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By 

S. Johnson (IL) –

  

I spent much of this evening relocating PC hardware from my venerable ATX Mid-Tower to MyOpenPC’s Dragon test bench. Through the process I have noted a few minor complaints, but overall I am very satisfied with this unique offering.

Test benches serve many purposes, primarily increased ease-of-access to your hardware components. They also function as aesthetic displays. A good test bench is one that offers strong functionality while looking snazzy.

The Dragon test bench ships in a slim, handled box containing many case components and accessories that must be assembled. The case is well-packaged and, excluding instances of extreme duress, should arrive safe and sound. The accessories and components are separated and sorted well. Included are well-illustrated instructions as well as a parts-list that should make installation mostly frustration-free.

The Dragon bench can accommodate several HDDs (4), 2 ODDs, and an elongated power supply (Using a Corsair 850HX). It features 7 PCI expansion slots and two 80mm fan mounts (Fans are dedicated to HDD cooling).

There are two motherboard tray configurations available, with PCI expansion slots positioned upward or downward. Personally, I prefer the upward configuration as it seems more natural, allowing for easier access to PSU cables and keeping miscellaneous USB, etc. cables out of the way. There are several holes cut in the motherboard and HDD trays to accommodate cable management. Another neat feature is an alternate motherboard mounting solution. It involves using inverted screws that will support an installed motherboard but easily accommodate its removal for those who change CPUs, motherboards, and CPU coolers frequently.

I do have a few complaints that are worth mentioning. Firstly, the included fan mounts are 80mm. The dimensions of this case do not allow for 120mm fan mounts to be drilled, but 92mm would have been nice to see. I would also have liked to see an 80/92mm fan mount in the PCI support bracket as well. By default it is just a slab of acrylic, which does not aid in airflow. I also noted that one of the motherboard tray supports did not fasten securely like the others. It is not an issue for stability when the case in stationary, but when it needs to be adjusted the motherboard tray moves more than I would like it to. I am not a fan of the supports used throughout the case. They do not provide affordances for users who regularly move their cases, but as I mentioned even the defective support is not a minor concern when the case is stationary, so it is a non-issue for typical use. Also, the omission of USB and/or audio ports is a minor inconvenience, but worth mentioning. Lastly, I am satisfied with the number of cable management holes, but I would like to see additional ones near the typical location for motherboard SATA ports and in the hard drive tray.

I am definitely a fan of the overall design of the Dragon bench. I have been known to doodle case designs of my own, and it bears resemblances to one that I had drawn up, hence my attraction to the case in the first place. MyOpenPC has incorporated many features in this bench to justify its $100+ price tag. Below I will summarize my evaluations of four key categories.

Build Quality: 4/5
The acrylic is clean-cut and sufficiently rounded to avoid injury. Once assembled the case is stable and usable thanks to the thickness of the acrylic. The vinyl covering will protect the acrylic from scratches until it reaches the end-user. The defective motherboard tray support is a disappointment, but when functioning the supports work mostly as intended. I would like to see a more secure solution implemented in future revisions though. You know what you’re getting into when you build around an acrylic case, and the Dragon bench meets and succeeds these expectations.

Aesthetic Appeal: 5/5
The acrylic has an attractive, translucent appearance. It offers solid cable management that makes concealing most of the cabling possible. Your hardware will be proudly displayed in this bench, benefiting from its angled motherboard tray.

Functionality: 5/5
The Dragon bench supports mATX and ATX motherboards as well as ATX power supplies. Its capacity to hold four 3.5″ HDDs is a welcome feature. It is not a constraint for even the longest GPU and will not conflict with the vast majority of CPU air coolers. Seven PCI expansion slots will accommodate the majority of graphics configurations as well. By housing the ODDs and PSU below the motherboard tray, the Dragon bench does not occupy much space.

Value: 4/5
A case sold for $99.99 should be able to justify its price tag through a deep and/or unique feature set, appropriate build quality, and pleasing aesthetics. At this price point, the Dragon bench does not “wow” me with its value but it certainly meets expectations. It is a…

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