MODTHEBOX.COM - Canada's Premier Case Modding Source - Reviews - Ahanix D.vine 4 Home Theater Series PC Case Review

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In order to conceal unsightly optical drives and other 5.25" devices, the right hand portion of the Ahanix D.vine 4 Home Theater Series PC Case uses a thick aluminum door. The door mechanism is rather simple and uses a series of magnets and hinges to stay secure. A light push on the top right corner allows for the door to lightly descend revealing the drive bays. One issue I did note immediately is that the door sits flush against the drive bays, which eliminates the use of any fan controllers or audio interfaces. The Ahanix D.vine 4 Home Theater Series PC Case supports a total of two external 5.25" drive bays for use with optical drives or a select number of additional 5.25" based devices. Absent are any quality drive bays for those using a single optical drive. Instead, a single push out disposable drive bay has been included. Users may have the option of using their own spare drive bays providing they fit properly.

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A rectangular recessed area holds two USB 2.0 and a single IEEE 1394 port that are easily accessible from the lower front portion of the case. In order to use the USB headers, onboard motherboard headers are required. The Firewire IEEE 1394 port uses a standard connection that can be routed out a spare PCI plate at the rear. The rear portion of the Ahanix D.vine 4 Home Theater Series PC Case features standard mounting areas for power supply, ATX I/O shield and PCI expansion slots. As a bonus, Ahanix were kind enough to include the optional Ahanix Brand HTPC 350W Silent PSU. This unit features a single fan exhaust design to promote silent operation.

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The middle rear portion of the Ahanix D.vine 4 Home Theater Series PC Case features a standard ATX I/O shield and two 60mm based fans, which are configured to act as exhaust and remove warm air from the interior of the case. A total of 7 expansion slots are present for any combination of PCI and AGP expansion cards. Users should note that the included plates are the basic push out variety and are non-reusable. Also bundled at the rear is a parallel port header that has been routed from the interior and is designed for use with the included VFD. This feature will be covered later on in the review.