Date: November 8th, 2010
Article by: Joe Anderson (Hardware Reviewer)
Edited By: Nathan Glentworth (Owner / Head Editor)
Product was submitted by: Xigmatek
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PRODUCT COMPOSITION
The sturdy shipping carton has full-color graphics of the chassis and its features as well as a rather forbidding landscape complete with a skull-themed fortress.
Inside the box, Xigmatek secures the Utgard in a plastic bag sandwiched between two sturdy Styrofoam blocks. This tried and true packaging scheme allowed the Utgard to arrive here at the lab in pristine condition after its long journey.
Along with the installation manual, Xigmatek provides the customary bag of motherboard standoffs and assembly hardware, and the screws have a black finish to go with the blacked-out interior. Xigmatek also includes three plastic cable management clips, two rubber covers for the watercooling tubing openings at the rear of the chassis, and a case speaker.
PRODUCT PICTORIAL AND WALKTHROUGH
He front façade of the Utgard, like the rest of the case, has classic good looks without any gratuitous bling to spoil the effect. Which isn't to say that it's plain or boring. The nine bay covers are made of metal mesh for ventilation and one features a spot for a floppy drive or similar-sized device. Another bay cover features the Xigmatek logo and either of the two “special” covers can be placed anywhere in the front panel. The front bezel is plastic, but seems very sturdy and blends very nicely with the black finish on the rest of the chassis.
The right side panel has a couple of ventilation areas, one in the motherboard socket area and another in the lower front corner, but is otherwise unremarkable. The top of the case, as well as the front panel I/O panel, however, have some very nice features.
Xigmatek's design and styling here has a nodding acquaintance with a popular case from another manufacturer in this area, but the extra features clearly put the Utgard in a class of its own. For example…
