Raidmax Aztec

Verdict: Fans aplenty, but odd looks and design.

After several long days of discussion, we still aren't quite sure why Raidmax decided to call this case the Aztec. The decoration on the front of the case more closely resembles Darth Vader's TIE Advanced xl prototype, so we concluded that the name expresses Raidmax's opinion that Mr Vader's favourite Counter-Strike map is CS_Aztec. Having solved the mystery as best as we could, it was high time to take a look at this odd-looking midi-tower case and write the review.

As far as midi-tower cases go, the Aztec is average-sized, measuring 450mm high. It has four 5.25in external bays, five internal 3.5in bays (despite Raidmax stating that the Aztec has only four) and room for two external 3.5in devices. The front panel is located behind the door at the bottom of the case, and has only two USB 2 ports, plus microphone and headphone jacks; this is not only a sparse array, but it's also inaccessible when the door panel is closed. There's a side window through which to peer inside the Aztec, but it looks rather cheap and ugly. The case is also available with the detail on the front door in yellow, orange or navy blue.

The maximum length of power supply the Aztec will house is 185mm, so a PSU the size of Antec's Quattro TPQ 1000 will be the largest the case can use. As such, a longer power supply such as the Enermax Galaxy will be too big. The hard disks protrude from the caddy to such an extent that they encroach on the leading edge of the motherboard, so should you install a graphics card longer than 9in (a Radeon HD 4870 or all of Nvidia's current high-end cards), you'll have to sacrifice hard disk bays. However, 9in-long or shorter graphics cards such as the GeForce 9800 GT won't cause any problems.

When preparing the Aztec for a build, we were struck by how easily and comprehensively it can be dismantled, so building a system is a simple task. Both side panels are removed via latches that release the panel in an upwards motion, with the right-hand panel also taking the motherboard tray and expansion slots with it. The internal 3.5in caddy is removable, and uses a tool-free bracket system to mount hard disks. Another useful feature is the small spare parts box tucked away at the bottom of the hard disk bays; this holds spare hard disk mounting brackets and screws for future upgrades.

The build quality of the Aztec isn't great; the bulk of the case is steel and although this provides sturdiness, the presence of so much plastic lessens the effect. Both the front door and its fascia are made of plastic, with the former being closed on its hinges by magnets at the top and bottom in a clangy manner similar to that of the Akasa Omega. While some parts of the interior have been finished with rounded plastic stoppers, there are several sharp edges that could scratch you while you're building your PC. We were also disappointed to see no cable management devices.

The Aztec ships with four fans: one 120mm intake at the front, one 120mm exhaust at the rear and two 80mm side-panel fans to blow air over the hardware. Unfortunately, none of the mounts is fitted with a dust filter and the front intake is partially obstructed when the door panel is closed. There's a further 80mm fan mount on the side of the external 3.5in bay, and while you could mount one hard disk in this caddy (this hard disk slot doesn't require special mounting brackets), it seems a little odd that Raidmax hasn't mounted the drive-cooling fan on the hard disk caddy. After all, how many people apply extreme overclocks to their floppy drives and fan controllers? The plastic bar running along the length of the Aztec lets you mount an 80mm fan to blow air directly over the hot end of your graphics card.

Conclusion

The Raidmax Aztec is an unusual mixture of conflicting positive and negative aspects. The most prominent of the case's positive points are its cooling options and the way the case dismantles so comprehensively.

However, conflicting with these good features are odd design flaws, such as the door blocking the front intake fan and the extensive use of plastic both inside and out. Plus, why is there a fan on the external 3.5in drive caddy?

Unfortunately, there's enough about the Raidmax Aztec to turn you off using it, especially as it costs £20 more than the excellent if plain-looking Antec Three Hundred.