Antec Introduces GX700 Case

Antec introduced the GX700, which it touts as a "rugged" case, which could be explained by the generous use of steel in the front-panel, such as 5.25-inch bay doors (not spacers), and fan intake. The ATX mid-tower may not feature detachable drive cages, but claims sufficient room (29.5 cm or 11.5-inch) room for graphics cards. It features four 5.25-inch bays, which are covered with individual bay doors, and five 3.5-inch bays that can each hold 2.5-inch drives. Its motherboard tray features cutouts at the right spots. Cooling includes two 140 mm top exhaust fans (which can be swapped for a 240 mm-long radiator), two 120 mm front intakes (optional), a 120 mm rear exhaust, and provision for two 120 mm side intakes. Measuring 500 mm (H) x 200 mm (W) x 450 mm (D), it weighs about 6.3 kg. Its front-panel includes two each of USB 3.0 and USB 2.0/1.1 ports.

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COUGAR Introduces the Challenger Gaming Case

COUGAR, leading German PC case and power supply brand, officially announces their latest high-end PC gaming case, the COUGAR Challenger. The CHALLENGER mid-tower case is particularly targeting gamers demanding for huge upgradeability capacity, best airflow and optimized ventilation characteristics.

COUGAR's specific black and orange color combination paired with the large metal-mesh front bezel lend it an aggressive yet stylish appearance. But the ultimate design high-light is to be found right on the top of the case: to power up your computer you first have to lift a cover lid just like a pilot unlocks the missile button to fire. A safety feature to prevent accidental touch, which at the same time makes you feel in gaming mode right away. To play even most advanced games, the COUGAR CHALLENGER offers sufficient space for powerful graphics cards of up to 410 mm length.

Play as long as you want
To play even most advanced games, the COUGAR CHALLANGER offers sufficient space for powerful graphics cards of up to 410 mm length. This is achieved by a unique 3-Mode drive cage concept. In standard mode there is 300 mm of space, by using a special HDD track mechanism you can relocate the drive cage to you gain another 30 mm, and when removing it entirely you get the maximum of 410 mm.

Ventilation meets convenience
It's already a given for COUGAR to provide for vented PCIe slots at the back, and have advanced ventilation options on the front bezel. But now the German brand goes one step further. Innovative air filters on the bottom PSU cover and the side panel prevent dust from entering the inside and piling up there, BUT on top of things, COUGAR made things much more effective and convenient. These filters are now attached on the outside with a magnetic mechanism, allowing for easiest assembly and disassembly. This way it is incredibly easy to take the dust filters off at any given time, without the need to open the case, and simply clean them under your water standpipe for a minute, dry them and put them back on. Deal done, and your ventilation has been re-optimized within minutes a not efforts at all. A large 20 cm intake LED-fan in the front and an 12 cm rear Turbine exhaust fan come pre-installed and therefore provide for excellent ventilation characteristics right out of the box.

Easy and Tidy Upgrade
As PC enthusiast and gamers are constantly working on improving and upgrading their systems, it is of utmost importance to always have easy and clean access to the entire system. Therefore the COUGAR Challenger comes with a huge cutout on the motherboard backplate, allowing for spacious room to install or exchange CPU coolers. In addition, the newly designed cable management keeps cables away from the setup and tunnels them in a way so users can easily keep track of their hardwares' lifelines and change them conveniently at will. As a matter of course, this also is precondition for optimized ventilation characteristics of the overall setup.

Ready for the real liquid cooling
As liquid cooling is strongly coming back these days, COUGAR is taking these needs fully in account, giving users the thumbs up for highly advanced cooling solutions. A total of three liquid cooling hose holes on the rear panel allows for a maximum of accessibility. By default, COUGAR implements rubber protection of these holes, so users don't need to worry about potentially sharp edges cutting into the hoses by un-careful handling.

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Cougar Officially Launches the Evolution BO and Evolution Galaxy PC Cases

German feline-loving firm Cougar has now rolled out two more Evolution Series full tower PC cases, the Evolution BO (which we mentioned back in January) and the Evolution Galaxy. These models feature similar specs but come with their own color theme - black and orange for the EBO and black and white for the EG.

Seen below, Cougar's cases measure 223 (W) x 523 (D) x 514 (H) mm, and have a steel 'skeleton', an I/O panel with two USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 ports, a top-mounted 3.5-inch/2.5-inch SATA drive dock, a built-in fan controller, six external 5.25-inch bays (with tool-free mounting systems), four internal 3.5-inch trays, and eight PCI slots. The Evolution BO also packs a 120 mm Vortex HDB rear fan.

Both the Evolution BO and Evolution Galaxy have a recommended price tag of $94.99.

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Aerocool Launches the Strike-X One & Strike-X One Advance PC cases

Taiwan-based Aerocool Advanced Technologies has just announced the European release of two new Strike-X Series mid-tower PC cases, the Strike-X One and Strike-X One Advance. Both models feature a steel structure, are painted black both inside and out, and have support for ATX and micro ATX motherboards, four 5.25-inch drive bays (with tool-free mounting systems), six 3.5-inch internal bays, a PSU dust filter, and pre-drilled holes for watercooling tubes and cables.

