Darksaber
Mar 26, 2007, 09:28 PM
[page=Introduction]
Introduction
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/title.jpg
I would like to thank 3R System (http://www.3rsys.com/) for supplying the review sample. To give you an idea about the company itself, the following letter is available on the 3R System website:
This is our great pleasure and pride of presenting ourselves to you as our company, 3R System Co., have developed successful businesses in the field of water-cooling system and computer case manufacturing since the establishment of the company in 2000.
Understanding the importance of creative power and innovation, we have been ceaselessly in pursuit of applying new ideas to our products and thereby attached great importance to the R&D sector. As a result, we could be able to become a competitive manufacturer in the field in a relatively short time.
For the first time in the field of computer case manufacturing, our company was appointed as a company of technological excellence by Korean government in 2001. With technologies and know-how accumulated through various tasks, we ventured out and broadened our field to the water-cooler market, which we figured was full of potential. Currently we have 10 utility models of computer case and water-cooling system, some of them patent pending in Korea and other countries.
It is our belief that quality products are to be based on customers' needs. From the very first stage of conceptual design, we try to combine our customers' needs with our ideas and direction of the product design. Furthermore, after selling products to customers, we constantly monitor their opinions and suggestions via our website and let them converge on the products.
We think we can meet most of our customers' needs, giving satisfactory products all the time. We, 3R System, are willing to serve as a company of creative power, which provides innovative, user-based quality products.
We get to take a look at their first HTPC mid tower offering - the HT-4000. It comes in two colors:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/ht-4000_silver_b.jpg http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/ht-4000_black_b.jpg
Specifications
<table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="ramtable" width="600">
<tr>
<th scope="row">Model number </th>
<td scope="row"><div align="center">HT-4000</div> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Colors</th>
<td scope="row"><div align="center">Black/Silver</div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Drive Bays </th>
<td scope="row"><div align="center">2 x external 5.25" 4 x internal & 3.5" with full aluminum heatsinks</div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Material</th>
<td scope="row"><div align="center">Front bezel : Aluminum &
Body : 0.8mm SECC</div> <div align="center"></div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Form Factor </th>
<td valign="top" scope="row"><div align="center">Micro ATX & ATX </div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Expansion Slots </th>
<td valign="top" scope="row"><div align="center">7 standard slots </div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Case Fans </th>
<td valign="top" scope="row"><div align="center">Front (Intake) : 140 x 140 x 25 mm, with dust filter<br />
Rear (Exhaust) : 120 x 120 x 25 mm<br />
Side air vents: 12 cm with dust filter + VGA cooling hole</div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Dimensions</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row"><div align="center">205(W) x 447(H) x 450(D)</div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Weight</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row"><div align="center">9.0 kg</div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Front Access </th>
<td valign="top" scope="row"><div align="center">USB 2.0 x 2, e-SATA connector x 1, HD audio<br />
Multi Card Reader : CF, MD, SMC, SD, MMC, MS <br />
Multimedia control by using iMON(NEW iMON LCD)</div>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><div align="center"></div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div align="center"></div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div align="center"></div></td>
</tr>
</table>
[page=Packaging & Contents]
Packaging & Contents
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/packfronts.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/packfront.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/packopens.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/packopen.jpg)
The full color, card board box of the 3R System HT-4000 looks the same on all four sides. What you see above is also printed on the sides and back of the box. Upon opening the package, the front of the case can be seen.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/ht4000packeds.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/ht4000packed.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/ht4000unpackeds.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/ht4000unpacked.jpg)
3R System ships the case inside a plastic bag, with Styrofoam spacers on the top and bottom of the case. These had the tightest fit of any case we have reviewed so far. The case looks great, right out of the box, there are no scratches or blemishes from shipping.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/contentss.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/contents.jpg)
Inside the case you will find a Soundgraph iMON remote with batteries and a bag full of screws, rails and DVD covers. 3R System also ships the iMON software on a CD.
