AOpen Builds A Strong Case

Here we take a look at a new AOpen white-box PC case, the B300, which gives system builders a good start in everything from entry-level desktops to high-end media centers.

AOpen worked closely with Intel to design the B300, the style of which is called Balanced Technology Extended, or BTX. Motherboards designed to fit this case are referred to as MicroBTX units.

The B300 has a low-profile design, measuring 15.36 x 4.25 x 13.80 inches. Lots of engineering went into shrinking the size while also providing better cooling and decreased fan noise. The case has a modern design with front-panel audio, USB and FireWire connectors located behind a flip-out door. The one-piece lid is held on by three thumbscrews.

Inside the case the fan intake has a rubber gasket and foam air filter to prevent dust from entering. The 275-watt power supply and optical drive bay are commonly mounted on a separate hinged part of the chassis, which flips up and out of the way after removing a few screws. With the hinged section open, it's very easy to access the hard-drive bay, which has enough room for two 3.5-inch hard drives.

The optical-drive and hard-drive bays make use of what AOpen calls "fixing bars" to hold the drives in place. The fixing bars snap into place and have pins that secure a drive instead of screws. The rear of the case houses three vertical half-height expansion slots and one full-height slot that's positioned horizontally; a riser card allows a horizontally mounted card to mate with the motherboard.

PRODUCT SNAPSHOT
>AOpen B300 PC Case

COMPANY: AOpen America
San Jose, Calif.f.
(888)-97-AOPEN
www.aopen.com
DISTRIBUTORS: ASI, D&H, Ingram Micro,SED, Tech Data
PRICE: $89.99
WARRANTY: 3 years