External Overview
From Geeks.com:
“Need a sturdy mid tower case to house all those parts? Build a customized PC from the bottom up with the Chieftec Aegis CX-05B-B Computer Case!
This black case features stylish mesh paneling, two front-mounted USB ports and an eSATA port. Install your DVD-RW and optical drives into the four 5.25-inch external drive bays and single 3.5-inch external drive bay. Adding up to six 3.5-inch internal hard disk drives is a cinch with simple screw-less side rails! In addition, the seven expansion slots can instantaneously be released with a quick release steel clip.
Not only will this steel tower protect your system, it’s also designed to keep your hands scratch-free with rolled interior edges. Grab your motherboard — it’s time to start building!”
The Chieftec Aegis is larger and heavier than your typical case. A few things can be understood from this: more room to work with and a sturdier construction. When you pick up the Aegis you’ll understand what I’m talking about. This solid case can be purchased with or without a power supply, but you’re going to have to buy your own fans for this installation.
The Aegis is available in two colors: silver and black. Some models also have a mesh siding or a window panel. For this review we received the black Aegis with mesh side panel.
Taking a front bezel look at the case is a red emblem centered in the mesh of the top half of the case. An identical mesh panel is found on the lower half of the front bezel. The power/reset buttons, activity LEDs and external ports are found in between the two panels. The connections include audio/mic, two USB and an eSATA.
The panels on the front bezel are actually doors. The upper door reveals the external drive bays for the case which include four 5.25″ and one 3.5″.
The lower door reveals a storage bin for CD’s with a maximum capacity of 10 CD’s.
Unlike most cases the Aegis has a little extra on the right side panel. While it is mostly a plan black panel, it does have three 80mm fan grills found near the lower front of the panel. These three grills can be used to cool off the hard drive cage inside the case.
The left side panel has a mesh design built into it. A handle also rests near the back of the panel for easier removal.
The back of the case looks similar to any other mid tower case, except there is some extra space above and below the power supply slot. Like I mentioned before this case is larger than your typical Mid Tower case, this extra space above and below the power supply shows where it comes into play. Like a lot of cases the Aegis does include two thumb screws for the left panel.
The expansion slots are covered with vented steel plates, which add to the ventilation slots next to the expansion slots. Next to the I/O slot is the typical 120mm fan grill.
Four feet come preinstalled on the Aegis, all of which will flip out to the outside of the case. The four feet can also be removed and replaced by wheels by the screw holes built into the bottom of the case.
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