Foxconn RS-338 Mini-ITX Case Mini Review

dembones · 15th May 2010, 8:30 PM

Well i did some searching and couldnt find a decent review of this case , so i figured id make one just incase people are looking at getting this case, Please be kind this is my first review and i do apologize about the photo quality, only camera i have atm is my phone's camera.

Lets take a look at the case.

Click to view full size!

Click to view full size!

Starting at the top, there are two areas of ventilation, the vents towards the back of the case actually have a 80mm exhaust fan underneath, the front vents do not. On the top of the Front bezel we see the power button, reset button and hard drive activity LED, which is red.

On the front bezel we have a stealth type 5.25" bay cover, under it is a button for opening the optical drive, under that is the blue power LED. Further down the case we have an external 3.5" bay and under it is our two USB 2.0 ports and front panel audio jacks.

On the rear of the case, we have plenty of ventilation, a space for your motherboards I/O shield, 1 low profile expansion slot, a latch which allows you to lock the case with a padlock (not included) and the 150watt power supply which is included with the case, this power supply is branded FSP Group and have 1x 20+4pin ATX plug, 1 4pin CPU plug and 2x SATA power plugs. The power cables are not sleeved and arnt the longest, but they're perfect for this case.

Lets go inside.

Click to view full size!

Click to view full size!

Taking off the left side panel reveals the inside of the case, this panel is secured to the case via 1 screw, not a thumbscrew

At the front of the case is the optical drive bay and external 3.5" bay, this cage has to be removed to install the motherboard and hard drive. It is easily removed by unscrewing two screws at the front of the case and then it simply lifts off. When removed you can install the optical drive into the cage and the external 3.5" device, using two screws per device. Note a standard hard drive will not fit in the 3.5" external bay with the front bezel cover in place, as the hard drive will not clear the power supply behind it.

Once the cage is removed, you are able to get to all the motherboard risers, There are 4 motherboard risers to attach the mini-itx form factor motherboard using the included screws. The hard drive is attached using two screws, going through the front of the case into the side of the hard drive, it can be a bit tricky to slide the hard drive into the area its meant to sit with the power supply installed.

On the top rear of the case is an included 80mm exhaust fan, it is installed in a plastic case which slides into groves in the top, and then is held in with one screw, this fan uses a 3pin power plug.

Click to view full size!

Click to view full size!

Included with the case are two adjustable feet which will give better stability if you choose to have your case standing vertically. Also a power cable is included and a little bag of screws along with a couple of zip ties

I hope this mini amature review helps anyone thinking of buying this case.

Mau1wurf1977 · 15th May 2010, 10:59 PM

Looks cute!

Is this a intel Atom board? Or H55?

dembones · 15th May 2010, 11:39 PM

using the foxconn D51S atom board
1gb ARAM PC2-5300 ram
160gb low profile seagate hard drive
LG SATA DVDRW

it surprised me to find a dual core atom with HT

its quiet enough, the cpu fan makes a slight noise, probably less than 25db though, its perfect as a torrent box and pretty quick too

Garido · 16th May 2010, 5:32 PM

Awesome review, I was considering buying one but yeah lack of reviews.

EDIT: Well until now anyways. If you have any issues with your PSU please post as I'm weighing up a few options.

Jethed · 19th May 2010, 11:16 AM

I got one of these cases months ago.
The only problem is the main power cable doesnt quite reach the socket on the mother board. I think thats more the fact that the motherboard ive got in it is places towards the top side of the board rather than on the right side of the board like the one in these pictures. Simple cable extender fixed this.
Makes for a good box to put next to a plasma or LCD screen.

dembones · 19th May 2010, 5:26 PM

the last few days ive been repainting this case
Ultra Blue panels with Sungold interior

the colours kinda look like tonka truck colours

s3kemo · 21st May 2010, 1:08 PM

I bought this case for a mITX board. It worked well for me for a couple of months I used it.

It'll be in the FS section this weekend

(moved to a different form factor)

Garido · 21st May 2010, 1:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s3kemo

I bought this case for a mITX board. It worked well for me for a couple of months I used it.

