Wednesday, November 9th 2022
Chieftec Rolls Out BX-10B-OP Micro-ATX Mini-Tower Case
Today CHIEFTEC is glad to introduce the new BX-10B-OP, which is a modern, compact mini tower that combines elegant and subtle design with high functionality and easy-installation for a capable system. Featuring standard ATX PSU compatibility, m-ATX boards and graphics cards up to a maximum length of 380 mm, as well as a total of 6 possible installed fans (1x PWM fan pre-installed), modern configurations should have no trouble being installed into the BX-10B-OP from a space or cooling perspective. Front USB Type-C and Type-A ports complete the package for modern and highly-functional case.Key Features
- Compact, modern m-ATX tower
- Optimal cooling compatibility
- Support 240 mm radiator
- 1x 120 mm PWM fan pre-installed
32 Comments on Chieftec Rolls Out BX-10B-OP Micro-ATX Mini-Tower Case
Space for a atx psu looks to small to me no outlet venting space either :/
It's bad enough that I'd want another 10mm of clearance even on a hard floor, but given that half the population will put this on carpet, it needs more like an extra 20mm. The PSU obviously doesn't go there, and this isn't a new concept - it's been around for 15 years or more.
PSU likely goes at the front, behind the solid front panel with its intake facing into the case and exhuasting out the top. If the front panel is actually vented (it doesn't look like it is) then it could potentially be mounted with its intake facing the front of the case, but realistically these top-to-bottom airflow cases don't have or need vented front fascias.
Top:
My only real complaint here is lack of 280mm radiator support. And maybe the lack of easy access to the bottom filter for cleaning. Other than that this looks like a pretty nice mATX case, hopefully at a reasonable price.
Only thing obvious is this case is not going to fit a typical atx psu :laugh:
Image I posted shows the psu plug sideways so it has to be in the back buddy
Edit: from the manual:
The PSU mounts behind the front panel, with its exhaust pointing upwards and the intake fan inwards.
What you now have, given those incredibly obtrusive feet and entirely solid front panel is two 15mm x ~300mm slits for the combined total intake of absolutely everything in the whole case. If you do the math that's around the same area as the vent hole for a 92mm fan.
Do you want a modern PC entirely cooled by the inlet airflow of a single 92mm fan?
Edit: that sketch of yours is ... well, rather misleading. It'd still need legs that fit the design of the case. So, what would you realistically be able to open up? Something like this:
That really isn't a lot of area.
ALL of the bottom-intake cases have much taller feet than this.
It's also worth pointing out that most case fans operate poorly when asked to pull air, since their design is typically optimised for push. Plenty of examples of this exist around the web, either testing push vs pull on radiators and heatsinks (which isn't quite apples-to-apples because of exhaust turbulence) or less commonly using airspeed ammeters to measure CFM in various configs.
Like you say, it's not as bad as a single 92mm fan doing all the work, but it genuinely is that small an area to intake ALL the air.
A relatively cheap and easy workaround would be for them to include add-on plastic extension feet that screw into the bottom of the existing ones. Best of both worlds!
The only real drawback of designs like this is that you need to slot the PCIe I/O bracket through a relatively slim opening (where the sliding clamp goes) rather than just putting it in however you please with the internal style of mounting. IMO that's a more than worthwhile tradeoff for the increased internal volume this mounting style allows for.
To me - someone with quite a bit of experience using both types of case design - this looks like an easily accessible, space efficient and reasonably well executed design. True, but even the O11D Mini is notably taller than this (~5cm taller), which alleviates the visual imbalance of taller feet. They might have gotten away with 20mm, but 25mm would likely have started looking precarious and unbalanced.
I will give them points for adding a USB-C port, but deduct those points for placing those ports towards the bottom of a case that will end up on the floor in most cases (pun).
at least it has a different look, hoping this one reaches argentina so i can finally go matx. Or at the very least i hope this one doesn't have a glass panel in both sides so it's cheaper to import
Cost of micro-atx and still having room for slim 280mm rad.
The target market for these cases are office workstations, not gamers, it isn't going to have high performance cooling like a gamer case.