Threads = (33)=20

CategoryCPUMOBOCASEHDDMONITORCOOLERSFF

YY-5603 Mars=20 case review

Stephen | = hector3000 |
Class /=20 6 / Member ID = # / 231 /=20

2004-10-29 = (October/Friday) ,=20 Read : 1,070
<= FONT=20 class=3Dlist_eng4>Image = 1( 51.4=20 KB ), DN: 2 =

=
SIZE :=20 400x313, 52633 Byte Fri = 2004/10/29=20 05:00:49 PM BY hector3000=20

If computer = systems as a=20 whole are evolving, then it is only natural that the = case=20 should be evolving as well.  There are = several=20 factors that people consider when purchasing a case, = and one=20 of these factors is how effectively the case manages=20 air.  Since a lot of hardware can become = extremely=20 hot with prolonged usage, it is vital to have a case = that can=20 expel the heat, maintaining a low temperature for the = system.=20

YYCase has been on = the market=20 for a while, but it wasn=92t until quite recently that = they=20 introduced a gaming case.  The YY-5603, also = known=20 as the Mars, is a steep improvement from the earlier = members=20 of their line up, and it is obvious by its design that = this=20 case is being aimed directly at hardware=20 enthusiasts.  The most noticeable feature of = this=20 case is that it has an air duct placed above the=20 processor.  Besides that, Yeong Yang claims = that=20 this case is a thermal advantage chassis which is = ready for P4=20 Prescott.  The new version which we have = today also=20 seems to draw in air particularly effectively in the = areas=20 where expansion slots have been placed, resulting in = better=20 air circulation.

Though this case may not be = the most=20 immediately alluring case out there, it has these and = other=20 noticeable features which merit it for much closer=20 consideration.  Let=92s take a tour of this = case=85 a=20 magical mystery tour!

When I first received = this=20 case, I was surprised by its weight.  This = is=20 probably one of the heaviest cases that I have ever=20 received.  I remember Silverstone=92s TJ05 = was heavy,=20 but that was a full tower case.  This one = is, as it=20 states on the package, a mid tower.  Looking = at it=20 was further proof of this.  I have to say, = it must=20 be one of the heaviest mid tower cases on the market = at this=20 time.

The package weight was written down = as=20 13kg.  Since a lot of weight will be added = once you=20 build a system, if you were planning on creating a = Lanparty=20 PC, I suggest you use another case.  In = fact, legend=20 has it that a man once made a system using this case = and took=20 it to Japan in its box.  He made a makeshift = handle=20 out of tape, so the story goes, but apparently the box = was so=20 heavy that the tape became like a sharp blade that dug = into=20 his hands.  It became excruciating when he = was=20 forced to run up and down staircases, carrying two = other heavy=20 items besides, in order to make it to his train on=20 time.  According to the legend, the man = vowed never=20 to take this case on another voyage = again.  But he=20 probably will.  It is hard to stay angry at = YY-5603.=20

The case is covered with styropol as=20 usual.  The actual box seemed quite unusual = for YY=92s=20 first gaming case, and I have confirmed from YY that = the final=20 retail version will have a different box. There are a = couple=20 of varieties of YY-5603 case to choose = from.  The=20 Mars can be customized to have a silver face with = black side=20 vents, or a transparent silver face with red side=20 vents.  You can also go with a red face with = silver=20 side vents.

The front of tower is = the=20 case's truly distinctive feature, with five bays in = the front=20 while the 3.5" drive is placed at the = top.  The side=20 panel is locked shut with a sturdy lock.  A = plastic=20 air guide is put in place to draw out CPU heat.=20

Now let us begin a = closer=20 examination, beginning with the top of the=20 case.  Unfortunately, the beauteous pig you = see at=20 the left side of the picture is not the basic feature = that=20 comes with the case.  Indeed, I purchased = that at=20 the dollar store.  Drawing your attention = away from=20 the pig, if you can, you will see that the front = control=20 panel, located at the top of frontal segment as we see = it from=20 the picture above, features a power and reset button; = power=20 and HDD LEDs; one firewire port; two USB ports; and = speaker=20 and microphone ports.  You might have = noticed from=20 the picture that this design makes these ports quite=20 susceptible to gathering dust, as they have no screen = to=20 protect them.  It might have been expedient = if there=20 were a simple cover placed on top. =

