Sentey Optimus Case Review

[nextpage title=”Introduction”]

The Sentey Optimus is a mid-tower case that costs only USD 60 but comes with lots of features usually only found on more expensive models. The product is black and comes with two choices of trim color: black (GS-6000) or red (GS-6000R).

The side panels of the Optimus are painted with a glossy black automotive paint.

Figure 1: Sentey Optimus case

Figure 2: Sentey Optimus case

One of the highlights of the Optimus is the presence of a 180 mm fan on its left-side panel, featuring air filters. This fan glows in blue when turned on, and uses a standard peripheral power connector, meaning you can’t monitor its speed. On the other hand, you can install it on the fan controller that comes with the product (more about this feature in the next page). No technical info on this fan is provided.

Figure 3: Left panel

Figure 4: 180 mm fan

[nextpage title=”The Front Panel”]

The front panel of the Sentey Optimus can be seen in Figure 3. It has three 5.25” bays, with the first one with a bezel to hide the front of your optical drive. While this bezel isn’t meshed, the other two bays have meshed covers with air filters.

Figure 5: Front panel

The Optimus comes with a 120 mm fan at the bottom part of the front panel, cooling down the hard disk drive cage, and glowing blue when turned on. Like the side fan, it comes with a standard peripheral connector. No technical information about this fan is provided. The case has an air filter in front of this fan. This fan can be replaced with a 140 mm model, if you want.

Figure 6: Front fan

The highlights of this case include a memory card reader (supporting MMC and SD cards) and a fan speed controller. This controller has only one channel, so you have to decide which fan you will want connected to it. This case comes with two USB 2.0 ports (which are far from each other) and the traditional audio jacks.

Figure 7: Buttons, connectors, and the fan controller

[nextpage title=”The Top, Bottom and Rear Panels”]

The top panel of the Sentey Optimus can be seen in Figure 8. It comes with a 120 mm fan identical to the one located on the front panel, and there is space for you to install a second 120 mm fan. This panel comes with an air filter, which is overkill, since the top fans work blowing air from inside the computer to the outside, and thus the chance of dust coming in from the top panel is minimal.

Figure 8: Top panel

The bottom panel, seen in Figure 9, has an air filter for the power supply fan and for the optional bottom fan.

Figure 9: Bottom panel

The rear panel and the interior of the Sentey Optimus are painted black, which is terrific to be seen in an inexpensive case. The power supply is installed on the bottom part of the case, and it comes with seven expansion slots with vented covers. Two holes protected by rubber covers are available for hoses of liquid cooling solutions, feature usually only seen on more expensive products. One 120 mm fan is available on the rear panel, but it doesn’t glow when turned on like the other fans.

Figure 10: Rear panel

Let’s now take a look inside the Sentey Optimus.

[nextpage title=”Inside the Sentey Optimus”]

Both panels of the Optimus are fastened to the case using black thumbscrews, which is nice to see. The motherboard tray 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 several holes for you to route cables behind it, and a couple of metallic clips for you to fasten cables using cable ties. The motherboard tray has an opening behind the hard disk drive cage, making it easy to route and hide the hard drive cables.

Figure 11: Overall look

Figure 12: A view behind the motherboard tray

In Figure 12, you have another overall look inside the case. Expansion cards are fastened to the case using individual plastic tool-less mechanisms. The Optimus supports video cards up to 11” (280 mm) long.

Figure 13: Overall look

Note that the power supply can be installed with either its bottom fan facing up or facing down, so you can decide if you want the
fan of your power supply pulling air from inside the case or from outside of it. As mentioned before, the case comes with an air filter for the power supply fan.

You can install an 80 mm or a 120 mm fan at the bottom of the case, and the same air filter covers this optional fan.

Figure 14: Power supply compartment

[nextpage title=”The Disk Drive Bays”]

The Sentey Optimus comes with three external 5.25” bays and four internal 3.5”/2.5” bays, all featuring tool-less installation mechanisms.

Figure 15: Disk drive bays

Each hard drive bay is actually a small aluminum drawer, and the terrific news is that all of them support 2.5” devices – several more expensive products lack this feature! The installation of 3.5” hard drives is done without the use of screws, but for installing 2.5” you will need to use regular screws.

Figure 16: One of the drawers

[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]

The main specs for the Sentey Optimus case 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 with black (GS-6000) or red (GS-6000R) trim
• Side panel: Solid with 180 mm fan
• Dimensions: 19.09 x 7.48 x 18.31 inches (485 x 190 x 465 mm) (H x W x D)
• Net weight: 14.5 lbs (6.4 kg)
• Gross weight: 17 lbs (7.6 kg)
• Bays: Three external 5.25” bays and four internal 3.5”/2.5” bays
• Expansion slots: Seven
• Maximum video card length: 11” (280 mm)
• Maximum CPU cooler height: NA
• Fans: One 120 mm fan on the front panel, one 120 mm fan on the top panel, one 120 mm fan on the rear panel, and one 180 mm on the left panel
• Optional fans: One 80 mm or 120 mm fan on the bottom panel, one 120 mm fan on the top panel, one 140 mm fan on the front panel (replacing the 120 mm fan)
• Extra features: Memory card reader, fan speed controller
• More Information: https://www.sentey.com
• Average price in the US*: USD 60.00

* Researched at Newegg.com on the day we published this review.

[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]

The Sentey Optimus comes with an impressive number of features for its price tag. In fact, it comes with features not usually seen in more expensive cases. If you want an inexpensive case with tons of features, the Sentey Optimus is a terrific option.

Strong Points

• Outstanding cost/benefit ratio
• Bezel to hide the optical drive
• Two of the three bay covers are meshed featuring air filters
• Comes with four fans
• Fan speed controller
• Air filters for the front, side, top and bottom fans
• Memory card reader
• Supports four 2.5” devices
• Tool-less installation mechanisms on all drive bays
• Individual holding mechanisms for expansion cards
• Holes with rubber covers for liquid cooling solutions
• A hole in the motherboard tray for accessing the backplate of the CPU cooler
• Holes for routing cables behind the motherboard tray

Weak Points

• Quality of plastic parts is not the same as found in better-known brands
• Website still has phrases in Spanish (e.g., “Descargue Fotos en HD”), even though the company is American