By: Devin Chollak and Preston Yuen
May 6, 2011
If you have a mATX motherboard kicking around and want to put it to use, why not put it to use with style in the In Win Dragon Slayer? Don't have a mATX motherboard, you aren't alone; and I can assure you this chassis is not for you. This computer case reminds me of the feeling you get when getting into a compact car, and you are expecting it to be tiny. Suddenly, you get in it, and it feels roomier than a big truck -- go figure. The Dragon Slayer is a fairly small sized case, yet provides lots of playing room. In fact, it is large enough to handle two full sized VGA cards. On the other hand, the style of the case is up to debate; it neither impresses me nor disappoints me. Oddly, the case reminds more of a supply crate from a video game, and not as much as the acclaimed medieval chain armor. The side panel looks like someone had a fun time with a drill, but otherwise the front of the case has a very nice glow to the In Win logo -- if your computer isn't already bright enough. Oh wait, is this the introduction? Too bad. I am not going to give too much of my review away right now. As I have mentioned earlier, this is a mATX chassis, so if you are using an ATX board, the Dragon Slayer will not work for you. But if you are looking for a mATX case, then read on to find if this is the one to get!
Our In Win Dragon Slayer arrived safely to our Calgary, Alberta office via Purolator from Richmond Hill, Ontario for our review this afternoon. The package itself arrived in reasonable shape from shipping. There was a large indent on the side, but thankfully the Styrofoam padding protected the chassis from damage (Not that I expected a SECC metal body to get damaged easily anyway, haha). The box the Dragon Slayer came in is dark black, and uses imagery that tries to emphasis the medieval chain armor design concept. The features and specifications are listed cleanly on the sides of box using a heroic font style. Here is a list of them from the manufacturer's website:
Specifications
- Case Size: Mini Tower
- Material: 0.6mm SECC
- Drive Bays: Option 1: 3x External 5.25", 1x 3.5", 1x Internal 2.5"; Option 2: 1x External 5.25", 1x 3.5", 1x Internal 2.5" (* 3x 3.5" or 2x 3.5 Converted from 2x 5.25"", 1x 2.5")
- M/B Form Factor: Micro-ATX
- Power Supply: ATX 12V, PSII
- I/O Expansion Slots: 5x PCI-E/PCI/AGP Expansion Slot
- Front I/O(Ports): 1x USB 3.0; 2x USB 2.0; HD/AC'97 Audio
- Thermal Solution: 14cm Fan at Top and Front, 9cm Fan at Rear/8cm HDD Fan, 4x Optional 12cm Side Fan, Water-Cooling Hole Ready
- Dimension (H, W, D): 430x196x426mm (16.9"x7.7"x16.8")
- Security: Padlock Loop / Kensington Slot
Features
- Eye-Catching Appearance: Inspired by the medieval chain armor concept
- Outstanding Expandability: Supports up to 2 full-length (32cm/12.6”) VGA cards
- Uncompromising Thermal Solution: Holds up to total of 8 fans provides an exceptional cooling
- Cable Routing System: Minimizes cable clutter and enhances the air-flow
- Tool-Free Design: For PCI slots and drive bays
- Dust-Proof Air Filter: Keeps out the dust and extends the life of components
- Super Speed USB 3.0 Interface
Pulling out a random sharp object of mine, I cut the tape and opened the box. I was greeted kindly by two pieces of Styrofoam and a large plastic bag. Everything was snugly put into the box, so I had to do the good old flip over and lift the box off to get it out. I could easily see the two Styrofoam pieces were conveniently the exact same shape, due to the symmetrical shape of the chassis. A little user booklet also dropped out of the box, which contains the expected information on it, in case you need assistance with installation. Slipping off the plastic bag, let's see what we got!
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
