Hive Logix mini-ITX Case Review

These days when it comes to technology and hardware, it seems everyone wants things to be smaller. Whether it’s due to space constraints, potential cost savings, or in some attempt to be kinder to the environment. Whatever the reason, the market is becoming flooded with low power and compact hardware. Netbooks and iPads will be as ubiquitous as ever for the foreseeable future. Yet, despite motherboard and hardware manufacturers putting out smaller and smaller components, one segment of the market looks to be under-served. Case manufacturer PC Design Labs has recently launched branding under the Hive Logix name, and aims to change that.

PC Design Labs earned it’s solid reputation a few years back with it’s innovative and hardware friendly Qmicra case, which has been constantly refined to it’s current state. A lot of that refinement has come from user input, as founder Dave LaLopa is constantly listening to the community. After all, there’s no better quality control accounting, than from a person who’s spent their own hard earned money on one of your products.

With a solid and successful case design in the Qmicra, and a newly developing market, Hive Logix has introduced a new mini-ITX case. That new case is the product I’ll be reviewing today.

This case is designed with a variety of possible applications. Home/business computing, HTPC/NAS, and commercial/industrial settings would all provide a great use for this little box. Before I get into the case unboxing itself, let’s take a look at the case specs.

Designed and produced by PC Design Lab, this versatile Hive Logix mini-ITX case has two external 3.5″ bays to install any combination of desktop/laptop hard drives, hot swappable bays and multi-function bay devices. Its dual 60x25mm fans, front to back airflow and support for stock Intel heatsinks means it can cool the latest high performance hardware so you can build the smallest most powerful mini-systems with this one of a kind enclosure!

Specifications

• Mainboard: mini-ITX w/ Standard I/O Panel
• Power Supply: Pico PSU (Sold Separately)
• Drive Bays: (2) 3.5″ External Bays
• Storage: Up to (2) 3.5″ or (4) 2.5″ HDD
• Cooling: (2) 60x25mm Fans (Not Incl’d), Stock 1.875″ [48] Intel Heatsink/Fan Supported
• *Heatsink compatibility list can be found here in our forums.
• Mounting: Adhesive Rubber Feet and Removable L-Brackets for Attachment to Most Surfaces Provided
• Construction: 0.040″ Aluminum w/ Durable Powder Coated Finish
• Dimensions: 12.50″ [318] W x 2.75″ [70] H x 8.75″ [222] D
• Weight: 2 lb [0.91 kg]

Up next, the unboxing…