3R System M Station HT-1100

What we did like:
The M-Station case is very carefully designed. One of the best qualities of the case is that it can fit any ATX motherboard and power supply unit. Aesthetically speaking, we can consider it perfect for fitment in a modern living room, much like a work of art. The case, even if it is very lightweight since it is constructed completely out of aluminium, it is extremely strong and very hard to bend or scratch. The colour of the case and the finish is excellent as well. We found the cooling properties to be first class even without adding any extra fans. Running a strong AMD Athlon 64 based system which was cooled only by a stock ooler and with most of the fans being speed controlled by the motherboard was no problem at all inside the M-Station, not for any of the system’s components.
The system was unusually quiet as most fans were spinning at very low speeds. The included iMON VFD and the remote controller make this case particularly unique and one of the best HTPC cases available.

What we did not like:
Unfortunately the space inside the M Station is very much limited. Just a few more mm at the right places and that would not be a problem. Unfortunately, it is impossible to use a normal screwdriver to remove the drive cage as it will not fit, you will need a long one to get the job done. That could be easily solved if the manufacturer suddenly adds a long screwdriver inside the package of the M-Station. Nevertheless, there are problems that cannot be solved as easily. We found that the motherboard is extremely close to the air duct at the bottom and the drive cage at the side.
There are many motherboards which have their IDE and other connectors placed horizontally at the edge of the PCB. It is almost certain that you will not be able to use these connectors on those motherboards at all, as the cables will not fit. Also, the top cover of the case was actually touching the PCB of our MSI X700 Pro PCI-E card when closed. This would mean that any VGA card with a PCB slightly taller than the standard height will not allow the case to be closed properly. Careful choice will be needed when selecting hardware for a system based around this chassis.

Who we would recommend it to:
We believe that this case is perfect for a HTPC enthusiast or computer enthusiast in general. The price of the case does seem high, but with so many features it is actually extremely good value when compared to competitors products. Unfortunately the need to carefully choose hardware and have some extra computer assembly skills might drive away the “average” user who might simply want a system up and running without much effort. Even the inexperienced user can build a system in this case however; as long as he/she is patient, careful and willing.
Of course this is a case meant for HTPC systems, so of course we can not recommend it for office or workstation applications. Gamers might like it though, since they can place it in their living room with only the iMON remote controller and a wireless gamepad attached to it, enjoying their favourite games from the comfort of their couch.