Global WIN YCC-61F1 Server Case

“It’s simply better than any other case I’ve ever used” – Tom Akita

The Global WIN YCC-61F1 Case originally piqued my interest with its refreshing cooling design: two 120 mm fans, one intake in the front of the case, and one exhaust at the back of the case. After tinkering with the case and installing my hardware into it, however, the innovative fan configuration was simply a prelude to the creative modernization of the rest of the Aluminum and Stainless Steel YCC-61F1.

Okay, the front bezel of the YCC-61F1 may be a little dated, but it’s not ugly by any means. I’m not sure Global WIN chose to use a plastic face plate on a brushed aluminum case, but a representative there assured me that Global WIN’s design team was hard at work on a new faceplate design to replace the current 61F1’s aging mug.

This case’s current faceplate has the standard power and reset buttons along with a power LED and 2 HDD LED’s. The extra LED was obviously added for use with servers, but is equally useful in any desktop system with two hard drives.

Hidden behind the hinged door on the right side of the 61F1’s front bezel are two USB ports and one of the cases more innovative features, an expansion slot.

The YCC-61F1 also comes with one of the coolest looking plastic windows I’ve ever seen:

Unlike other more conventional windows that are cut into the side panel of a case, Global WIN’s window is the side panel of the case! The fact that the entire window is plastic makes it fragile, however: initially, our sample window was cracked during shipping, but Global WIN was nice enough to send us a new one right away.

An innovative exterior isn’t worth the ~$150 it costs to buy a 61F1 if the inside of the case isn’t equally as creative. Fortunately, Global WIN’s aluminum wonder is filled with refreshing innovation and creativity.

The 61F1’s 4 x 5.25″ and 7 x 3.5″ (2 external, 5 internal) aluminum drive cages are sturdy (no flexing) and fit their respective drives very well. Both 3.5″ drive cages can be removed to improve airflow and salvage extra space in this continent-sized case. The 6 external drive bays have aluminum “punch-outs” that can be removed effortlessly and without leaving behind sharp, dangerous metal extrusions.
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One of the 61F1’s most noticeable features is its dual 120 mm fan cooling system. The reasoning behind this setup is that larger fans have the capability to push more air at lower speed and a lower noise level. For example: one 120 mm fan may be able to push just as much air as two 80 mm fans, but at a lower speed and lower noise level.

While the Global WIN’s rear (exhaust) fan is mounted to a high-airflow, low noise honeycomb grill, its front (intake) fan is mounted to a very restrictive grill design which uses an air filter.

The YCC-61F1 again shows its server case roots in its obnoxiously noisy 120 mm Sunon ball bearing fans. Not only are these fans unbearably loud at 12 volts, they also don’t get any quieter when undervolted to 8 volts and turn off when turned down to 7 volts!

Like most high-end aluminum cases, the 61F1 has a stainless steel sliding motherboard tray to make installing motherboards and video cards much easier. What makes Global WIN’s motherboard tray so unique is its three large holes for airflow. Unfortunately however, these holes haven’t made much of a difference in my CPU temperatures.

The motherboard tray also houses 8 expansion slots with durable, stainless steel, screw-on covers.

The power supply is installed into the case by removing the top aluminum panel of the case. The large hole in the PSU cage is for any power supply fan that measures 120 mm or less across. The clip-like objects outlined in orange are for retaining and organizing wires from the power supply, and the rectangular hole outlined in red is for efficient routing of wires from the power supply to other components in the case.

Global WIN’s creative case comes with a useful digital thermometer that’s powered by a Molex connecter. Its LCD panel can display temperatures in either Celsius or Fahrenheit, and its probe can be placed anywhere in the case.

The 61F1 also comes with 4 51 mm wheels for the convenience of mobility, if your case is loaded with heavy components like hard drives and optical drives.

Global WIN has made incredible progress with its YCC-61F1 aluminum case. It may not be pretty, but it’s so radically innovative and different on the inside that the 61F1’s looks can be easily overlooked. It’s simply better than any other case I’ve ever used; however, I would like to see some sharp edges around the drive cages and motherboard tray eliminated.

Still, with its 120 mm fans, practical wire management system, front expansion slot and adaptive, mirror-like motherboard tray, it’s no wonder that the YCC-61F1 is my new favorite case.

or…

In the words of my exceptional photographer, Eric Lowe:

“um… well I pretty much told you everything I thought. The front looked kind of outdated, the plastic side looked really cool…. the fans were extremely loud.. um…..well, I didn’t really try but it kind of looked like it would be kind of hard to put a PSU in because of the… I dunno, metal parts up there.

[it’s not hard at all, Eric. In fact, installing the PSU into this case is easier than in most other cases]

I liked how they gave you wheels to put on the bottom, though. I’m sure there were other good things about it but I can’t really remember. Overall though, it was a pretty good case and I would probably buy it if I didn’t already have a case.”

Well said, Eric.

Notes:

• Dimensions: 460 x 240 x 560 mm (Height x Width x Depth)
• Gross Weight: 10.0 kg
• Net Weight: 8.5 kg
• The YCC-61F1 was tested with an ASUS A7N8X Deluxe motherboard, ATi Radeon 9800 video card, and a Seasonic Super Tornado 400w power supply

Thanks to:

• Chung Bao at Global WIN USA for providing us with the sample unit for this review
• Joe Citarella at Overclockers.com for editing and hosting this article

Tom Akita