[page=A Closer Look]
A Closer Look
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/casesides.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/caseside.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/sidefans.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/sidefan.jpg)
The side of the case features two air vents. The top is placed right above the CPU area, while the bottom supplies fresh air to the expansion slots. There is a large, 12 cm air duct on the inside of the case, which can be extened. This duct will only fit if you are using a low profile or standard CPU cooler. If something larger like the Scythe Infinity or any other such cooler is used, you are forced to remove the duct. 3RSystem has included a simple air filter to keep the dust out of the case. It would have been nice to see the bottom air vent with a filter as well, as dust can freely enter at this point.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/casesideopens.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/casesideopen.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/casebacks.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/caseback.jpg)
Inside the case you will find the usual layout, with the power supply at the rear top, the mainboard right under it and the drives in the front. The entire case features a black paint job, inside and out. The back of the case does not have anything out of the ordinary, besides the black color.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/rearfans.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/rearfan.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/pcibracketss.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/pcibrackets.jpg)
The rear san is also black and does not feature any form of LEDs. That kind of extra would be misplaced in such a case anyways, as this is a HTPC case. The PCI brackets are secured by normal screws, but do not need to be broken out of the case and can be reused at a later time.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/hddsinkss.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/hddsinks.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/hddbayopens.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/hddbayopen.jpg)
3R System is taking a new approach for hard drive cooling. There are heatsinks on both sides of the hard drive bays. To install a hard drive, the front bay is simply removed and the hard drives are inserted. As you can see, there is another fan cooling all the drives. There is another dust filter on this fan as well. This means that 3RSystem has placed filters on all fans blowing air into the case.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/otherhddsinks.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/otherhddsink.jpg)
Both heatsinks are made of a single alumium piece each. This is much more expensive than having single pieces molded or cut out and then connected, but also improves performance and stability. There are thermal pads for every hard drive to further improve performance. This should work quite well in combination with the 12 cm fan. Users wanting passive heat sinks on their hard drives had to install them on 5.25 inch drive bays after attaching such heat sinks. The new method from 3R System makes a lot more sense and will certainly perform better.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/topcloseds.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/topclosed.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/topopens.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/topopen.jpg)
The front of the case is made of about 6 mm thick aluminum. It is also made of a single piece. The top part features two drive bays. Both utilize aluminum drive covers to keep the look of the case. Just below that is the iMON display. There is a small, flip open door as well, which can be opened with a simple push. There you can find a fully featured card reader built into the alumium front. The usual front I/O in form of audio, firewire & USB 2.0 can also be found here. 3R System has taken all the features of the usual desktop shaped HTPC cases and placed them inside a midi tower.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/bottomfronts.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/bottomfront.jpg)
The bottom of the front has air vents behind a thick aluminum plate. You will also find the 3R Systems logo on this plate. The overall front quality is just as good as any of the high-end HTPC out there and the solid aluminum looks and feels almost indestructable.
[page=Installation]
Installation
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/mbinsts.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/mbinst.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/driveinsts.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/driveinst.jpg)
As mentioned before, the internal layout is quite traditional. Installing the mainboard and expansion cards is quite straight forward. Even though the case is a tad bit shorter than some, there is plenty of space. This will only become a problem when inserting a large graphic card like the GeForce 8800GTX or the upcoming Radeon X2900XTX. Even though 3R System has included drive rails, which can be placed on the drive without the use of screws, these mounting material become nessecary as soon as the drive is inserted. This means that the rails are just rails and nothing more. The number of screws required for each optical drive drops from a maximum of 8 to 4 with the use of these rails.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/2ndcovers.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/2ndcover.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/drivesopens.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/drivesopen.jpg)
There is a very thick secondary cover inside the bottom optical drive bay. This can only be removed by pushing with a lot of force from the outside into the case. As you can see, the entire aluminum block is covered in glue to keep the dummy front in place. The front of the optical drives do not need to be removed. Only the drawer cover needs to be replaced with the supplied aluminum covers. These feature double sided tape, which should hold enough for a few drive changes.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/atxconnectors.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/atxconnector.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/internalconnectorss.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/internalconnectors.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/fanconnectorss.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/fanconnectors.jpg)
There are a few very interesting connectors inside the case. You may have seen some of these during our review of the Soundgraph iMON VFD or Ultra bay. The first is the ATX connector. This goes inbetween the mainboard and the power supply and powers the iMON display. There are also the defaul connectors for USB, Audio and FireWire. The third type of connector connects the fan to the iMON display. There are three of these inside the case.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/diodes.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/diode.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/lcdusbs.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/lcdusb.jpg)
The Display can also show the temperature of a single diode which is connected to the device. It is rather thick so placing it between the CPU and cooler is not possible. It should fit perfectly between fins of any CPU or graphic card heat sink. The USB plug of the LCD is of the external type, but 3R System ships an converter so that it may be plugged into the mainboard as well.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/finishedinsts.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/finishedinst.jpg)
Once the hard drive were inserted and everything connected, the case was already quite full. it would be even worse if all the hard drive bays were to be filled. This may only be a concern during initial installation, considering this case is not meant to be opened a lot and the lack of dept is a positive aspect, when placed next to an A/V rack in the living room.
