| Hiper Anubis Mid Tower ATX Case HTC-1K614 |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Cases | |
| Written by Olin Coles | |
| Wednesday, 03 October 2007 | |
Hiper Anubis HTC-1K614Anubis is the name of the ancient Egyptian God of Death and the name of the 1st ATX case ever from HIPER. As expected, HIPER does not come up with something usual: the HTC-1K614 is entirely constructed out of high quality 3mm thick aluminium 6063 T5 alloy, weighing in at over 23 pounds! What makes the Hiper Anubis different to the other alloy cases is in the manufacturing process. All of panels are alloy welded together creating a much stronger structure to withstand over 220lbs compared to the cheaper riveting method, where the joint not only becomes a weaker point, but allows the entire structure to bend. The Anubis mid-tower ATX case comes pre-modded with a side window and is probably the only case with a window to pass EMI testing, so is perfect for gamers and hardware enthusiasts.
The HTC-1K614 has been designed with thermal issues in mind and the HUGE heatsinks on top of the case help dissipate the conducted heat from inside the case. HIPER even supplies a brush for cleaning dust out of them! The side panel assembly is completely tool-less/screw-less and the drive-bay mounting is also tool-free. A stylish top I/O function panel gives you comfortable usage. And even the most design oriented user will be convinced by the quality of the diamond laser cut trimming. An additional functional detail among others is the removable modular HDD rack with dedicated fan mount for optimized cooling. As a bonus there is a limited edition Anubis keyring supplied inside with the accessories. Anubis is both a cutting edge design and top-quality computer chassis for hardware enthusiasts and gamers. About the company: Hiper - High Performance GroupHigh Performance Group was founded in Milton Keynes/UK in 2001. Based on high-end marketing and technology expertise the company is now among the leading manufacturers of PC power supply units & connection cables, HTPC (Home Theatre Personal Computer), low profile thermal solutions, and Digital Connectivity cables for Consumer Electronics, now with 6 offices and 3 warehouses.
Most of HIPER's products are patented before their releases. Our concepts and designs are protected & backed by solid patents covering most major countries. We have no doubt that our Innovation & Invention will continue to be a significant force, providing dynamic growth for HIPER worldwide.
The brand name HIPER represents the cutting edge technology, quality, passion and entrepreneurial spirit of more than 250 employees throughout Europe, Asia and North America put in every single product that is shipped from own factories. Due to the close partnership with major IT-companies HIPER products represent the latest state of technology. And even the very top of the line HIPER product can be afforded with a student's week salary. Hiper Anubis Features
HTC-1K614 Specifications
Closer Look: Anubis ExteriorHiper (High Performance Group) is already very well known to computer enthusiasts and gamers alike because of their power supply product line. Hiper has built a name based on performance and quality above everything else, offering solid power and reliable components. Every single product released by Hiper has had meticulous attention paid to details which the competition usually ignores, and this tradition is evident in their latest venture into the computer chassis industry. Hiper may have extended their winning streak once again with the Anubis ATX mid-tower case.
For most intents and purposes, it would be safe to compare the Hiper Anubis mid-tower ATX case with the NZXT Adamas. Both are built to survive the harshest environments while still looking pretty. Because Aluminum is no longer the inexpensive metal it once was not long ago, there aren't too many manufacturers making 3mm thick cases with it. This reason alone will give the Anubis an edge in regards to overall appeal.
Designed with tall one-inch aluminum-alloy fins at the top, the Anubis HTC-1K614 will be great for the overclocker wanting to keep the contents inside cool. Each of these fins is finished in the same anodized black that the rest of the case, and the edges are all polished round so there are no sharp corners. Of course, with all of this heatsink surface comes a drawback for people like me who to stack papers on top of their computer. I suppose it's a bad habit anyway, but when desk space is limited you use what you can get; but that's going to have to change. Available from the top is the I/O panel interface, which offers unrestricted access to power and reset buttons. Midway across the top is the exhaust grill for the included 120mm cooling fan.
In the past year of operating my business I have had my hands on no less than fifty different computer cases, all designed and marketed for the hardware enthusiast and gamer. Even here at Benchmark Reviews, we already have articles on over a dozen such products ranging from HTPC enclosures to extremely simple cases. After working with so many different varieties and designs I have started to quickly categorize these products into different classes the moment I see them, which allows me to easily determine which demographic might appeal to a certain computer case.
