Virtual-Hideout.Net | Reviews | Yeong Yang YY-0221 = Cube Server Case Review

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Yeong Yang YY-0221 Cube Server Case = Review
Date = : Monday,=20 07 July 2003 By : Stygian Provided By=20 : Yeong Yang=20 Technology Page : 1

Introduction

Most of you out there are probably aware of the = multitude=20 of case manufacturers out there, along with the many cases they = sell.=20 Almost any type of case can be found to suit your needs, whether = you need=20 a lightweight aluminum model for a LAN party, a slim, small case = for a=20 HTPC or a behemoth for a monster system. When looking for the last = type of=20 system, one is usually wanting to house many components, anything = from a=20 RAID setup to a dual-CPU system, to even a watercooling rig. Such = a case=20 must not only be large, but strong as well; in addition, there = should be=20 features on the case to facilitate moving such a heavy system. = Such cases=20 also may tailor to the entry-level server market, a thing I = touched on in=20 my Enermax CS-10182 review earlier.

As I mentioned before, features of entry-level = server=20 cases make them ideal for enthusiasts. Such details as easy access = for=20 upgrading or changing components, provision of proper cooling and = ample=20 space for hardware are wanted features common to administrators = and=20 computer enthusiasts. Therefore, many cases once intended for the=20 entry-level server market eventually made their way into not only = the=20 consumer market but also the hearts and minds of many users. The = success=20 of the Antec/Chenming line of tower cases is a prime example of = the=20 "market duality" of these server cases. However, there are other = options=20 that one can consider in the quest to find a strong, robust case = for an=20 extensive mod project.

Yeong Yang has been around since 1978, and = having gained=20 experience in metal pressed production, they started into the PC=20 case/chassis manufacturing business in 1990; thus, they have over = 12-13=20 years of experience in making their own cases, quite a bit in the = computer=20 industry. It's safe to say that they know a thing or two about = what users=20 need in a case. Today, I'll be looking at one of their older case = models,=20 the YY-0221, better known as the "Cube Server Case". While you may = have=20 seen this case around the Internet for some time, it's gone = through=20 several revisions, the latest of which I'll be reviewing. After = doing some=20 anecdotal research through Google, I found that the YY Cube case = is most=20 popular in Europe, Germany specifically, as the vast majority of = articles=20 I found on the YY-0221 were in German. I would hazard a guess that = Yeong=20 Yang cases have not achieved a lot of market proliferation over in = North=20 America, and are better selling in Europe and maybe Asia. However, = ProCooling.com, an=20 excellent site, did a write up on the Cube a few years back.

Despite the fact that the YY-0221 may not be = readily=20 available over here, that should not exclude it from scrutiny. = Does this=20 short and stocky case fit the build for a case worthy of your = attention,=20 or should it not be bothered with? I'll try to touch on the major = points=20 concerning this question...

Specifications

As you can see, the dimensions of the YY-0221 do = make it=20 sort of a cube, with its width and height being equal. This gives = the case=20 a lot of area on the top, and makes it ideal for modding in = chimney fans=20 or other cooling devices, or provides a nice space to put all = sorts of=20 things on top of. The stocky shape of the case also makes it = impossible to=20 knock over, and because it's shorter than almost all entry-level = server=20 cases, it'll fit into a lot of areas that are out of the way. The = thing=20 that'll catch your eye, beyond the physical appearance of the = case, is the=20 drive capacity: Eight HDD bays are truly a lot, and ought to = satisfy the=20 most profligate of RAID users. Note that I found a discrepancy = between the=20 number of internal 3.5" drive bays listed on Yeong Yang's site and = the=20 actual number; Yeong Yang says there's only room for seven (7), = but with=20 four HDD cages, each of which holds two drives, you can see = there's=20 actually room for eight (8). Adding to this are six 5.25" drive = bays,=20 which ought to be enough for almost anyone, even with a fan = controller and=20 LCD thrown into the mix.

Case dimension 13.4"W x 17.3"D x 13.4"H =
Motherboard configuration Full size AT/ATX, = Extended=20 ATX
Drive configuration Up to 16 drive bays: =
6 - 5.25" exposed
2 - 3.5" exposed
8 - 3.5" hidden
Optional system cooling fans 1 x 12cm = Front-mounted=20 (left side) fan for M/B and inside air circulation
2 x 9cm Rear-mounted exhaust fans
1 x 9cm side intake fan.
Slot Bracket 7 slots
Expansion slots 1 x DB25 port, 2 x DB9 port, = 1 x SCSI=20 III(68), 1 x SCSI(50)
Speaker 2.25" audio speaker
Front panel control Power switch, Reset = switch, Keylock=20
Front panel LED positions: Power, Power = error, HDD*3,=20 Fan error
Net Weight 13.4kg without PSU
Colours available: Cool gray / Black
PSU: Enhance 460w EPS12V
More details available here.