[page=Software & Finished look]
Software
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Soundgraph/iMONUltraBay/images/imedians.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Soundgraph/iMONUltraBay/images/imedian.jpg)
We had the pleasure of reviewing multiple Soundgraph devices, all of which are of high quality. The software included with the 3R System is the exact same copy. I will not go into a lot of depth now, but you can read up on the software in our reviews of theSoundgraph Ultra Bay (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Soundgraph/iMONUltraBay/3), Soundgraph VFD (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Soundgraph/iMONVFD/4) & Soundgraph 2.4G LT & DT (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Soundgraph/iMON24g/4).
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Soundgraph/iMONUltraBay/images/desktop.jpg
Finished Look
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/LCDons.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/LCDon.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/lcdallons.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/lcdallon.jpg)
Once everything was connected, the PC was turned on. The LCD screen is very bright and looks great inside the case. I pressed the lower left button during boot, which turned on all the parts of the display. 3RSystem has a great image explaining all the features of the display:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/lcdexplain.jpg
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/casefinisheds.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/casefinished.jpg)
As you can see the 3R System HT-4000 looks great turned on. The fans are very quiet as they are connected to the LCD.
[page=Value & Conclusion]
Value and Conclusion
<table width="100%" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" id="result">
<tr><th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/dollar.gif</th>
<td>
The 3R System HT-4000 has a retail price of 219€s. Expect a similar price in US Dollars in America. This price is to be expected for a high-end HTPC without a small TFT LCD.</tr><tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbup.gif</th>
<td>
Incredible build quality
Two fans included
Real heatsinks for hard drives
Takes full size ATX board
Large air duct
Dust filters on all fans
Silent
Card reader included
Bright LCD with a lot of features
iMON software and remote
Fan controller included
Everything needed is included, from batteries to drive covers
Available in Black or Silver
Well packaged
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbdown.gif</th>
<td>
Price - while normal - not for everyone
Front I/O door may be a bit fragile
Steel body makes it a bit heavy
Not screw-less
Large graphic cards may interfere with hard drives.
VGA air grill allows dust into system
Is a bit crowded
</td></tr>
<tr><th>9.2</th>
<td>
The 3R System HT-4000 is one of the few real mid tower HTPC cases out there. It features the thickest aluminum front I have ever seen in a review sample and features an immaculate paint job and perfect labels on everything. The iMON LCD is a great addition to the case and with the Soundgraph software as the base, you can be certain to get a rock solid and bug free program and a MCE compatible remote control. The card reader is certainly something that rounds up most high-end HTPC cases and it is great to see that 3R System has placed it and the front I/O behind a little door, but exactly that little flip-down door is the most fragile part of this case. The fact that it has a steel body is not really such a big deal, as you would not move it around a lot. 3R System has managed to create an incredible, unique and rock solid HTPC case in form of a mid tower, which is certainly worth the price.</td>
</tr><tr><th></th><td>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/editorschoice.gif</td></tr>
</table>
Introduction
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/title.jpg
I would like to thank 3R System (http://www.3rsys.com/) for supplying the review sample. To give you an idea about the company itself, the following letter is available on the 3R System website:
This is our great pleasure and pride of presenting ourselves to you as our company, 3R System Co., have developed successful businesses in the field of water-cooling system and computer case manufacturing since the establishment of the company in 2000.
