Conclusions
As I’ve mentioned a few times, the Wind Ryder is a very low-budget case, so my expectations are lower than for a case costing two or three times as much or more. But even with all of the cost-cutting measures in place to keep the price low, the case has excellent fit and finish both inside and out. The case is tight and sturdy, even with the side panels removed.
It has been a while since I have had a really low-end case, and I’m not accustomed to seeing unpainted surfaces, but it doesn’t look bad at all. Actually, the shiny metal will reflect some of your interior lighting, if you want to look at it that way.
But a low-end case has low-end features. The plastic bezel door and hinges feel pretty fragile. The lack of optical drive tool-free locks is no big deal, but the case obviously was designed for them to be there. I wasn’t able to make the HDD locking device to work, and the PCI lock wouldn’t work with my dual-slot video card.
But these shortcomings are much more tolerable with the Wind Ryder’s price tag.$39.99. For that price, you are getting much more than the beige box you’d expect. Definitely a value for a budget build, or an entry-level rig. ThinkComputers.org gives the Rosewill Wind Ryder midtower an 8 out of 10 score.
Pros:
– Very low price
– Good fit and finish throughout
– Looks more expensive than it is
Cons:
– Tool-free devices don’t work
– Some may not care for the yellow on bezel