The Strike-X One has an I/O panel with two USB 2.0 ports, and is equipped with one 120 mm rear fan, while the Strike-X One Advance comes with two USB 3.0 ports, a 120 mm rear fan, and a front 120 mm fan with red LEDs. The Strike-X One and Strike-X One Advance cost 34.99 Euro and 39.99 Euro, respectively.

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Antec Officially Announces the One Enclosure

Antec, Inc., the global leader in high-performance computer components, announces the One, the latest addition to their Gaming Series. The One is an excellent option for mainstream gamers, new PC builders and seasoned system integrators alike, as it provides user-friendly cooling and convenient features at an affordable price.

Performance Cooling Advantages – The One’s cooling system includes top & rear 120 mm exhaust fans with four additional 120 mm fan mounts. Perforated mesh construction yields additional airflow through the front of the chassis.

Extensive Compatibility and Expandability – The One is equipped with three 5.25” and five 3.5” tool-less drive bays, a bottom-mounted PSU intake with a removable air filter and a large CPU cutout. The enclosure makes it easy for users to install all the necessary parts and upgrade their PC component by component.

“The One is for anyone who has thought about building a PC or for anyone looking for a wallet-friendly, long-lasting case,” said Mafalda Cogliani, Global Marketing Director at Antec. “It’s a great option for system integrators because it has tool-less drive bays and blends well in a home.”

For more information on the Antec One, please visit the product page on our website.

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Cooler Master Officially Introduces The Elite 361 Chassis

Cooler Master, an industry leading chassis, thermal solution, peripheral, and accessory manufacturer today unveils the Elite 361 rotatable chassis. A formidable Mini-Tower contender, Elite 361 focuses on versatility and expandability within a compact enclosure.

Touting a modern minimalist design, Elite 361 is engineered to be accommodating in space restricted work zones. Given its unique structure and airflow design, Elite 361 can be placed either horizontally or vertically within a space. A rotatable Cooler Master logo and four user attachable rubber feet assist in making these transitions. Front panel ports are positioned to be easily accessible in either orientation.

Viewing the interior reveals that Elite 361 supports up to a full-sized ATX motherboard, six 3.5” hard drives while being potentially expandable to a multiple graphics card configuration with its seven expansion slots. Benefiting from innovate enthusiast-grade features, Elite 361 incorporates a removable hard drive cage that, when removed, offers a maximum space of 12.3” or 312mm for graphics card length. A large 120mm top fan and several optional 80mm to 120mm fan ports provides superior ventilation potential.

Elite 361 will be available in February, 2012. For more information, visit the product page.

MSRP: US $39.99.

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Zalman Launches the Z11 and Z11 Plus Mid-Tower Cases

South Korean company Zalman has now introduced two new 'high performance' PC cases, the Z11 and Z11 Plus mid-towers. These models measure 260 (W) x 498 (H) x 525 (D) mm, they weight 7.3 kg, and have a steel structure, a black paint job, and support for ATX and micro ATX motherboards, as well as for graphics cards up to 290 mm long.

Zalman's cases feature four exposed 5.25-inch bays, one 2.5-inch bay, five 3.5-inch drive trays with tool-free mounting, an acrylic side window, an anti-vibration rubber stand for the PSU, two pre-drilled holes for watercooling tubes, and four fans - one 120 mm spinner with blue LEDs in front, another one on top, a LED-less 120 mm model at the back, and two 80 mm fans on the side.

The Zalman Z11 includes an I/O panel with four USB 2.0 ports and has a recommended price tag of 69.90 Euro, while the Z11 Plus offers two USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 ports, and costs 79.90 Euro. Both are expected to become available in about two weeks.

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BitFenix Introduces the Shinobi XL Full Tower Case

Since its release in April 2011, the BitFenix Shinobi has proven to be our most popular chassis design yet. Today, BitFenix is proud to introduce a bigger and badder follow up to this classic design - Shinobi XL. Packing XL-ATX compatibility, superior flexibility, and an all-new SuperCharge™ port, Shinobi XL is a deadly new entry in the full tower segment.

"Since the introduction of our original Shinobi, fans have been writing in and posting in forums asking for a larger version," says BitFenix Product Manager David Jarlestedt. "Boasting all new features and nearly limitless flexibility for modders and water cooling enthusiasts alike, Shinobi XL is a lot more than just a size update - it's a complete revamp."

On the outside, Shinobi XL borrows the same battle-proven design that has made Shinobi a classic. Everything from the meshed fan vents and brushed aluminum logo to the signature BitFenix SofTouch surface treatment is faithfully reproduced. But one step closer reveals an entirely different warrior. Like its name suggests, Shinobi XL can accommodate XL-ATX motherboards with nine PCI slots for even the most extreme setups. On top, users are treated to four SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports, as well as a new innovation - the BitFenix SuperCharge port. This port is specifically designed for charging mobile devices, offering up to 2.5A of current for fast charging.

