Chieftec Dragon Series Aluminum

The side panel also features an easy latching handle mechanism so you don’t have to meddle with screws to remove it and work inside your case. This is a welcome feature for those of us who are always in our cases. If security is your thing (or you have kids that like playing with screwdrivers) you can LOCK it with the provided keys (same key for front panel). One thing to note about the door, after removing it quite a few times, I noticed the paint on the case started to chip away. It is a tight fit for the side door and there is some definite rubbing one needs to be aware of if keeping the case looking like new is a priority.

The side window is host to one of 3 fans that are provided to you. The other two fans find refuge in the rear of the case. They are both mounted with the same retention mechanism you find on the front of the case. They are both 80mm fans and are placed intelligently behind where your heat sink and fan would normally reside. I would definitely replace these fans if I were to purchase this case for myself. The cooling properties of aluminum alone wouldn’t warrant having such noisy fans in my case. I would purchase the Vantec stealth fans and place them throughout the case for a quiet experience; save the noise for the heat sink, keep the case quiet.

Below your cooling fans, you will find that you are greeted with enough expansion slots to accommodate the most plentiful of motherboards, 7 total. All but one slot is clothed in attractive aluminum slot covers and they are made of the same high quality aluminum as the rest of the case. I can understand why a company COULD justify leaving one slot cover out of the package, but why WOULD they? Granted almost every “enthusiast” will have at least 1 expansion card, I cannot justify the company doing this.

In comparison to the Lian Li PC-65B Plus Edition, reviewed HERE, this Cheiftec case also features a removable mounting plate for the power supply. There is one major difference though, the mounting plate on the Lian Li is practical because you mount the power supply to it, then slide them both into the case from the outside. In contrast, the mounting plate for the Cheiftec mounts from the inside. It is possible to turn the plate around, but then you will be looking at a very unattractive lip protruding from the rear of your case. I don’t believe this to be a drawback in case design because there is more then enough room to mount the power supply from inside the case, I just think it’s an extra they didn’t think completely through.

If you want to frequent LAN parties the lightweight construction of this case will save you the money you would normally be spending on DOANS if you were lugging around a steel case, the front and side panel locks will keep your buddies/kids from getting their fingerprint all over the inside of your case, the ability to remove the side window to replace it easily, and the removable fan carriages make this case one to seriously consider.

If you are looking for an attractive aluminum case priced at less than $100.00, you need not look further than Chieftec. This case is built better then some of the higher priced cases out there. The aluminum is nice and thick, the edges are folded for finger protection, plenty of room, and it comes in an array of different colors. With the versatility this case can give, 4 5.25″ bays and 6 3.5″ bays, space won’t be an issue. Even with the few faults I have found with this case, the price more than makes up for it.