Introduction
Most of the products that I review for WGS are centered around one of three areas.
- Windows Home Server software and hardware
- Media devices
- Networking products
Today I am taking a look at the Fractal Design Core 1000 case.
It is not exactly a WHS case, as it’s not a gargantuan chassis that holds 20 drives or more, or of a diminutive size that many use such as a Shuttle case. It is really not an HTPC case for housing a mini-ITX motherboard, although one could certainly make use of it for either type of build. It can hold two 3.5” HDs or three 2.5” HDs internally, and it is capable of housing either a micro-ATX or mini-ITX motherboard. It has the ability to mount two 5.25” external, or one 5.25” and one 3.5” external devices.
What I do see this case being used for is for your basic desktop computer. It is small enough to be easily placed under a desk or on top of it for easy access to I/O components such as USB ports or a DVD drive. As it costs “only” $40, you will have plenty of dough left over for a faster CPU or perhaps more/faster memory. Your choice.
Both Terry and I are big Fractal Design fans because of the quality of construction and features we have seen in their cases – but they’re not the cheapest on offer. So, you might ask, what did they cut out to make the Core 1000 this inexpensive?
To answer that question, read on.
What’s In The Box?
Before we get inside, we must first get past the external packaging. There is no consumer-style packaging for this case, just the shipping box as seen below. Saving #1 that is passed on to you, the consumer.
Once removed, you will find the case,
a User’s Manual,
and a box containing the motherboard hardware and 5.25” to 3.5” conversion grill
which includes a handy chart of what each screw is to be used with a particular item.
A closer examination of the external case reveals the typical I/O and controls for a desktop case,
which include
- a power button
- two USB ports
- headphone and mic jacks sandwiched between the USB ports
- a reset button
- power and HD LEDs
An inspection of the internals of this case
reveal a single 120mm fan in the front, with mounts for two additional fans in the rear (92 mm) and side (120 mm).
A shot of the opposite side of the case.
What you will not see in this Fractal Design case is the sound-proofing insulation in their higher-end models, or extra space/openings on the side shown above for hiding/routing cables. With the modular power supplies available these days, wire management is a bit simpler to start with however.
Finally, you may notice that there is no front door.
What you will see and notice is the typical Fractal Design top-quality construction, and well rounded cabinetry. No sharp edges here! The finish on the top and sides is slightly textured to reduce/eliminate finger prints, which I greater prefer over those glossy piano-black cases. The front bezel is plastic, with a filtered metal honeycomb insert.
Finally, to get a sense of size, I bought out a couple of cases I have for comparison purposes. First, we have the Core 1000 vs. a very popular CoolerMaster Centurion 534
and the Core 1000 vs. the Fractal Design Define R3 case.
Both of those cases can be defined as mid tower cases, while the Core 1000 falls into the mini tower arena.
