  V.5.0 Addtronics 7896-120-90 (ET7896A)  THE FIRST WTX CASE READILY AVAILABLE. This case is "the OEM version of the Supermicro 750-760." There may be argument about which version is case or model is best, but the Addtronics version has a noticably superior lower front intake setup. Note that there have been at least two versions (and two variants in each version) of this case. The original version, variant one (no longer available) had a three 80 fan cages in a straight line in the lower front; the second variant had the upper left lower front fan offset to the left, directly in front of the HD internal hanger. I call this version the 7896-80. I still have a few of the 7896-80s left, and it is this version that will be the quietest unmodified setup when equipped with P80L1As, or quieter than the 7896-120-90 with some appropriate modifications to meet your system needs. The second version began with the new lower front 120 fan mount, venting in the case upper back, and a louver in the floor under that upper back 5.25 HD mount . Addtronics began manufacturing this case with a 60 backboard fan mount, then made a running change to a backboard with a 90 mount I now have only the latter version, what I call the 7896-120-90. The case is one of the best coolers out there, particularly so when properly configured with fans. Further, it is big enough to meet the needs of almost any buyer, but its internal HD hangers are a bit limited. Although it comes equipped with one 2HD hanger, if you plan on two 3.5" HDs ALWAYS GET THE 3HD HANGER--that will allow space between two HDs for good ventilation. (3HD hangers may not always be in stock, so buy them when you can.) In the past few months, we have sorted two new ways to expend the internal HD space--see modifications 7 and 8 in the list that follows. SIZE: 26.3" actual case height, 8.5" wide x 17.7" deep.; Caster Height: standard casters, about 28.5"; luxury casters, about 29.5" Luxury Casters require an installation width of 14" at maximum swivel. DRIVES - exposed: one - 3.5; six - 5.25; hidden: two - 3.5 standard, one 5.25, and room for another 2 or 3 on a second HD hanger. FANS MOUNTS - lower front: one 120x25 fan mounted in LCH/fan cage, one 80 cage at HD hanger. 5.25 drive column: two 80 mm. fan cage on each side. Above PS: one 80 mm. fan cage Backboard: on 7896-80, 60mm; on 7896-120-90, 90 mm. direct. CPU fan bracket: one 80 mm. direct mount. In other words, a total of ten fan mounts on the 7896-80, and nine on the 7896-120. 7896 MODIFICATIONS. Modifications that are good payoffs initially include direct mounting (with or without punching) and using grommets. A VERY good modification to include is to punch out the HD 80 lower front intake fan with a 90 or 120 punch and install a Panaflo 90 or the JMC 120. That will noticably increase the airflow in the lower section as well as increase cooling capability. In order of benefit and value, here's a list of Modifications for the x896-series cases. 1. Lower Front Panaflo 120 Fan installation: To install a P120 in the lower front the factory LCH/Fan Cage has to be abandoned, mounting holes have to be drilled, and a 120 Fan Guard installed. In the last catalog I specified a 'basic' upgrade that consisted of drill mounts only (no punches) for the LF120 and HD80. However, that 'basic' really didn't have as good payback as it could have--drilling mounting holes is $5.00 but punching and drilling mounting holes is $10.00. In other words, for $10.00 more and the fan price changes, one could have holes punched as well and the return value increases significantly. Further, the 80 drill mount at the HD fan cage doesn't work very well--there are simply too many holes for the Addtronics fan cage to drill 80 holes neatly. The current 'drill only' mod for the HD80 is to drill mtg. holes for a 90--the factory 80 grill is a bit small but it still works ok. 2. HD80 fan upgrade: This fan mount can be upgraded to a 90 or a 120, and we have even sorted out a dual-80 upgrade here for multiple HD installations---punch out the factory grill, drill 90 mtg. holes and install grommets, and install a 90 c/w 90 finger guard. Cost varies by fan size and model. 3. Grommet installation: all needed mounts--the lower front (LF) 120, LF HD80, above-PS (APS) 80 on the 7896, and the backboard (BBd) 60 or 90--$3.00 ea, $12.00 total. 4. Punch all three/four factory chassis grills: drill mounting holes as needed. 5. Remove 5.25 drive column fan cages and drill 90 mounts: This modification does away with the fan cages, thus eliminating one of four 'layers' of obstruction for good airflow. Generally recommended as a way to cool the 5.25 devices or to set up the case well for positive pressure. Grommets are no longer offered here, but metal mesh filters are. Note that the MMFs will make the door bulge slightly--it still latches, and IMHO is not sufficiently noticable to ignore the benefits of a filter on another intake fan. 6. Cut out the vent in the floor in the Upper Back 5.25 HD mount and install a TT-900 there. The TT-900 is an exhaust-only dual 90 fan package in a 5.25 form factor box; it has an exhaust grill on the front, and twin 90 intakes on the bottom. Here's a link to a review of it: The use of a TT-900 in that upper back 5.25 HD mount is the key to making these cases into a high-powered hotrod--with its nominal 70+ cfm exhausting, one can go to high-output fans in the lower front and/or on the drive column and still have balanced airflow and/or positive pressure. Four hundred cfm total flow is possible using only low-noise fans! 7. Install a Chenbro NET HD cage above the PS for internal installation of four HDs. We figured out this one shortly after the first of the year--the cage fits perfectly, and is an excellent solution for those of you who want/need a tall tower with good internal HD capacity. 8. Install HD extensions on the 2HD hanger for internal expansion in the lower section. This is a second approach to HD expansion that gets around the use of the back HD hanger for more HDs. These extensions are about to be prototyped, and will be available in the near future--you will be able to install up to FIVE HDs in that lower front hanger. 9. Punch blowholes, intake or exhaust, in the left side or top. As you may know, we don't recommend these, but they do look just as sexy as dice on the rearview mirror or raccoon tails on the antenna. We'll do them if you want them, but only after I argue with you about it. 10. Windows - coming soon! INTERIOR DETAILING: It is relatively easy to do good detailing with standard data cables on this chassis. If the motherboard connectors are in the typical ATX right front location, simply bend the cables over in ninty or forty-five bends to lay them flat against the right side of the case, and run them up the right side on top of one another. The floppy is on the bottom, so to speak, and runs all the way to the top. Next come the cables for the 5.25 drive bays, and finally the HD cables going to the internal HD hanger(s). They are tied down flat and, with some careful bending and creasing, they will be completely flat against the right side, simply branching out to reach the device connector. 7896 PRICING 7896-120/NONE:  --case, one 120x25 and one 80 factory fan, NO PS - $127.007896-120/Quiet Version --SkyHawk 300w. PS, No mods, Panaflo & JMC fans - $204.00 7896-120/RECOMMENDED: -- punches and Panaflos, grommet installation--about 112 cfm in and 90 out; offers quieter performance and increased efficiency. $274.00 Addtronics 6896 |
