Kingwin K-11-BK-WM Aluminum Case

I don't know about you, but I love cases. It is the one piece of your PC that you can do the most with and truly "show-off" to the masses. Recently we have had the opportunity to start taking a look at a great case manufacturer that is really making a show for itself. Kingwin makes a variety of awesome aluminum cases for just about any type of user. I have the pleasure to take a look at the K-11-BK-WM from Kingwin and give you a rundown of what I think about it. Lets not beat around the bush anymore, get to reading!

Why don't we start off with the features and specifications taken directly from Kingwin's website.

Features:

• High quality aluminum-mg alloy case with 2 tone black/silver color design.
• Excellent cooling and performance.
• Clear acrylic glass front panel.
• Clear side window w/ led fan.
• 4 front USB 2.0 ports.
• 2 front audio ports.
• 1 front firewire IEEE 1394 port.
• 4 case fans w/ 1 quad led fan.
• Complete tool-less design.

Specifications:

The case has an awesome black paint job that I have fallen in love with. I have jarred, moved, scraped, and banged this case around already and have yet to notice a mark on it. Not only is the outside painted, but the entire inside of the case is coated with the exact same paint job. Very cool to say the least. The color really adds to the overall look and quality of the case. The coating is pristine and very well done. The front acrylic piece is a sharp add-on to the looks of the case also. It's easy to remove with the included thumb screws so getting your drives in and out while keeping the cover safe is a breeze.

The window on the side panel is a great window, but I believe it could be better without the "X" pattern. I understand that the center fan needs some support so the "X" is probably the best route to go, but this case would look even better with an unobstructed large window that covers most of the side of the case. Besides the window fan, the case also comes with two front mounted fans, and another case fan in the rear. Helping keep those temperatures down is a priority for Kingwin. I especially like the two fans in the front that help keep my coffee warmers known as hard drives cooler than normal. I haven't noticed an overall drop in temperatures in the case compared to others, but the fact that my hard drives are getting a little breeze and the case is staying plenty cool is a great thing.

"X" marks the spot!

The acrylic front is a great look for this case.

Looks like it was dipped in paint!

Motherboard mounts labled according to size.

Aluminum.....light, strong, and definitely the way to go with a PC case. I have had a number of PC cases in the past that felt like I was lugging a sofa around to LAN parties and the sort. The K-11-BK-WM is definitely an exception to the norm for me. I can pick this case up with one finger and a minimal sweat-less effort. So far so good, but what else does this case have to offer?

The case has an overall strong feel about it. The only frailty that I could find is the thin side panel with the window in it. When you take it off, make sure you place it aside where nobody can bump it or put their big foot through it. It is very light, and not unbreakable by any means.

Thumbscrews!! I love a case that is at least partially tool-less. The side panels are easily removed with simple thumbscrews. Now why is it that all case manufacturers are not doing this? Do they feel the need to make our lives more difficult? The less you have to use a screwdriver to open up your case, the better in my opinion. Score one for Kingwin on this issue. If you are paranoid that someone might sneak up on you and make off with some of your hardware, a simple padlock can be slipped on the side panel to keep those who think they can get a five finger discount on your stuff away.