Newegg.com
Chieftec Dragon Matrix Case Review
There are currently two versions of the Dragon Matrix case avalible now, the Aluminum version and the Steel version. I purchased the Steel version, and boy is it heavy compaired to your average computer case, but then again, your average computer case isn't going to be this nice and feature rich either. I purchased this case from Directron.com for about $58. This was somewhat of a fluke because I had placed an order for the MX-01 model and was shipped the MX-01D model instead. The only difference is the addition of a front panel door. Regardless though, these are popular cases and price usually ranges from $60-80 without a power supply, but they are worth it.
The first thing your going to notice, other than the awesome look of the case is that it has a Door on the front of the case that locks, as well as the side panel. I can not stress enough how nice this is when younger ones are around. No more peanut butter smeared inside of Floppys and CD-ROM's! The side panel also has a latch that allows for eaiser opening.
One of the best features this case has to offer is two 3.5" cages that can be completely removed. They are held into place by a locking latch. This is very handy and you will appreciate how nice it is to be able to put in a hard drive or floppy drive with ease. One of the cages also house's a Fan bracket, so you can put an 80mm intake fan there to keep your hard drive cool, a nice feature.
The case also has 3 other Fan brackets for a total of 4, two intake and two exhaust. What makes these so special is the fact that the fan just clips right into the bracket, eliminating the need for screws unless you want to put a grill over your fan on the inside of the case. These little brackets are also removeable, so if your having trouble installing it while its in the case, just pop it out and you'll have more room.
Certainly one of the most important features this case has to offer is the Drive Rail's used to hold your CD-ROM device's in the case. These wonderful little things make your life SO much easier when installing a CD-ROM device. All you have to do is screw in the rail's on either side of your device and slide it into the case! No move takeing both sides of the case off to screw in things like Hard Drives, Floppys, and CD-ROMs!
Overall, this case has just about everything you would want from a case. Very easy features, make this case a great asset for people building computers for the first time, while experieced builders will love all the extra features. I can honestly say, that I myself will be buying Cheiftec Dragon Series case's from now on. These case's are without a doubt some of the best on the market.
Ryan