Supplied by AMK Computer
Take DaBenz out for a test drive.
A PC case with headlights and a grill? It’s true and AMK
Computers let us take DaBenz
out for a test drive. It has been our experience that many PC cases are the
same chassis except for the bezel but AMK chooses their product line carefully.
It’s not until the “up close and personal” do the reasons why become
obvious.
Specifications
- 19″ deep x 16.5″ high x 7″ wide.
- 4 external 5.25″ drive bays.
- 2 external 3.5″ drive bays.
- 4 internal 3.5″ drive bays.
- comes with 300 watt PSU.
- Aluminum chassis w/plastic bezel
“DaBenz” is aptly named for the front bezel.
The hook to this case are the “headlights” and “grill”.
The “headlights have a blue LED in the larger lamp assembly which come
on with main power and the red LED lamps light with hard drive activity. Left
and right are tied to the same circuit. The following image shows both LED sets
in operation and the picture does not do the effect justice.
Behind the push-lock grill are two USB ports, a mic jack and headphone jack.
The faux chrome plastic door cover would have been better if made of actual
metal but this would have added to the cost. Directly above the door is the
reset switch which is a bit awkward to activate. This could be a plus or a minus
depending on how it is looked at. As a minus it is a bit hard to depress but
as a plus it prevents accidental resetting of the system.
The front covers to the 4 external drive bays are a dark charcoal grey and
not pure black. The color difference between a black faced drive and the cover
is almost negligible. A person would have to specifically look for the color
difference to notice it….providing (eek!) beige components weren’t installed.
AMK added a custom
side intake fan to the review sample and the door panel could easily accommodate
two vertically stacked 82 mm. or 92. mm fans. The metal panel is of a “medium”
weight thus strong enough for structural integrity but won’t need an industrial
diamond cutter to cut through. It would be our advice to order the case with
custom fan modifications right from AMK and let them worry about the cutting
and mounting. That guarantees a perfect job every time.
The pattern in the side are punches in the case side panel which give the illusion
of cooling vents. True modders may have preferred a clean side panel allowing
freedom to cut their own design without worry of incorporating or cutting around
an existing pattern.
The interior is deceivingly normal but there is more than meets the eye.
The PSU tucks in at the top and is supported on one side by a metal flange.
Notice the exhaust grill and mounting holes below the PSU hole. This is a dual
purpose mount that can accommodate 82mm. and 92mm. fans. Squeezing in a 92mm.
fan for a rear exhaust is a definite bonus. 92mm. fans can push a lot more air
or they can push the same as an 82mm. fan but at lower RPM and thus quieter
noise levels. The days of 60 dB Deltas should remain in the past.
This double fan mount is the first of the “up close and personal”
reasons why AMK carries DaBenz. The only thing that would make this better would
be to completely cut away the many small circles grill and install a fan with
a chrome finger guard which has less restrictive airflow.
7 standard PCI slots with breakaway covers. The parts bag only has two spare
PCI slot covers so pick carefully which ones to breakaway.
There is space for 4 internal 3.5″ drives BUT a quick count reveals 7
slots. The top two are for the external 3.5″ drives such as a floppy and
ZIP. Below is space for FIVE 3.5″ drives not four.
The front intake fan area can accommodate for an 82mm. or 92mm. fan but the
front bezel has to be removed to turn the screws into the fan body.
It is important to remember that a fan has to go in before drives are installed.
Four external drive bays are standard these days.
There is another “up close and personal” design plus with DaBenz.
All the edges are rolled and any corner is surprisingly dull. Though not impossible
it would be rare to scratch or cut skin while working inside the PC case.
The bezel removes by way of 6 clips (3 per side). This makes removing the bezel
easy but could be a pain if accidentally broken.
Behind the bezel is the wiring and access to screws for the front intake fan.
DaBenz comes with the front USB leads which are separate wires as opposed to
a plug. Separate wires are better in the long run as each USB connection layout
on a motherboard may be subtly different. It may just take a few minutes more
to figure out the wiring connection. RTFM.
