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Product:
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Razotech Blizzard Mid-Tower Computer Case |
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Price:
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$67 (CAN) / $56 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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Razotech
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Author:
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Hi-TEK
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Date:
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April 2nd, 2005
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Rating:
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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Positioned directly in front of the PSU mount are 4 x external 5.25" drive bays, which are suitable for
mounting optical devices. The external drive bays are non-removable and use 6-32 screws for mounting
all the hardware components. The construction of the drive bays is very solid and I did not notice any
sharp edges during my inspection.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The bottom of the case chassis features one 80mm intake fan mount but is capable of accommodating a 92mm
or 120mm fan. The 80mm fan is the only one that is bundled with this case and is manufactured by
MGE. The 80mm fan runs at 3000 RPM and pushes 34 CFM with a
noise level of 30 dBA. The Razotech Blizzard Mid-Tower Computer Case does come equipped with standard
motherboard header pins for HD, Reset, Power Switch and Power LED. The dual USB, IEEE1394 Firewire and
Audio connections consist of a series of pins which must be wired to the internal headers on a
motherboard.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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In order to achieve the Power Mac G5 look requires the installation of the bundled case handles. This
process requires three steps and starts with the mounting of the handles on the top and bottom of the
case. The handles are secured using two sets of long threaded screws which are provided in the package.
This means that only two handles can be installed at any given time. Plastic covers are also included
in the package and are used to cover the mounting screws for each handle. Once the handles are installed
you can proceed to install all the hardware components and transport the case to its final destination.
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Conclusion:
The Razotech Blizzard Mid-Tower can be classified as a budget computer case that has been designed more
for form than function. On the positive side, consumers will be happy to know that the case is
priced well below $70 (U.S) and looks like an Apple Power Mac G5. The Blizzard features convenient case
handles for easy transportation, adjustable air duct, 400w PSU, pre-fab window design and front mounted
USB, Firewire and Audio ports. On the negative side, the overall paint finish on the Blizzard is far
from what would deem acceptable for most cases in this price range. The overuse of ventilation holes on
the side panels complicates the entire cooling configuration and hinders optimal cooling performance.
The 400W L&C LC-B400ATX PSU is far from what can be considered a high quality power supply and I don't
see any consumers trusting their precious equipment with this unit. Two types of filters are used on
the top and left side panel but for some reason Razotech felt the need to not provide any filtering on
the right side panel. Finally, the Razotech Blizzard Mid-Tower Case does not include a removable
motherboard tray or drive cages to simplify the installation of system components. Overall, I was
a bit disappointed with the Blizzard and award a final rating of
5 out of 10. If you have any questions
regarding this review be sure to visit the Razortech
website for more information or discuss them in our forums.
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Pros:
- Pre-fab installed window design
- Front USB, IEEE1394 and Audio ports
- Adjustable air duct
- Stealth CDROM drive bays
- Very case modification friendly
- Includes case handles for easy transportation
- Price
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Cons:
- No slide out motherboard tray
- Cheap plastic bezel
- Stock fan guards prohibit proper airflow
- Poor paint finish
- Ventilation holes are overkill and hinder cooling performance
- Cheap bundled generic 400W PSU
- Missing filter on the right side panel
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