The whole silver face = of the=20 case is curved, creating the effect of its being = wrapped=20 around the front, resembling a mask that blends in = perfectly=20 with the case.  As a mid tower case, Mars = also=20 sports four 5.25=94 bays, and one 3.5=94=20 bay.  Interestingly the 3.5=94 bay is placed = at the=20 top, in the traditional style of bygone = eras.  Most=20 other cases being made nowadays have the 3.5=94 bay = placed at=20 the bottom.  We will demonstrate how we = installed=20 the optical drive later, but now we will just mention = that=20 installing an optical drive requires that the face be = removed=20 first, and you must use a guiding = rail.  Moreover,=20 the bezels are designed to blend in perfectly with the = design=20 of the case's face.  One suggestion I would = make to=20 Yeong Yang would be adding an optical drive=20 face.  Since all the bezels have a unique = design to=20 match the face, adding an optical drive can ruin this=20 harmonious appearance.   =

The case takes in air = from the=20 front.  However, the holes that have been = made for=20 this purpose are not visible.  The design = has been=20 well conceived, and the holes are on the sides and the = bottom=20 of the case where they are barely noticeable and do = little to=20 detract from its appearance.  If one decides = to add=20 a 120mm fan on the front, the case will be able to = gather a=20 massive amount of cool air from outside.  =20

To access or to = install the=20 optical drives, the front face has to be=20 removed.  Removing the face was somewhat = confusing=20 at first, but then we discovered that opening the side = panel=20 greatly eases the process.  Once the face is = opened=20 there is a purple fan grill, apparently put in place = to=20 protect the user from injury.  However, this = did not=20 really seem necessary since users won=92t even access = this part=20 of the case when the computer is turned = on.  The=20 dust filter is set up in a rather unusual = place.  It=20 is not directly attached to the fan, but the quality = of the=20 filter is decent, and it is easy to = clean.  Because=20 this case unfortunately does not come with the front = 120mm=20 fan, it is strongly advisable to get one if you decide = to=20 purchase it.

The back of the case = features=20 the standard assortment.  What is = exceptional about=20 it is the steel plate, which is built very=20 cleanly.  A standout feature is the huge fan = vent=20 that accommodates the 120mm exhaust = fan.  Moreover,=20 the left panel is secured by two screws and the right = panel is=20 secured by two thumb screws.  This makes it = very=20 easily accessible.

The case can be = further secured=20 by the lock.  Note that the case comes with = two=20 keys. On the right panel is a circular vent that is = located=20 off center at the top left.  This is = directly over=20 the section where the CPU is normally = located.  Best=20 of all, Yeong Yang has modified this model so that it = now=20 sports additional air intake in the area of the = graphic=20 card.  The picture does not show this = clearly,=20 however we will illustrate this in detail further into = the=20 review.
.

On the bottom of the = case=20 you=92ll find the standard features.  It = comes with=20 four solid rubber stands.  These stands not = only=20 protect the case, but they make the surface secure, = regardless=20 of where the case has been set.

The YY-5603 case can=20 accommodate four 5.25" and five 3.5" drives plus a = floppy=20 drive.  Once you open the case, the first = thing you=20 notice is that there is a purple box.  The = box=20 contains all the necessary tools and accessories, such = as=20 guiding rails and screws.  It has three = 3.5=94 drive=20 bays.  Also, if you decide to install a = 120mm fan on=20 the front, it is wise to take out the purple box, = since it=20 will block the flow of air from the front cooler if = not=20 removed.

