Secret Agent" Briefcase. The overall design is good for consumers utilizing mATX or Full ATX motherboards and allows for simple installation of system components. Motherboard installation was smooth although a little tricky since this case does not use a traditional motherboard tray with mounting screws. Quick access to the internals of the case can be accomplished by simply removing two thumbscrews and lifting the top side panel into the upward position. Air circulation has been well thought out and works well in this case using four 40mm case fans and one 120mm case fan placed in strategic areas to cool system components. The ventilation slots above the CPU area is a nice touch for bringing in and exhaust air from the system. Installation of system components works exactly the same way as mounting in standard steel and aluminum based cases. Screws are placed on the left and right hand side of the drive cage and ClearPC has added holes on the right hand side to permit inserting in any type of screwdriver. Case modders can take advantage of the available room on the side panel for adding in additional LCD display or lighting products to really trick this case. While the ClearPC "Secret Agent" Briefcase excels in certain areas, there are some additional comments I would like to make. Due to the size of this enclosure, cable management will be sure to be a nightmare for some people thanks to the cramped interior. The AGP/PCI slot location is very fragile and extra precaution should be taken when installing or removing peripheral cards. The external 5.25" drive bay area is very tight but there was enough room to get my CDROM drives installed. I did experience problems trying to install a Matrix Orbital BLK202A-GW-4BR-BK 20x2 Serial LCD since the mounting bracket was to big to fit without modification. The ventilation area located above the CPU area would be better suited to have a filter installed to keep dust and foreign material out of the case. Finally, I did feel the acrylic handle flex once the case components were installed due to the increased weight but it wasn't enough of a problem to cause any real concern. Overall, I feel that ClearPC has done a great job with the "Secret Agent" Briefcase and award MTB's Seal of Approval with a final rating of 8.5 out of 10. I would definately recommend this case for those individuals that want a transportable acrylic briefcase which is perfect as a LAN Rig. If you have any questions regarding this review be sure to visit the ClearPC website for more information or discuss them in our forums.

Pros:

The world's first acrylic briefcase enclosure
Makes a perfect transportable LAN Rig
Aesthetically pleasing and stylish design
Easy to follow installation guide
The unit is pre-assembled
Accommodates system component installation with ease
Adequate cooling options
Cons:

Acrylic scratches easily and requires regular maintenance
Open ventilation areas perfect for dust and foreign material
External 5.25" drive bays might not fit all add-on components
PSU is located on the front portion of the case
Interior is cramped which provides a challenge for cable management