I haven't revealed much of the case yet, and already I can tell that the Hiper Anubis mid-tower ATX case is going to be a hot ticket for hardware enthusiasts and gamers. Because the buttons are relocated to the top, I can take a more relaxed appreciation of the front bezel door for a change. The front bezel of the Anubis almost frames itself as modern art, thanks to the beveled edges receiving a mirror-finish. Hiper really deserves credit for making something so simple still pull off the look of elegance and add prestige to the HTC-1K614. From behind the mesh intake grill a single 120mm cooling fan looks like it's visible, but it's actually just a 120mm wire fan safety grill. It may seem odd to some readers, but it actually surprises me to see fans still included with high-end cases. Most consumers in this high-performance category already have their selection of fans in mind based on their goals and objectives, so included fans often get pulled out and go to waste. In the Anubis, all but the most necessary fans are left buyer-optional. This is why Hiper offers three different 120mm fans, among 19 total sizes and designs available in their product line.
At the rear of the Anubis mid-tower ATX case you can see that Hiper has consciously designed the HTC-1K614 with liquid-cooling enthusiasts in mind. It's my opinion that each and every case made from 2007 forward should have these soft rubber grommets in place, and thankfully Hiper agrees. A single exhaust fan can be mounted to the multi-size 80/92/120mm fan grill, based on your particular needs. Please continue on as we cover the detailed exterior features offered in the Hiper Anubis. Detailed Exterior FeaturesMost readers who are familiar with my case reviews are already aware of my personal disdain for front bezel doors. Unless it's a server, or a workstation in a secure environment, the front bezel door is almost a complete waste of material. In nearly all cases the power and reset buttons are hidden behind the bezel door, adding an extra step of inconvenience when trying to use your personal computer. However, since Hiper has placed these buttons at the top near the I/O ports, the front bezel plays a much smaller roll, similar to the trend other manufacturers have taken in cases like the Cooler Master Cosmos RC-1000 we recently reviewed.
The Aluminum-alloy front bezel door has magnetic plates which make it snap shut with a degree of noise. Adding some felt, foam, or rubber will help this become a non-issue. Also, Hiper seems to have forgotten to add a latch or handle, or at least some kind of groove in the side of the bezel door on the Anubis so it can be easily opened.
Shouldn't there be a fan here? Yes, there should be; and it's up to you to find the best one to fit your needs. The hard drive cage on the Anubis supports a 120mm cooling fan which screws in from the reverse side of the image above. If you decide to load your case with two exhaust fans (maximum supported without modification), the HTC-1K614 can utilize the negative inner-pressure to draw air over the drives without the additional fan. In all practical uses, this configuration would create the least amount of noise and still cool the drives adequately.
Hiper has designed a very convenient I/O panel atop the Anubis mid-tower ATX case. Included in the array of ports are two USB 2.0 ports, a microphone input jack, headphone output, and the often desired but seldom found audio input jack (which makes the HTC-1K614 the first case I have seen with this feature). eSATA is now supported on nearly all modern motherboards and seems to be catching wind, so I'm not entirely sure why it wasn't included. Additionally, the polished aluminum power and reset buttons are available without removing a door taking the Anubis to a higher level of convenience than the competition.
The side panel doors are both designed to give convenient tool-free and screw-less access into HTC-1K614. The service side panel has a window set into place, with a fine mesh grill positioned over the top.
Hiper has used clips on the Anubis side panels, borrowing from the successful design utilized in the NZXT Adamas. The deeper I get into this review, the more it appears that the Anubis has in common with the NZXT design. The exception here is that the Anubis does not support side panel fans, whereas the Adamas does (two 120mm fans to be exact).
Before I move on to the interior features, I should address some unique characteristics which first caught my attention while removing the HTC-1K614 from the packaging. To begin with, the moment I opened the box there was this huge piece of closed-cell foam protecting the Anubis. Set into the center of the packaging was a small accessory pouch, identical to those used by Hiper for their PSU accessory cables and connections. 
While the side panel doors may be screw-less, the rest of the Anubis is not. Hiper has included every screw and bolt you will need to secure fans, motherboard, and add-on devices to your system. Notice that there is also an interesting little key-chain branded with the Anubis logo along with a nice brush to keep the dust off the case. While the dust here in Nevada is unmanageable by anything less than weekly vacuuming, I found that the brush really worked very well dusting off my RatPadz XT Gaming Surface Mouse Pad. So now that you are more familiar with the outside of the Anubis, it's time to move onto the interior, where we will finalize our impression of the HTC-1K614. Closer Look: Anubis InteriorNow we can open the Hiper Anubis up, and see what lies inside this mid-tower ATX case. As we mentioned in the exterior details, opening the HTC-1K614 is as easy as pushing down the two levers on each latch at the corners of the panel door. The image below shows how the door easily pulls up and away from the chassis, allowing you to work on your system without tools or keeping track of screws.
