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Chieftec has always been a good but overly conservative computer case manufacturer. Either she was afraid of experiments, or she had no time to change and update production lines, but there were very few new products on the market, and running models were sold unchanged for decades. Sometimes Chieftec branded other people’s OEM cases, as, for example, in the case of the Dragon DX-02B, and sometimes even went to extremes. The recently tested SJ-06B is a clear confirmation of this. Therefore, when I saw the GP-01B-OP live, I was pleasantly surprised. It really turned out to be similar to a completely modern computer chassis, not boring, but not overly progressive in appearance. Let’s take a look at what it really is.
Characteristics
| Model | Chieftec GP-01B-OP |
|---|---|
| Product page | chieftec.eu |
| Type of shell | Midi-Tower |
| Dimensions, mm | 528 (H) x 210 (W) x 575 (D) |
| Material | ABS plastic, steel, acrylic |
| Weight, kg | 9,2 |
| Color | Black |
| Form factor | E-ATX, ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX |
| 5.25″ devices | 2 |
| Devices 3.5″ external | – |
| Devices 3.5″ / 2.5″ internal | 4 / 2 (2.5″ drives can be installed instead of 3.5″) |
| Supported number of expansion slots | 7 |
| Fans | front – 1 x 80mm / 3 x 120mm / 2 x 140mm / 1 x 180mm / (2 x 120mm installed) rear – 1 x 120 mm (installed) upper – 2 x 120 / 140 mm (optional) |
| Interface connectors | 2 x USB 2.0, 2 x USB 3.0, mic in and headphone out |
| Other | Transparent side panel, top, front, and bottom removable dust filters, six-fan speed controller, 7-color backlit front connectors, video adapter support stand |
| Recommended cost, $ | 100 |
Packing and scope of delivery
A simpler case package than this one has not come across to me in the last couple of years. On its front and back there is only the name of the manufacturer, the series and an extremely schematic image of the product contained inside. Even on the sidewalls there is nothing but short information about the logistics. Damage protection is standard – two foam dampers and a plastic bag. All glossy surfaces and the transparent side panel are covered with adhesive films.
A set of parts for the case is assembled in a transparent polyethylene “beauty bag” that closes with a zipper. Here were found:
- short instruction on external connectors of the case;
- eight-pin collapsible braided processor power cord (300 mm long);
- three cable ties;
- diagnostic speaker;
- an adapter for a Phillips screwdriver for mounting motherboard racks;
- 12 motherboard racks;
- 17 case screws (suitable for mounting a video card, PSU, motherboard);
- eight small screws for fixing 2.5″ and 5.25″ devices.
Appearance
The first thing that catches your eye in the appearance of the Chieftec GP-01B-OP is the abundance of glossy beveled edges and a mesh front panel. Its metal lattice is stamped in the form of honeycombs and contains many small holes.
The entire lower part of the grille is a removable dust filter, consisting of foam rubber, laid between a metal mesh and a plastic insert. To remove it, you need to press the panel at the top in the middle, thereby releasing the lock. Behind the filter, a large-mesh grille is visible, on which two built-in 120-mm blowers are pre-installed.
There are two 5.25″ device port covers on the top of the front panel. Moreover, if the lower one is fixed motionless, then the upper one is a spring-loaded door, which will be opened by the DVD-ROM drive drawer when you press the button in the lower right corner of the stub. Thus, whatever the appearance of the drive, the integral design of the case is not disturbed by any extraneous inclusions.
The panel of external interfaces, which is located on the beveled front edge between the top and front panel, looks very saturated. Two strips of transparent plastic on top and bottom are colored LEDs. The top row contains two pairs of USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 connectors, as far as possible from each other, and between them there are two 3.5 mm audio ports for a microphone and headphones. A large round power button with a white LED backlight is installed on the right. The smaller round key on the left is responsible for rebooting the system, and it is followed, in order, by exactly the same backlight control button, and two keys of the built-in fan controller. When you press Fast, all connected fans are supplied with 12V, and if you press Slow, then 7V. All propeller speed settings and LED colors are remembered and remain unchanged on the next reboot. Above the ports in front there is a recess in the form of a plastic corrugated platform, on which you can put any little things or gadgets for convenient charging from USB ports.
The most interesting part of the exterior design of the case is its left side panel. It is made entirely of tinted plexiglass and has a good view of the interior of the chassis. It seems that these doors are a new trend in the industry, since I come across such models more and more often.
The thickness of the acrylic from which the door is made varies from 2 mm at the edges to 3 mm in the central part. This design looks strong, but I would not recommend checking it for strength once again. The door has a handle at the back for easy dismantling, is held on by two plastic knurled screws and is removed by sliding backwards.
The left side door is flat and solid. It also has a stamped handle on the back and two thumb screws.
Correct stiffening ribs and metal thickness make the right side panel strong enough and resistant to deforming loads.
The top panel consists of glossy edging with beveled edges, a matte plastic pocket on the front, and a ventilation grille on the back.
By pressing the front part of the grille, it can be easily removed and provides convenient access inside. On the reverse side, foam rubber is also laid. Two 120mm or 140mm fans can be mounted on the slide underneath this filter.
From the back, everything is pretty standard. At the top there are two blanks for ¾ ″ CBO hoses, a little lower there is a ventilation grill for an exhaust 120 mm fan, seven expansion slots closed with disposable ventilated plugs and a power supply seat that allows you to orient it with the propeller both up and down.
The bottom of the case is covered with two metal meshes of dust filters.
Removing and installing these filters for cleaning is frankly inconvenient. To get normal access to their guides, the case will have to be laid on its side. And the overall effectiveness of such a solution in dust trapping is extremely doubtful.
There are three groups of vents behind the filters. The rear one is used to ventilate the power supply, and the two front grilles provide air access to the drives installed in the lower baskets.
The legs are made of glossy plastic with rubber non-slip stickers on the bottom. Their height is 30 mm, which is more than enough for normal ventilation of the chassis and, in particular, its power supply.
Now let’s evaluate the interior of the case.
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