Understanding the importance of creative power and innovation, we have been ceaselessly in pursuit of applying new ideas to our products and thereby attached great importance to the R&D sector. As a result, we could be able to become a competitive manufacturer in the field in a relatively short time.
For the first time in the field of computer case manufacturing, our company was appointed as a company of technological excellence by Korean government in 2001. With technologies and know-how accumulated through various tasks, we ventured out and broadened our field to the water-cooler market, which we figured was full of potential. Currently we have 10 utility models of computer case and water-cooling system, some of them patent pending in Korea and other countries.
It is our belief that quality products are to be based on customers' needs. From the very first stage of conceptual design, we try to combine our customers' needs with our ideas and direction of the product design. Furthermore, after selling products to customers, we constantly monitor their opinions and suggestions via our website and let them converge on the products.
We think we can meet most of our customers' needs, giving satisfactory products all the time. We, 3R System, are willing to serve as a company of creative power, which provides innovative, user-based quality products.
We get to take a look at their first HTPC mid tower offering - the HT-4000. It comes in two colors:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/ht-4000_silver_b.jpg http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/ht-4000_black_b.jpg
Specifications
<table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="ramtable" width="600">
<tr>
<th scope="row">Model number </th>
<td scope="row"><div align="center">HT-4000</div> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Colors</th>
<td scope="row"><div align="center">Black/Silver</div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Drive Bays </th>
<td scope="row"><div align="center">2 x external 5.25" 4 x internal & 3.5" with full aluminum heatsinks</div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Material</th>
<td scope="row"><div align="center">Front bezel : Aluminum &
Body : 0.8mm SECC</div> <div align="center"></div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Form Factor </th>
<td valign="top" scope="row"><div align="center">Micro ATX & ATX </div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Expansion Slots </th>
<td valign="top" scope="row"><div align="center">7 standard slots </div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Case Fans </th>
<td valign="top" scope="row"><div align="center">Front (Intake) : 140 x 140 x 25 mm, with dust filter<br />
Rear (Exhaust) : 120 x 120 x 25 mm<br />
Side air vents: 12 cm with dust filter + VGA cooling hole</div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Dimensions</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row"><div align="center">205(W) x 447(H) x 450(D)</div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Weight</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row"><div align="center">9.0 kg</div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Front Access </th>
<td valign="top" scope="row"><div align="center">USB 2.0 x 2, e-SATA connector x 1, HD audio<br />
Multi Card Reader : CF, MD, SMC, SD, MMC, MS <br />
Multimedia control by using iMON(NEW iMON LCD)</div>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><div align="center"></div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div align="center"></div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div align="center"></div></td>
</tr>
</table>
[page=Packaging & Contents]
Packaging & Contents
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/packfronts.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/packfront.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/packopens.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/packopen.jpg)
The full color, card board box of the 3R System HT-4000 looks the same on all four sides. What you see above is also printed on the sides and back of the box. Upon opening the package, the front of the case can be seen.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/ht4000packeds.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/ht4000packed.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/ht4000unpackeds.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/ht4000unpacked.jpg)
3R System ships the case inside a plastic bag, with Styrofoam spacers on the top and bottom of the case. These had the tightest fit of any case we have reviewed so far. The case looks great, right out of the box, there are no scratches or blemishes from shipping.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/contentss.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/contents.jpg)
Inside the case you will find a Soundgraph iMON remote with batteries and a bag full of screws, rails and DVD covers. 3R System also ships the iMON software on a CD.
