Introduction
It seems more and more people these days a steering clear of, or moving away from full tower cases. On forums and on YouTube, I see more small form factor builds every day. However, there are some of us who would like a smaller form factor case, but need the features that AXT motherboards and full towers offer. Well, Anidees has us covered with their stunning AI7 Cube Case. Can a case that measures 288x380x380mmfit the hardware from say a Corsair 760T? That’s exactly what I attempted to do. Both myself and Proclockers would like to than Anidees for making this review possible. Now let’s see if I can cram the hardware of a full tower into this dual chamber cube and discover if smaller form factor cases can still work for a high end gaming rig or workstation.
About Anidees
“We bring a personal and effective approach to every project we work on, where ideas came from you.”
The story of Brand name anidees was from English first " an idea " but they play it to plural and it turns to " an ideas" but since the most ideas we collected for our product are from Europe. So they change idea to idee (German, Dutch, France), with plural form it turns to " anidees” Anidees is a design company. Their main focus is on product design and provide value add items to customers. Our slogan is " Ideas from you". Anidees aim is to be a brand and or company who listen to users and make " simple,elegant, and quality " products to their customers.
Specifications and Features
- AVAILABLE COLOR
- Black
- MATERIAL
- Steel (0.7mm) / Plastic + Mesh bezel
- DIMENSION (W / H / D)
- 288*380*380mm
- WEIGHT
- Weight: 6.35 kg / 14 lbs
- MOTHERBOARD TYPE
- M-ITX,M-ATX,ATX
- 5.25” DRIVE BAY
- 1
- Dive Bays
- 4 - 3.5”/2.5”
- 1 - 2.5”
- FRONT I/O PANEL
- USB3.0 x 2
- USB2.0 x 2
- Audio x 1
- Mic x 1
- EXPANSION
- 7
- RADIATOR/FAN SUPPORT
- Front:120mm blue led fan *4 (included) or 140mm fan*2 (optional) or 200mm fan*1 (optional)
- Rear:120mm *1 (included), 90mm*1 (optional)
- Top:140/120mm * 2 (optional)
- BottomL:120mm fan*1(optional)
- POWER SUPPLY
- Standard ATX PS2 up to 200mm (optional)
- MAXIMUM COMPATIBILITY
- Graphics Card Length:348mm
- CPU Cooler Height:174mm
- Cable routing behind MB tray:95mm
- MODEL & EAN CODE
- Standard Black version: AI-07BW
- EAN Code:6952093600343
- UPC Code:848043000348
Features
The AI7 from Anidees is a full ATX, compact chassis that focuses on cooling performance. Its dual chamber design divides hot running components, one chamber delivers cooler air to MB, CPU, GPU, another one for HDD and PSU. The AI7 comes with 4 blue LED fans in the front and has room for up to 4 more. The front panel can also support a 200mm fans instead of the 4 120mm fans. There are several ways to set up a custom water cooling loop in the AI7. This full ATC chassis has support for up to 3 240mm radiators and a single 120mm radiator. For air cooling, the AI7 supports 8 120mm fans and a single 90 mm fan. The AI7 has a single 5.25” bay, a single 2.5”, ands 4 3.5/2.5” drive bays. Underneath the 5.25” bay is the front IO. The front IO has 2 3.5mm jacks, 1 audio and 1 mic. It also has 2 USB 3.0 and 2 USB 2.0. There and mesh panel on the top and the front and air filters on the front panel, bottom and solid side panel, near the power supply. All unit shipped after 3/15/2015 were shipped with a fan hub and fan control switch.
Packaging and Closer Look
This is the box the AI7 comes packed in.
The AI7 comes packed in hard foam and wrapped in plastic
The hard foam helps to prevent damage while being shipped
Either side of the window comes with protective plastic
The AI7 comes is a very sturdy, black and silver box with the Anidees name and AI7 printed on the front and rear of the box. On the side is where you’ll find the complete list of specifications and convenient cut outs for carrying the rather compact box. When opened, you see the AI7 comes wrapped in plastic, and packed in hard foam on either side. The first thing I always look for with hard foam, is if it’s still intact. Usually, when hard foam is broken, it means the package could have been mishandled or even dropped. Hard foam is designed to take the brunt of the damage from impact. In this case, the hard foam wasn’t damaged, nor was the stunning, German designed chassis. Once out of the plastic and foam, you see that the side panel window has protective plastic on both the inside and outside. This helps prevent scratches in the case the box is damaged during shipping. Once the panel is removed, you’ll find the manual and motherboard screws in a plastic bag, attached to the front IO cables. However, there’s much more to a chassis than the packaging. Let’s take a closer look at the AI7, both inside and out.
