[nextpage title=”Introduction”]
The new Odyssey L-1000 is a mid-tower case with several interesting features, like a digital thermometer, a four-step fan speed controller with two channels, a fan attached to one of the expansion slots, a unique hard disk drive suspension mechanism, and much more. Let’s take an in-depth look at this latest release by 3R System.
The left panel is meshed, coming with air filters for you to install up to two 120 mm fans there.
Figure 1: 3R System Odyssey L1000 case
Figure 2: 3R System Odyssey L1000 case
The front panel of the Odyssey L-1000 can be seen in Figure 3. It has four external 5.25” bays and one external 3.5” bay. The top two bays come with covers that completely hide the optical drives, so you should not remove them when you install your optical drives.
Figure 3: Front panel
At the bottom part of the front panel we have the highlight of the product: the digital thermometer and the fan speed controller. The thermometer has a probe that can be attached to any point of the computer you want to monitor the temperature. The fan speed controller has two independent channels, controlling the front and the rear fans. You can set the fan to spin at four different speeds: 900 rpm (level 1), 1,050 rpm (level 2), 1,275 rpm (level 3), and 1,500 rpm (level 4). You can also turn off the fan (level 0). There are two seven-digit display available, which show the current speed level (0 through 4) of each fan.
Figure 4: Speed controller, thermometer, and connectors
The Odyssey L-1000 comes with four USB ports, one eSATA port, and the audio jacks at the bottom part of the front panel of the case. The front fan is located behind the front panel and the air intake is done through an opening located at the bottom of the front panel.
[nextpage title=”Introduction (Cont’d)”]
Like its brother R120-V3, the L-1000 comes with a module attached to its top panel containing two 120 mm fans (glowing red when they are turned on) and two USB ports. This top model has a two-speed controller for the top fans. When the available switch is set to the “high” position, the fans spin at 1,500 rpm, but the manufacturer doesn’t say at what speed they spin when they are set at “low.” These fans must be connected directly to the power supply, using a standard peripheral connector.
Figure 5: The top panel
The top USB ports must be connected to two USB ports available on the motherboard rear panel, using the connectors you can clearly see in Figure 7.
At the bottom panel the L-1000 has two air filters, which are accessible from outside the case for cleaning.
Figure 6: The bottom panel
The rear panel and the interior of the Odyssey L-1000 are painted black, giving a nice overall look. The rear panel has a 120 mm fan identical to the one used on front panel. There are seven expansion slots, but they don’t come with vented covers. On the L-1000 the power supply is installed at the bottom part of the case.
Figure 7: Rear panel
Let’s now take a look inside the 3R System Odyssey L-1000.[nextpage title=”Inside the 3R System Odyssey L-1000″]
Both side panels are fastened to the case using black thumbscrews, which is great to see. In Figure 8, you can see the left panel removed from the case. Note the two air filters and the space available for installing two additional 120 mm fans.
Figure 8: Left panel
The motherboard tray of the Odyssey L-1000 has a big hole around the area where the CPU is installed, allowing access to the backplate of the CPU cooler, so you can replace the cooler without having to remove the motherboard. The motherboard tray also has seven big holes for you to route cables behind it. The motherboard tray doesn’t go all the way to the front panel, meaning that the area behind the disk drive bays is open. This allows you to easily route and hide cables behind the motherboard tray and the hard disk drive cage.
Figure 9: Overall look
Figure 10: A view from behind the motherboard tray
In Figure 11, you have another overall look inside the case. Expansion cards are fastened to the case using regular screws, but painted black, which is a nice touch.
Figure 11: Overall look
One of the highlights of the L-1000 is the presence of a 120 mm fan that glows red when turned on attached to an expansion slot cover (although listed as optional by the manufacturer, the sample we’ve got came with it). You can move this fan to any available expansion slot, and it is installed on the motherboard using a three-pin connector.
Figure 12: Fan that is attached to one of the slot covers
This case supports video cards up to 11” (280 mm) long.
The power supply is installed on four rubber pads. This case allows you to install your power supply with its fan facing up or facing down, you choose. There is a mesh matching the location of the power supply fan, if you decide to install it with its fan facing down. As shown in Figure 6, an air filter for the power supply fan is available outside the case.
Figure 13: Power supply compartment
[nextpage title=”The Disk Drive Bays”]
The Odyssey L-1000 comes with four external 5.25” bays, one external 3.5” bay and three internal 3.5” bays. Only the top two 5.25” bays come with screwsless installation mechanisms.
The hard disk drive bays are available inside a removable cage, and they use a very unique suspension mechanism to prevent the vibration produced by the hard drives to be converted into noise.
Figure 14: The disk drive bays
Figure 15: The hard drive cage
[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]
The main 3R System Odyssey L-1000 specs include:
- Style: Mid-tower
- Application: ATX and smaller form factors derived from this one
- Material: Zinc-coated steel (SECC)
- Power supply: Doesn’t come with the product
- Available colors: Black
- Side panel: Meshed
- Dimensions: 18.4 x 7.9 x 19.5 inches (467 x 200 x 495 mm) (H x W x D)
- Net weight: 16.5 lbs (7.4 kg)
- Gross weight: 19.5 lbs (8.8 kg)
- Video card maximum length: 11” (280 mm)
- Bays: Four external 5.25” bays, one external 3.5” bay, and three internal 3.5” bays
- Expansion slots: Seven
- Fans: Two 120 mm fans on the top panel, one 120 mm on the front panel, one 120 mm fan on the rear panel, and one 120 mm fan inside the case
- Optional fans: Two 120 mm fans on the left panel
- Extra features: Two four-speed fan controllers for the front and the rear fans, digital thermometer, and a two-speed fan controller for the top fans
- More Information: https://www.3rsys.com
- MSRP: USD 88.00
[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]
The Odyssey L-1000 from 3R System is a nice case with great features for the user who wants a case with more than the ordinary set of features but doesn’t want to spend a lot of money. Because of its great cost/benefit ratio, we are giving it our Golden Award.
Strong Points
- Two four-speed fan controllers for the front and rear fans with displays for indicating the current speed
- One two-speed fan controller for the two top fans
- Air filters for side, front, and power supply fans
- Internal 120 mm fan for cooling down expansion cards
- A hole in the motherboard tray for accessing the backplate of the CPU cooler
- Holes for routing cables behind the motherboard tray
- Total of six USB ports
- Outstanding hard drive suspension mechanisms
- Bezel to hide optical drives
- eSATA port
Weak Points
- Only three hard drive bays will not be enough for some users
- Slot covers aren’t vented
- Bay covers aren’t meshed
- No support for 2.5” devices
- Not sold in the US
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