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Click image for larger view
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Towards the bottom portion of the Igloo 11 sits the lower drive bay cage which can hold 4 x 3.5" internal
devices. All the drives are mounted vertically inside the drive cage which makes this configuration suitable
for multi-drive and RAID array configurations. The entire drive cage is not removable and has been riveted
to the case chassis. In front of the drive cage is the mounts for the dual 80mm fan intakes. Beantech
has included black O-rings around the screw mount areas of each drive bay in order to reduce hard drive
vibration and noise.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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One of the standout features of the BeanTech Igloo 11 Aluminum Case is the inclusion of a slide out
motherboard tray option. The slide out motherboard tray simplifies the process of installing and removing
components and is a must for any system builder. The Igloo 11 includes standard motherboard header pins
for Power LED, HD LED, Power switch, Reset switch, Speaker, Dual USB and IEEE Firewire which can be
easily connected to a motherboard.
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Click image for larger view
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All the system components were conveniently assembled outside the case using the slide out motherboard
tray. To test out this case, I decided to re-build my home server using a series of spare components which
include the following:
- DFI LAN Party Pro875B Motherboard Review
- Celeron-D 330 2.66 GHz CPU w/Arctic Cooling Freezer 4 Heatsink
- 1GB Corsair XMS3200LL Pro Series Twinx Memory Kit
- 5 x 36GB Seagate SCSI Drives (RAID 5) w/AMI RAID Controller
- 2 x 60GB Maxtor DiamondMax 9 Hard Drives
- ATI Radeon 9700 Pro Video Card
- 48X Panasonic CDROM
- Panasonic Floppy Drive
- Ultra X-Connect 500W ATX Power Supply
Overall, the external appearance of this case at night is unbelievable and to highlight the interior
I added additional UV green reactant accessories from Ultra Products.
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Conclusion:
BeanTech International has done an admirable job in its latest attempt at offering a pre-modified aluminum
case solution for those consumers who lack the necessary skill or tools. The Igloo 11 is a well-constructed
mid-tower case that offers and abundance of features and impressive aesthetics. The attention to detail
and craftsmanship of the front bezel with the Perspex door is first rate and should appeal to individuals
looking for something unique. Add in great options such as the removable slide out motherboard tray, front
fan filters, tool-less key entry, support for large PSU's and pre-modified side panel window and you have
a great all-in-one consumer package. While the BeanTech Igloo 11 Aluminum Case does have some positive points
there are some negative ones that I should comment on. BeanTech has stressed the idea of tool-less
design with the inclusion of the slide-out motherboard tray and thumbscrews on the side panels. I find it
strange that the company didn't bother to use this philosophy for the internal drive cage area and decided
to rivet it directly to the case chassis. During an initial inspection of the case interior, I found the
left side panel difficult to remove since this case doesn't incorporate any type of case handle feature
which is standard on most mid-tower cases. The execution of the side panel window, while attractive could
have been designed a little better where the window is stealthed from inside the case panel instead of
mounted directly on the outside. Finally, the addition of audio ports on the front bezel would round out
the inclusion of dual USB 2.0 and IEEE Firewire ports. Aside from a few minor issues, I'm rating this
case a 8 out of 10 and would only recommend
this product for those individuals looking for an good pre-modified case solution with cool aesthethics.
If you have any questions regarding this review be sure to visit the Alpha & Omega Computer Corporation
website for more information or discuss them in our forums.
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Pros:
- Excellent aluminum construction
- Aesthetically pleasing design
- Removable slide out motherboard tray
- Removable air filters
- Tool-less key entry options
- Spacious interior design
- Front mounted USB 2.0 and IEEE Firewire ports
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Cons:
- No removable drive cages
- Side panel doors are difficult to remove
- No front mounted audio ports
- Pre-modified side panel window could be designed better
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