Midi Towers: You've Come a Long Way, Baby

Enermax Blue Viper CS-718: Cooling Experts

The midi tower from Enermax is one of the biggest in the test and hence could also pass as a big tower. Its most conspicuous feature is the outsized control knob on the front. It controls the fans and when the CS-718 is under the desk is easy to reach and operate. The four fold-out feet give the 24.2 lbs (11 kg) case a stable foundation.

The big knob on the front controls the fans

Front Sections And Connectors

The front ports for 4x USB, 1x FireWire and 2x audio are on the top front. Just a few inches above them is the fan control display. The blue-lit screen is easy to read and shows not just temperature, but also any system fan speeds. Fan speed can be adjusted using either the big knob on the front or directly using the fan control function.

Front and Rear

Lots of ports on the top front

The front doors can be opened for mounting the drives.