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Product:
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I-Star Storm Series D-300 Black 3U Rackmount Case |
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Price:
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$238 (CDN) / $205 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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I-Star USA
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Author:
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Hi-TEK
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Date:
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December 23rd, 2005
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Rating:
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As previously mentioned, the I-Star Storm Series D-300 Black 3U Rackmount Case comes bundled with a TC-3U30 300
watt power supply. This is a I-Star branded power supply that measures approximately 180mm (D) x 117mm (W)
x 86mm (H). The TC-3U30 has all the standard features you'd expect from a server grade PSU which
includes Output Over Voltage Protection, Short Circuit Protection on all outputs and Overpower Protection.
All peak power is protected between 130% and 160% of continuous rated power with an option for a resettable
power shut down.
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The cable layout for the PSU includes a 20 to 24-pin ATX connector, P4 12v connector, 2 x Serial ATA connectors, 4 x
4-pin Molex connectors, and a floppy connector. TC-3U30 is compliant with P4 and AMD chipsets and is approved by UL, CUL,
and VDE standards.
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Installing components into the I-Star Storm Series D-300 Black 3U Rackmount Case is a straightforward process that can be
completed in less than an hour. To test out this case, I assembled a series of spare components which included the following:
- ASUS A7V600-F Motherboard
- AMD Athlon XP 1800+ CPU w/Vantec VA4-C7040 CPU Cooler
- XFX GeForce MX 4000 Video Card
- Intel PRO/1000 MT Desktop 10/100/1000 Gigabit PCI Adapter
- 2 x Kingmax 512MB PC-3200 DDR400 SDRAM
- 2 x Maxtor DiamondMax 10 200GB Hard Drives
- LG 52x32x52 DVD CD-RW w/ SuperLink
Since the D-300 does not include any reference manuals, most consumers can assemble any given system in this case with ease
without systematically proceeding in a specific order. While working in the case I didn't note any sharp areas or issues
with the chassis design.
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Once the system was powered, the first thing that you will notice is the blue illumination coming from the indicator panel.
All hard activity and fan failure alarms are distinguished via red and orange coloured LEDs. Since I work for a managed
hosting and security company, I decided to put this particular server into production as a FTP server running Microsoft Windows
Server 2003. The D-300 has been running under this configuration for the past week with no problems noted in performance
or system temperatures which are stable at 37°C idle and 44°C load.
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Conclusion:
The I-Star Storm Series D-300 Black 3U Rackmount Case is a perfect example of a server enclosure done right but
without its share of minor problems. On the positive side, the case is very versatile and can be used in with
both AMD and Intel platforms in a rack mount environment. The black exterior is very simplistic balancing
good function with design. Consumers will appreciate all the value added stock options that come with this case
which include the tool-less key entry, dual 60mm exhaust fans mounts, lockable front bezel, built-in fan filters,
front mounted USB ports, solid aluminum construction, 300w PSU and great expansion capabilities. While the D-300
is small for its size there is enough room inside the case interior to handle any type of computer configuration.
It would have been nice to have some documentation included with this package especially for the internal wiring of
the front mounted USB 2.0 headers. I was a little put off that I had to supply an additional 60mm cooling fan,
by default two fans should have been included in the package. The TC-303U power supply is rated for 300 watts
which is good for my particular configuration, but consumers looking for place more high-end hardware may
want to consider the D-300 with the 400/460 watt PSU option. Finally, if you plan on rackmount this case you
will have to purchase the server rails as an accessory add-on. I-Star sells a
Sliding Rail Kit
that is available in 20", 24" and 26" sizes. Overall, I was very pleased with this case
and award a final score of 8.5 out of 10. If you have any
questions regarding this review be sure to visit the I-Star USA
website for more information or discuss them in our forums.
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Pros:
- Excellent construction and aesthetically pleasing design
- Removable drive bays
- Front USB 2.0 ports
- Removable dust filters
- Plenty of ventilation
- Lightweight
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Cons:
- No documentation included in the package
- No server rails included in package
- Only one 60mm cooling fan included in package
- Cooling in external drive bay could be improved
- 300w may be limiting for high-end components
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