Bgears b-Envi Case Review

Conclusions

B-Envi is an HTPC case targeted to users that want to build a home theater PC and/or to gamers that are looking for a light and small case to make it easier to carry his computer to LAN parties. Here is a summary of what we found about this case.

Strong Points

• Touch panel.
• Very light.
• Reduced size will save you lots of space and make it easier to carry your PC around (to LAN parties, for example).
• Aluminum 2.5” hard disk drive enclosure.
• SATA printed circuit board for the enclosure costs only USD 9.99 (or USD 15.99 if you want a whole new enclosure).

Weak Points

• Low-quality mechanism for the top 5.25” and memory card reader bay covers: they kept opening all the time.
• No screwless mechanism for holding daughterboards. A case on this price range should use at least thumbscrews for this function.
• No screwless mechanism for holding disk drives.
• Not speed control for the fan.
• Use of standard 4-pin peripheral power plugs on the fan, which prevents you from monitoring its speed.
• No anti-vibration mechanism for the hard disk drives.
• Some stores like Newegg.com are selling it at a price tag higher than the manufacturer suggested price.

In summary, it is a good all-aluminum option, but it isn’t flawless product. We expected a little bit more for a product in this price range, even though it comes with a hard disk drive enclosure, which increases its final price. If you won’t use this device then you are probably better off with a different product.