Aspire X-Qpack
Starting at: $74.99
CNET Editors' Review
CNET Editors' Rating
- Reviewed by: Dan Ackerman
- Released on:
- Reviewed on:
The good: Power supply included; fits standard micro-ATX motherboards and full-size video cards.
The bad: Plastic case windows scratch easily; somewhat flimsy construction.
The bottom line: The Aspire X-Qpack is an inexpensive small-form-factor case that will appeal to those looking to build a mini PC that's more about function than form.
The Aspire X-Qpack chassis can hold any micro-ATX motherboard and full-size PCI Express cards. That kind of flexibility lets you build almost any kind of system--from a Media Center box to a gaming rig--with off-the-shelf components. We slotted in a standard hard
... Expand full reviewThe Aspire X-Qpack chassis can hold any micro-ATX motherboard and full-size PCI Express cards. That kind of flexibility lets you build almost any kind of system--from a Media Center box to a gaming rig--with off-the-shelf components. We slotted in a standard hard drive and a DVD drive, along with a long ATI X1900 All-in-Wonder card with no problems. The X-Qpack has a total of two optical drive bays and two internal hard drive bays.
The case measures 9 inches wide by 11.2 inches high by 13.8 inches deep, making it not as svelte as some of the smaller systems we've seen, such as the Mac Mini Core Duo or the AOpen MiniPC Duo, but it's still a welcome change if you're used to dealing with a space-hogging midtower. The cover lifts off easily after removing a couple of thumbscrews, but the plastic windows on the top and sides are delicate, to say the least; you should take great care to avoid scratching them.
A 420-watt power supply is included, which should supply more than enough juice for most users. The Enpower Media Center Express Special Edition, which uses the X-Qpack case, features an SLI video card setup with two GeForce 7900GT cards, and it ran with no problems using the stock power supply. The front panel includes two USB 2.0 jacks, a single FireWire port, and audio in and out connections. A tiny LCD screen attaches to temperature probes that are affixed to the CPU and hard drives. If basic black doesn't float your boat, the Aspire X-Qpack is available with different-colored faceplates, from yellow to red to green. Hide Review
Compare to other cases
Compare selected New York native Dan Ackerman, a former radio DJ turned journalist, has written about technology and music for publications including Spin, Blender, The Hollywood Reporter, and Men's Journal. He hosts the weekly CNET Labscast show (Mondays at 2pm ET) and his most recent album, Tales Out of Night School, is available now.
User Reviews
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Showing 2 of 2 reviews
"Nice Case, Bad Cooling" By emarcus3
Pros: Plenty of room for accessories and drives.
Cons: PSU can burn out quickly. Inadequate cooling. Lack of room for full ATX power supplies. Lack of room for large CPU coolers.
Summary: PSU burned out in six months with a single core CPU and passively cooled PCI-E 16x 1.0 video card. Recommend modding a fan into the side of the case under the PSU or a drive bay fan. I recommend looking online how to change the display from C to ... Expand full review
"a shuttle look alike pc, aimed toward the gaming market." By unkowwn
Pros: fairly small, and has a LED temp on the front. also has a great powersupply
Cons: extremely poor ventelation, abused amounts of windows.
Summary: a nice attempt from aspire to come out with a compact pc, what makes this pc case so well would probably be its one of a kind size powersupply, probably the powersupply is better than the case itself, besides that the case has very poor airflow, and when filled to ... Expand full review
Specifications
See full specsQuick Specs
- Product Description: Apevia X-QPACK X-QPACK-NW-BK/420 - Desktop - Micro ATX
- Dimensions (WxDxH): 11.2 in x 13.8 in x 9 in
- I/O Connectors: 2 x USB 2 x Audio 1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
