Anidees AI5S Case Review

The Build and Cooling

Before we get to the build stage the first thing we always do is strip the case down completely as this allows us to get a better idea of what we can do with it, along with giving vital clues as to the quality of the product.  In this case, there’s really only the front panel to remove, doing so provides us access to the front air filter, which like the one on the top is magnetic and easily removed. 

  

 

With the top filter removed we can see that as suspected there are a multitude of rad mount options up here.  There also appears to be a fantastic off-set to throw things clear of the Motherboard.  We’ll have to wait and see what’s actually possible, but we’re hoping for greatness.

  

 

The AI5S is pretty easy to build into, even if the instructions are only printed onto both sides of a bit of A4 paper.  We were a little worried about the absence of rubber grommets, but are pleased to say we like the effect given by the method chosen.  If we’re even more honest, part of actually prefers the look of this to rubber grommets.  If air cooling’s still your thing then any cooler up to a height of 175mm will fit just fine.

  

 

And so to the water cooling.  Looking at the front of the case first, we already know it will take 240 and 280mm rads.  What the spec sheet doesn’t tell you though is how thick you can go.  Whipping the tape measure out tells us that there’s 125mm of room before you hit the edge of the motherboard, in reality though the cables are what’s going to get in the way, that said, there’s still a good 100mm of unhindered space to be had. As a bit of an example we’ve popped our 40mm thick rad in there with a push pull set up, just to show you there’s still room to spare.

  

 

Thanks to the offsets, you can also get the same 240mm rad set up in the roof.  It’s not going to be quite so easy with a 280mm rad, but hey, a thick 240 in the roof, and a thick 240 in the front is fine by us.

  

 

Using the outer most off-sets enables the rad and fans to fir, and still gives us 10mm of space over standard height RAM.  Obviously if you’re running taller RAM you’re going to have to do you maths, but on the whole most things are going to fit just fine.