AeroCool AeroEngine II-BBP Review

     For those who think they need something close to a jet engine to force enough air through their case to keep their cool, but don't want their machine to look like Frankenstein's monster in the process, AeroCool presents the AeroEngine II.

AeroCool always scores points with their packaging.  The box shows a couple optional configurations. Black (BBP), and silver (BSP).

     The back of the box shows a few key points about this case: Mesh 5¼ bay covers; Jet engine style front intake; placement for up to 2 120mm side vent fans; front USB/fire wire/audio jacks; Pull tab for easy removal of side panel; and stylish dual front doors that accent the front fan.

Specs:

     The front of the case clearly draws attention to the 'jet engine' We can also clearly see through the mesh bay covers. I would imagine that these two features help to increase airflow significantly.

     Opening the front doors it's easy to see the four external bays and the prominent front fan cover. At the bottom we have the front audio/USB/fire wire connectors, and just above that is the blank for an external 3½ bay. The power and reset buttons don't seem to fit the style of the rest of the case, but are kept out of site with the doors closed. The power and HDD LEDs are visible from the right angle with the doors closed.

     Front connectors are simply: 1 IEEE-1394 (fire wire), 2 USB-2.0, 1 microphone in, and 1 earphone out. The location of these front jacks at floor level clearly indicates that the manufacturer intends for this case to be prominently displayed on a desktop somewhere.

     The left side of the case is almost entirely Plexiglas providing a clear view of your internal workings. Note the two side vent areas for with mounting holes for either 80mm or 120mm fans. The lower is conveniently over the area used by things like video cards, and the upper one has your CPU covered.

The right side is solid with two rows of slots at the top and bottom for additional ventilation.   Take a look at the glossy black finish!

     The case ships with the standard fare: mounting screws, plastic feet, and tool-less screws for securing the sides. The case doesn't include a regular case speaker so a piezo speaker is included. Personally I think this is a good idea, since the only thing that speaker is used for anymore is to let us know that the computer passes POST.