iStarUSA Nitro-AX (S-10000B)

     Just about every gamer has to have a sharp looking case, but what about the server? How often have you gone to a LAN party and have seen bling everywhere except in the server corner? It seems iStarUSA has taken notice of a niche for small servers. By small I mean something small enough that it doesn't warrant a rack mount, yet big enough it needs tons of storage space. Enter the Nitro-AX by iStar.

     Our Nitro-AX cane in this nice looking box.  The packaging indicates that there are a couple of color combinations available. I review the black one, although the one pictured has an aluminum face accent, this one is all black.

     Of course every case has to distinguish itself from all the rest. It's convenient that the manufacturer include the major selling points on the exterior of the package for those who peruse for cases in retail establishments.

     If you pick up the box, you will immediately notice that this case isn't for the faint of heart. This is a beefy FULL-TOWER case, and comes with the weight to prove it. The packaging claims that the case has a gross weight of 11.5kg, but that's only around 35lbs. And although I haven't thrown it on the bathroom scale, I'd swear this thing weighs close to 50lbs empty.

     One of the first things I notice about this case is that I don't have to install feet. It's nice that they turn out to prevent tipping, since I'd hate to have this thing land on my foot.

     Enclosed is everything to install items in the case. iStar was even thoughtful enough to label some of the baggies so you could easily distinguish which screws were for the external bays, and which were for the internal. Unfortunately, not all the screws were labeled.

     According to the documentation that came with this case, there is an optional lighting kit that fits down inside the rails of this faceplate. The case I reviewed, came with no such kit, but I'd be curious to see what it would look like. Like I said earlier, each case comes with a feature or two that sets it apart. The Nitro-AX has a hinged fold-down CD-ROM door built in to the top of the front cover.

     This is a nice feature so you don't have to open the whole door to get your CD/DVD into your machine. The downside of course is that they use too strong of a spring so the CD-tray gets stuck while opening and/or closing. Perhaps over time the spring will relax enough to not cause sticking. (It was a great idea anyway, but I think I'll take advantage of the next distinguishing feature of this case.

     The face only swings open 90°, but it also slides back so that it doesn't get in the way. Very handy for cases with a front cover. Notice also that since this is nearly a full-tower case, it has 5 external 5-¼" tool-less bays, and 2 external 3-½" tool-less bays (which remove as a single unit).

     The 5-¼" covers act as storage trays for the CD-ROM rails. Although this case is considered tool-less, there are some things that still require at least a Phillips blade screwdriver. Installation is a snap however.