Palo Alto PA-600 Case
Palo Alto may not be a familiar name when you think of computer cases. It
is very likely that you have seen their cases, as they are a provider to many
OEM manufacturers such as Dell and Micron. Originally Palo Alto generally
dealt with OEMs and authorized resellers for their business, but Palo Alto
has decided to begin focusing on the enthusiast market and is now selling
their cases directly at their website. Previously you had to buy a large lot
of cases to get them directly from Palo Alto. The question that arises is
if a case designed for use by OEMs, such as the PA-600, can meet the needs
of most computer enthusiasts.
Features:
- ATX Format
- 2 full bays
- 4 half bays
(2 external)
|
- Standard 235
watt power supply
- Dimensions:
6.7"W x 15.5"D x 16.4"H
- Weight 17 lbs.
|
First Impressions:
The first thing I noticed
is the high quality construction of the unit. All metal edges inside the case
have been deburred. The plastic used in the case is quite thick and of a neutral
beige. The side cover of the case is secured with a single thumb screw and
the side cover is removed quite easily after pulling on two plastic retaining
tabs. The rear of the case has one unusual feature. Those of you with nosy
roommates or lots of visitors will appreciate that a padlock can be used to
secure the case from opening. The
unit shipped to me was equipped with the optional 92 mm exhaust fan. I’m not
one to settle for exhaust fans and no intake fans. I remedied that by inserting
an 80 mm intake fan into the front of the case. I suspect OEMs are skimpy
on the fans they include with their systems not only due to cost but also
due to the inherent increased noise. I highly recommend whatever case you
buy you use as many fans as the case will accommodate as the life of your
components is far more important than the extra noise you will have to endure.
Even with the extra fans and my slot cooler I found this case to be quieter
than the much larger case I used previously, especially when you consider
that the other case could only hold an 80 mm intake and exhaust fan. The power
supply provided with this case has ample ventilation holes drilled in its
bottom. Counting on a power supply to cool your case with its fan is highly
suspect, but the generous ventilation with this power supply ensures that
it indeed can move air out of the case with its 80mm fan. I used the highly
scientific method of feeling how much air exited from the power supply fan
and I was quite impressed. The PA-600 features 5 power connectors for your
peripherals with 1 power connector for your floppy drive. This is more power
connectors than many manufacturers provide for cases with more bays.
Installation
and Testing:
For testing I once again
relied on my Abit BX6r2. This motherboard is quite large and its size is representative
of most of the motherboards on the market. The motherboard is retained by
a unique mechanism that requires only one screw that is on the outside of
the case. Once a bracket is attached to the motherboard it is dropped into
place and held with supports that are mounted within the case. This sped up
the installation of the motherboard and, more importantly, I didn’t have to
mess with the five to six screws it takes to retain a motherboard in most
cases. It didn’t surprise me that Palo Alto has a patent pending on this design
since this is not only unique, but in a small way, revolutionary.
The PA-600 uses drive
rails to retain the drives mounted in the two full bays and the two external
half bays. I am not very partial to these types of retaining mechanisms. With
the time it takes to mount the rails to a component I could have easily inserted
the component and had it screwed in. I think these benefit organizations with
several machines that need components swapped on a regular basis, as the techs
don’t need tools to work on the systems. I will give Palo Alto credit because
these are the best quality drive rails I’ve ever encountered. Had I encountered
drive rails like these early on I may have never developed my aversion to
drive rails in the first place.
Extra Shots: (click to enlarge)
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Inside
Front |
Inside
Back |
Inside
Board |
Back
View |
Pros:
- High quality construction
- Accommodates a 92 mm
exhaust fan
- Accommodates an 80
mm intake fan
- Easy access panel with
1 thumbscrew securing it and an available padlock mount
- One screw motherboard
mounting system
Cons:
- Only 2 full bays
- Drive rails
Conclusions:
I am very partial to
this case. I would have liked to see another full bay available but that is
a somewhat minor point since Palo Alto designs their cases to accommodate
the needs of OEMs and large system integrators. Obviously there isn’t enough
interest in a layout with more full bays from the OEMs to cause Palo Alto
to lose sleep over the layout of the PA-600. I feel that the vast majority
of people will not use more than 2 full bays for their components, and considering
the good ventilation the PA-600 can accommodate, the extra air space in the
case is not missed. Keep in mind that the PA-600 can still mount a satisfactory
amount of 3.5" drives inside the case and the loss of one full bay becomes
even less important. I recommend this case to anyone who is concerned with
the quality of construction in their case and/or someone that is looking for
a mid-tower and doesn’t need more than 2 full bays. For a case of its size
it accommodates impressive cooling if you purchase a 92 mm and an 80 mm fan
to mount in your case as I did with the tested configuration. The PA-600 retails
for $95, including shipping, at the Palo
Alto website.You can find it for less with a little diligence from one
of their authorized resellers.