It'll be in the FS section this weekend

(moved to a different form factor)

Have you done a review? What temps are you getting because I believe some of the FOXCONN boards were fanless which is good but can run warm.

dembones · 22nd May 2010, 8:14 AM

im using a Foxconn D51S mini itx board in this case, the small heatsink is actively cooled by a small fan, and cpu temps are about <50

Garido · 22nd May 2010, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dembones

im using a Foxconn D51S mini itx board in this case, the small heatsink is actively cooled by a small fan, and cpu temps are about <50

So wait this must be one of the newer ones to have the fans. If anyone has the older ones can they post temps?

Dembones, is the fan loud and whiney?

s3kemo · 22nd May 2010, 5:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garido

Have you done a review? What temps are you getting because I believe some of the FOXCONN boards were fanless which is good but can run warm.

With a gigabyte GA-GC230D (atom 1.6ghz single-core) it was low 40s idle, low 50s under load with only a 80mm case fan. CPU HSF had its fan unplugged for the testing.

so temps were pretty good for me. certainly nothing to worry about.

dembones · 25th May 2010, 9:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garido

Dembones, is the fan loud and whiney?

you can hear it if you're trying to, but it doesnt make a high pitched noise like other tiny fans, does about 4500rpm, but when you are trying to hear it, its more of a drone

Garido · 25th May 2010, 1:56 PM

Not too bad. I'm still aiming for the older Foxconn Intel Atom ones which were fanless, hopefully they've dropped in price and I can get one on the cheap.

dembones · 25th May 2010, 6:31 PM

asus have some passive atom boards that are pretty cheap

Garido · 25th May 2010, 7:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dembones

asus have some passive atom boards that are pretty cheap

I'm looking at spending under 100 :P

15th May 2010, 8:30 PM	#1
dembones Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryborough, QLD Posts: 1,120	Foxconn RS-338 Mini-ITX Case Mini Review Well i did some searching and couldnt find a decent review of this case , so i figured id make one just incase people are looking at getting this case, Please be kind this is my first review and i do apologize about the photo quality, only camera i have atm is my phone's camera. Lets take a look at the case. Click to view full size! Click to view full size! Click to view full size! Click to view full size! Click to view full size! Click to view full size! Starting at the top, there are two areas of ventilation, the vents towards the back of the case actually have a 80mm exhaust fan underneath, the front vents do not. On the top of the Front bezel we see the power button, reset button and hard drive activity LED, which is red. On the front bezel we have a stealth type 5.25" bay cover, under it is a button for opening the optical drive, under that is the blue power LED. Further down the case we have an external 3.5" bay and under it is our two USB 2.0 ports and front panel audio jacks. On the rear of the case, we have plenty of ventilation, a space for your motherboards I/O shield, 1 low profile expansion slot, a latch which allows you to lock the case with a padlock (not included) and the 150watt power supply which is included with the case, this power supply is branded FSP Group and have 1x 20+4pin ATX plug, 1 4pin CPU plug and 2x SATA power plugs. The power cables are not sleeved and arnt the longest, but they're perfect for this case. Lets go inside. Click to view full size! Click to view full size! Click to view full size! Click to view full size! Click to view full size! Taking off the left side panel reveals the inside of the case, this panel is secured to the case via 1 screw, not a thumbscrew At the front of the case is the optical drive bay and external 3.5" bay, this cage has to be removed to install the motherboard and hard drive. It is easily removed by unscrewing two screws at the front of the case and then it simply lifts off. When removed you can install the optical drive into the cage and the external 3.5" device, using two screws per device. Note a standard hard drive will not fit in the 3.5" external bay with the front bezel cover in place, as the hard drive will not clear the power supply behind it. Once the cage is removed, you are able to get to all the motherboard risers, There are 4 motherboard risers to attach the mini-itx form factor motherboard using the included screws. The hard drive is attached using two screws, going through the front of the case into the side of the hard drive, it can be a bit tricky to slide the hard drive into the area its meant to sit with the power supply installed. On the top rear of the case is an included 80mm exhaust fan, it is installed in a plastic case which slides into groves in the top, and then is held in with one screw, this fan uses a 3pin power plug. Click to view full size! Click to view full size! Included with the case are two adjustable feet which will give better stability if you choose to have your case standing vertically. Also a power cable is included and a little bag of screws along with a couple of zip ties I hope this mini amature review helps anyone thinking of buying this case.

