Date: January 7th, 2009
Article by: Joe Anderson (Hardware Reviewer)
Edited By: Nathan Glentworth (Owner / Head Editor)
Product was submitted by: In Win
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PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
Case Size : Tiny Tower Chassis
Material : Pearl metallic-painted plastic panel SECC ECO Steel
External Drive Bay : 5.25" x 1 3.5" x 1
Internal Drive Bay : 3.5" x 1
Front Ports : USB2.0 × 4, IEEE 1394 A (FireWire), HD/AC' 97 Audio
Dimensions (H×W×D) : 13.6" × 5.9" × 13.7" 346mm × 150mm × 347 mm
M/B : mATX
I/O Expansion Slots : 4×Full Height PCI/AGP expansion Slots
Power Supply : SFX 12V, 300W
Thermal Solution : Intel Mt. Jade Ref. Design, Partition Plate Cooling Tech(PPCT), 6cm Fan for HDD
Safety : Meets RoHS, CE and FCC Class B Requirement
Security : Padlock loop for padlock
As you can see from the above specs, the Matrix is a very small steel chassis with pearl white plastic panels, a departure from the more common beige or black cases. There is only room for a single ODD, but you can squeeze in two HDDs if you forgo a floppy drive. The Matrix incorporates the Intel Mt. Jade cooling design that uses the OEM Intel CPU cooler to cool the entire chassis, and In Win adds a 60mm fan to cool the HDD. An SFX power supply is included and pumps out 300W, enough to satisfy most mid-range systems.
Here's a feature list (from the In Win website) that touches on the major features of the matrix chassis. We'll go over these features in more detail as we proceed through the review.
Simplicity Theory
With beautiful lines and a clean simple design, the new Matrix works well in contemporary as well as traditional spaces. The innovative Matrix offers a smart installation concept and enables a creative and practical approach to chassis design.
360 Degrees Visual Effect
Complex features are all hidden underneath a clean line of design, creating a non-obstructive 360 visual effect.
Back to The Basics
Simple geometric design precisely defines every line and corner, matched by an elegant pearl white color, every touch brings you back to the philosophy of a simple life.
Smart Cable Management
The brilliant back panel design enables wires to be concealed inside the chassis. It provides a clean contemporary look with the cable management feature.
Partition Plate Cooling Technology (PPCT)
By separating the CPU fan from the heatsink to reduce back draft, Partition Plate Cooling Technology (PPCT) efficiently streamlines the airflow in a unilateral direction to provide exceptional thermal performance.
Volume VS. Size
With less than 12.5 liters volume in size, Matrix's thermal and acoustic performance is even better than other larger case! Its superior design allows Matrix to accommodate all exiting standard components as well as to support 4 FULL height VGA cards, thus creating a Small, Cool, and Quiet perfect environment!
Excellent Thermal Solution
Efficient air flow design and a 6cm fan for your hard drive keeps system stable.
Removable Mesh
Thermal vents on the side panel with removable mesh to prevent dust from clogging into the power supply.
PRODUCT COMPOSITION
The Matrix comes in an attractive and informative cardboard carton. Inside, the case is protected by a tough plastic bag and sandwiched between two Styrofoam blocks. In Win has wisely placed the manual outside the chassis, and I recommend that users go over the instructions thoroughly before attempting to open the case; it has an unusual design and will only open in the manner specified.
There are a few other goodies inside which I'll go over as we encounter them in the next section.
