Asus TA-21, good enough for PC case?

[Talleen]

Asus has been active for some time in the field of PC case. However, there was far more likely to lower to medium price range of business focus. Now, with the Asus TA-21 a housing of the upmarket to the market and it appeals to ambitious players especially, place high demands on cooling and looks. The design is at first very successful and there are now on the many included fan with blue LED lighting. At this point is our thanks to Asus, who have provided us the sample.

• Material: aluminum chassis and outer shell
• Dimensions approx 484 x 202 x 530 mm (H x W x D)
• Weight: about 8.5 kg
• four 5.25" front drive bays, optional three 5.25" - and a 3.5" drive bay
• four bays for 3.5" hard drives
• a 120-mm LED fan in the front, two 120mm LED fan on side panel, three 120-mm LED fan in the lid (all without speed control) and a 120-mm rear fan (1,800 rpm with speed control)
• Motherboard form factors: ATX and Micro ATX
• two USB, one eSATA and two audio ports on the outside

Besides the usual screws and a user manual includes a right to the front panel for a 3.5" drive in the delivery.

[Rixwel]

The step in the class of higher-priced computer case with the Asus TA-21 succeeded well. The design, which is designed from the first moment to a high cooling performance coupled with elegant understatement, to be especially addressed gamers who are eager to provide their sensitive components with sufficient fresh air or the heated inside air as quickly as possible from the housing to carry out. Already in the front is clear that ASUS wants nothing to chance. The four panels of 5.25" drive bays can not, as usual, take out a click-system, but with two screws screwed from inside and remain so even reliable in their position when the case is once treated a little roughly. A Bonus is given by the panel for the top drive (to match the look) of brushed aluminum. The front of brushed, 2 mm thick aluminum already convinced at first sight. The drive bays, the front panel and the large opening for the 120mm LED fans are mounted in a silver frame. This is, contrary to first thought, however, does not plated or bonded, but there was a separate manufacturing process of a 45 ° machined, which is a flagship for the high quality workmanship in this area. The 120-mm LED fan is powered by a grille with fresh air.The cooling fins, which are on the whole lid, continues at the corners of the front. Perfect fit fitted into the cooling fins just mentioned, are in the top three 120-mm LED fan, which processed perfectly safe under the front grill is stowed. If the lid takes an additional cooling function remains to be seen during the test operation.

[Joko]

The side walls 1 mm thick aluminum are both extremely light and thus reduce the weight of the TA-21, however, seem a little shaky and not rest so tightly one on the chassis, as we would have liked a case of this price range. That these are not like the front is brushed to forgive, otherwise there is also an excellent processing found. In the left panel are two 120-mm LED Fan - encased in round hole mesh - affixed. The countersunk screws for attaching the fan complete the picture. In order to begin the very slight vibrations in the interior side walls at not rattle, they are covered in the places where they rest on the chassis, with a thin layer. At the back of the power supply in the upper part is attached, thus additionally drawn from the three 120-mm LED fan in the lid warm air from the interior and forwards them to the outside. The same task fulfilled including the attached 120-mm fan that does his work not as usual behind bars but a hole to the rest of optics matching black fan grill. In the lower area for up to seven expansion card slot. On the right side are also two hose bushings for connecting an external water cooling. Although they are interchangeable, but not solved so easily from the chassis as is the case in many other cases.

[Zeverto]

Except for the engagement of the side walls there are the external processing of the TA-21 no cause for criticism. It convinces with high quality manufacturing processes that do not work "as-the-shelf, however, be partly appreciated only by expert users. The front can be solved without much effort and the use of tools from the chassis so that they can be adapted to individual needs. Inside the TA-21 offers a good combination of black exterior walls, black plastic and silver interior design elements in aluminum. What is remarkable is the Main-board tray, which has some holes that serve not only to the weight of this housing to further reduce, but also facilitates the installation of some cable significantly. In the upper section sits a guide rail to the overall stability of the power supply. The existing seven expansion slots ensure the easy installation of enough expansion cards. The attachment is done without tools, for each of the (usually expensive cards) with thumb screws can be reliably fixed to the chassis. Negative is noticeable, however, that the aperture of the slots can only be removed permanently. These are welded-off and must be broken to install a card out. Annoying, if at some point, not all broken slots are needed. In the front room has two separate hard drive cages, which can record disks. The 3.5", two 3.5 versions can be attached without tools, but unfortunately, only without decoupling. For smaller versions are in the bottom of the receiving holes to tighten them.

[Fragman]

Sophisticated seems the division of the hard drive cages, so the air flow in the front of the attached 120-mm LED fan makes it easier, thus achieving even further back in the housing positioned components. Looking more closely, if small air vents on the outer sides of the hard drive cages. This clever idea further cool air reaches the storage media. In all four 5.25 "drive bays, the principle of tool-less installation. About a sliding mechanism to CD, DVD and Blu-ray drives can be fixed in position. Adorn a few centimeters, the three aforementioned 120mm LED fan the sky of the Asus TA-21. Intelligent solved here is that they sit inside behind grille and thereby ensuring that cable from power supply or drives do not get caught in the blades of the fan and cause damage. In criticism it is simply that the last of the three fans in the lid to about 50 percent of the power supply is covered. In the very short distance between power supply and fan of about 12 mm, it can get annoying too unpleasant air turbulence. Since the rear fan is mostly covered and at this point the power supply also conveyed the warm air from the case, it would have been any sense to dispense with this fan.