Once you glimpse the naked interior, the simple design of the Hiper Anubis really becomes evident. I have mixed feelings about a black mid-tower ATX case which maintains a solid attachment to the same base color all around... until you reach the interior. Since the motherboard mounting panel is not removable, nor is it a slide out version similar to the Lian Li PC-B20A or Apevia X-Qpack 2 CM500, there really isn't any logical reason to make it stand out with the silver metal finish. Since the back panel of the HTC-1K614 is finished with the same silver color, it blends in well, but most motherboards will cover the tray completely. In the long run, the contrasting color may help you work to spot wires and cables in low light situations.
There are plenty of silver and black thumbscrews supplied with the HTC-1K614, which means that installing 5.25" and 3.5" devices is a twist away from completion. In some systems with several of optical and hard disk drives, all of the thumbscrews will become a tiresome chore. Since the Hiper Anubis mid-tower ATX case is something of a high-dollar high-performance specimen, I would consider it customary to expect high-convenience features on the inside as well as the exterior, similar to the mounting system in the Cooler Master Cosmos RC-1000.
Because of the nearly one-inch tall heatsink fans atop the Anubis, Hiper was able to countersink the 120mm exhaust fan flush with the ceiling of HTC-1K614 mid-tower ATX case. The solid welds securing each panel are buffed and level so that they are not easily detected, keeping fashion in step with function. Generally speaking there is plenty of working room inside the Anubis. However, larger video cards, especially those in dual sets, should be careful to position the hard drive between the two cards to avoid contact.
At the underside of the Hiper Anubis mid-tower ATX case are four removable feet identical to those used in the Zalman Z-Machine GT1000, NZXT Adamas, and Lian Li PC-B20A. They are very effective on top of tables and desks, or practically anything the soft rubber rings around the feet can adhere to. With the weigh of the HTC-1K614 approaching 24 pounds, this style of chassis feet works extremely well.
On the reverse "non-service entry" side of the Hiper Anubis, the backside of motherboard mounting panel gives evidence to a few passive cable management features. Using bands or zip-ties you can secure large cable groups to this panel and keep them from obstructing the panel door. Taking a second look at the drive cage rack, I think that a silver finish would have been perfect to match the other components. It seemed to work in the Adamas, so I am sure it could work in the Adamas, too. Final Thoughts: Hiper AnubisIt shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that the Anubis looks good. Hiper has a long-standing history or delivering solid performance with world-class design, and the HTC-1K614 is no different from the entire line of Hiper products in this regard. Although this case could easily fit into the tastes of practically everyone shopping for a new computer chassis, it would be a disservice to say that this is going to fit everyone's needs. The Anubis offers quality far beyond the expectations of consumers; and this is still stateing it lightly. Aluminum 6063 TS Alloy joined by solid welds and not rivets ensures that nothing is going to break this chassis down, short of a tank. Unfortunately, all that solid construction makes it as heavy as one, too.
Hiper HTC-1K614 ConclusionHiper has done a great job packaging, protecting, and marketing the Anubis. Exciting graphics and informative retail packaging help the consumers confidence in selecting this mid-tower ATX case from the bunch. If there was improvement to be made, it would be to use a glossy finish over the graphics to draw them out for an even bigger "wow" factor. This is a premium product after all. Black anodized alloy and mirror-finished accents make the HTC-1K614 stand out. The all-black finish may not appeal to everyone, but for those who approve the Anubis is going to keep its fashion friendly looks forever. The interior lacks some consistency, but does not directly detract from the appearance. Solid construction is part of Hiper's master plan for the Anubis. Structural welds increase chassis integrity far beyond rivets, making the HTC-1K614 among the strongest mid-tower ATX cases available. High marks were given for the impeccable construction built exactly as well as it was designed, from top to bottom. While a topic of some debate, having an enormous heatsink at the top of a computer case is not the best way to improve cooling performance. This practice assumes that there is enough heated air inside the case to rise to the top and make the heatsink functional to some measurable cooling capacity. It is my opinion that the best way to cool a case is to keep the heat from remaining inside; which can only mean extraordinary ventilation. In terms of functionality, the Anubis offers above average performance but misses out on the opportunity to add cooling fans or vents to the side panel or at the bottom of the case where they are often needed. Presently the Hiper Anubis mid-tower ATX case HTC-1K614 is listed on our price comparison tool for $169.99. While I don't see equal parts value and performance, or value and appearance, there are other who will. Obviously priced too high for a large segment of consumers, the Anubis will demand prestige at a price. In conclusion, the mighty Anubis mid-tower ATX case is destined to be a top pick among the less cost-conscious crowd of gamers and enthusiasts, as the pricing is well out of reach for system builders and casual users. The HTC-1K614 comes recommended to those who appreciate fine quality and demure looks, and aren't afraid to pay for them. Pros:
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