[page=A Closer Look]
A Closer Look
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/casesides.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/caseside.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/sidefans.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/sidefan.jpg)
The side of the case features two air vents. The top is placed right above the CPU area, while the bottom supplies fresh air to the expansion slots. There is a large, 12 cm air duct on the inside of the case, which can be extened. This duct will only fit if you are using a low profile or standard CPU cooler. If something larger like the Scythe Infinity or any other such cooler is used, you are forced to remove the duct. 3RSystem has included a simple air filter to keep the dust out of the case. It would have been nice to see the bottom air vent with a filter as well, as dust can freely enter at this point.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/casesideopens.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/casesideopen.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/casebacks.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/caseback.jpg)
Inside the case you will find the usual layout, with the power supply at the rear top, the mainboard right under it and the drives in the front. The entire case features a black paint job, inside and out. The back of the case does not have anything out of the ordinary, besides the black color.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/rearfans.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/rearfan.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/pcibracketss.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/pcibrackets.jpg)
The rear san is also black and does not feature any form of LEDs. That kind of extra would be misplaced in such a case anyways, as this is a HTPC case. The PCI brackets are secured by normal screws, but do not need to be broken out of the case and can be reused at a later time.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/hddsinkss.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/hddsinks.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/hddbayopens.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/hddbayopen.jpg)
3R System is taking a new approach for hard drive cooling. There are heatsinks on both sides of the hard drive bays. To install a hard drive, the front bay is simply removed and the hard drives are inserted. As you can see, there is another fan cooling all the drives. There is another dust filter on this fan as well. This means that 3RSystem has placed filters on all fans blowing air into the case.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/otherhddsinks.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/otherhddsink.jpg)
Both heatsinks are made of a single alumium piece each. This is much more expensive than having single pieces molded or cut out and then connected, but also improves performance and stability. There are thermal pads for every hard drive to further improve performance. This should work quite well in combination with the 12 cm fan. Users wanting passive heat sinks on their hard drives had to install them on 5.25 inch drive bays after attaching such heat sinks. The new method from 3R System makes a lot more sense and will certainly perform better.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/topcloseds.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/topclosed.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/topopens.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/topopen.jpg)
The front of the case is made of about 6 mm thick aluminum. It is also made of a single piece. The top part features two drive bays. Both utilize aluminum drive covers to keep the look of the case. Just below that is the iMON display. There is a small, flip open door as well, which can be opened with a simple push. There you can find a fully featured card reader built into the alumium front. The usual front I/O in form of audio, firewire & USB 2.0 can also be found here. 3R System has taken all the features of the usual desktop shaped HTPC cases and placed them inside a midi tower.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/bottomfronts.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/bottomfront.jpg)
The bottom of the front has air vents behind a thick aluminum plate. You will also find the 3R Systems logo on this plate. The overall front quality is just as good as any of the high-end HTPC out there and the solid aluminum looks and feels almost indestructable.
