V.5.0 APPENDIX G GENIE or FS020: WHICH IS BETTER Two of the best supermidtowers made are the Chenbro GENIE and the Lite-On FS020. Because of their basic similarity in size, fan usage, and cooling capability, there have been endless Forum discussions about which is better. What follows is my take on the issue. 1. Fundamentally, the two cases have similar characteristics--i.e., both are nearly identical in size, both have the midtower configuration for exposed bays with four 5.25 bays on top and two 3.5s in the middle. 2. Both are well equipped in standard form to be a supercooler, even though they use different fan configurations and are two different box designs. 3. While both are made to high quality standards of manufacture, there is no question but that the FS020 is the "highest" quality. In fact, in terms of manufacturing details--its metal finish, the quality of its stampings, assembly, the plastic in the bezel, on and on--make it simply the best overall quality box I have ever seen. The GENIE has only one real downside in this issue--its metal finish is not the 'SECC' spec, and as such it is one notch down. This appears to really be just an appearance issue, not one of long-term concern. 4. Here's the major difference between the two cases: case 'ergonomics'--i.e., the use of the case by its owner, and it covers such areas as ease of access and details of assembly/disassembly. Consider these characteristics: To get into a GENIE, do this: a. open (and optionally remove) the bezel by pulling on the left side and swinging it open. b. (if installed) remove two case screws at the front of the left side panel c. Pull the panel forward using the provided finger grip, tilt the top out, and lift up and off. d. optionally (if you got the Basic Mods), undo the six case screws securing the top and lift off. To clean the filter on a GENIE, do this: a. open the bezel by pulling on the left side and swinging it open, then lift it off its hinge pins. b. unclip the filter retainer on the bezel and remove it. To get into a FS020, do this: a. reach around to the back left side and unscrew the two thumbscrews securing it to the back. b. Now pull that panel back about 3/4" and lift it out slightly to remove it from the chassis. c. Undo the case screw at the back securing the crossbar, rap sharply on the left end to drive it down, then 'hinge' the right end out of its locating slots. d. If you want to remove the top, remove the front bezel (steps one through four under cleaning the filter, below) then e. Undo the four case screws securing the top, and lift the top off. To clean the filter that is inside the front bezel, do this: a. Undo a panhead screw just below the right side notch for the crossbar. b. Push out on the two tabs securing the bezel on the left side; c. reach around behind the 3.5 cage and undo the two on the right side. d. Maintain a contant pressure on the bezel to pull the left side and bottom out--and then lift it out and off the front. e. Unclip the filter frame to get to the filter media. It goes almost without saying that the GENIE is much easier to 'use' in day-to-day use. However, there are workarounds for the FS020 to make it easier--leave the crossbar out; it is not routinely needed. And, if the case is on your desktop, pulling the panel to the rear instead of to the front is almost a moot point. But if that case is under your desk, it's a major PITA. You should clean filters frequently when you are moving air through the cases in the volume these two cases allow you to. The effort needed to clean the FS020 filter is significant. Finally--and I write this after using an FS020 as my personal workstation for the past eight months--the FS020 is a dirty case IF your work environment is dirty. The two side intake panels are not filtered, and since the design of the case virtually precludes converting it to a positive pressure case dust and dirt are sucked into the case through those two side intakes. Thus, cleaning the standard bezel filter is needed to maintain maximum airflow through that filtered intake. My conclusion is that if you are NOT a tweaker--one who is in an out of his case frequently--then these access issues are not a signifant consideration-you could be happy with either one. But, assuming monthly filter cleaning (I do my filters at the same time I do the furnace filters in my house), cleaning that FS020 filter is bothersome to say the least because of the case ergonomics. (my FS020 in the Office LAN was on the floor under the desk). While there is no 'quasi-objective' scoring system developed yet for ranking cases, my own reaction is that the ease-of-access benefits of the GENIE outweigh its detriments one might assign to a lower quality chassis finish, and I personally weigh those 'ergonomic' issues as more important than a beautiful case. I say this not because I am a tweaker with the LAN systems, but because they are all under desks. (I can tweak all I want on the test bench cases.) In an automobile metaphor, I consider the GENIE to be a Corvette or a Ferrari; the FS020 is more like a Jaguar--or at least the Jaguars before FoMoCo got involved. Take your pick; I won't hesitate to sell either one to you. Jim H.
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