The external bay covers are held in place by screws and not breakaway design
like many other inexpensive cases. This is another plus to those who may pull
a drive and want to put a cover back.
Back to the wide shot of the case and a look at the backside of the non-removable
motherboard tray.
The 5.25″ drive bay area only has one set of screw access points which
isn’t a problem…just noted. Read our Tech
Tips: Cable & Wire Organization guide and learn how to hide cables but
be warned the space is very narrow in these smaller cases. Some wiring may be
able to be hidden behind the motherboard tray but not a lot.
The rear of the PC case features a backplate cover held in place by a screw.
It can be easily removed to allow for a custom backplate that comes with every
motherboard. If DaBenz’s backplate will work then use it as it is much more
solid than those flimsy, paper-thin aluminum backplates that come with motherboard
packages.
Air for the front intake fan comes up through the bottom of the bezel. A modder
could easily install some filter foam to cut down on dust. (hmmmm….maybe a
new Tech Tip idea?)
Hard rubber feet will prevent scratches where the PC may reside. A disappointment
for some may be the lack of PC speaker in the case but a lot of motherboards
come with their own POST BEEP noise makers. PC speakers for this purpose may
become a thing of the past.
Installation
The parts bag came with the assortment of screws and a combination of plastic
standoffs and brass screw posts. The one problem was there weren’t 9 of each.
There were 7 of the brass screw posts and even less of the plastic standoffs.
7 is sufficient to secure a motherboard but it seems odd that at least 9 of
each were not included. A combination will have to suffice.
Installation is straightforward and there were no problems.
Those not familiar with the small confines of a 16.5″ case will quickly
wonder where to put those endless miles of cables. Most do what we did and just
stuff them into an empty external drive bay(s).
Bad PC enthusiast….BAD! We should no better and we are ashamed but a quick
read of the Tech
Tips: Cable & Wire Organization guide will give handy suggestions on
how to hide and arrange that mess.
The 82mm./92mm. rear exhaust fan area can easily accommodate either sized fan.
Conclusion
If a certain car appeals then the AMK “DaBenz”
is certainly a trendy choice. Consumers ultimately buy products like this based
on aesthetic appeal. Overall it is well put together PC case and for under $35
USD ($60 CAD) including power supply it is a very good price.
Ratings breakdown.
There are several ratings categories that are used and all may not be applicable
to every product. Our scoring system may not also be “in-tune” with
what you see on other sites. We made it harder to win awards as every product
cannot win the race even if it places well. Just because a product on our site
hasn’t an award does not mean that it is a poor product. Products should fulfill
your needs, have acceptable longevity, and as a pleasant side effect…exceed
your expectations. What you need it for and how it fits those needs changes
with each individual.
Our thanks to AMK
Computers for their continued support of this site.
Highs
- Stylish appeal to some.
- Attractive price.
- Good cooling.
Lows
- No included PSU.
| Attribute | Score | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus items & software | 7.5 | The parts bag could have contained more motherboard standoffs and at least 2 more PCI slot covers. |
| Design & layout | 8.5 | Very good for the price but a removable motherboard and drive bay would be the icing on the cake. |
| Features & options | 8 | 82/92mm. intake and exhaust mounts, rolled edges, no sharp corners, lots of internal drive bays. |
| Modding possibilities | 8 | Top blowhole and side intakes can be easily accommodated and should be. The punched vents may be a design hindrance. Front bezel is plastic so no modding there unless you are brave with a dremel. |
| Overclocking features | 9 | Space for stock cooling with 82 or 92mm. intake and exhaust fans but AMK can add a top blowhole and side panel fans to turn this little guy into a cooling demon. |
| Performance & stability | 10 | The test system did not fall over on its own. (lol) |
| Presentation | 8.5 | I just know that someone is going to mount a Benz hood ornament somewhere on this case. |
| Price / value | 8.5 | Under $35 USD for a case and PSU? Good stuff for this type of PC case! |
| Total score | 68/80 | 85% |
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