[page=Installation]
Installation
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/mbinsts.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/mbinst.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/driveinsts.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/driveinst.jpg)
As mentioned before, the internal layout is quite traditional. Installing the mainboard and expansion cards is quite straight forward. Even though the case is a tad bit shorter than some, there is plenty of space. This will only become a problem when inserting a large graphic card like the GeForce 8800GTX or the upcoming Radeon X2900XTX. Even though 3R System has included drive rails, which can be placed on the drive without the use of screws, these mounting material become nessecary as soon as the drive is inserted. This means that the rails are just rails and nothing more. The number of screws required for each optical drive drops from a maximum of 8 to 4 with the use of these rails.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/2ndcovers.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/2ndcover.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/drivesopens.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/drivesopen.jpg)
There is a very thick secondary cover inside the bottom optical drive bay. This can only be removed by pushing with a lot of force from the outside into the case. As you can see, the entire aluminum block is covered in glue to keep the dummy front in place. The front of the optical drives do not need to be removed. Only the drawer cover needs to be replaced with the supplied aluminum covers. These feature double sided tape, which should hold enough for a few drive changes.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/atxconnectors.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/atxconnector.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/internalconnectorss.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/internalconnectors.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/fanconnectorss.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/fanconnectors.jpg)
There are a few very interesting connectors inside the case. You may have seen some of these during our review of the Soundgraph iMON VFD or Ultra bay. The first is the ATX connector. This goes inbetween the mainboard and the power supply and powers the iMON display. There are also the defaul connectors for USB, Audio and FireWire. The third type of connector connects the fan to the iMON display. There are three of these inside the case.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/diodes.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/diode.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/lcdusbs.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/lcdusb.jpg)
The Display can also show the temperature of a single diode which is connected to the device. It is rather thick so placing it between the CPU and cooler is not possible. It should fit perfectly between fins of any CPU or graphic card heat sink. The USB plug of the LCD is of the external type, but 3R System ships an converter so that it may be plugged into the mainboard as well.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/finishedinsts.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/finishedinst.jpg)
Once the hard drive were inserted and everything connected, the case was already quite full. it would be even worse if all the hard drive bays were to be filled. This may only be a concern during initial installation, considering this case is not meant to be opened a lot and the lack of dept is a positive aspect, when placed next to an A/V rack in the living room.
[page=Software & Finished look]
Software
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Soundgraph/iMONUltraBay/images/imedians.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Soundgraph/iMONUltraBay/images/imedian.jpg)
We had the pleasure of reviewing multiple Soundgraph devices, all of which are of high quality. The software included with the 3R System is the exact same copy. I will not go into a lot of depth now, but you can read up on the software in our reviews of theSoundgraph Ultra Bay (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Soundgraph/iMONUltraBay/3), Soundgraph VFD (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Soundgraph/iMONVFD/4) & Soundgraph 2.4G LT & DT (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Soundgraph/iMON24g/4).
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Soundgraph/iMONUltraBay/images/desktop.jpg
Finished Look
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/LCDons.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/LCDon.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/lcdallons.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/lcdallon.jpg)
Once everything was connected, the PC was turned on. The LCD screen is very bright and looks great inside the case. I pressed the lower left button during boot, which turned on all the parts of the display. 3RSystem has a great image explaining all the features of the display:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/lcdexplain.jpg
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/casefinisheds.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/3RSystem/HT-4000/images/casefinished.jpg)
As you can see the 3R System HT-4000 looks great turned on. The fans are very quiet as they are connected to the LCD.
[page=Value & Conclusion]
Value and Conclusion
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<td>
The 3R System HT-4000 has a retail price of 219€s. Expect a similar price in US Dollars in America. This price is to be expected for a high-end HTPC without a small TFT LCD.</tr><tr>
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<td>
Incredible build quality
Two fans included
Real heatsinks for hard drives
Takes full size ATX board
Large air duct
Dust filters on all fans
Silent
Card reader included
Bright LCD with a lot of features
iMON software and remote
Fan controller included
Everything needed is included, from batteries to drive covers
Available in Black or Silver
Well packaged
</td>
</tr>
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<td>
Price - while normal - not for everyone
Front I/O door may be a bit fragile
Steel body makes it a bit heavy
Not screw-less
Large graphic cards may interfere with hard drives.
VGA air grill allows dust into system
Is a bit crowded
</td></tr>
<tr><th>9.2</th>
<td>
The 3R System HT-4000 is one of the few real mid tower HTPC cases out there. It features the thickest aluminum front I have ever seen in a review sample and features an immaculate paint job and perfect labels on everything. The iMON LCD is a great addition to the case and with the Soundgraph software as the base, you can be certain to get a rock solid and bug free program and a MCE compatible remote control. The card reader is certainly something that rounds up most high-end HTPC cases and it is great to see that 3R System has placed it and the front I/O behind a little door, but exactly that little flip-down door is the most fragile part of this case. The fact that it has a steel body is not really such a big deal, as you would not move it around a lot. 3R System has managed to create an incredible, unique and rock solid HTPC case in form of a mid tower, which is certainly worth the price.</td>
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</table>