Another delightful feature that one = must=20 appreciate is that every edge inside the case is = folded or=20 rounded over to prevent any chance of = injury.  We=20 have all felt the cruel edge of case, on a toe or = elbow, in=20 our time.  The case=92s steel panel has been = coated=20 and the surface is very smooth, like what you=92d see = on a=20 typical high-end chassis.  The case also has = a=20 circular screw mount which is a very convenient option = when=20 installing a motherboard.  Usually a case = used a=20 golden screw for installing a motherboard, which can = sometimes=20 be a pain.  The Mars case doesn=92t put you = through=20 this hassle.  Unless the motherboard is a=20 non-standard type, this will definitely help save time = when=20 installing computer parts.

This case lends = itself=20 toward water cooling.  The lower front drive = cage=20 can easily be removed, as it is only held in place by = a few=20 screws and rivets.  The front has room for = 120mm=20 radiator, and you=92d have room for two if you take = out the=20 floppy.  There is another 120 mount in the = back,=20 which can be used for a radiator, if the fan is = removed.=20

Taking a look at the = back, we=20 see that the YY-5603 also provides a fan cage like = we=92ve seen=20 in the front, but it is equipped with a 120mm=20 fan.  The fan does not produce much noise = and the=20 amount of air that it can expel is quite=20 satisfactory.  If one decides to use a water = cooling=20 system, the fan cage and the fan are easily = detachable.=20

Mars also features a very interesting way to = secure=20 the expansion cards. The expansion cards are held in = place=20 with a clip.  This is one of the easiest = ways to=20 access the expansion slot while giving a very secure = grip to=20 the AGP/PCI cards at the same time.  Best of = all, it=20 seems to work with all cards.  Each one is = provided=20 with a steel cover, with the exception of the top = slot.=20

Still the highlight = of this=20 case should be the air duct that we see = above.  This=20 air duct is placed directly on top of the=20 processor.  However, there wasn=92t any way = to adjust=20 the height.  If one decides to use a water = cooling=20 solution, the air duct can also be detached from the = side=20 panel.  As I have mentioned above, the holes = on the=20 bottom will aid in taking in fresh air through the = expansion=20 slot, especially to the video card. =

The front Audio/USB = and=20 Firewire pitches are very convenient, ending the = miserable=20 days of crawling under your desk, cursing your choice = of=20 lifestyle.  These pitches are joined = together when=20 using a standard motherboard, and separately when = using a=20 non-standard.  Finally, Thor has heard our=20 prayers!  This will definitely save the time = consumed when connecting each pin to the=20 motherboard.  However, Yeong Yang did not = mark each=20 pitch, so that you would know what it was used for = (such as=20 firewire/USB./front audio = cable).  Nonetheless, if=20 you have had past experience building systems, = you=92ll quickly=20 realize where each cable needs to be fitted.=20

The case does not = require a=20 screwdriver most of the time, unless you are screwing = the=20 motherboard. Though when installing the optical drives = and=20 hard drive, a guiding rail is a = necessity.  Five=20 sets of high quality steel rails are provided for = securing the=20 3.5 drives; no sleeveless screws are = necessary.  The=20 rails have rubber screw holes.  These are a = blessing=20 as they lessen noise and absorb the vibration of the = hard=20 drive.  Besides that, it comes with an I/O = panel and=20 case manual.  The case manual wasn=92t very=20 informative, admittedly, but the installation is made = so=20 simple that you really don=92t need = it.  These are all=20 found inside the purple box.

The screws are = threadless,=20 meaning you simply insert them through the rubber = grommets,=20 into the drive holes.  In effect, this = separates the=20 case from the hard drives, minimizing = vibration.  I=20 personally noticed the difference.  I = believe that a=20 quiet, still computer just seems more healthy, which = gives its=20 owner a feeling of validation.