The stealthiest warriors need to have ice running through their veins, which is why Shinobi XL is designed with water cooling in mind. Inside, users will find the BitFenix FlexCage hard disk rack which can be either rotated or removed entirely for optimum flexibility. Once removed, Shinobi XL can accommodate a host of water cooling equipment, including a 360 mm radiator on top, a 360 mm radiator in front, or a 240 mm radiator on the bottom right out of the box. If air cooling is more your speed, Shinobi XL has you covered with two 230 mm and one 120 mm BitFenix Spectre fan included. Multiple fan locations are also built in, allowing users to outfit Shinobi XL with up to three 230 mm, one 140 mm, or nine 120 mm fans for keeping your components cool in any situation.

Working with your system should be a no-nonsense affair, so Shinobi XL comes with an assortment of friendly features to get you off the workbench and into battle as quickly as possible. Tool-free drive locking mechanisms make it easy to secure your drives, while a large CPU cooler cutout allows users to swap out CPU coolers without removing the motherboard. Shinobi XL offers a bevy of cable management features including over 3 cm of space behind the motherboard tray, and rubber grommets to protect your cables and reduce air turbulence inside the chassis. Removable dust filters on all air intakes make cleanup a breeze and anti-vibration pads help absorb vibrations from the power supply. To top things off, the included 5.25" drive bay adapter allows you to install additional hard disks, SSDs, or card readers, making Shinobi XL a dream to work with.


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SilverStone to Release the Kublai KL04 Mid-Tower PC Chassis

For next week SilverStone has planned the retail arrival of its newest Kublai Series PC case, a mid-tower called KL04 which features a steel body and is able to house four 5.25" drives, as well as nine 3.5" and up to six 2.5" drives (just like the Temjin TJ04-E launched last week).

SilverStone's chassis measures 214 (W) x 489 (H) x 499 (D) mm, it weights 8.2 kg, and has a black paint job both inside and out, a front I/O panel with USB 3.0 (x 2), MIC and Audio ports, eight PCI slots, tool-free mounting on the 5.25" bays, and three built-in 120 mm fans, one on the right side, one on top and one at the rear (all three work at 1200 RPM and have a sound output of 21 dBA).

The Kublai KL04 will start selling on January 24th for 82.90 Euro (without VAT). A window-equipped version of the KL04 is also coming up.

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NZXT Launches the Switch 810 Full Tower PC Chassis

NZXT, a company built on realizing the dreams of gamers worldwide, is proud to announce the Switch 810 hybrid chassis. Built for the hardcore PC enthusiast, Switch 810 is the most versatile and highly adaptable full tower chassis to date. It enables you to easily modify cooling performance from extreme liquid cooling, to superb airflow, or whisper-quiet silence.

Switch 810 aggressively eliminates heat, boasting support for 280 mm radiators, up to ten 140/120 mm fans. One of the most noteworthy features is an industry-first, unique hybrid fins that you can close to minimize noise and dust accumulation or open to expose passageways for maximum airflow.

NZXT ensures maximum expandability with two removable HDD cages with a potential of up to 7 HDDs equipped with two pivoting 120/140 mm fans that direct airflow at 15⁰ to the VGA and CPU. There are 9 expansion slots for installing EATX motherboards with Quad SLI, or Triple crossfire. Multimedia access is optimized with high speed dual USB 3.0, a hard drive dock, and an SD card reader.

Switch 810 offers stress-free installation with immaculate wire management and tool-less 5.25" and 3.5"/2.5" SSD hard drive installation for easy accessibility. Additional features that solidify Switch 810 as the PC enthusiast's dream chassis include a rear white LED light added visibility in dark environments and an acrylic window lets you peer in at your masterful build.

"Switch 810 is truly the pinnacle of high performance computing" said Johnny Hou, Founder of NZXT. "It offers enthusiasts an array of advanced features intuitively implemented into one of the most unique designs we've ever created."

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MSI Interceptor Nighhawk Military-Class Case Pictured

MSI took a plunge into gaming PC cases with its Interceptor series Nighthawk ATX mid-tower. This case bears the "Military Class" branding that MSI uses on some of its high-end PC motherboards. Measuring 180(W) x 475(L) x 448(H) mm, the Nighthawk is one of the more spacious mid-towers. It features four 5.25-inch drive bays (all tool-free), six 3.5-inch bays (five tool-free), and black interiors with a dash of deep blue.

It has a feature-rich front-panel, including a 12-in-1 multi-format memory card reader, audio, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports. Cooling system includes a 120 mm blue LED-lit front-intake fan, a 200 mm opaque side-panel intake fan, and a 120 mm rear exhaust fan. There are provisions for two 120 mm top fans, three 120 mm side fans (replacing the 200 mm fan), and a 120 mm bottom intake. Backed by a 3 year warranty, the MSI Interceptor Nighhawk is priced at US $79.99. A full review of this case with more pictures can be read at the source.

Source: TestFreaks