Tuesday, February 2nd 2021
AZZA Introduces CAST Mid-Tower ATX PC Case with Removable Outer Shell and Independent Frame
AZZA, a leading brand of computer cases and accessories, introduces the CAST ATX PC case that re-imagines the design of a traditional mid-tower. The CAST has a removable outer shell that gives full access to the interior for effortless installation. When fully built, the unique wing design can be completely extended, requiring zero tools to access the interior, or flexed for better airflow. The CAST can even be flipped to a 90-degree orientation.
The CAST design consists of an independent frame and an outer shell with two hinged panels that provides full access to the hardware for maintenance and cleaning, and an easy to latch on/off front panel. When building the system, the entire shell can be easily removed to prevent accidental damages. This also means the shell can be worked on independently for customization purposes.
Unique Wing Design for Easy Access
The unique shell features hinged top and bottom panels, creating wings that wrap around the frame to form the left side panel. In a closed position, the CAST offers a minimalistic look with a cutout window emphasizing the graphics card. When open, it provides access to the inside and also gives an open-air option for improved internal airflow, which can be further enhanced with an included AZZA Hurricane III 120 mm ARGB fan at the back, and optional cooling for 2x 240/ 3x 120 mm fans or up to a 280/360 radiator at the front.
90-Degree Orientation
Another advantage to the hinged panel is for the case to be turned 90 degrees, standing with the rear panel facing down, giving the CAST an entirely new look to display the hardware installed inside. With enough room at the rear panel and an opening on the right-side panel to run the cables, it is easy to achieve a clean setup while breaking the traditional tower position.
The MSRP of the CAST black or white is US $209.99. For more information, visit the product page.
The CAST design consists of an independent frame and an outer shell with two hinged panels that provides full access to the hardware for maintenance and cleaning, and an easy to latch on/off front panel. When building the system, the entire shell can be easily removed to prevent accidental damages. This also means the shell can be worked on independently for customization purposes.
The unique shell features hinged top and bottom panels, creating wings that wrap around the frame to form the left side panel. In a closed position, the CAST offers a minimalistic look with a cutout window emphasizing the graphics card. When open, it provides access to the inside and also gives an open-air option for improved internal airflow, which can be further enhanced with an included AZZA Hurricane III 120 mm ARGB fan at the back, and optional cooling for 2x 240/ 3x 120 mm fans or up to a 280/360 radiator at the front.
90-Degree Orientation
Another advantage to the hinged panel is for the case to be turned 90 degrees, standing with the rear panel facing down, giving the CAST an entirely new look to display the hardware installed inside. With enough room at the rear panel and an opening on the right-side panel to run the cables, it is easy to achieve a clean setup while breaking the traditional tower position.
29 Comments on AZZA Introduces CAST Mid-Tower ATX PC Case with Removable Outer Shell and Independent Frame
I legitimately hate open designs, or designs with absolutely no filters(fine mesh is... iffy). In my opinion filters are worth the cost of a few degrees for the convenience of not having to clean the entire PC out every few months.
Most of the high end rigs don't use dust filters, (Apple mac pro doesn't either). For a high end build they don't do anything special. There's only a few true cases that do really well with dust, like the MM01, but the rest are meh.
Sure, it'll need more dust-cleaning than a closed box with filters, but at the same time, that cleaning is much easier to do.That's fair enough, but I think filtered designs are overrated. My last two cases have been filtered and whilst it's easy to slide out the filter(s) and wipe off the dust quickly, it's hardly a chore to squirt a few quick blasts from a compressed air can at an open design. It's something to do every few months whilst your PC is doing a poorly-timed automatic update restart or something. Time spent cleaning your PC is still going to be in the "less than 10-minutes a year" range, give or take.
Obviously if your house is filthy and dusty the obvious solution is to just get a robot cleaner for daily vacuuming; that massively cuts down on the amount of dust that will ever end up in your PC in the first place.
www.techpowerup.com/gallery/4778/carbon-ek-x-edition
AND.... it appears to have a USB-C port on the front panel, so there's that, hehehehe :rockout:
But... system is also not placed on the floor and I haven't smoked in the room since that time either. But its still generally a rather dusty room, being an attic with the washing/dryer combo next door, which is a massive dust source. Do agree, mesh is useless, you need a decent fine filter, like Fractal Design uses.
Why won't Lian Li make a 90-degree oriented version of the O11 XL?
Either way, at least this is more unique.
1. Remove Dust filter.
2. Clean off Dust filter.
3. Put back in.
A PC isn't mechanical(except the fans), there's no oil to change or need to lubricate gears, so your car example isn't relevant. The extent of maintenance with a case with a filter consists of cleaning the filter and/or replacing fans that may fail. I've been using the same case for the past 4 years. I remove the filter & clean the filter a few times a year. That has been the extent of my 'maintenance', and it's more than sufficient. The advantage being no bugs, no animal hairs or thick layers of dust forming inside the case.
The single advantage is a few degrees lower CPU/GPU temps. That single advantage doesn't last long unless you consistently clean off your fans & heatsink in a filterless/open case.
I vowed never to buy one again unless they upgrade the materials used.
The true fans end up opening the bonnet every weekend to get their hands dirty. They also end up spending and breaking more on their car than anyone else following a normal service pattern as recommended by the manufacturer. I compare this with the guys who flash their GPUs every few months to have it turn into a brick somewhere along the way and coming on here for a fix. Or those who tweak their Windows install in such ways that they have no end of issues. Or the silly ones who think its helpful to reseat coolers every half year 'because the paste might dry up'. :kookoo:
News flash: PCs barely need physical maintenance if they're built right. They also don't need software maintenance if you manage them right. Its the beauty of PCs, you can make them work perfectly if you know what you're doing.
A €3 "can of wind" as we call them at work. Good for rapid dust removal from CPU and GPU heatsinks.
My thinking is that once a quarter, you just grab a can of wind and blast out any dust on the heatsinks - total time taken, including fetching and returning the can of wind to the storage cupboard is measurable in seconds. Sure, the dust lands on the floor near the case, but that's going to get picked up by your regular vacuuming, right?