No hand cuts were = found after I=20 finished installing the system into the=20 case.  Moreover, from my experience, this = was the=20 most convenient case for installing hardware that I = have ever=20 encountered.  I finished installing all the = parts=20 quicker than with any other case I=92ve used until=20 now.  Also, notice in the above image that = the air=20 duct is aligning right with the processor=20 cooler.  We used a Radeon card with a Zalman = heatpipe attached in order to make it easily = noticeable in the=20 photograph.  The air intake holes are in an = ideal=20 place, and this will definitely be a helpful factor = when it=20 comes to cooling the processor and video card.=20

We have compared the=20 temperature of the YY-5603 with Chenbro=92s Gaming = Bomb and=20 Silverstonetek=92s TJ05.  Chenbro=92s Gaming = Bomb is=20 closer to resembling YY=92s Mars case.  They = are in a=20 similar price range and they both are mid sized cases. =

Even with the = lack of front=20 120mm fan, MARS has shown the best result. The Air = duct=20 definitely helps the case on direct cooling to the = processor.=20 Also, we have done an interesting = test.  Since we=20 were curious how the air duct helps to reduce the = overall=20 heat, we intentionally taped the holes shut in order = to see=20 how the case temperature rises. The temperature of the = processor didn=92t differed much at the initial stage = of the=20 testing, but once the 3Dmark was ran for half an hour, = the=20 temperature was 3 degrees higher than what we received = from=20 previously.

There is no doubt that Air duct = will help=20 in reducing the heat; however, I=92ve noticed that the = dust=20 easily gets in. Especially on top of the processor = cooler,=20 where the air duct is straightly aligned with the = cooler.=20

The case is of = exceptional=20 quality overall, and the designers of the case must = have put=20 much thought into its design.  Beyond that, = the=20 overall feel of this case when operating the various = latches,=20 releases and fasteners was good=96 it has the smooth, = fine-tuned=20 feel.  I am not sure if I am getting this = concept=20 across, as it=92s hard to explain, but the case is = very=20 idiosyncratic.  It is very unique, = possessing many=20 beneficial traits that you just don't see with many = other=20 cases.

On the down side, the case should=92ve = built=20 lighter.  It seemed to be too heavy for its=20 size.  It is built like a tank, making it = very=20 durable, but we cannot deny the fact that there is a = growing=20 trend toward light weight chassis these = days.  They=20 tend to be more portable and = convenient.  This case=20 has a retail price of 90$ (US).  The YY-5603 = was=20 decent in every area, but it is a bit more expensive = than we=20 would have initially guessed.  The case has = numerous=20 attractive features and good craftsmanship, in any = case, and=20 it is still a good purchase at that = price.  A case=20 of similar quality would typically cost 20 to 30 = dollars=20 more.

Another plus is that the = air duct=20 that comes as a standard feature.  Though we = were=20 only able to see mere 3 degrees advantage, for those = who are=20 going extreme with an air cooling solution, this will = be=20 noticeable help in reducing the overall = heat.  Also,=20 since the front panel stays on the top of the case, it = is much=20 more versatile and can be conveniently placed = underneath a=20 desk.

In conclusion, if we were on a 10 point = scale=20 system, I would=92ve given the Mars an 8 or = 8.5.   The=20 case itself is a flawless masterpiece, its = craftsmanship is=20 obvious.  However, the combination of a high = weight=20 and price are a bit of a disadvantage.=20

Original Reference : =

Replies

');"=20 style=3D"CURSOR: hand" onfocus=3Dthis.blur()=20 onmouseout=3Dmsghide_emb();>
aDDiCT

','

Guest CLASS-10 / = ID#-=A1=F1

i dont really think its a fashionable case design, = though it=20 may perform descently, i still prefer the cooler = master wave=20 master over it, even for the prce=20 increase.

2004-11-01
07:57:08

[No.1]

');"=20 style=3D"CURSOR: hand" onfocus=3Dthis.blur()=20 onmouseout=3Dmsghide_emb();>
Han

','

Guest CLASS-10 / = ID#-=A1=F1

Yeah..You have a point there aDDICT. That is why we = weren't=20 able to reward the = case

2004-11-01
09:26:37

[No.2]

=20

Annonymous Reply (If you are a member, reply after = login to gain=20 points)

Name

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Post a = Reply=20 ','');"=20 style=3D"CURSOR: hand" onfocus=3Dthis.blur()=20 onmouseout=3Dmsghide_emb();>

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