The basic function of a computer case is to hold all your computer bits together,
so this must be included in any case review. The first surprise the AcoustiCase
gave me was the side panels. To get inside the case, you must undo a thumbscrew
at the back, and lift the top off first, then the sides lift up and off. This
system is a little unusual, but does not work any better or worse than the more
conventional methods.
As regards ease of use, the AcoustiCase has one small, but very useful innovation to offer. The motherboard mount beside the AGP slot is different from the rest. Instead of a pillar with a hole in, it has a stud sticking out. With the average case, trying to do up the screws whilst holding the motherboard against the pillars is a fiddly task that often requires you to lay the case on its side.
When I built a system in the AcoustiCase, I put the connectors through the IO shield as usual, and then hooked the motherboard over the stud protruding from the middle pillar. This held the board perfectly in place as I screwed it down, then screwed the supplied nut onto the stud to secure it. The motherboard was installed with no fuss, and without laying the case on its side. It is nice to see a case that caters to us mere mortals that only have two hands apiece.
The rest of the PC went into the AcoustiCase with a minimum of fuss. The only
thing to mention is that hard drives and floppy drives installed in the lower
cages might get in the way of access to the ram slots on some motherboards.
This is hardly a surprise considering the relatively small overall dimensions
of the case. The hard drive bay above the PSU gives the builder an opportunity
to avoid this problem.
