Antec Performance case w/ four 5.25 bays and no door

[striker21]

Anybody seen one of these? I would really love to have one. I think the SX-6xx, SX-8xx, and SX-12xx series look great with their smooth lines. The SX-10xx has about the right number of bays for me, but I hate the look of that door. I know that it can be removed, but then it no longer has the smooth lines of the other cases in this series.

It has been said that Chenming makes many versions of this case based on the same chassis. If that's true, why wouldn't they make a faceplate with four 5.25 bays that matched the look of other cases in the series? It just doesn't make any sense to me... Has anyone seen one?

I know that many of you like your SX-10xx cases with the door, but I think there are as many of us who would jump all over a version without the door.

Is there any way we could make a suggestion to Chenming?

 

[Jhhnn]

Chenming's marketing in North America is done thru Chieftec, their site shows the various standard models. Quite why they have their lineup the way it is would be anybody's guess, I personally think their newer variations on the theme are, uh, yewgli. About the closest thing to what you describe is the older "Super Aero" line, the ct2700, these guys have it-

<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.flashecom.com/totalpcetc/product.asp?pf_id=CPF60130%2DWS&dept_id=09-002
">Here</a>

Not very popular, hard to find. Same solid case, though.

 

[Woody419]

The case you want is a Chieftec DA-01W available at Newegg for $79 + $25 shipping.

 

[talonts]

With door - Chenming 601AE
Without door - Chenming 601AR

They are the EXACT same chassis, only the faceplate differs. Unfortunately, when I was at Chenming getting some spare parts, I asked if the AR was available in black, and they said no :-/ I don't want to paint an entire faceplate, so swapping it onto my 601AEb is out.

 

[RalfHutter]

Does anyone know where you can get this case from on the west coast? Shipping from the site mentioned by Jhhnn is $40!!! to me in SoKal.

 

[Jhhnn]

Might contact Chieftec directly, they're in Union City-

Chieftec Sales

 

[striker21]

The Chieftec CT2700 and Chenming 601AR appear to be the same case. Unfortunately, their faceplates don't look anything like the Antec Performance series (although it does have the convenient side panels). I didn't really want to go with the SX-12xx/DA-01W because it is over two feet tall, and probably weighs a ton! That 1.0mil steel adds up Also, I wondered if cooling performance would be degraded by having all that empty space (for me, anyway) up top--looks like it would collect hot air, with no good way to vent it.

Other than that, I guess I'll have to deal with the SX-10xx's aesthetics, or make do with only three external 5.25 bays.

 

[RalfHutter]

If anybody's interested, I found a few places in Kali that have these cases for sale. One place has it w/o PSU for $55. I don't know if they're in stock because it's late right now.

Here, scroll down the page to the "Chenming & Chieftec" section, it's called the ATX-601AR.

Here's another one. They sell it for $99 with a 300w Sparkle PSU.