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Mountain Mods U2-UFO Case
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Author:
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Mikki
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Type:
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Review |
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Subject:
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U2-UFO Original Top Case
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Article Date:
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March 4, 2005 |
About the U2-UFO
The first part of the U2-UFO's name comes from the fact that earlier versions of the case were formed primarily
from two U-shaped panels. The bottom "U" formed the front, bottom and back of the case, the top "U" formed the
sides and top. The second part of the name came partly from the nickname of the person who purchased the first
case, his name is "UFOkillerz". This first case, completely hand-built, was loaded with lights and fans and was
referred to as a "UFO". I found this interesting because it showed Mountain Mods' commitment to their customers.
Mountain Mods' design objectives for the U2-UFO were to design a case with a large amount of space for different configurations.
A large media storage potential, massive air volume capability, unobstructed air flow, water cooling readiness,
high quality and good looks were all on the list of design requirements.
The U2-UFO comes in three main forms. The first is the "3 Big Window" version, which differs from the one in this
review in that the top of the case is the same as the sides…one big window. The second is the feature of this
review, called the "Original Top". It comes with two big windows on each side, a smaller window on top, and two
120mm fan cutouts on top as well. The third version is the "Solid Top", which has no windows or cutouts in the
sides nor the top. I chose the "Original Top" mainly because I wanted the fan cutouts.
The case also comes in three gorgeous flavors: brushed aluminum, black powder coat and red powder coat.
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A nicely etched cover
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Who Is This Case For?
It would be much easier to list who the U2-UFO isn't for. This case isn't for those who would be sickened by the
price tag. I justified the price to myself and, for the most part, to my wife. There are plenty of people who
would not even consider this case due to it's price tag, regardless of how good it is. This case is also not for
those who don't care about their case, but that goes back to price because they certainly won't pay that much money
for something they don't care about.
So who is this case for?
--People into watercooling. The U2-UFO is fully WC ready, with both the space and cooling to accommodate a WC setup.
--Overclockers. This case has the versatility to use a great range of fan setups.
--Modders. For folks who are looking for a good case to serve as a base for their modding plans, this case is for you.
--People into visuals. Both beautiful and impressive, this case would be good for those looking for a case for visual appeal.
--People into space. For those of you like me who want loads of space, this case is definitely for you.
--People looking for a server case. For folks looking for a large case with lot's of room and good cooling, this case is for you.
--People who are different. For those of you looking for a case with a bit more originality than most other cases, this case is for you.
The Price
The U2-UFO as reviewed here cost $349.99. I know a lot of people will be alarmed at that price, and I must
admit I almost hit the Back button on my browser when I saw that, but I'm a firm believer that (for the most
part) you get what you pay for. And so I kept reading.
One of the other cases I was considering at the time currently sells for $240. It's an aluminum server case, with
most of what I wanted. Although it certainly had the capacity for components that the U2-UFO has, it lacked the
space. It's one thing to be able to install a load of drives into a case, but it's another thing to have the space
to route cables and still keep airflow unobstructed…not to mention having space to work in. Other things which
justified the cost of the U2-UFO in comparison to other cases were removable trays, excellent cooling and a certain
degree of originality.
This case is one of the most expensive in the U2-UFO line. The "Solid Top" model costs $319.99, and if you go with
the non-powder coat model it's $30-$50 cheaper. In the end, it still comes down to getting what you pay for and
also personal preference. My decision when considering the U2-UFO was that I was getting what I wanted for a fair
price.
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