2003 Winter Case Review Part 1: MicroATX Case Madness

Chenbro - Hornet

Chenbro submitted for review their new Hornet Model case that we viewed earlier this summer during Computex 2003 in Taiwan. The Hornet utilizes an innovative design that borrows some of the successful principles that were developed for use in Chenbro's Xpider/Gaming Bomb case, which was reviewed in our previous Summer Case Review . What is most striking about the Hornet is its flamboyant yellow accents that look like hornet "eyes," which you can notice from the photos. Chenbro has used this aggressive looking approach to appeal to those seeking performance as well as functionality by utilizing a variety of unique feature placements.

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Number Of Internal 3-½ Bays2
Number Of External 3-½ Bays1
Number Of External 5-¼ Bays1
Number Of Case Fans Supported1 - 60mm
Construction Material2.0mm steel
Power Supply DetailsOptional FSP Fortron 270 Watt
Special FeaturesUnique screwless design featuring well-marked latch releases for all internal mounting areas. Optional cold cathode lighting system available depending on dealer or distributor configuration at the time or purchase from Chenbro.
Size14.25"(H) x 15"(D) x 5.25"(W)
Sample Case Provided Byhttp://www.chenbro.com.tw
Estimated Cost$69.95 US
Cooling Potential Rating8
Construction Quality Rating8
Overall Case Rating8

The Hornet from Chenbro is a unique case design that is squarely marketed toward enthusiasts who wish to build MicroATX systems. From the aggressive Hornet outer window that is elegantly inset in the side panel, to the screwless design of the case, this case is a very bold looking, innovative case design. The case construction is all steel and hard tooled, so the case has very little bend to it; however, it did exhibit a small amount of flex in the drive bay areas during our testing.