X-bit labs

Foxconn System Cases Roundup (page 2)

Category: Other

by Yury Vayukin

[ 03/28/2005 | 09:50 AM ]

Foxconn TH-061

The manufacturer’s website says this system case can only be black with a silver insertion on the front panel.

There are four 5.25” bays and two 3.5” bays on the front panel, under plastic faceplates. These are black, so you can install devices with black as well as silver face panels into this system case.

The case stands on feet of a curious design, which hold it firm when unfolded. But you must take care – the feet should be unfolded both at one time! If you’re pulling at one foot only, you’ll most likely tear it off.

Under the floppy drive, along the center of the face panel, there are Power and Reset buttons. The oval-shaped Power and HDD indicators are placed on the sides of the Power button. There’s a lid at the bottom of the front panel that conceals a connections unit with four USB ports, one 6-pin FireWire port and two audio connectors (microphone input and headphones output). The mechanism that keeps the lid open or closed is very stiff, and the lid hits heavily against the props when you open or close it. The plastic of the lid will wear out eventually because of this beating.

A bunch of nine cables trails from these connectors into the system case, each of which ends in a single-row plug or in an independent single-wire plug. This solution may suit well for a leisurely and thoughtful assembly at home, but is hardly desirable for mass assembly, especially on a conveyer. The design of onboard USB, FireWire and front-panel audio connectors on mainboards seems to have long become unified, so I don’t think there’s much sense in using the disjointed connectors.

The left side of the case holds on two thumbscrews. You shift it backwards and then take it off to gain access to the inside. The right side is not removable – it’s riveted to the chassis. You receive a loop with this case for installing a lock that would prevent unauthorized access to the components of your computer.