Hardware Xigmatek Utgard Case Review

Xigmatek is best known for its coolers and fans, but we've got our mitts on one of its cases. With a dual-channel fan controller and other great additions built in, the Utgard is a bargain at £70. If you're looking for a new case, you need to read this review before you go shopping.



http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2010/04/14/xigmatek-utgard-case-review/1

 

Nice review.

Lots of features for the price eh, and orange is my fav colour

 

I agree, the black and orange looks rather nice. A bit of tweeking needed for best results but for £70 it's excellent value and by the sound of it, it has a quality feel.

 

Sounds like a good way to cut ~£20 off the Enthusiast Overclocker build

 

Good review, although I would've liked a closer look at the disc caddy. It seems that a lot of these hinder airflow a bit too much for my liking.

I think the reason most case manufacturers use 5.25" bays is just down to production costs - it's far easier to build just one bank of 5.25" bays and include adaptors for 3.5" than it is to have a bank of bays which ends and half way down and joins to a bank of 3.5". Also I think you can get some fan/radiator mounting brackets that screw into 5.25" slots, but they were overpriced for what they were (just a pair of pieces of metal with some screw holes). Maybe case manufacterers should include these - I only have one hard drive in my case atm and I've never felt the need for more than 2, maybe 3 at a very big stretch - as it would be good to get more fancs in the front.

Also, would the radiator/fan mounts in the roof be out of alignment for a 140mm dual radiator? It looks like they're the right distance for a big radiator but it's just the 120mm holes that are further apart.

 

where do i buy one.

 

Link at the top of page 1. Novatech I think.

 

novatech, overclockers and even play.com all in stock

 

and scan


nearly bought on the only thing that is holding me back is that is prefer the external sata port on the top of the 690 II advanced

 

Doesnt seem to contain weight of the case in the review.. any pointers?

 

Couldn't help but notice in the interior picture with nothing installed, the motherboard tray doesn't have any risers. I'm paranoid with things like that, were they packaged with the box or are they missing entirely?

 

Why do case manufacturers persist in making cases that struggle to fit the best Gfx cards....

They must know that you really need 12' to ensure you can at least fit a top end card.....

Jeez, even my Coolermaster Elite 335 can take a 5870 without needing to move anything......how can a case more than twice the price struggle in this area...

 

Yes, they're in the bits box.

 

Silly question, but do the usb ports on the front work with USB3 headers?

 

Nope. For USB3 the number of contacts in the port is increased, so you'll need to wait for USB 3.0 cases for USB 3.0 front panel connectivity.

 

Bah, Humbug! I had a sneaky suspicion that might be the case. That means virtually every case on the market will have this problem.

 

Ah, good

 

I don't get with all these companies making enthusiast cases with the one thing always missing is side panel transparent window.

 

yarly! I had a raidmax smilodon and it wasnt the best case by any means but I loved that I could see all the components at work and even catch if a fan had stopped spinning. I think I will definitely be looking for a good acrylic panelled case next build.

 

It would have been nice to see an eSATA docking possibility for hard disks. That "dish" on top would have been a good spot and there a cover for the connections located in the side of that recess.