While the=20 case does have an adequate amount of fan positions, with 2*92mm = exhaust, a=20 92mm side intake fan and a 120mm front intake position, you may = want to=20 mod the case to add another. The biggest change I could notice = between=20 this latest version of the YY-0221 and previous variants was in = the fan=20 punchout grills of the rear 92mm exhaust fans; in this version the = punchouts appear to be more conducive or better for airflow. As = this was=20 designed to be a server case, there are no front = USB/firewire/audio ports,=20 and for some users this may be a problem; I know I've grown a = little=20 accustomed to front USB ports as they're nice for USB drives in=20 particular. The case has options for many different PSUs, but an = Enhance=20 460w EPS12V PSU was included; EPS12V PSUs come with a 24-pin ATX = mobo=20 power connector (instead of the standard 20-pin) and an additional = 8-pin=20 Processor Power connector, and are designed for server = motherboards,=20 suiting the case perfectly. However, since I did not have a server = motherboard available, I did not use this PSU during testing. = Lastly, the=20 weight of the case, between 13-14kg, is quite a lot; adding a PSU = will=20 push the empty weight well over 30lbs, and so thankfully the case = comes=20 with casters/wheels that allow for easy movement; with its normal = depth=20 and short height the case will fit nicely underneath desks or = tucked away=20 somewhere.

The YY-0221 came well packaged in a box, and I = was=20 thankful the shipping man brought the package all the way up to my = apartment door, as I would have hated carrying the thing, even = from the=20 lobby to the elevator. The white box contains the accessories, and = was=20 heavier than I expected to be, as there was much included with = this case.=20 As you can see, the black case has a lockable door on its front = panel,=20 which isn't very useful as we'll see later, but the presence of = the door=20 is a nice thing, as it somewhat covers up drive faceplates that = don't=20 match the look of the case. Overall, the case has a very plain, = simple,=20 but tough look to it; this case is like a cold mofo who you know = not to=20 mess with just by the look on his face...

Hard to carry this = package!
The YY-0221 = (black).
Front of the case. =
Door opens to reveal the = external=20 drive bays.

The left side of the case features a 92mm intake = fan=20 designed to blow air right over the CPU area, a popular place to = put a fan=20 nowadays; I do not believe earlier versions of this case had this = fan,=20 which partially explains why Yeong Yang's site does not list the = fan in=20 the specifications. The rear of the case shows you the two the = sides of=20 the case, one for the motherboard, and one for the drives. Because = the=20 case is short and wide, things are split so that the motherboard = is=20 mounted into the left side of the case (as viewed from the front), = and the=20 drives are mounted in the right side. Two 92mm exhaust fans are = present at=20 the back, and they suck air out from where the HDDs are mounted. = The PSU=20 is mounted just below this area.

Both sides of the case are removeable, but the = top is not;=20 the side panels swing out like doors, but are hinged in place just = with=20 hooks. If you have seen the Supermicro SC-750 or any Addtronics = cases,=20 you'll know what I mean by this, as their side panels also swing = out the=20 same way. Once the side panels are swung out, they can be removed = by=20 sliding them upwards, thus freeing the hook from the chassis. It = would=20 have been better if the top were removeable, as modding it would = be made=20 much easier.

Rear of the case. =
Case is longer than it is = wide or=20 tall.
Side 92mm intake. =
Both sides = removeable.=20

The front door lock merely prevents someone from = opening=20 the door; it does *not* prevent someone from getting access to the = inside=20 of the case, making it a little less useful than locks on other = cases.=20 Accessing the inside of the case involves removing the front panel = by=20 pulling it out, like how the front panel of the Enlight 7237 = (reviewed by=20 Wolfman here) or Supermicro SC-750 is removed, and = then=20 unscrewing several screws that hold the side panels closed. = Whether or not=20 the front door is locked, this can be done; thus, someone could = easily=20 remove the front panel to access your 5.25" drives if the door was = locked!=20 This is hardly a deterrent, as you don't have to break anything to = properly gain access.

On the upper left side of the front panel is a = line of six=20 LEDs, or at least the positions for six. They are, from top to = bottom,=20 Power, Warning, Fan Fail, HDD1, HDD2 and HDD3. However, for some = reason,=20 there wasn't a LED provided for the Warning position; why this was = the=20 case is mystery to me. I mean, why couldn't YY just throw in = another LED,=20 which would have cost them so little? In any event, there are only = five=20 LEDs provided, though you can easily install the sixth into the=20 aforementioned "Warning" position; five LEDs is still a lot, = though. The=20 power and reset buttons are hidden behind the door, and both can = be easily=20 pressed.

Front door lock. =
LEDs.
Power and reset = switches.=20

The bottom of the case shows the 'handle' that = is used to=20 help you remove the front panel; this handle also doubles as an = air intake=20 for any 120mm fan you place in the front, so you'll want to = elevate the=20 case some to allow for free passage of air into this vent. To do = this, and=20 to give the case better mobility, four casters/wheels are = provided. These=20 must be screwed into the proper positions at the bottom of the = case. Only=20 two of these wheels can be locked to prevent rolling, and this = should be=20 enough. If you don't want to use the casters, four grip-feet are = provided,=20 and can be stuck into position at the bottom of the case.

Bottom of the case. =
Casters are = provided.=20

The entire case is a solid black colour that = doesn't make=20 the case look like something out of an eye-dazzling movie, but = instead=20 makes it look sleek and professional. Although it'll go nicely on = the=20 floor, it'll be a little hard to access DVD/CD-RW drives when the = case is=20 here, so if you have a big desk you may want to put it on top of = there,=20 and if you do, you won't be ashamed of the YY-0221's appearance. = About the=20 only thing I would have liked to see on the exterior of the case = are front=20 access USB/firewire/audio ports, though because this case wasn't = designed=20 for this kind of usage, this couldn't be expected.

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