BIOS: Technology Means Business

Antec's latest computer enclosure is a relatively low-cost, semi-aluminium product targeted at gamers and PC enthusiasts looking for a stylish and light solution. Based on an attractive anodised aluminium finish, the Super LANBOY also features a transparent side panel for showing off your system's internal components. If that's not conspicuous enough, the case also includes a pre-installed blue LED fan that shines through the front of the case when your system is powered and a translucent 120mm fan at the rear of the case. The case's build quality is greatly improved compared to that of its predecessor and its spacious internal design allows you to replace components relatively effortlessly. It's naturally a little flimsier than a traditional steel box, but the weight savings should be worth it whether you want to frequently move your system or not. The addition of a small parts drawer at the front is a nice touch, too, and its asking price is also appealing compared to full steel units.

Pros: Good looks; pre-installed blue LED fan; built-in small parts drawer
Cons: No removable tray for motherboard; no PSU; plastic parts

Building on the original LANBOY, the 208x434x419mm (3.9kg) Super LANBOY houses five external drive bays (three 5.25in. and two 3.5in. bays), four slide-out hard disk trays for quick installation and two 120mm fans for cooling. There's also two front-mounted USB 2.0 ports, line-in and line-out ports for connecting multimedia peripherals, such as headphones or a microphone, power and reset buttons, and three LEDs that illuminate when your system is powered and the hard disk is operating. Antec also supplies a carrying strap to help make moving your system a little easier.

The mid-tower case accommodates standard ATX motherboards up to 305x243mm and comes with refinements that help to reduce your system's operating noise, including two low-speed (1,200rpm) translucent 120mm fans (one at front includes a blue LED fan) and vibration-absorbing mounts for hard disks and additional fans. Unlike the original LANBOY, the case does not include a power supply. It does, however, support a standard 12V ATX power supply.

The case is attractive and is sure to turn heads, thanks largely to its part brushed aluminium and plastic materials and transparent side panel. Unfortunately, although the enclosure is primarily made of aluminium, the front panel that hides the external drive bays is made of plastic, a single reminder that the Super LANBOY is a relatively low-cost offering. One particularly neat design feature is a 'toolbox' that sits behind the front panel. Pushing the box gently allows you to remove it and store hardware or small tools, such as the screws and brass standoffs supplied with the case. The box is also large enough to hold a small screwdriver.

Thankfully, the Super LANBOY is much better quality than the original LANBOY, which is very disappointing in terms of its plastic look and feel. The original LANBOY's side panel is also infuriatingly difficult to remove and replace, so we're pleased that Antec has also addressed this issue by making the Super LANBOY's side panel a lot easier to remove and re-fit using just one thumb-screw. The power button is now also placed on the enclosure's main unit, so you don't need to open the front panel in order to power your system. However, the front panel is a little stiff and is tricky to open single handed, so you'll frequently find yourself supporting the top of the case while you try to access your optical drives.

Internally, the Super LANBOY makes adding and removing components a breeze thanks to its clean and spacious design. A particularly neat feature is that the internal 3.5in. drive bays used to store hard disks are positioned facing the case opening, allowing you to slide drives in and out effortlessly, as well as hide power and 40-pin ribbon cabling for a tidier appearance. Unfortunately, Antec doesn't supply any cable ties, so you'll likely have to make do with what you've got in order to make your new PC showcase a show-stopper.

Links:
Super LANBOY Web site