Rosewill Line-M Case Review: Wherefore Art Thou Micro-ATX?
by Dustin Sklavos on February 26, 2013 12:01 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- MicroATX
- Rosewill
In and Around the Rosewill Line-M
Working with the Rosewill Line-M made me feel downright nostalgic. It doesn't suffer from the same kind of poor build quality (and comically optimistic price tag) of the Moneual Sonamu G100 I reviewed some time ago, but I couldn't help but want the Line-M in beige, if you catch my drift.
The front of the Line-M is all business. It's a black plastic fascia and features two external 5.25" bays and a single 3.5" bay for the inevitable card reader. Beneath the drive bays are the I/O cluster and power and reset buttons, and then below them is a large vent for the 120mm blue LED intake fan. A blue LED fan is kind of an oddball choice for a case like this that seems destined to be hanging out under desks in home offices, and it does stick out some.
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When you check out the top, sides, and back, there are the subtle hints of a more modern case design (if the USB 3.0 ports didn't give it away). The left side panel features two vents with 92mm/120mm fan mounts, and the back of the case sports a fifth expansion slot for users who somehow deign to install a multi-GPU configuration in the Line-M. The irony there is that I'm reasonably certain the case is actually perfectly adequate for it.
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The side panels are held in place by thumbscrews, and while I hate notched panels, they're at least expected in a case this inexpensive. That there's a loop in the back for a padlock is an indicator of where this case is supposed to go, but that loop also helps line up the side panel and makes it easier to slide on without bending the notches. Get those panels off, though, and you'll see there's no space at all behind the motherboard tray.
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As for the interior itself, Rosewill's design is very minimal but also uses space very efficiently. I think it's important to remember (and you'll see what I mean later) that there are good reasons to mount the power supply to the top of the case instead of the bottom. Currently the biggest albatross hanging around the neck of case design is the 5.25" bay, but lining up the power supply behind the 5.25" bays at least winds up using space efficiently and lowers the motherboard so the case's intake has a more direct line to the CPU cooler.
Undoubtedly the whole of the Rosewill Line-M is going to look downright archaic. I've been watching the technology of case design continue to advance since I began reviewing cases here, and seeing a build that doesn't include a lot of modern designs is kind of curious. With that in mind, though, I still feel like Rosewill's overall design is a very efficient one in terms of space and apropos to what the case is intended for. But why the blue LED fan?
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paulshardware - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - link
"...there's really no way to not do a messy job with this case, though, so keep that in mind."I beg to differ!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H51pFVZ0M14
;)
- Paul
Dustin Sklavos - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - link
It's a little shady to promote your own reviews on someone else's review.beemeup - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - link
I think he was just trying to make a point that even small enclosures can look tidy with modest effort. Though I suppose posting a picture would've sufficed all the same.I still prefer video reviews though. They help you get a better "feel" for the case in a way that pictures alone just don't do.
CeriseCogburn - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - link
Anyone notice there's a giant gaping cutout for the motherboard ? (in the video vs in the review the whine there is not hole for cpu hs mounting)No of course not, you're all too busy complaining and moaning.
I started reading the review and though what a spoiled brat bad mouther of a review it is.
So if it is the same case, expect either a cutout or not. I will say I've seen this type of thing occur, as you don't always get what you order.
God forbid one would have to use screws to mount 5.25 bay items...
I mean this case is no where near barebones, nor as barebones as it gets.
SPOILED WHINING BRATS - that's what I see and hear.
uditrana - Wednesday, April 24, 2013 - link
Calm Down.I doubt anyone will respond but what Corsair PSU were you referring to. I would like to get it but m confused in the sea of PSU's
WeaselITB - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - link
I don't really see it as that much neater, anyway. He routed the 12v line a little different and doesn't have a graphics card with two power plugs hanging out in the middle of the case, which makes a big difference in terms of appearance.-Weasel
CeriseCogburn - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - link
Why the blue case fan the review whines....Because all the little crazy PC brainwashed idiots on every website in the world squeal it must be BLACK and any leds are preferred BLUE.
That's why, we have a populace of lemmings and parrots who think they are in with cool as their personal tastes are declared completely in line with the "popular cool" line of total frikkin BS for no reason pop culture stupidity.
Black makes it very difficult to see and assemble, and with all the assembling WHINES in every freaking direction, one would think the idiot masses could choose another color more in line iwth correcting their constant complaints.
But no, BLACK is "cool" no matter what, and BLUE must be the LED color.
There you have it, the RETARDS of the world on fire for their proclaimed "personal preference" which is nothing more than an absolutely thoughtless regurgitation of the pop culture.
That's why "amd fanboyism" has been and is the scourge it is as well, too.
Ricadan - Sunday, March 3, 2013 - link
Why do you have to be such a damn supremacist? Just because some people may think blue LEDs on what is clearly an office-style case is ridiculous, that makes them a mindless sheep? Just because your opinions are different than what is popular, doesn't give you the right to feel superior. People have different opinions, deal with it.Also, why would you use the Fan LEDs to light the case up while assembling rather than just working in a well lit area?
Ilias78 - Friday, March 1, 2013 - link
He did a 10x times better cable management on that little case than you will ever do. Instead of criticizing the man, how about getting better at your work?ilihijan - Sunday, March 3, 2013 - link
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