MODTHEBOX.COM - Canada's Premier Case Modding Source - Reviews

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The Sunbeam Trio Mid-Tower Case includes standard motherboard header pins for Power LED, HD LED, Power switch, and Reset switch which can be easily connected to a motherboard. Additional connections exist for mounting 2 USB cables internally as well as headers for the Audio cables, Firewire, Volume control, Fan Control and a temperature probe.

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Once the plastic front bezel has been removed, consumers have several different options available for the front fan intake configuration. Like the rear portion of the Trio, the stamped fan grill has been integrated into the case chassis. What is unique about this configuration is that consumers have the option of installing a single 120mm fan or four 80mm cooling fans. On the adjacent side of the plastic bezel is a small white PCB circuit that controls the Analog gauges, fan controller and side mounted ports. All power to the PCB is provided by a 4-pin Molex connector that is connected directly to the 450W PSU.

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The installation of system components into the Sunbeam Trio Mid-Tower Case is very simple thanks to the tool-less design. Once the front plastic drive plates have been removed, consumers can insert any sort of optical drive and lock it into the place using the locking system. To test out this case, I assembled a series of spare components which included a DFI LAN Party Pro875B Motherboard, Intel Pentium 4 2.8C CPU w/Thermalright SLK947U HSF, 2 x 512MB Corsair XMS3200LL Pro Series Twinx DDR Memory, 60GB Maxtor D740X-GL Hard Drive, LG 52x32x52 CD-RW w/ SuperLink and a SB Audigy Sound Card.

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Once the system was powered, the 80mm LED fan and front analog style gauges become illuminated with a soft blue glow. The temperature gauge provides nice readable display which shows your default CPU temperature while the fan gauge provides an approximation of the current RPM speed. I was unable to get any readings from the Volume gauge simply because this unit requires the installation of internal headers for sound already integrated into the motherboard. If you use an external sound source there is no option available to hook this gauge into the rear ports of a sound card.

Conclusion:

Sunbeam has done a decent job with another pre-modified case targeted specifically for the budget consumer market. The Sunbeam Trio Mid-Tower Case is available in three different colour combinations and provides a unique look balanced with some functionality. Consumers will appreciate the tool-less key design features which simplify component installation as well as the pre-modified side panel window that provides a good view of the interior. The front port extension panel includes all the necessary ports for connecting USB based devices, as well as support for different multimedia applications. Stock cooling options are decent and limited to one 80mm fan on the side panel, dual 80mm/120mm rear exhaust and optional 80mm/120mm fan mounts on the front. In order to maximize good air circulation in this case removal of the front and rear stamped grills will be necessary. By far the biggest selling point for the Sunbeam Trio Mid-Tower Case is the nice show car paint finish and retro style Analog gauges which should appeal to those consumers looking for something different. While the Sunbeam Trio Mid-Tower Case does have some positive features there are a few areas that could use improvement. The inclusion of a removable motherboard tray would really complete the tool-less design theme and simplify the installation and maintenance of components inside the case. The stamped grills on the rear and front portion of the case really prohibit any sort of decent air circulation. It would have been nice of the Volume Analog gauge provided an option to be externally connected to the rear ports of a sound card. Finally, while the 450W PSU is a nice value add-on, I wouldn't trust powering any of my high priced components with it and recommend replacing it with something more reliable. Overall, I was pleased with the Sunbeam Trio Mid-Tower Case and award a final rating of 8.5 out of 10. If you have any questions regarding this review be sure to visit the Sunbeam Technology website for more information or discuss them in our forums.

NOTE: Consumers intertested in purchasing the Sunbeam Trio Mid-Tower Case can find the product at the following vendor sites: CrazyPC, MWave, NewEgg, Xoxide or ZipZoomFly.