Aside for the chassis, there’s not too much that comes packed in the box
A Closer Look - Exterior
The AI7 with the LED fans all lit up
The top down view of the AI7
The front IO panel, with 5.25” bay
The AI7 from Anidees is constructed from steel and plastic. Measuring 380mm x 288mm x 380mm, and weighing in at 5.9kgs (13lbs.) , it’s by far, the most compact, full size ATX case. The front panel of the AI7 has a single 5.25” bay directly above its front IO. The front IO of the AI7 consists of 2 x 3.5 mm jacks. One for a mic, and the other for audio. There are also 2 USB 2.0. One is on the far left, the other on the far right directly below the 5.25” bay. On the inside of each USB 2.0, are 2 USB 3.0 posts. Below the front IO is a very large mesh panel. This allows for air to be drawn in through the front by either 1 x 200mm fan, or up to 4 x 120 mm fans. The Top of the case also has a mesh panel. This panel can be removed for cleaning. Its main purpose is to act as a kind of dust filter. When removed, it exposes a spot for 2 additional 120mm fans. On either side of the chassis, there is a removable steel panel, one having a plastic window. Each panel measures 336mm x 368mm, or about 13.25” x 14.5”. One panel has a small vented section where the power supply is. Where the other has a plastic window so you can see inside of the case. The underside of the case has a small, removable dust filter underneath a spot for a 120mm fan on the inside of the chassis. There are also 4 round, plastic feet on the underside of the chassis. These feet make pulling out the dust filter very simple. Due to the fact that’s it’s a cube case, the rear of the case isn’t your average ATX case layout. The IO shield for the motherboard id near the middle and top of the rear panel. The rear panel has support for both a 120mm fan on the motherboard side, and a 90mm fan on the power supply side. The power supply in installed on its side, opposed to being either fan up or fan down. Although you could technically install it with the fan facing either in or out, its assumed and highly recommended to install it with the fan facing out. This way, the vented section lines up with the fan on the power supply, and you can utilize the magnetic dust screen. Over all, I’d say the AI7 is a great looking case on the outside. However, as PC builders and Enthusiasts alike, we know its what’s on the inside that matters. So now let’s get into the AI7.
The right side panel has a vented spot above the power supply
The rear of the case as it looks empty
This is the latch that locks the top mesh panel in place
This is the top view with the mesh panel removed
Here we see the see the front panel removed to expose the dust filter.
Here are the front view, rear view and the top view.
A Closer Look - Interior
The inside of the motherboards chamber
This is the top down view with the top mesh panel removed. You can install 2 x 120mm fans, 2 x 140mm fans or, with the hard drive sleds removed, a 240mm radiator.
The inside view from the back left corner shows off the inside of the front panel
Here we see the hard drive sleds above the motherboard tray
The rear exhaust can support either a 120mm fan or radiator
Like with all cases, I started by removing all the panels that can be removed. Once removed, the front panel reveals the massive, full cover dust filter covering the 4, 120 mm, blue LED fans that come preinstalled. The motherboard chamber does come with rubber grommets for cable management. However, in my build, they were covered up by the full size ATX motherboard. That being said, there is still ample room for cable management in this case. I do feel that this case was more designed with MITX or MATX boards in mind. I do love the fact that you’re able to fit a full ATX board in such a compact case. Above the motherboard tray are 2 x 3.5/2.5” drive bays. You can put 3.5” hard drives, 2.5” SSDs or hard drives, or remove them and install a 240mm radiator. The front panel has support for 2 x 240mm radiators, and the rear can support a single 120mm radiator. On the floor of the front, or motherboard chamber, there is also support for a single 120mm fan. However, I feel as if I could cram a single 120mm radiator in there too.
