AdminXP.com: MiddleTower Eurocase ML420

MiddleTower Eurocase ML420

www.eurocase.cz

MiddleTower is a compromise between Miditower and Bigtower, it means at least 4x 5,25" positions for CD, DVD, MobileRack or another driver. This article┤s task is to introduce Eurocase ML420, but the information in general also refer to other types of Eurocase cases that only differ in the front plastic cover.

Sliding metal board for the MB - excellent thing that usually doesn't belong to the cases accessories. It enables you to slide the board with MB easily in and out of the case and install new cards

Accessories

Covering metal plate for slots placed in the back part of the case, little plastic legs.

Standard terminals for connecting diodes and buttons.

Screw and washer kit for fixing the motherboard, HDD and FDD drives.

Middletower = Minitower

Despite the producer claims it is Middle tower (4x 5,25"), for full ATX motherboards (my experience - FIC AZ11, MSI K7T Turbo, ABIT KT7A) the reality approximates rather Minitower (2x 5,25"). The case is very narrow and so it obstructs full sliding-in of the drives, probably it would have been more suitable to make the case wider (it would have changed the design a little bit and in case of some MBs and other drives the controllers, memories and other parts of MB could also obstruct), or to make it 3 - 10cm longer or higher. The solution is to leave the drives protruding on the 3rd and 4th position, unfortunately, it doesn't conduce to the aesthetic look of the computer; the drives protrude 2 - 8cm and so most users choose rather miditowers, bigtowers or cases made by another producers.
Great advantage over against most miditowers is the source position that is not over the processor, but over the motherboard.

Technical specification

Positions for the drives: 4x 5,25", 2x 3,5" + 2x 3,5" for internal drives (hard disk)
Source - You can choose from 250W and 300W sources which can be consider for the recommended capacity for recent powerful computers. Some cheaper are supplied with 200W or 230W sources, but for more devices and powerful processor the recommended minimum is 250W.
Size - 420 x 182 x 430mm
Support - AT, ATX, micro ATX, flex ATX, full ATX*, Intel P4 (* On the producers Internet sites there is a reference to the full ATX format: "Full ATX motherboards enables to use two top 5 1/4" position only " which means you can only use two positions for the Full ATX MB.
Weight - 7,5kg

My Review

I do not want to make a real review, I just want to mention the most decided advantages and disadvantages. Personally, I have no bad experience with Eurocase. When I ordered a Eurocase and got a damaged one (damaged probably by handling in transit or in storehouse) the complaint was accepted and handled (it also depends on the supplier).
Advantage - Sliding panel for the MB, relatively low price, powerful sources, elegant design, good position of the source and large space (good cooling).
Disadvantage - Only 2 positions for MB FullATX (Some sellers do not warn about it and not all the users have the possibility of visiting the producer┤s sites and not all of them can read the English texts - this problem you can also encounter by another producers). Long-lasting absence of Czech version of the Internet sites.