Specifications
Reviews
text. And while the software and remote-control functionality that allow you to
access your media files isn’t as functional as Tivo or Media Center, it’s not too
shabby. The included remote
can also be programmed to
perform a huge number of
macros and tasks.
All things considered, this
is one of the best home theater
cases we’ve tested. It has a
few small issues, but should
certainly be on the shopping
list of anyone looking to build
their own home theater PC.
—JOSH NOREM
Silverstone LC10 HTPC
An excellent enclosure for a DIY home theater PC
MAXIMUMPC JANUARY 200582
T
here seems to be no shortage of low-cost enclosures these days—
they’ve been showing up at the Lab as often as the Brisbane Fire
Marshal. The latest entrant is a budget case from Kingwin dubbed the
Mutant X. Its signature design trait is the stylized front bezel, which is made
from plastic and features a transparent oval with two blue LEDs inside that
glow when the system is running. The glowing oval is self-contained within the
door, so it’s essentially a light-up cover for the drive bays. Falcon Northwest
pioneered this feature with its backlit logo, and we have to say the Kingwin
version—while moderately cool—is much less impressive. The door swings
open to reveal four 5.25-inch bays and two 3.25-inch bays. At the bottom of the
plastic bezel is a pop-open door that hides a well-stocked I/O panel containing
two USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire port, and audio jacks.
The side door includes a window with an 80mm fan attached that exhausts
air from the AGP region of the case (a non-window version is also available).
Once open, the interior is sparse yet roomy. We find five more 3.25-inch hard
drive bays, with an 80mm fan mounted in front. Another 80mm fan is mounted
near the CPU, and an additional 80mm mounting bracket is available should
you require additional cooling in the future. One frustrating feature of the
Mutant is the complete lack of tool-less drive-fastening mechanisms. You have
to use screws for everything, just like in the old days. It’s not a deal-killer by
any means, just less convenient than what we’ve grown accustomed to.
This model includes a 420-watt power supply, but considering this case’s
ridiculously low price we wouldn’t put much stock in the PSU’s quality. Also,
although the case uses an all-steel construction, the relatively thin sheets of
metal make it surprisingly light. In fact, it feels more like aluminum than steel.
In the end, the Mutant is a fine case for the money. It offers plenty of stor-
age options, more-than-adequate cooling, and an unbelievably low price—
especially considering it comes bundled with a PSU.
—JOSH NOREM
Affordable, lightweight yet sturdy, and easy to
work with.
X ON CASE BEZEL
X IN BLOODSTREAM
Requires tools, and the plastic bezel feels and
looks cheap.
$75, www.kingwin.com
8
MAXIMUMPC
VERDICT
Kingwin Mutant X
A no-frills case that still manages to impress
S
everal features set Silverstone’s home theater–oriented LC10 HTPC case
apart from standard ATX enclosures. The first is its horizontal desktop
orientation, as opposed to a more traditional vertical tower. Second, its
polished-aluminum front panel allows it to blend perfectly with other home the-
ater components. Third, it includes integrated remote control functionality via a
software bundle and a built-in remote sensor.
Building a PC in the LC10 is a little tricky because certain parts overlap
each other, requiring you to install components in a very specific order. For
example, the lower portion of the optical drive bay extends over the upper
right-hand corner of the motherboard area, which is where most ATX power
connectors plug into the motherboard. There’s barely enough room to squeeze
in the plug; as a result, we had to literally fold the connector at a right angle to
make it fit.
With four 3.5-inch drive bays, storage options are plentiful, but we’d never
stuff four drives into this case as there are no fans to cool them. Instead,
the case has an “in from the front, out from the rear” thermal design with
an 80mm fan on the front-left of the case, and two 60mm fans above the I/O
shield. One optical drive can be added, and Silverstone even includes a sleek
aluminum cover that adheres to the drive door for a crisp, clean look when
the drive is closed.
We appreciate the system’s quiet operation and the low-key lighting—the
only light the LC10 HTPC emits comes from two faint lines of light-blue LCD
Silverstone’s LC10 brings power-user amenities, such as four
3.5-inch drive bays and front-mounted USB and FireWire, to
the realm of the home theater PC.
Sleek design, included remote, and plenty of
storage options.
COOLING
DROOLING
Design will crimp many ATX power connectors;
no hard drive cooling.
$210 ($120 w/o remote and software),
www.silverstonetek.com
9
MAXIMUMPC
VERDICT
Silverstone’s LC10 brings power-user amenities, such as four
A small power
cable is routed from
the case to the upper
portion of the front
bezel, allowing it to stay
lit even when you open
the door to access the
5.25-inch bays.
A small power