[Quattro]

The delivery of the TA-21 are only seven 120-mm fan, six of which illuminated with blue LEDs. However, exactly these six fans must each be connected via a separate 4-pin power connector to the power supply. Since current power supplies come quickly to its limit and it is necessary to craft a customized solution. Also, a fan control there does not help, since they are common in general only on the 3-pin fan connectors. Especially here we would have preferred a more elaborate solution, even if only as the possibility would have been to bring all fans of a two-sided coupling in series. From the factory, the buyer has nothing in its hand. When installing some sharp edges inside the case were to (like the panels of the expansion slots on the back or the edges of the hard drive cages). The lower of the two cages varies when connecting or disconnecting the cable for the hard drives much back and forth, then we would have hoped for from a housing in this price range much higher.

[spuff]

The temperatures were measured while the system is running the 3DMark Vantage as a continuous loop. The volume measurements were made with a "V Craft Digital Sound Level Meter 320" carried out measures the sound level in the range of 30 to 120 decibels. The overall volume of the measuring room was subjectively perceived silence below the measurement range, ie less than 30 decibels. It operates the 120-mm LED fan to 7 V or less, their noise level is low. Then find a minimal loops, only the gentle air flow can be perceived. The 120-mm fan without LED on the back of the whole heard much differently, which reflects some assessment. To 12 V and at about 1,800 rpm developed a fan of this background noise, which is unparalleled. Then an annoying hum and strong air turbulence can be heard. Although the fan provides extreme air flow, but it stands out even in the noise from the remaining fans from the TA-21. Even at 7 V, it is still clearly visible.

[Benito]

Those who have something to look closely at the 4-pin connectors on a power supply, knowing that there is both a 12V and a 5-V line. In general, the 12-V-line yellow and the 5-V line red. The two black lines are the negative poles. Now you can build a parallel circuit through a terminal block and connect the cable there, the six 120-mm LED fan. Alternatively then, the fans with 12 V or can be operated at 5 volts. The rear fan should preferably be connected to the motherboard and controlled via software. Additionally, it is still possible to provide all fans with vibration isolators, so that no vibrations are transmitted more to the chassis. Besides the option to connect an external water cooling the Asus TA-21 near-ideal conditions to incorporate a water cooling. A dual radiator, as already mentioned, are mounted on the lid. Whom this is insufficient, which in addition to some material also provide a second dual radiator on the fan in the side with fresh air.

[Elijah2010]

The reservoir takes place in one of the four 5.25 "drive bay space and the pump could easily instead of the lower hard drive cage install chain-plate. This is needed only from the bottom four rivets and then you can lower hard drive cage removed. Since inside many smooth, continuous surfaces are found to provide the Assembly with insulating materials Although the side walls are not very firmly to the chassis and engage the TA-21 is about 8.5 kg with relatively light in comparison to its size, bend the fabric layer on the sidewalls and the vibration-damping feet unpleasant surprises before. The possibility to install a side window in this case is a double-edged sword. So go either lost the two 120mm LED fan in the side wall, or if they are to continue to do its job, take away precious space.

[Efigenio]

The possibility to install a side window in this case is a double-edged sword. So go either lost the two 120mm LED fan in the side wall, or if they are to continue to do its job, take away precious space.

A solution of this conflict, it is possible to change the position of the fans something. You could, for example, moved from a vertical to a horizontal arrangement and are attached at the bottom. On this occasion, they can also, like the fan in the lid to be installed in close proximity to each other so as to improve the conditions for a second Dual radiator. Is to remain discreet appearance of the side wall, one could dispense with a side window and instead - repurpose one of the two hard drive cages at an exchange framework - with little effort. Since the aluminum of the side wall and precise cut can be extremely easy, you can in a hard drive cage with piano hinge a small door built and fits perfectly onto the back of the hard drive cage with a small plate and an angled SATA data and power cable caddy create one.

[Ransom]

The Asus TA-21 is a successful mid-tower upmarket. He impresses with his largely high-quality finish that is very appealing design, the extensive scope of supply and not least by his generous interior space. The cooling capacity for high-end components suitable. A clear criticism of the housing of the fan is annoying to 12 V at the back of the case. A noise of almost 50 dB, we think much too high. Who likes it so softly do well to replace it with a quieter fan. Also fell to negative, that the remaining six case fan only has a separate 4-pin connector could operate - even here there is in most cases probably be done by the buyer. Otherwise, the price of around 130 € seems legitimate, and with one or the other extra € can be the high potential (especially in terms of vibration damping) to exploit further.