After removing the Sigma Unicorn from the box and plastic protective bag, we can now get a closer look at what we have to play with. The case has a nice unique style to it, which has both a heavy duty and slightly futuristic look, but also a sleekness at the same time. The side panel window is a smoke colored acrylic instead of the usual clear and is a full 1/8" thick. The black paint finish is not a gloss black and has a slight texture to it, which will not show finger prints as well as the slick glossy finishes do. However, I would not suggest touching it after eating a bag of chips until all the oil is dried up from your finger tips, as the finish will certainly show oily finger prints. eeek!!! I had to clean it before taking pictures after I handled the case. Darn potato chips! lol The center strip on the front door is brushed aluminum in black and gives it a very nice satin sheen.
Here we can see the Unicorn's stylish and unique front panel access door. As you can see above I have placed arrows to indicate the air intake vents. The front door is mainly black molded plastic in composition with chrome plastic top and bottom caps for accent trim. It does however, have an aluminum front cover over the middle section of the door for aesthetics. On the back you can see that it has a 120mm fan mount, and does include a 120mm non LED fan. Unlike a lot of cases the Unicorn does not provide the option for fan sizes other than the 120mm here. You can also see that it has 7 expansion slots and an included IO shield.
The top chrome cap/trim of the front panel access door houses the
Power Button, Reset Button, Power LED and HDD LEDs. The 4 screws you
see are molded plastic, again for aesthetics.
Upon opening the front panel access door we find the case has four 5.25" drive bays and two 3.5" drive bays, this was pretty much expected and though some see no need for the 3.5" bays any longer, I still like having them. We can also now see the mesh from the front air intake mentioned above. You have basically thirteen .5" x 1.75' slots for air to flow into the 120mm Red LED front intake fan (included). The 120mm front fan is also covered with a black circular hole mesh. Below the front fan you find two USB ports and front audio ports. You can now also see that the front door is held closed by two magnetic studs located on the outside edge of the inside of the door.
From the side we see that the case is shipped with the side panel window protected with plastic on both the outside and the inside as well.
As we move further along, looking at the sides of the Sigma Unicorn we can see several features that draw your attention right from the start. You can see the smoked side panel window that I mentioned above, with two side vents in it and on the motherboard side panel an additional vented area. We can also see that both side panels have recessed release latches.
As we take a look at the bottom of the case we find hard plastic feet. Personally I just do not understand why so many case manufactures skimp here. Feet are important folks, ... for reasons such as anti vibration, less desk top damage, and to help keep your pc from sliding around softer rubber/silicon feet should be used, if not for the complete feet then at least as a pad for the feet.
The Inside :
A simple lift of the side release latch opens the side panels easily.
With the motherboard-side panel open we can see the tool-less red clips that Sigma uses and the large crossbar with Sigma's logo on it. We can also see the side panel window has one Red LED 80mm fan mounted to it (exhaust direction), with a 4-pin molex connector. We can also see now that the side panel window is mounted on the outside of the side panel, as opposed to most other cases, and this is what gives it that brutish 3D effect.
The wide support bar with Sigma's logo also sports an 80mm (non-LED) fan with four pin molex connector.
Simply push the red release clip on the side of the crossbar to allow it to swing open to access the internals of the case.
Once we swing the crossbar open we get a good look at the 80mm fan (intake direction) housing and video card stabilizer bracket that is attached to the crossbar. The housing has three click-lock pull out pressure stabilizing bars with rubber end caps that hold snugly against the video card to help cut down on vibration caused by a radical GPU fan and to also help press that monster heavyweight video card snugly in the slot. At least that is the idea that seems to be behind it.
Whats that we see there? Yep, it comes with an instruction manual as well.
Now, just in case your the type that throws away the instruction manual (purely by accident) Sigma has thought of you and added a diagram on the chassis floor that explains not only the crossbar, that we now know is called the Enforce Bar, but how to install your CD-ROM and FDD units as well.
In the rear we see Sigma has included a 120mm Non LED single speed fan that connects with a four pin molex and I/O shield.
We can see here that Sigma took a less than desirable route in the seven expansion slot covers. Instead of including removable slot covers, they used punch outs. eeek!!
The Sigma Unicorn has plenty of drive bays for the average user. They
are tool-less installation by design and the HDD cage itself is
removable. The HDD cage has four bays for HDDs, and If for some reason you
must remove the HDD cage permanently, Sigma has provide an extra 3.5"
HDD bay in the FDD cage for grand total of five HDD slots/bays.
The tool-less drive clips are simple to use, just turn the knob to open the locking mechanism or to engage the locking mechanism. It just that simple.
Drive Locking Mechanism
4 X 5.25" Drive Bays
3 x 3.5" FDD/HDD combo Drive Bay Cage
You can see in the pictures above that the mechanism used to lock in the drives is nothing more than plastic pins that stick through the drive cage into the screw holes of the drive, then once you twist the knob it puts pressure against the cage and the drive itself, thus holding the drive snugly in place.
As we move to the HDD Cage, let's take note of the usual wiring harness that most case have coming out from behind the HDD cage. You have the fan molex, front panel power connections, USB and front audio ports. Nothing surprising here. However, what is this little red clip sticking out from under the HDD cage? Let's take a look. :)
As we push down the red clip and pull out we find that it is part of the included tool/accessory kit that Sigma has included for your convenience. It contains your HDD installation rails, a system speaker, PCI slot cover, and a screw accessory bag. Basically everything you will need for an initial install.
The HDD cage will hold four 3.5" hard drives and is also tool-less. Unlike the optical drive mounts, the HDD cage utilizes metal drive rails/clips that lock in, to hold the HDD in place snugly.
As for removing the HDD cage, it is also very simple to do. Simply remove
the locking thumb screw, push the locking lever down and twist the cage
counter clockwise out of the chassis. You can then see the rear of the
front 120mm fan mounting areas mesh, the access hole for the front
panel wiring and the toolkit under the HDD cage. Note: you do not have
to remove the cage to access the toolkit.
The front bezel snaps off easily to access the 120mm Red LED fan and the drive bay areas.
As we move to the motherboard side of the case we find the same style release latch for the panel. We also see the front air intake vents and the additional side vent with an 80mm fan housing inside. The fan is not included.
As we move to the motherboard side panel and unlatch it, we see how easily the side panel with the motherboard attached to it releases from the case. The chassis has locking edges that hold the motherboard and side panel in place when it is in the closed position.
If you so desire you can completely remove the side panel with the attached motherboard. To do this simply remove the three screws on the back edge of the side panel that hold the tray stationary, then just slide it forward and off of the side panel.
Here we have the motherboard side of the case with the side panel and tray down fully. You can now see the 80mm fan housing which is mounted on this side much better.
The housing swings open to allow you to easily add an 80mm x 25mm fan. It is recessed into the side of the chassis and is directly beside the FDD/HDD combo cage. I did not add a fan here, but to be honest I am not sure it would be very useful given it's air flow restrictions in this area.