Now, we take a look behind the motherboard tray, or the rear chamber. The first thing I noticed was the way the power supply gets installed. In this case, it’s not fan up, or fan down. In the AI7, you install the power supply on its side, with the fan facing out. The right side panel even has a small vent with a magnetic dust filter that is right over the placement of the fan. Directly above the power supply is a hard drive cage. It holds a 2.5” drive on the outside of the cage and up to 2 x 3.5” or 2.5” drives inside of the cage. This cage also has a nice feature. It’s on hinges, and can swing open once a single thumb screw is removed. This is a great feature. The idea is to be able to access the rear of the motherboard. However, the cage just doesn’t open far enough. None the less, a great idea. Right behind the hard drive cage, there is a spot for a 90mm fan. In theory, this could help to cool down the hard drives.Another great feature, that not enough companies implement, are the cable management loops on the rear of the motherboard. These little loops can make or break the aesthetic of a build. I feel they are necessary to a clean build. On the floor of the rear chamber, there is a fan hub, controlled by a 3 speed switch on the rear of the case near the 90mm fan slot, 5, 7, and 12 volts. This fan hub holds 6 fans and came in very handy. Especially since my board only had 4 fan headers and the case has 8 fans installed. With the front panel having all 4 fans drawing air in, then the top, bottom and rear exhausting air, this case has perfect airflow with plenty of fresh air to the graphics card.
This is what the rear, or power supply chamber looks like with the panel removed
Here is the hard drive cage on the rear of the motherboard tray.
Here we see the hard drive caddies and the fan hub in the rear chamber
Build and Installation
For my build in the AI7, these are the components I used
- Asus Z97-A/USB 3.1 Motherboard
- Intel I7 4790k at 4.8ghz @ 1.372 volts
- Lepa EXllusion 240 AIO Cooler w/ Corsair SP120s
- 32gbs of Corsair Vengeance DDR3 4 x 8gb
- RM850 with white sleeved cables
- EVGA GTX Titan X SC
Even with the AI7 being a rather compact case, the 8 120mm case fans help to promote excellent airflow and great temperatures. My 4790k, running at 4.8 ghz @ 1.372 volts idles at 24°c. Even at 100% load, never went over 67°c, cooled by my Lepa EXllusion 240 AIO cooler.That’s 3°c cooler on the ambient temp and 2°c cooler on the load temp than in my 760 T. The extra room in the rear chamber made cable management a breeze. Especially with the sleeved cables, I was able to route and pack all the cable in the rear chamber and still be able to make them neat and clean. I would however, likes the front IO cables to have been a bit longer. But honestly, that’s just nit picking. While building in the AI7, you can tell that a great amount of though and attention to detail when into the engineering of the case. For example, there is a small area where the CPU cable can be routed and nothing gets in its way, nor does it get in any other wires ways. Its little things like that that stand out and are appreciated by builders and enthusiasts a like. Nothing is worse than having to run cable where they’re not meant to be. They can prevent panels from closing correctly as well as other issues.
The view with the side window panel off
Even though the board went to the floor, there was more than enough room to work
The 240mm AIO first perfect in the front of the chassis and still looked good.
Even with the radiator in the front, I was able to fit a Titan X with room to spare.
There is plenty of room for cable management in the AI7
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
If I learned one thing reviewing this case, it’s that you no longer need a full tower chassis to fit a large amount of hardware. When shopping for cases, I’ve always looked into full cases that support EATX motherboards. However, the AI7 from Anidees has shown me that it’s not necessary. I was actually able to achieve better temperatures in the AI7 than I did in my 760 T. With mora and more people downsizing these days, the Anidees AI7 is a great deal, especially at the price of only $99.99 on Newegg. The combination of the price, quality, beauty and ease of building in the AI7, I award the Anidees AI7, the Proclockers “Best Value” award. I have personally ever built such a clean, organized build in such a small case. I’m very proud to have the AI7 now sitting on my desk. If you’re looking for a smaller case that sacrifices nothing but desk space, do yourself a favor and pick up an AI7 from Anidees.
Likes
- Excellent Airflow
- Beautiful Design
- Easy to Work With
- Great for Cable Management
- Plenty of Radiator Support
Dislikes
- None
