X-bit labs

Anubis – First ATX System Case from Hiper (page 5)

Category: Other

by Kirill "ALT-F13" Balalin

[ 02/11/2008 | 11:31 AM ]

Conclusion

I guess two factors account for the drawbacks in the Anubis design: a number of innovations and a lack of experience of Hiper’s engineers at developing ATX system cases. It seems as if the developer didn’t draw on the experience of other companies at all but created the Anubis from scratch. Inventing a few splendid global solutions such as the ribbed top panel, screw-less fastening of the sides, and a latticed window, they forgot about trifles…

Highs:

• Eye-catching exterior design
• Very robust
• Roomy
• Offers a lot of bays for peripherals
• Superb cooling, particularly due to the top panel
• Allows to open the side panels quickly
• Holes for an external liquid cooling system
• Rich accessories
• Shield and trinket with a ID number

Lows:

• Easily soiled surfaces
• Comes with only one preinstalled system fan out of three possible
• It is difficult to open the front door, and it also closes loudly
• Poor access to the fastening screws of PCI cards
• No external connectors of FireWire and eSATA interfaces
• No mainboard tray
• Optical drives do not sit flush with the front panel

I don’t want to say that the first ATX system case from Hiper is no good at all. The Anubis is undoubtedly stylish, original and efficient in terms of cooling. There are more highs than lows about it, and the drawbacks are quite easy for the manufacturer to correct. I’m sure this system case is going to find its admirers even in its current form. The Anubis is an ideal playground for a technical modder – there is almost nothing to improve in it on the outside, yet there is quite a lot you can do with your Dremel inside of it.

Hiper should be working on the issues we pointed out now because other reviewers and users are sure to find the flaws I noticed, too. And the developer has to listen to user reports if he really wants to make a stand in the market of PC cases.