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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, =
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.
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...
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.
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 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.
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.
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. =20
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