15th May 2010, 10:59 PM	#2
Mau1wurf1977 Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Country WA Posts: 12,950	Looks cute! Is this a intel Atom board? Or H55? __________________ Ultimate GOG.com DOSBox Tutorial, Roland vs Yamaha General MIDI DOS Games Music Comparison

16th May 2010, 5:32 PM	#4
Garido Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Parramatta, NSW Posts: 3,242	Awesome review, I was considering buying one but yeah lack of reviews. EDIT: Well until now anyways. If you have any issues with your PSU please post as I'm weighing up a few options. __________________ TRADE REP (50+) \| CAR: TOYOTA CROWN WORKLOG \| PC: WORKSTATION WORKLOG PC: Intel E6500 @ 3.6, 9600 GSO 384MB GDDR3 @ 650/1625/970, Intel G41, 4GB DDR3 1333MHz WTS: Rebel Sport Vouchers $100 WTB: Samsung SSD/HDD, DDR3 RAM, nVidia 8600GT, Dual Monitor Stand, Lenovo S10e Battery

19th May 2010, 11:16 AM	#5
Jethed Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canberra Posts: 109	I got one of these cases months ago. The only problem is the main power cable doesnt quite reach the socket on the mother board. I think thats more the fact that the motherboard ive got in it is places towards the top side of the board rather than on the right side of the board like the one in these pictures. Simple cable extender fixed this. Makes for a good box to put next to a plasma or LCD screen. __________________ Mr Rudd, My Conroy: "KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY F@#KING INTERNET!"

25th May 2010, 1:56 PM	#13
Garido Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Parramatta, NSW Posts: 3,242	Not too bad. I'm still aiming for the older Foxconn Intel Atom ones which were fanless, hopefully they've dropped in price and I can get one on the cheap. __________________ TRADE REP (50+) \| CAR: TOYOTA CROWN WORKLOG \| PC: WORKSTATION WORKLOG PC: Intel E6500 @ 3.6, 9600 GSO 384MB GDDR3 @ 650/1625/970, Intel G41, 4GB DDR3 1333MHz WTS: Rebel Sport Vouchers $100 WTB: Samsung SSD/HDD, DDR3 RAM, nVidia 8600GT, Dual Monitor Stand, Lenovo S10e Battery

15th May 2010, 11:39 PM	#3
dembones Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryborough, QLD Posts: 1,120	using the foxconn D51S atom board 1gb ARAM PC2-5300 ram 160gb low profile seagate hard drive LG SATA DVDRW it surprised me to find a dual core atom with HT its quiet enough, the cpu fan makes a slight noise, probably less than 25db though, its perfect as a torrent box and pretty quick too

19th May 2010, 5:26 PM	#6
dembones Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryborough, QLD Posts: 1,120	the last few days ive been repainting this case Ultra Blue panels with Sungold interior the colours kinda look like tonka truck colours

21st May 2010, 1:08 PM	#7
s3kemo (Taking a Break) Join Date: May 2003 Location: in a house Posts: 5,929	I bought this case for a mITX board. It worked well for me for a couple of months I used it. It'll be in the FS section this weekend (moved to a different form factor)

22nd May 2010, 8:14 AM	#9
dembones Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryborough, QLD Posts: 1,120	im using a Foxconn D51S mini itx board in this case, the small heatsink is actively cooled by a small fan, and cpu temps are about <50

25th May 2010, 6:31 PM	#14
dembones Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryborough, QLD Posts: 1,120	asus have some passive atom boards that are pretty cheap