Active Blogs | Popular Blogs | Recent Blogs Test: Xigmatek Alfar
Just after Talon looked, it was the turn of the Alfar Xigmatek pass on our test bench. Smaller in size, this case wants a little more rudimentary. But is this really a problem? Can we get a configuration muscular? This is what we'll see ...
Released last November, the housing Xigmatek Alfar is simple, practical and compact Dell XPS M1530 enough to accommodate a motherboard ATX but micro ATX and mini-ITX with various attachments provided by the manufacturer. Measuring 50.5 cm x 44.5 cm to 19.5 cm wide and 6 kg load, the Alfar assumes its steel structure and its plastic front. Available in several colors, it offers versions with or without transparent window on the side door. Our black and orange version does not have, but instead offers two slots for fans 14 cm.
Always side ventilation, Xigmatek equips its Alfar a 12 cm fan in the front with LED that can be completed by another turbine of the same diameter. At the rear, it is the same diameter officiates with a rotation speed of 1200 t / m at its maximum. On the top, you can add two 14 cm fans or watercooling block 240 mm if needed. We stay on top for now present the front panel of the Alfar. It provides the ability to connect two USB 3.0 devices with USB 2.0 adapter included directly on the cable. In addition, a jack for headphones and one for microphone. Then there are two buttons painted the same color as the case that will turn your Toshiba PA3534U-1BAS PC or restart in case of crash. We also note the presence of two rectangular LEDs, one for the blue indicator turned red and the other for disk activity. If the structure itself is fairly standard, the front panel displays a bit of character, but discreet enough to be stored in any location.
An arrangement interesting ...
Below, there are three locations 5.25 "with a fixing system without clever and effective tool that can be found. There is no special cache for an optical drive included in the bundle, but the asking price, we do not keep strict manufacturer. Beneath these locations, the Alfar will accommodate four hard drives formatted 3.5 "system without the tool also be placed on both sides of the disk to mount. Simple to implement, Compaq Presario CQ62 this system is strong enough to keep the discs in their homes. On 2.5 "hard drives, the same system is proposed for a total of three HDD this size. You can add a fourth 2.5" hard drive, but it will screw onto the HDD cage.
Not far from the location of the power below the motherboard has small rubber feet to reduce vibration. The breakdown of the ATX power supply can suck fresh air from the bottom through a fine mesh dust. It is easily removable for cleaning with water and then replace without much difficulty. Over food, seven slots for expansion cards are present. Thumbscrews used only maintain future cards that will be placed here. Protections slots will retire the old metal twisting several times to snatch.
Around the owner is finished, we move on to the final assembly. That is, if it is only a manual here Xigmatek offers very limited support for editing. Apart from this minor annoyance for beginners, the Dell D630 Battery motherboard is installed on its spacers using a button specifically tailored with Phillips on top. The circuit diagram is engraved on the plate, which facilitates installation. Cable management is fairly standard with a few passes around the plate and passages for necklaces autoserrants are enough to perfect everything. The cable EPS ATX CPU power at the top of our motherboard is large enough, no worries on that side.
You can almost store the screwdriver ...
Mounting of HDDs is - as we said - simple since it will simply flatten each side of the plastic strips then push the drive into place to hold it there with a small "bed". The optical drive is also entitled to the same treatment. Simply pinch the black rod and then pull it toward you to the location to unlock. Then reverse path to lock the drive in place. It is also possible to secure the mounting screws provided in some bags.
Limitations on editing, it will not be the CPU cooler is more than 16 cm high. For the graphics card, the Inspiron 1525 cage is divided into two blocks with HDD 3.5 "down and 2.5" high, leaving a good length for this component if necessary by removing the cage through. To complete the installation, we note that the shoes bearing the weight of the configuration do not cross the ground and are quite slippery. Handling is easier, but it may bother some of which do not wish their PC dragging in the middle of the room by taking on the cord of the headphones. Is exaggerated (barely).
With only two 12 cm fans Xigmatek proposed in this Alfar, some may wonder if it will not return to store to add more turbines to improve the flow of air or to minimize the noise of the configuration . So let's turn the heat to analyze its ability to dissipate heat.
Overall, fans come supplied to create a Pavilion dv6000 sufficient air flow to cool all our test configuration running at full speed. 5V, Xigmatek turbines are quiet enough, although a slight air movement noise is heard. In the context of a desktop configuration, this voltage will be quite acceptable. However, fans subjected to a voltage of 12V sing a little more clearly in the case. The Alfar has no special treatment in terms of soundproofing and it feels as our 43.7 dbA sound level goes to about 40 cm. With headphones on, no problem, but the other occupants of the room might curse because the case is heard when its ventilos blow at full capacity ...
Flawless?
This is very interesting Xigmatek Alfar who assumes seek low-cost housing side as classic trust. We appreciate that at this price, the
Pavilion DV6 manufacturer has made an effort to provide a finish not yucky and has brought to the front a little soft-touch plastic to simulate upmarket. USB 3.0 is present in façade, installation goes smoothly, the possibility of changes are there. In short, a tower ATX no surprise, but that does not disappoint. Let's face it, for € 52 on average in our price comparison, we have a lot for your money. Xigmatek shows the Alfar indeed an attractive price which completes seduce us even if it has to do with the original ventilation.
Tags: Latitude E6400 , E5500 batteries, HP Pavilion DV7
Be first to comment on this Blog Post!
|
|
 |
| Advertisements |
|
|
|
|
| Advertisements |
|
